Even today in the popular tradition has stayed carved the destructive raid of the infamous turk pirate Hayr-al-Din (Hayredin) Barbarossa. A few words about him would be worthy, as his history is strongly related with that of the Aegean sea and of Kythera as well.

Hayredin came from Lesbos. His father was a spachi (mounted soldier), named Yacoup and his mother was a greek christian from Myteline (Lesbos), named Katalina (Katerina). It is though possible that his father was also greek, who as a child had suffered devsirme (violent and forced recruiting and training of christian boys for the turkish army).

Barbarossa is generally regarded as the person, who organised the big ottoman fleet, of which used to be admiral. He later became king of Tunis and finally Bayler Bey of the Aegean, one of the greatest ottoman offices. During his conquering and predatory raids Barbarossa sent his turk and algerian pirates against Kythera, beating totally the small garrison and residents' resistance. What followed is entangled with myth and tradition. The fact is though, that the island was deserted. It is said that 7,000 people were captured and then sold as slaves, while those who achieved to escape, fled to Peloponess or hide in the mountains. Even today the capital of the island, Aghios Demetrios, now known as Paliochora, burnt and ruined lies like a ghost-town spreading the fear among with the legend, which was created about it and the infamous pirate...