# Kallergis

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kallergis
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kallergis.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallergis
> Source revision: 1347213746
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

The **Kallergis** (Greek: Καλλέργης) is a [Greek](/source/Greeks) aristocratic family which claims descent from Byzantine Emperor [Nikephoros II Phokas](/source/Nikephoros_II_Phokas),[1][2][3] and were at one stage the most powerful noble family of [Crete](/source/Crete).

## Origin

According to later tradition, Emperor [Alexios II Komnenos](/source/Alexios_II_Komnenos) sent [twelve noble families](/source/Twelve_noble_families_of_Crete) to Crete, in order to strengthen the ties between the island and [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople). The families were credited important land and administrative privileges. Ioannis Phokas was one of those 12 Byzantine rulers.[4]

The Phokas name changed to "Kallergis" during the [Venetian dominion over Crete](/source/Kingdom_of_Candia), which began in the aftermath of the [Fourth Crusade](/source/Fourth_Crusade). As [Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi](/source/Richard_von_Coudenhove-Kalergi) describes in his book *An idea conquers the world* the Kallergis name is composed of the Greek word *kallos* (=beauty) and *ergon*[5] (from ergō="work, task, deed, accomplishment, or purpose") [Greek: Καλλ(ι)έργης > Καλλέργης, known in many versions as Kalergis, Calergis, Kallergi, Callergi, Calergi].

[Heraldic ensembles](/source/Achievement_(heraldry)) containing the Kallergis family [coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) (*bendy argent and azure*) can be found all over the island of Crete, in churches and other monuments.[6] The name reappears many times in the turbulent history of Crete but also of modern Greece.[7]

Their prominent position and privileges survived during the Venetian dominion of Crete as they were part of the "privilegiati" (Greek: Αρχοντορωμαίοι) and sometimes of *nobiles Veneti*.[8] They served many times the Venetian regime but at the same time defended the welfare of the Cretan people, being involved in several uprisings, most notably the [Revolt of Alexios Kallergis](/source/Revolt_of_Alexios_Kallergis) in the late 13th century,[9] and [Revolt of Saint Titus](/source/Revolt_of_Saint_Titus) in 1360s.

During the Venetian dominion and after the [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) conquest of the island of Crete (1669 AD) many members of the Kallergis family moved to the [Ionian Islands](/source/Ionian_Islands), [Euboea](/source/Euboea), [Venice](/source/Venice), and [Russia](/source/Russia). From those immigrations, new branches emerged; such as the Caravia family in the Ionian Islands, the Pikoula or Pikoulianos family in Lakonia, the Bakoyannis family in Agrafa-Eurytania, and others. Also, the Kallergis connected with other European noble families through marriages; such as he Venetian families [Vendramin](/source/Vendramin), [Crespi](/source/Crespi), and [Grimani](/source/Grimani).[10] The family is also connected to the [Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi](/source/Palazzo_Vendramin), which is found in [Venice](/source/Venice) on the [Grand Canal](/source/Grand_Canal_(Venice)). Victor Callergi bought the famous building on the year 1589 for 36,000 ducats, and now belongs to a Venetian branch of the family which gave its name to it.[11][12]

## See also

- *[Calliergis](/source/Calliergis)*, a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae
- *[Calliergis ramosa](/source/Calliergis_ramosa)*, a moth of the family Noctuidae

## References

1. [Alice-Mary Talbot](/source/Alice-Mary_Talbot), Denis F. Sullivan: *The History of Leo the Deacon: Byzantine Military Expansion in the Tenth Century*. Dumbarton Oaks, 2005, Book II, p. 80

1. David Holton (ed.), *Literature and society in Renaissance Crete*, Cambridge University Press 1991, p. 80

1. Melchior Vogüé (marquis de), Charles Henri Auguste Schefer: Revue de l'Orient latin, Volume 11 p. 111

1. ["Crete, the 12 young rulers from Byzantium"](http://www.explorecrete.com/history/crete-byzantium-rulers.htm)

1. Richard Nicolaus Coudenhove-Kalergi (Graf von)An idea conquers the world, Roy Publishers 1954, p. 4

1. [Examples of the Kallergis/Callergi arms](http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handle/10442/1/simple-search?query=%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B7&locale=en)

1. ["Kallergis Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History"](https://forebears.io/surnames/kallergis). *forebears.io*. Retrieved 2023-05-13.

1. Nikolaos Panagiōtakēs/Roderick Beaton: El Greco, The cretan years, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009, p. 63 and ss.

1. [Sally McKee](/source/Sally_McKee), *Uncommon dominion:Venetian Crete and the myth of ethnic purity*, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000, p. 74 and ss.

1. Lekkakos, Iōannēs P. (2019). *Manē: Morphologia - Istoria - Archaiologia - Mnemeia - Politismos*. Athēna: Michalē Siderē. ISBN 978-960-468-233-1.

1. Adolbent, Muller (1882). *The book of Venice*. Harvard College. p. 157.

1. Marston, R. (1880). *A week in Venice*. 4th Edition by C. Coen & Son. p. 65.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kallergis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallergis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallergis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.