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Souli

Historical village, on the west slopes of the homonymous mountains, 73 km south east of Igoumenitsa. It belonged to a group of villages which in 1750 were a "state" -80 villages- with 25,000 inhabitants.

HISTORY

Souli and its villages were inhabited between the 16th and the 17th century by people who came from several villages of Thesprotia and wanted to avoid the oppressive Ottomans. These people built four villages, Souli, Kiafa, Samoniba and Abariko, with common administration. This group of villages ruled the around villages. To hold the Turks they organized a defence team.
"Defence and attack". Since the middles of the 18th century this team not only defended the area but it even organized attacks against the Turks (1741). In 1760, they dominated on almost the whole area of south-east Epirous which was then named "Parasouli".
The Turkish reaction. The Turks did not mind this as the Parasoulians paid taxes regularly and the area was in a neutral zone between the Turks and the Venetians. After the Venetians, the Frenchmen claimed the areas rule while it is fact that they had friendly relationships with the local people. This fact was considered by the Turks as a threat but they were defeated by the Soulians, ecxept the case of Ali Pasha.
Soulians and Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha went against them in 1791 and failed and the same thing happened in 1792 but in 1802 the Soulians were forced to give themselves up as they were running out of food supplies and water.In December 15,1803, some local people headed for Parga, which was captured by the Russians, others towards Tzourmeka and the others towards Louros river. Then, the fight at Zalogo followed, and those who survived fled to Agrinio, Nafpaktos, Messologi and Eftannessa islands. When the disagreement between Ali and the Turkish Government ended and Ali finally agreed to an alliance, the Soulians returned home [December 12 of 1820 ]. But on the death of Ali , the Turks turnred against the Soulians, so the battle of Peta occured and they were forced to abandon their homeland (July the 28th, 1821).
The Soulians in the Revolution of 1821. The Soulian refugees took active part in the Revolution of 1821. Many of them strongly defended the seiged Messologi and others gave their life for the liberation of their Homeland.

Important sites:

• The villages of Aulotopos, Tsagari, Koukoulioi and Frosini, all built on the slopes of Vritzacha and Korilas.
• The Folklore Museum, with remarkable exhibits.

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