Founded
in 7th Century BC, Kavala at first was called Neapolis and was an ally of
Athens for many years in its war against Sparta. From 350 B.C, Philip II,
king of Macedonia, who gave his name to the nearby city of Philipi,
dominated the area of Kavala. It became the most important centre of the
region and today is one of the most important archaeological places of
Greece.
Later, during the domination of Rome in this area, important
historical events took place here, as the famous battle of Philipi.
In 42 BC, during this battle, the Romans Armies of Brutus and Anthony
fought in the valley of Philipi, after the murder of Cesar. In 49 BC, the Apostle
Paul, in preaching Christianity, visited Philipi, where he baptised
Lidia, the first Christian of Europe. For this he was
subsequently imprisoned here.
In the 9th Century, the Byzantines conquered Kavala, which at
that time was named Christoupolis. Later in 1387, Kavala fell under the
dominion of the Turks, who destroyed it in 1391. In the 16th Century, the
city was founded again with the name of Kavala. The Turkish domination
continued until 1913 , when it was liberated and became
part of Greece.
The best-known page of its history is the battle of Philipi
between the Roman armies of Brutus and of Octavian, after the murder of
Caesar in 42 BC. Another important event was the passage of the Apostle Paul, in 49 BC, through Philipi, the first stop of his preaching
Christianity in Europe.
