Cretan refugees during and after the end of the 1821 Revolution

The 1821-1830 Revolution gave rise to significant refugee movements from many regions of Greece. From Crete refugees fled to liberated areas, mainly in 1824 and 1830-1831. The main places of arrival and first settlement of these refugees were the Cycladic islands (Milos, Sifnos, Ios, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Kimolos) and ‒ via Antikythira and Kythira ‒ the Peloponnese (Messinia, Lakonia, Argolida, Korinthia). Refugees from Crete fled also to Kasos and Karpathos, Aegina and Poros.

Cretan refugees, about 20,000 souls, survived under difficult conditions receiving relief from the authorities. However, since many of them were armed, they caused problems mainly in the Cyclades, provoking indignation among the local population. Many refugees were repatriated to Crete during the 1830s, while others settled down in the 1830s and 1840s in the Peloponnese (Minoa of Argolida and Nea Kriti of Methoni) and Milos (Adamas).