History of Achaia
The first inhabitants of Achaia were Ions. The invasion of the Dorians
in 1100 BC forced a lot of Achaeans from different parts of Peloponnese, to settle in this area, where they founded twelve towns, including Patra, today’s capital and Aigio. This region was named Achaia.
The Achaeans participated in the foundation of the colonies in Sicily in 700BC, while on the contrary they didn't participate in the large fights and the political events of 5th BC century. These towns were reorganized to establish the Achaean Federation. That happened under the threat of the Macedonian expansion. The Achaean Federation was dissolved when Achaea (with the rest of Greece) was submitted to the Romans in 146 BC.
The rapid spreading of Christianity affects the history of Achaia. Saint Andrew, who is also the patron saint of Patra, preached and was tortured in this town.
Achaia prospered during the Byzantine period and for that reason, it became the target of attacks from the Arabs and the Slavs. In 1205 it was conquered by the Franks. They divided it in baronets that belonged to the principate of Achaea or Morias.
After the fall of Constantinople, the Turks also conquered the region of Achaea and they maintained their conquest until the bursting out of the Greek Revolution in 1821. The national revolution started in the monastery of Agia Lavra near Kalavryta where the revolutionary banner was raised for the first time. It was here that the Greek Revolutionaries promised God that they would give their lives to throw off the Turkish yoke from the greek land. When you read or hear about them then you really find out what it means to be a hero.