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The present day prefecture is part of Ancient Thesprotia, which was stretching from the Gulf of Amvrakikos in the north, the Arachtho in the east, the Tomaros Range in the north to river Thiami in the northwest. It got its name from the first governor Thesprotos who built Kichyro, which was later called Ephyra. This area was inhabited since the Paleolithic and the Neolithic Period (there are findings). The poet maker Homer frequently mentions Thesprotia which had friendly relationships with Ithaca and Doulichi (Cephalonia). The Acherousia Lake and the necromancy were located here. The Selles and Elles first inhabited it. In BC 1400, the Myceneans set up their first colonies and built the Cyclopean Walls. In the historical Times, colonies were established by the Ilies (BC 730) and later by people who came from Corfu (BC 645). In BC 433 the Thesprotians with the Corinthians beat the Corfians and Athenians in the sea-fight of Sybota on the eve of the Peloponnessian War. They maintained their independence even when they were mumbers of the "Public of the Molosses (another Greek tribe). Their base was the fortified Elea [present Beliani] and later Titane [present Goumani]. The towns disappeared during the Roman Empire, when, in BC 27, Augustus united Thesprotia with the province of Achaia while from AD 3 the destructive invasions began against the Byzantine "Thema" of Epirus: Goths, Ostrogoths ,Saracenes and Normands. After the Byzantine Empire was overthrown by the Crusades in 1204 ,the prefecture became part of the "Despotato of Epirus". In 1449, it conceded to theTurks, except Souli which was betrayed in 1803 and so Cougi, Zaloggos and the Selchou monastery remained in history. The revolution of the Bishop of Trikke (Thessaly), Dionyssios Skylosofos, who in 1612, with 800 villagers from Paramythia, Souli and Pindos, armed with sticks and poles, entered Ioannina. The revolution was a failure and the Turks skinned the Bishop alive. Thesprotia remained outside the Greek State until it was freed in 1913 by the Greek army.

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