The history of Kozani begins in the Paleolithic era and continues uninterrupted to the present day. Archaeological findings show that the area was always connected to the broader Greek world. During the reign of Philip II (359–336 BC), the small kingdoms of Upper Macedonia were united into the Macedonian Kingdom, and the Elimiotes tribe of the region took part in Alexander the Great’s legendary campaign as far as the Indus River.
In 168 BC, following the Battle of Pydna, the region came under Roman rule and later became part of the Byzantine Empire. In 1389 AD, following the Battle of Kosovo, the Ottomans occupied the region, while a few years later, in 1392 AD, refugees from Epirus settled here and founded the settlement that would gradually evolve into modern-day Kozani.
Ottoman rule would last for more than five centuries, with the city experiencing its greatest flourishing in the 17th century. This prosperity was also supported by the imperial firman secured by Charisios Trantas, which designated Kozani as a Malikâne—a possession of the Sultan’s mother—and granted special privileges to its inhabitants, including the prohibition of Muslim settlement and the free practice of their religious customs. The city developed commercial ties with Constantinople, Hungary, Poland, and Germany, while its products —most notably saffron— traveled all throughout Europe. At the same time, intellectual life thrived: schools were founded, along with the famous Library of Kozani (1668), all supported by a prosperous diaspora.
Despite plundering and conflicts during the 18th century, the city continued to grow. In the 19th century, Kozani’s citizens actively participated in the Modern Greek Enlightenment and the War of Independence in 1821. Liberation came on October 11, 1912, when the Greek army entered the city triumphantly after the Battle of Sarantaporo. In 1923, approximately 1,400 refugee families from Asia Minor and Pontus arrived, breathing new life into Kozani’s society and economy.
During the years of World War II, the city experienced the harsh German occupation, while the Civil War that followed left a deep mark on its post-war course. With the restoration of peace, Kozani gradually entered a new era of development, closely linked to the energy units of the Public Power Corporation (DEI).
As you get to know Kozani up close, you will see how this entire historical journey —from antiquity to the modern era— continues to shape the city’s distinctive character.
