Naousa or
Naoussa is a
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the Imathia peripheral unit of
MacedoniaMacedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
,
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Population
34,441.
It is famous for its parks (Municipal Park, Park of Saint Nicholas etc) and for its ski resorts (
3-5 Pigadia and
Seli)
The farmlands lie to the east, the forested and grovy area in the western part and the
Vermion MountainsThe Vermio Mountains is a mountain range between Imathia and Kozani Prefecture in west-central Macedonia. The range is west of the plain of Kambania. The town of Veria, which is the capital of Imathia prefecture, is built οn the foot of these mountains...
to the west. Peaches, apples, cherries and other fruits and crops are very famous in the low lying areas of the province.
Naousa is agriculturally famous for its jam products which are sold under the
Naoussa brand name. Its dry red wines are also well known, sold under the "Naoussa" denomination of origin.
Name
Naousa is known by several names in different languages. It is called "Негуш" (Negush) in
BulgarianBulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
and
Macedonian SlavicMacedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
, and "Niausta" in Aromanian. The name "Naoussa" is derved from the .
Municipality
The municipality Naousa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
- Anthemia
Anthemia is a former municipality in Imathia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Naousa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 8,147 . The seat of the municipality was in Kopanos....
- Eirinoupoli
Eirinoupoli is a former municipality in Imathia, Central Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Naousa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,006 . It has 5 villages . Its elevation is 25 meters ....
- Naousa
History
The city is situated in ancient
EmathiaFor the modern Greek prefecture, see ImathiaEmathia is an earliest and poetic name of Macedonia , but foremost it roughly corresponds to the district of Bottiaea around Pella.-Classical sources:...
west of the ancient
MacedonMacedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian town of
MiezaMieza, "shrine of the Nymphs", was a village in Ancient Macedon, where Aristotle taught the boy Alexander the Great. It was the home to Alexander's companion Peucestas.Now the site of the modern town Náousa....
and the site of ancient School of
AristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
. The area, according to
HerodotusHerodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
, was where the Gardens of King
MidasFor the legend of Gordias, a person who was taken by the people and made King, in obedience to the command of the oracle, see Gordias.Midas or King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. This was called the Golden touch, or the...
were situated. Later, in the current position of the city, the
RomansAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
established the colony of Nova Augusta. The name changed through the centuries to Niagusta, Niaousta and Niaousa, until it became today's Naousa.
In 1705, an
armatolosArmatoloi , were Greek Christian irregular soldiers, or militia, commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan's authority within an administrative district called an Armatoliki...
named
Zisis KarademosZisis Karademos was a Greek armatolos that led an uprising in Naousa in western Macedonia in 1705.In 1705, a commissar of the Ottoman Sultan named Ahmet Çelebi came to Naousa to select fifty male children for the devşirme conscription, to be raised as Janissaries. His arrival sparked a revolt in...
led an ill-fated uprising in Naousa against the
OttomanThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities.
In 1822, the
insurgence of the GreeksThe Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
of Western Macedonia against the Turks came to a dramatic finale in Naousa. Abdul Abud, the Pasha of
ThessalonikiThessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, arrived on the 14th of March at the head of a 16,000 strong force and 12 cannons. The Greeks defended Naousa with a force of 4,000 under
Anastasios KaratasosAnastasios Karatasos was a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence was born in the village of Dovras, Imathia Prefecture and is considered to be the most important revolutionary from Macedonia....
,
Aggelis GatsosAggelis Gatsos was a Slavophone Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in the village of Sarakinovo, today known as Sarakini , in the Moglena region....
,
Tsamis KaratasosDimitrios Tsamis Karatasos , was a Greek armatolos, the son of Anastasios Karatasos who had proclaimed the Greek Revolution in the Naoussa area in 1821....
, Karamitsos and Philippos, the son of
Zafeirakis TheodosiouZafeirakis Theodosiou was a Greek prokritos , meaning political leader of Greeks during Ottoman rule, of Naousa, Imathia and an important figure of the Greek War of Independence in the region of Macedonia.-Life:...
, under the overall command of
Zafeirakis TheodosiouZafeirakis Theodosiou was a Greek prokritos , meaning political leader of Greeks during Ottoman rule, of Naousa, Imathia and an important figure of the Greek War of Independence in the region of Macedonia.-Life:...
and
Anastasios KaratasosAnastasios Karatasos was a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence was born in the village of Dovras, Imathia Prefecture and is considered to be the most important revolutionary from Macedonia....
. The Turks attempted to take the town of Naousa on the 16th of March 1822, and on the 18 and 19 March, without success. On the 24th of March the Turks began a bombardment of the city walls that lasted for days. After requests for the town's surrender were dismissed by the Greeks, the Turks charged the gate of St George on Big Friday, the 31st of March. The Turkish attack failed but on the 6th of April, after receiving fresh reinforcements of some 3,000 men, the Turkish army finally overcame the Greek resistance and entered the city. In an infamous incident, as the rebels were abandoning the town, some of the women left behind committed suicide by falling down a cliff over the small river Arapitsa.
Zafeirakis TheodosiouZafeirakis Theodosiou was a Greek prokritos , meaning political leader of Greeks during Ottoman rule, of Naousa, Imathia and an important figure of the Greek War of Independence in the region of Macedonia.-Life:...
was pursued by a Turkish unit and was killed. The other Greek leaders retreated southwards. Abdul Abud laid the town and surrounding area to waste. The fall and massacre of Naousa marked the end of the
Greek revolutionThe Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in Macedonia in 1822.
Naousa has a large population of
AromaniansAromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
, also known as
VlachsVlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
, and a small Roma population.
Sporting teams
- Naoussa F.C.
Naoussa F.C. or F.A.S. Naoussa is a Greek semi-professional football club based in Naousa, Imathia, which participates in the Delta Ethniki, the fourth tier of Greek football...
which played at First National Division of Greece for one year (season 1993-94)
Twin towns — Sister cities
Naousa, Imathia is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
AsenovgradAsenovgrad is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province.-History:Asenovgrad was founded by the Thracians as Stenímachos around 300–400 BC. In 72 BC the city was captured by the troops of the Roman Empire as part of the Roman expansion towards the Black Sea. After a long period...
,
BulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
Faches-ThumesnilFaches Thumesnil is twinned with the market town of St.Neots in Cambridgeshire, England, and with the town of Naousa, Greece.-References:*...
,
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
NaousaNaousa is a village in the Cyclades. It is located in the north eastern corner of the island of Paros, and has a population of 2,870.In the summer, when it is warm and sunny almost every day, Naousa attracts many tourists from all Europe because of the climate and the nearby beaches like...
,
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
TerrassaTerrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital....
,
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
BergamaBergama is a populous district, as well as the center city of the same district, in İzmir Province in western Turkey. By excluding İzmir's metropolitan area, it is one of the prominent districts of the province in terms of population and is largely urbanized at the rate of 53,6 per cent...
,
TurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
ZgorzelecZgorzelec is a town in south-western Poland with 33,278 inhabitants . It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Zgorzelec County, and also of the smaller district of Gmina Zgorzelec...
,
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Notable people
- Anastasios Michail
Anastasios Michail was a member of Berlin's Academy of Sciences.He was born in Naousa. He had his general studies in Ioannina with Georgios Sougdouris as his teacher of rhetoric and philosophy. In 1702 he had the chance to meet with distinguished German theologians in Constantinople. Later he went...
(17th century-1722), theologian
- Zisis Karademos
Zisis Karademos was a Greek armatolos that led an uprising in Naousa in western Macedonia in 1705.In 1705, a commissar of the Ottoman Sultan named Ahmet Çelebi came to Naousa to select fifty male children for the devşirme conscription, to be raised as Janissaries. His arrival sparked a revolt in...
(17th century-1705), armatolos, led a rebellion
- Zafeirakis Theodosiou
Zafeirakis Theodosiou was a Greek prokritos , meaning political leader of Greeks during Ottoman rule, of Naousa, Imathia and an important figure of the Greek War of Independence in the region of Macedonia.-Life:...
(18th century-1822), political leader
- Apostolos Giannou
Apostolos Giannou is a football player who currently plays for PAOK in the Superleague Greece.-Career:After migrating to Melbourne, Australia with his family, Giannou played junior football for the Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne...
Footballer