Introduction

Thessaloniki, known in medieval times as Salonica or Thessalonica, was a bustling and cosmopolitan city located in the northern region of Greece, along the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. By the year 1423, Thessaloniki had experienced centuries of rich history marked by Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences, making it one of the most important urban centers in the Balkans. This guide aims to take the reader back to the year 1423 and explore Thessaloniki through the lens of a traveler in the late medieval period, describing its social life, political atmosphere, architecture, economy, and cultural diversity.

Historical Background of Thessaloniki by 1423

Founded in 315 BCE by Cassander of Macedon and named after his wife Thessalonike (half-sister of Alexander the Great), Thessaloniki quickly grew to prominence due to its strategic location on the Via Egnatia, the vital Roman road connecting the Adriatic Sea to Byzantium (modern Istanbul). The city became an important commercial hub and military stronghold throughout the Roman and Byzantine eras.

By the early 15th century, Thessaloniki was under Byzantine control but was rapidly losing power amid the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The city was one of the last major Byzantine strongholds in the Balkans. The year 1423 marks a period of great uncertainty as Thessaloniki was soon to fall to the Ottomans in 1430, ending centuries of Byzantine rule. Yet, even in 1423, Thessaloniki was a thriving center of commerce, culture, and religious significance, rich with multiethnic communities. shutdown123