Migration from crete to Chanakkale

ABSTRACT Crete, being the second largest Island in the East Mediterranean after Cyprus is of a big strategic importance. The Island which has played an important role in sea commerce has been maintained by Venetians for a long time and has passed onto the hands of the Ottoman Empire after the war starting in 1645 and ending in 1669. Island residents have continued a peaceful life under the Ottoman rule. In year 1829, after the foundation of the Greek Kingdom on the Mora Peninsula through the joint efforts of bigger nation states; Greek patriots who would like to incorporate Crete to the Kingdom, revolted. The first revolt came about in 1831. Mehmet Ali Pasha was the one to suppress mis revolt. After the revolt of 1866 which has surrounded the whole Island, Ottoman Government was forced to take certain administrative actions on the Island. Taking advantage of the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, Greek patriots revolted again; consequently, the treaty of Halepa was signed and new regulations were implemented in Crete's administration. The civil unrest that began in 1895 on Crete, through the efforts of big nation states, resulted in the autonomy of the Island and migration took place from the Island to different regions of mainland Ottoman Empire. Seeking their chance in the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy, the Cretan Parliament approved the incorporation of the Island to the Greek Kingdom. The Ottoman Government has not done anything further than disapproving this decision. With the Treaty of London (May the 30th, 1913) and of Bucharest (August the 10th, 1913), signed by the end of the Balkan Wars, Crete officially left the Ottoman rule. Migration from Crete to Turkey has taken place systematically, regulated by the People's Exchange Protocol, signed on January the 30th, 1923. Within the framework of this Protocol, migration started in the month of November in year 1923. Based on the Protocol, Cretans subject to migration were brought by seaway,VI to be settled in Chanakkale and the environs. They were settled mostly in Chanakkale Centre, Ayvacık and Küçükkuyu regions. They started to make their living of raising olives and handicrafts.