According to the ancient writers, the Thesprotes are descendants of the Pelasgians or Deucalion and Pyrrha, from whom Hellenus, the progenitor of the Greeks, was born. From Thesprotia the Greeks moved to Thessaly, Phthia and the rest of Greece. In the texts of the ancient writers, the historical truth is covered by myth, however it may be true that Thesprotia is the cradle of Hellenism. After all, one of its most important prehistoric states was Ella. During the years of the Turkish occupation, the most important cities were: Paramythia, Filiates and Margariti. Important for the movement of products to Ioannina points were Sayada and the passage of Eleftherochori, where Ali Pasha of Ioannina built his castle, which is still preserved today. In 1604, Dionysios the Scylosophus, he tried to rouse the Phanari into revolution, securing the aid of the viceroy of Naples and the knights of Malta. Unfortunately, his plans were betrayed. After the failure of the revolution in Ioannina in 1612, Dionysios the Skylosophus and the bishop of Phanariou Seraphim, were martyred by the Turks. The Turkish agades of Thesprotia were feudal lords and their towers (koulies) still exist today in Paramythia, Margariti and the tower of Ragi. In the area of ​​Thesprotic land, a group of villages could not tolerate slavery: Souli, Avarikos, Samoniva, Kiafa and seven other villages built on the slopes of a barren plateau, constitute a small Souliotian republic with parties - beacons such as the Tzavelai and the Botsarai. This commonwealth of 14 villages, he collected financial contributions from the beys and agades of Paramythia, Margaritiou and Mazarakia. In 1792, Ali Pasha fought against Soulios and was completely defeated. In 1799, he again attempts to capture Souli. After a three-year exclusion, the Souliotes are forced to agree to expatriate. Monk Samuel remains in Kugi and when the Turks arrive, he blows it up. The Turks then and contrary to what was agreed, hunt the Souliotes. Sixty women fall off the cliff of Zalongos to avoid capture, and the icy waters of Achelou in Seltzo become a grave for hundreds of women and children. Of the uprooted Souliotes, only a section that reached Parga managed to be saved. Parga, until 1797, was in the power of the Venetians. Then it passed successively into the hands of the French, the Russians, and the English, who in 1819 sold it to Ali Pasha. So its inhabitants were forced to emigrate. After the death of Ali Pasha, in 1822, Thesprotia returned to the sovereignty of the Sultan, until 1913, when it was liberated by the Greek army.

Source: Foundation of the Hellenic Parliament
http://foundation.parliament.gr/