The Macedonian city of Callipolis was founded in the 5th century B.C.[2] It has a rich history as a naval base for various rulers.
The emperor Justinian I fortified Gallipoli and established important military warehouses for corn and wine there, of which some Byzantine ruins can still be seen.[2][4] After the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204, Gallipoli passed into the power of the Republic of Venice. In 1294 the Genoese defeated a Venetian force in the neighbourhood. The Catalan Company, a body of Almogavars, under Roger de Flor, established themselves here in 1306, and after the death of their leader massacred almost all the citizens; they were vainly besieged by the allied troops of Venice and the Byzantine Empire, and withdrew in 1307, after dismantling the fortifications.[2][4] After the city's defenses were damaged in an earthquake, it was conquered by Turks in 1354 and became the first stronghold of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.[4] Sultan Bayezid I (1389–1403) built a castle and tower there which can still be seen.[2] In 1416 the Venetians under Pietro Loredandefeated the Turks here.[2] Gallipoli is the site of "tombs of the Thracian kings",[2] which refers to the graves of the Islamic writers Ahmed Bican (died 1466) and his brother Mehmed Bican (died 1451).
From the early 17th century until the early 20th century, a relatively large number of Sephardic Jews lived in Gallipoli, descendants of those fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.
In 1854 the town was occupied by the allied French and British armies during the Crimean War who strengthened the defensive constructions from 1357.[2] Many soldiers died there of cholera and are buried in a local cemetery.[4] The guns of Gallipoli guarded the sea of Marmara until 1878 when more fortifications were built when the Russians threatened to take possession of Constantinople.[2]
Heinrich Kratz, O.Hosp.S.J.H., appointed 28 Jan 1484
Edward, appointed 1494
Diego, appointed 21 Aug 1507; died 1509
John Young, ordained bishop 3 Jul 1513; died 28 Mar 1526
Petrus Deodato, O.F.M., appointed 13 Feb 1638; succeeded as Bishop of Sardica (Sredek, Sofia), 15 Jun 1641
James Smith, appointed 28 Jan 1688; died 13 May 1711
Hyacinthus Archiopoli, appointed 1757; died 7 Apr 1789
Giuseppe Menditto, appointed 23 Jun 1828
John Bernard Fitzpatrick, appointed 21 Nov 1843; succeeded as Bishop of Boston, Massachusetts, 11 Aug 1846
Jean-Benoît Truffet, C.S.Sp., appointed 11 Dec 1846; died 23 Nov 1847
Jean-René Bessieux, C.S.Sp., appointed 20 Jun 1848; died 30 Apr 1876
Rosario Maria Frungillo, appointed 31 Dec 1877; died 5 Feb 1886
Vincenzo Molo, appointed 20 Sep 1887; died 15 Mar 1904
Karel Wisnar, appointed 14 Nov 1904; died 18 Apr 1926
José María Betanzos y Hormaechevarría, O.F.M., appointed 17 Jul 1926; died 27 Dec 1948
Joseph-Pierre-Albert Wittebols, S.C.I., appointed 10 Mar 1949; appointed Bishop of Wamba 10 Nov 1959
Bernard Schilling, S.V.D., appointed 19 Dec 1959; died 16 Jun 1992[10][11][12]
Gelibolu today
Gelibolu is now an administrative center in the province of Çanakkale. The mayor is Münir Mustafa Özacar (CHP). Gelibolu is well known for sardine canning.
Notable people
Piri Reis (c. 1465–1555), Turkish cartographer and geographer