The Catalan castle of Livadia Photo

Photographer’s Note

One more photo from Livadia town, right besides the Krya springs. This is the Catalan castle of Livadia. There was a castle in the same location since the early byzantine years, but it took its final form during the short period of Catalan rule in parts of Greece! But, what the heck where the Catalans doing in Greece?

Here's the story in very few words. In the early 14th century some Catalans had formed a "War Company", called "Companyia Catalana d'Orient", under the leadership of Roger de Flor. They were hired by the Byzantine emperror Andronikos B' Palaiologos, as mercenaries to defend the collapsing Byzantine Empire against the Turks. The company departed in 1302 from Sicily with 32 boats and around 2.500 soldiers followed by about 4.000 women and children. The first battle of the "Company" was against the Genovese (about 3.000 of them died). Their first battle against the Turks was succesful, causing about 18.000 dead in their enemies lines, starting a "serie" of succesful battles, mostly in Asia Minor. In 1304, Andronikos, announces Roger de Flor, "Caesar", something that Andronikos' son, Michael, didn't like at all! When it was time for pay off, he called Roger de Flor to Andrianoupolis, and killed him, hoping that this would dissolve the "War company".

The Catalans wanted revenge and started a fierce expedition in the grounds of the Byzantine Empire, that took the name "Venganza Catalana" (Catalan Revenge). They started killing and looting, almost across the whole region, that today is Greece, from Thrace and Macedonia to Thessaly and Central Greece. They formed a Ducat, called "Ducat of Neopatria", that later became part of the "Crown of Aragonia". Until today, the King of Spain, Juan Carlos A', among many other titles, carries also the typical title of "Duke of Athens and Neopatria" (nothing to do with his greek wife, Queen Sofia). The Catalan rule was so brutal, that until today, the word "Catalanos" or "Catelanos" is an insult in many regions of Greece.

Don't let me be misunderstood, I am just telling the story here, I love Catalunya and Barcelona and Barcelona FC and Terrassa (my spanish teacher, Estefania Raya Montero, was from there, unfortunately I have lost her tracks, does anybody know how to find her?),and all Catalans, I 've been 7 times there, need to say anything more? Un saludo cordial a todos los catalanes!

***If you want to read more about the Catalans in Greece (only in greek, sorry!), *CHECK HERE*

***If you want to read a chronicle (from a diferent perspective) of the Catalan expedition in Greece and Turkey, by Francisco de Moncada, Marqués de Aytona (in spanish), *CHECK HERE*

***MORE PHOTOS FROM LIVADIA AND AROUND***

mursaloglu, Sne011, devimeuxbe, vasilpro, valentinos, carper, ymrk, dip, PaulVDV, meltemi, AiresSantos, coco, danos, Kielia, Dyerco, josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Aviller (3152) 2009-01-06 8:20

Once again a picture with stunning colors. The sky looks incredibly dramatic. I don't know if I would have cropped out the trees on the left. On the one hand they add an interesting bit of green color to the pic while on the other I almost find those leaves slightly distracting. Doesn't take anything away from an incredible shot though.

mursaloglu (5284) 2009-01-06 8:20

Dear Herakli
This picuture seems cames out from a medieval story. Great colors and a fantastic setting. Amazing composition. Bravo my friend ihsan

hopsy_life (93) 2009-01-06 8:22

Like an background at an opera.

Greetings from Darmstadt,
H.

Sne011 (3103) 2009-01-06 8:29

Geia sou Irakli,
Wonderful photo, if there wasn't a car in the foreground it would look like a fairytale. Amazing lights and colors, beautiful sky...Fantastic!
Have a pleasant evening,
Sneza

devimeuxbe (56536) 2009-01-06 8:45

Hi Hercule
wouaaa. The light is beautifull here with differents colors. Excellent sharpness also
Well done
Bertrand

vasilpro (9823) 2009-01-06 9:13

Καλησπέρα Ηρακλή,
Πολύ όμορφο το αποτέλεσμα με την καταπληκτική διαχείριση του φωτισμού. πανέμορφη αντίθεση του πράσινου με το πορτοκαλί και το μπλε.
Χαιρετώ, Βασίλης.

valentinos (453) 2009-01-06 9:13

the masterpiece of your photos is, that you can create from an alldays photo a lovely one. i like your increased saturation and the way you post process your photos. in addition to that i like your eye for photography,

with my best wishes,
valentinos

hatti52 (12654) 2009-01-06 9:38

Hi Hercules,
Once again a wonderful blue hour photo with stunning colors
happy new year

dip (13064) 2009-01-06 10:24

Geia sou Irakli,
alli mia katapliktiki fotografia vgalmeni stin agapimeni sou ora me omorfa entona xromata kai ena yperoxo fotismo,
einai apo tis fotografies pou dinei mathimata pos prepei na einai mia "blue hour photo"
xaireto,
Dimitris.

nasokoun (0) 2009-01-06 10:43

αν έλειπε το αυτοκίνητο θάταν υπέροχα παραμυθένια,
άλλη μια βραδυνή μαεστρική διαχείρηση φωτός,
χαιρετώ σε
Νάσος

barrufeto_77 (25957) 2009-01-06 11:12

Hola Hercules.

Si, si, mis paisanos llegaron hasta allá. Bueno, más bien animales, asesinos, violadores y mala gente que no sabían qué hacer con ellos y se los sacaron de encima....pero se desmadró el tema. Una pena. Aquí se enseña que fueron brutales y crueles y que según como, es un insulto como bien dices.

Sobre la foto...me encantan los colores y como estan a 3 capas. Bien visto.

Un abrazo!

PaulVDV (5451) 2009-01-06 11:24

Hello Hercules,
Very beautiful colours and I surely like the contrasts between the blue sky, the orange-brown wall & trees and the green grass.
The textures of the walls (all walls) are very beautiful too. Very sharp picture.
Best regards, Paul

athanvas (2353) 2009-01-06 13:05

Geia sou Hraklh!
Kathe foto sou einai kai ena mathima fotografias.Fantastiki diaxirisi tou fotos kai ta xrwmata yperoxa.
Sygxaritiria!BASILIS

Felip (3905) 2009-01-06 13:22

Esplendidos colores Hercules, solo le falta la sangre rezumando por los muros del castillo!...Hombreeeee, "Venganza Catalana"?, "Compañia de la guerra"?, sed de venganza?...bueno, en esto último si que estoy de acuerdo...a nosotros los catalanes nos gusta recordar a este ejercito como los Almogavars y su lema "Desperta ferro!" permanece y permanecerá en nuestra memoria para siempre.

Un fuerte abrazo

Felip

gneufeld (15289) 2009-01-06 13:34

Hi Hercules,
Amazing light and I love the details and textures here. Very well done and TFS. Gerald

ident (1420) 2009-01-06 13:46 [Comment]

Show Comment

AiresSantos (43298) 2009-01-06 23:19

Hi Hercules
Beautiful night picture of the Catalan castle of Livadia, in the blue hour.
Excellent sharpness and POV
Greetings
Aires

coco (28328) 2009-01-07 0:24

Kalimera Hercules.

Bueno, primero de todo: has estado siete veces y... ¿cuándo será la octava?

La foto es sin duda espectacular, y todo por el uso que haces de la luz en la hora azul.

El lugar también parece espectacular y la nota no se me hace ajena. Pero me gustaría añadir que si en Catañuña se les ha impregnado a estos "soldados" de un aire de romanticismo (Neopàtria o su grito de guerra "desperta ferro!" se han convertido en iconos de la cultura local), no es menos cierto que estos soldados (que formaban un conjunto llamado Almogàvers) no eran más que criminales que la monarquía de la Corona de Aragón quería quitárselos de encima y no encontró mejor forma de quitarse este problema que enviarlos a luchar al extranjero: ya fuera en cruzadas en Oriente o en otros países del mediterráneo.

Como ves, la historia muchas veces se maquilla respondiendo a los gustos y modas contemporáneas.
En fin... a la espera de la octava.

Ta leme, file mou.

ymrk (9276) 2009-01-07 1:04

Dear Hercules;
The hard taked with wonderful photo!This photo was me prefigured so the next photo...
Thank you,for sharing...

Yağmur

danos (33766) 2009-01-07 8:12

Ηρακλή καλησπέρα,
τα 26sec φώτισαν σαν σε ημέρα το Καταλανικό κάστρο της Λειβαδιάς και το περιξ αυτού χώρο..Ωραίο το contrast του ουρανού με τα χρώματα των προβολέων που το φωτίζουν.Προσωπικά δεν έχω χρησιμοποιήσει τόσο μικρούς χρόνουν αλλά απ΄ ότι βλέπω τα αποτελέσματα είναι εντυπωσιακά.Το χρονικό της Καταλανικής Εταιρείας με εντυπωσίασε και μου συμπλήρωσε κενά που είχα για την δράση τους στον Ελληνικό χώρο και ιδιαίτερα τον τρόπο πρασέλευσής τους.

Καλό απόγευμα,Δάνος

carper (66148) 2009-01-07 9:43

very nice Hercules,
I like how you handled the light here and the well taken com position, very good photo, have a nice evening.
regard jaap

Kielia (8811) 2009-01-07 10:38

Hi Hercules,
What a beautiful impression of this interesting place accompanied by an excellent note. The colors are creating a beautiful atmosphere and the light is stunning. A great capture!
Warm regards
Harriet

bostankorkulugu (34212) 2009-01-07 15:57

never heard of this story, very interesting indeed giritli mou... and the shot is flawlwss as always... blue, orange and green combination looks just fab... (and dont tell me that stupid car is yours?!?...)

hugs... bostani

Colombiana (2602) 2009-01-07 17:55

Hola Parcerito,

Que lindo contraste entre el dorado y el azul semiroyal. La imagen se ve bastante dramatica.
Me gusta! me gusta...

Un abrazo muy fuerte,
Maryori :)

Dyerco (9404) 2009-01-08 9:16

Hi Hercules
Interesting colours created from the lighting that enhances the textures on the stonework.
Phil

Scharan (13955) 2009-01-08 15:34

Olá Hercules

Bela foto...belos efeitos de luzes e cores...
Ótimo registro.Parabéns.
GA
Vera

josepmarin (34295) 2009-01-09 12:18

Hola Hercules,
veo que la historia de los catalanes en tu país es parecida a la de todos los conquistadores, y no hay un buen recuerdo de nuestros antepasados por allí.
La foto es muy bonita, con una maravillosa gestión de la luz a la hora azul, y una buena perspectiva de las murallas iluminadas.
Espero que cuando vuelvas a Catalunya por 8ª vez, nos avises para encontrarnos.
He mirado en Facebook y no he encontrado a tu profesora de Terrassa.
Y sobre el Barça, este año estamos todos muy contentos por su gran futbol y sus buenos resultados.
Excelente trabajo, amigo mío.
Un abrazo,
Josep

jemaflor (39895) 2009-01-11 3:02

Hi Hercules,
Great result with a beautiful capture of these light, interesting colours for all this pov well chosen.

labro33 (2804) 2009-01-17 3:44

Gia sou Irakli,
Allo ena yperocho kadro gmeto fws ke chrwmata.Omorfh antithesi chrysou-kastro- kai mov-ouranos-.
Se cheretw,
Giwrgos

bubulinaxxv (0) 2009-03-14 15:08

jep pascot escribió Els Almogàvers, ed. Proa, magnífico...sí unos mercenarios que supieron exigir al Paleologo el dinero prometido por combatir contra el imperio otomano, pues hasta para Roger de Flor "la pela és la pela", también fue un ejército, sí de mercenarios, sí, pero organizado montándose en plan república en medio de atenas y para colmo roger va y consigue casarse con la princesa...!en fin!...hasta que lo desangraron, claro. Aquí la profe.