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, after the Battle of Kosovo, the Ottomans conquered the area, ruling it for over five centuries. A few years later, in 1392 AD, refugees from Epirus settled here and founded the settlement that would gradually evolve into modern-day Kozani.
The 17th century marked a period of great prosperity for the city. This flourishing was supported in part by a Sultan’s firman secured by Charisios Trantas, which designated Kozani as a “malikane”, a possession of the Sultan’s mother. This status granted special privileges to its residents, 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), the Stoa (1745), and the School of the Company (1756), 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 German Occupation, the city endured several hardships. After the Civil War, however, a new era of development began, largely driven by the establishment of Public Power Corporation (PPC) energy units.
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.
