Damalas

Zaccaria de Damalà Ζαχαρία ντε Δαμαλά
Arms of the Greek Zaccaria de Damalà family, differenced from the plain arms of the Genoese Zaccaria with the augmentation of honour of golden bezants in the second and third quarterings.
Parent family	Palaiologos Zaccaria
Country	Byzantine Empire Principality of Achaea Ottoman Empire Greece United States
Current region	United States, Greece
Etymology	Barony of Damala
Founded	1315 (title) 16th century (surname)
Founder	Martino Zaccaria (title) Antonio Damalà (surname)
Current head	Constantine Zaccaria de Damalà (b. 1992)
Titles	List King and Despot of Asia Minor (titular) Prince of Achaea Marquis of Bodonista Baron of Damala Baron of Veligosti (titular) Baron of Chalandritsa Baron of Arcadia Baron of Estamira Lord of Chios Lord of Phocaea Lord of Lesbos (titular) Lord of Samos Lord of Kos Lord of Ikaria (titular) Lord of Tenedos (titular) Lord of Oinousses (titular) Lord of Marmara (titular) Patrician and Noble of Genoa Hidalgo (Kingdom of Spain)
Heirlooms	Zaccaria Cross
Estate(s)	List Castle of Chios Castle of Damalà Castle of Chalandritsa Castle of Chlemoutsi Castle of Kyparisia Castle of Aetos Zaccaria Palace of Genoa Stratigato of Dafnonas Damalà Palace of Ermoupoli

The House of Zaccaria de Damalà, more commonly known as Damalas today, (pl. Damalas, or Damalades; Italian: Damalà, Greek: Δαμαλάς, pl. Δαμαλάδες) is an formerly ruling family of Genoese origin, established in the 14th century on the Greek island of Chios as the result of the marriage of Genoese admiral Benedetto I Zaccaria with a sister of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, and which ultimately produced the last ruling dynasty of the Principality of Achaea in Frankish Greece.

Before the family grew roots in the Byzantine Empire through their presence on the island of Chios, they were originally from Genoa as the Zaccaria de Castro. This was further a branch of the older de Castro family from Gavi, and in turn, descended from the viscounts of Carmandino, dating back to 952.

After the family was expelled from Chios in 1329, they concentrated their efforts on the Barony of Damalà in the Principality of Achaea, which they had previously acquired through marriage. They would, in time, rise to become the principality's last titled rulers, marrying in the process with other major houses ruling over Greek territories and in the Balkans, most notably, the Tocco, Asen and Palaiologos families.

The Zaccaria part of their name would be eventually dropped after the Ottoman conquest of Greece, taking instead their name from their former seat in the Barony of Damalà in Achaea, and the family would later adopt a Hellenized spelling of it by the dawn of the XIXth century, hence becoming known as Damalas.

These Damalas descended from the Zaccaria dynasty share their name with other unrelated families bearing the names Damala and Damalas, who trace their ancestry as early as 1230 in the Thracesian Theme of the Eastern Roman Empire. Descendants of these families also settled in Chios as well as Kos, and are often linked together.

The Barony of Damalà

Denier Tournois coin, minted in the Barony of Damalà.

The connection of the Zaccaria name with that of Damalà began in the early XIVth century, when Martino Zaccaria, then the third Genoese lord of Chios and Phocaea, received the Barony of Damalà in the Principality of Achaea.

Martino had four sons, Bartolomeo with his first, Venetian, Ghisi wife, and Centurione, Octaviano, and Manfredo with his second wife, Frankish Jacqueline de la Roche. Bartolomeo died in 1334, and though he had a daughter, Marulla, according to the Assizes of Romania, the Zaccaria family, as Latins in Frankish Greece, observed Salic Law which only allowed for male succession in their fiefdoms.

Venetian Grosso minted by Martino Zaccaria during his tenure as Lord of Chios, circa 1320.

Thus his eldest brother Centurione succeeded him as Baron of Damalà; held by Bartolomeo since 1317. He was also given control of his father's other possessions in Morea sometime during Martino's imprisonment. This began the dynastic struggle of the local baronies on the death of Philip of Taranto.

In thirteenth and fourteenth century medieval France, a baron was a lower ranked member of the feudal nobility, but in the Principality of Achaea, barons (barones et nobiles Achaie) were high lords formally equal to the Prince, that was regarded as first among his pairs (primus inter pares): they had regalian rights to mint coinage, administer justice in their own domains, build castles, and participate in the High Court of the Principality. The Prince couldn't punish a baron without the lawful consent of the other liege barons.

According to the Chronicle of Morea, the original baronies were twelve, including Chalandritsa and Veligosti (Veligurt), whose fief was the city of Damalà. After the fall of Veligosti, Damalà would become the center of the barony, by then ruled by the Zaccarias, due to the marriage of its baroness Jacqueline de la Roche with Martino Zaccaria.

By supporting Robert of Taranto, son of titular Latin Emperor Philip II, Centurione obtained the recognition of his position and the confirmation of his rights, which had been violated several times in the past by the Angevin princes.

His father Martino had continued the system of alliances through the marriages of his own children. Bartolomeo married Guglielma Pallavicini, who had brought the Marquisate of Bodonitsa as a dowry. Centurione married a daughter of the epitropos (steward or bailiff) of Morea, Andronikos Asen, son of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen III and Irene Palaiogina. This Asenina lady brought to Centurione the regions of Lysarea and Maniatochorion.

Byzantine bezant minted by Martino Zaccaria during his tenure as Lord of Chios, circa 1320. Note the Zaccaria arms engraved in the face of the coin.

Through this marriage, the descendants of Centurione also professed to be descended from the major aristocratic families of Constantinople, such as the Palaiologoi, while holding ties with the Kantakouzenoi, as empress Irene Asenina, sister of the Asenina of Centurione was married to John VI Kantakouzenos, emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. After the union of Centurione and this Asenina lady, the Zaccaria started to practice Orthodox-rite weddings until the time of John Asen Zaccaria.

After spending eight years in captivity for defying the emperor in 1329, Martino was released from his imprisonment. This was only permissible upon the condition that he swear an oath to remain in Genoa, through the intervention of Pope Benedict XII and Philip VI of France in 1337. He swore to never again, by word or deed, oppose the empire. He was then treated favorably by the emperor though, whom gave him military command as protokomes of Chios, as well as a few castles as compensation for his losses. This command would be succeeded by his second son Centurione.

The Zaccarias gained imperial favor once again, with Martino leading a crusade to retake coastal lands of Anatolia; but this ended with his demise in 1345. Upon his father's death, Centurione inherited the barony of Chalandritsa, the naval command of Protocomes of Chios, and the fortresses of Stamira and Lysaria; already possessing the title of Damalà since 1334. These improved relations with the Byzantines were cultivated by Centurione, with his return to Chios as protokomes. He reclaimed his paternal estates and jointly exploited the lands of Chios and Phocea with a few Genoese nobles whom the emperor had entrusted. These were the Ziffo, Corressi, Argenti, Agelasto.

The Genoese repossession of Chios

Imperial rule in Chios was brief, and by 1346, a chartered company controlled by the Giustiniani called "Maona di Chio e di Focea" was set up in Genoa to reconquer and exploit Chios and the neighboring town of Phocaea in Asia Minor. Although the inhabitants firmly rejected an initial offer of protection, the island was invaded by a Genoese fleet led by Admiral Simone Vignoso.

Centurione did not wait for the arrival of the diplomats, sent by the Empress Anna in order to negotiate with those under Vignoso. He mounted a resistance to the siege, however after several months had to surrender the island to prevent starvation due to a naval blockade; though he did not sign a capitulation. Prior to the surrender being formalized, drafted by a "I.N. of Agios Nikolaos," he escaped with a few of his sailors and headed for friendly territory in New Phocaea; in order to organize an operation to retake the island of Chios.

Two treaties were drafted, the first treaty regarding the surrender of Chios, included an amnesty to the Zaccaria family. However, when Centurione did not return to Chios, Vignoso sailed to New Phocaea and eventually achieved its surrender on the twelfth of September, 1346. Thus a second treaty was signed for New Phocaea, where the admiral revoked amnesty for Centurione and his family. It forbade them from residing, owning property or interfering in the governance of Chios or both Phocaeas. This was either not strictly observed or excluded women since a "Jane Zaccaria" is recorded as a witness to a property sale on the fourteenth of June, 1348. While Centurione resigned, the rest of Chios was given favorable terms, including all the privileges granted by chrysobulls of Byzantine emperors, as well as religious freedom for Orthodox Christians in Chios. Centurione is recorded as the "Protocomes Damala" in this treaty.

From then, Centurione lived both in his Barony of Damalà and Galata, where he signed in 1352 as a witness, "the first among the Latins", to the treaty with Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos.

The Zaccaria in Morea

The Genoese quintet of noble families in Chios during the 14th century Byzantine repossession. Note the Damalas arms in the uper right corner.

Centurione and his descendants ruled his father's possessions in Morea after their expulsion from Chios. The Barony of Damalà seems to have been lost to the Byzantines in the 1380s, since his eldest son and grandson are only mentioned with it in a titular fashion. This oldest son was recorded as Andronikos Asano de Damala. There are less sources for his presumed three brothers though: Filippo, Manuele and Martino. It is possible that Martino could have been the same person as Manuele as he does not appear in most genealogical records; he is known only from his participation in the Battle of Gardiki in 1375. Filippo and Manuele are documented through their marriages to prominent women of the time. Filippo married the heiress of Rhiolo in Achaea, and Manuele to Eliana Cattaneo.

Andronikos acted as bailiff of Achaea for a short time, when Centurione travelled to Naples the court of Queen Joanna I. After 1386 he inherited the Barony of Chalandritsa and the title of the Grand Constable of Achaea, becoming one of the most powerful men inside the Principality. He was wed to Catherine Le Maure, the eldest daughter of Erard III Le Maure and heiress to the great Barony of Arcadia and Saint-Sauveur. Through this marriage the Zaccarias added the coveted Le Maure inheritance to their domains.

Andronikos had four children: Centurione II, Stephen, Erard IV and Benedict. Centurione being the eldest, inherited his father's titles. Stephen was later appointed by Centurione as Latin Archbishop of Patras, a clerical position that he would hold until his demise in 1424. Erard inherited the maternal Barony of Arcadia, but seems to have died before 1404 as Centurione succeeded him as Baron by then. Benedict is recorded being alive in 1418, at Glarentza, when the forces of Olivier Franco besieged the city where Benedict was imprisoned.

Map of Damala in the Morea, Boschini Marco, 1658.

Maria, sister to Andronikos and only daughter of Centurione I, married the Pedro de San Superano, leader of the Navarrese Company from the year 1386 and the de facto Prince of Achaea until 1402. After his death, she ruled Achaea on behalf of her underage son as reigning princess until 1404, when they were dismissed by King Ladislaus of Naples for failing to make the payment promised by Pedro for the Principality.

With the proper homage not paid to as part of this initial transaction, by the twentieth of April, 1404, Maria's nephew and eldest son of Andronikos, Centurione II Zaccaria, who was already acting bailiff of Achaea for his aunt, and had arranged to pay the large sum owed by Pedro for the princely rights, was invested with Achaea as a hereditary principality and ascended its throne as its sovereign.

Centurione married an unknown lady of the Asen branch of the Palaiologos family, recorded in the Chronicle of the Tocco as "the princess" on more than one occasion. From this union, Centurione had at least four children: John Asen (Giovanni) Zaccaria, Catherine Zaccaria, Martino Zaccaria and another daughter whose name remains lost to history, that he offered as a bride to the adventurer Oliver Franco in 1418, after he seized the great port-city of Glarentsa. In 1429, the forces of Thomas Palaiologos besieged Centurione inside Chalandritsa, the prince resisted for some time but eventually he surrendered. He was forced to marry his daughter Catherine to Thomas Palaiologos, brother of the last emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantine XI Palaiologos.

Sometime around 1446, his eldest son John Asen rose against the despot and his brother-in-law Thomas Palaiologos, along with the Albanian chief Bochalis Leontaris, in a time when the Albanian influence in Morea grew quite formidable. Upon his uprising, he was proclaimed Prince of Achaea for the first time by Greek magnates, adopting the double-headed eagle as his emblem, and taking the city of Aetos as his seat.

Approximate reconstruction of the banner of the Zaccarias, raised during the 1453 Morean Revolt.

Within a year though, John Asen was defeated by the combined forces of then despots Constantine and Thomas Palaiologos. He was subsequently imprisoned with his eldest son and wife Magdalene Tocco by Thomas in Chlemoutsi castle, leaving these dangerous remnants of the previous dynasty to waste away.

John Asen nor his son died there as anticipated, and instead in 1453 convinced their guard to release them during a widespread revolt against the Despots. To secure his release he married his daughter to the lord of Chlemoutsi, although the name of this Zaccaria princess again does not survive. He was congratulated and recognized by many Western rulers, namely Pope Nicholas V, King Alfonso V of Naples, and the Venetian Doge Francesco Foscari, calling him "Prince Centurione III."

The confirmation of his princely title by Naples was of great significance as the Kingdom of Naples had been the feudal overlord of the Principality of Achaea since 1267 with the Treaty of Viterbo between Charles I of Anjou and William II of Villehardouin until the acquisition of the principality by Centurione II in 1404. After his escape, John Asen gained the support of many Latins, Greeks and Albanians and besieged Thomas inside the city of Patras. His campaign was initially successful, until Turkish troops came to the aid of Thomas by his request. John Asen was then defeated by the Ottomans under Turahan Bey after a rule of roughly one and a half years.

Giovanni escaped capture and found refuge with the Venetians in Methoni, where he remained for a period of about three years. In 1456, he retired under King Alfonso of Naples and received an annuity from Venice; he lost this though when he relocated to Genoa in 1459. There the Doge wrote him a letter of recommendation to Pope Paul II for support. In September 1461 after moving to Rome, the Pope granted him a monthly pension of twenty florins as Prince of Achaea until his death in 1469.

The origin of Damalà as a surname

The precise descent and change from the Zaccaria name to strictly Damalà comes from the line of John Asen's eldest son, Antonio. By the time of John Asen's imprisonment only five members of the family remained: himself, his two sons and daughter, and his sister Catherine. His eldest son Antonio was imprisoned with him in Chlemoutsi Castle, while his younger son Angelo is first seen passing through Genoa in 1448 and paid tribute as the grandson of Prince Centurione II by the Doge and nobility. He is later seen in Galata around the siege of Constantinople in 1453.

There is no record of Angelo having progeny, however Antonio had a son named Pietro Antonio that is recorded with his father regarding the church of St. Paul in Galata which was on land that the family owned. Pietro's line died out within two subsequent generations while the line of Pietro's brother Giovanni—named after his grandfather—is the line that continues to this day.

The definitive transition to simply "Damalà", is recorded in the 16th century when his son Antonio Damalà (1498–1578) is given a fief by the Duke of Naxos, John IV Crispo; this was the establishment of a feudal relationship between the two and to this day the village is named Damala.

The father of Antonio is listed as "Zaccaria de Damalà," now known to be Giovanni through Catholic baptismal records archived on the island of Tinos regarding his grandchildren.

Antonio played an important role in delaying the conquest of Naxos by the Turks. Giacomo IV Crispo, whom succeeded his father John after his death, sent Antonio to Constantinople in 1564 as ambassador to ask for the Sultan's mercy in order to recognize him. This is something Antonio seems to have achieved, as the relevant firman was issued on 29 April 1565.

When in Constantinople, Antonio had befriended the Sultan's son-in-law, Grand Admiral Piali Pasha, and for this reason, when Piali Pasha occupied Chios in 1566, he invited him to settle there, gibing him the ancestral estates that the Genoese Maona had taken from the Zaccaria centuries before.

Upon arriving in Chios, Antonio took over lands in Volissos, Kardamyla, Delfini, Lagkada, Kalamoti, Kampos and the Dafnonas tower. After 1566, Antonio lived in the tower, and also owned the Stratigato and the Damalà estates, whose churches, Panagia Coronata and Sotira, he renovated.

These two churches, fortified towers, and manor house were all severely damaged during the 1822 massacre of Chios and subsequently damaged further by the earthquake of 1881. To this day there is an area of Dafnonas called "τού Δαμαλά" ("belonging to Damalà") in the area of the island now generally known as Stratigato, from the name of the former estate.

The Golden Key of Chios, featuring the heraldry of the 37 noble families of the island from the Ottoman capture in 1566 to the massacre of 1822. Note the Damalas' coat of arms (quarterly Or et Gules, augmented of a bezant Or in each Gules quarters) by the middle left side.

Starting with Antonio, the family appears in the genealogical records of Chios all bearing distinctive Italian names along with the Damalà surname. They are recorded as one of the families belonging to the Latin Bourgeoisie of the island, of which some were descended from the old companions of the Zaccaria during their tenures as lords of Chios. This was the second of six levels which formed the social class system of the island, with first being the descendants of the Giustiniani that had administered the island through the Genoese Maona, and the third being the local Greek nobles of Byzantine descent.

Though the members of the three upper levels were considered noble, this was not officially recognized under Ottoman rule, but due to the special privileges that Chios enjoyed in the empire, the Turks simply turned a blind eye to these classifications which were observed on the island, and did not interfere in their local government affairs.

The family's fortunes and descent allowed them to intermarry with the Giustiniani and therefore take part in government. These social classifications shifted over time in favor of the Orthodox Greek nobles as they were routinely favored over Latin Catholics by the Ottomans. The "Golden Key" of Chios which showcases the 37 noble families of Chios reflects this later period of Greek preference.

By 1686, the Damalà were still recorded as one of the remaining noble families of Genoese origin by Giovanni Battista de Burgo in his visit to the island in that year.

Through the intermarrying with these other Greek nobles that were on the rise, the name was Hellenized to "Δαμαλάς" (Damalas) after 1822, as males all bear an "S" at the end of their surnames in Greek. This transition is observed in the names of the family starting after the massacre which was effectively a great reset to the island that solidified the Ottoman preference of Orthodox Greeks over other groups in Chios.

It is important to note that during the time the family reestablished itself on Chios, it was common for servants to adopt the name of their respective lords. Therefore, there must be a distinction between the modern day descendants of these servants and the patrilineal descendants of the Zaccaria de Damalà. There are also the descendants of an older Byzantine Damalas family, which complicates matters further. Regarding this matter, author and historian Dimitri Lainas conducted a study in 2006, which compiled the most recent seven generations of the Zaccaria-descended Damalas by that time, published by Pelinnaeo Magazine.

Struggles and prominence in the XIXth and early XXth centuries

The Massacre at Chios by Eugène Delacroix. This, and the works of Lord Byron, did much to draw the attention of mainland Europe to the catastrophe that had taken place in Chios (1824, oil on canvas, 419 cm × 354 cm (165 in × 139 in), Musée du Louvre, Paris).

During the 1822 Chios massacre the Damalà abruptly lost their privileged social position held since they returned to the island. Members that were able to escape capture fled along with the other noble families of Chios. Ioannis Zanni Damalà, who was the appointed governor of the island at the time, was executed during these events, and irreparable damage was done to their centuries-old estates.

Over the following decades the family reemerged as an influential force in the region, establishing themselves in Ermoupoli on the island of Syros, a place where other Chian nobles had fled to after 1822.

The head of the family at the time, Ambrosios Ioannou Damalas, became the most important merchant in the flourishing Syros, and acquired great wealth, thereafter leading the establishment of the Hellenic Steamship Company. In the cosmopolitan Vaporia district by the port of Ermoupoli, he had built an extremely ornate palace in the neoclassical style, rich with frescoes by Italian artist Giuseppe Tami. Some of the land of this estate was ceded for the expansion of Othonos Square, and it was there that the family was recognized by the first King of modern Greece, as King Otto I and Queen Amalia were hosted at the palace; first in 1846 and again in 1850.

Beginning in Ermoupoli, the family soon returned to their traditional role in statecraft, with Ambrosios serving as its mayor from 1853 to 1862, and his two eldest sons Ioannis and Pavlos as mayors of Chios (1878-1892) and Piraeus (1903-1907) respectively. The latter had also founded the Ereto Rowing Club, which received its royal charter in 1885, and remaining to this day the oldest sports club in Greece and the Balkans. Pavlos, as mayor of Piraeus, was also honored as commander of the British Royal Victorian Order during Edward VII's visit to Greece in 1906.

Ambrosios' third son, however, took a different path, albeit none less public. Aristidis Iakovos Damalas, better known as Jacques Damalà, who began as a military officer and diplomat, soon left these professions as he became infamous in Paris due to his womanizing habits and frequent opium consumption, to later become an actor and marry fellow actress, French theater star Sarah Bernhardt.

Regarding Jacques, Bram Stoker, the author of gothic horror classic novel Dracula, noted:

Funerary bust of Jacques Damala, by his widow Sarah Bernhnardt, 1889, now exposed in the New York MET Museum.

"I sat next to him at supper, and the idea that he was dead was strong on me. I think he had taken some mighty dose of opium, for he moved and spoke like a man in a dream. His eyes, staring out of his white, waxen face, seemed hardly the eyes of the living."

Stoker would later acknowledge that Jacques Damala was one of his models for the titular Count Dracula.

After Jacques' death, Bernhardt wore mourning clothes for a year, as was the Catholic custom, and she never renounced his last name, which she had hyphenated with her own. For a while, she insisted on being called "the widow Damalà," and even sculpted a funerary bust of him which is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Jacques was a good friend of fellow Greek Basil Zaharoff, the notorious "merchant of death" and one of the richest men in the world at the time. Near Jacques' death, Zaharoff took in his illegitimate daughter with a theatre extra after she was left in a basket on Bernhardt's doorstep. Eventually, this girl was baptised Tereza (1889–1967) and was raised by a surrogate family that Zaharoff found for her in Adrianople, in Eastern Thrace, later becoming a socialite in royal Athens society, and an impactful lover of both Ernest Hemingway, who called a her a "Greek princess", and Gabriele d'Annunzio, as well getting acquainted with Benito Mussolini, and serving as a model for Pablo Picasso in the early 20th century. The life of Tereza Damalà, including having been Zaharoff's ward and lifelong friend was the subject of the historical novel Tereza, by Greek journalist Freddy Germanos.

The present-day Damalas

Logo of the Antonios Damalas Foundation, featuring the Damalas coat of arms.

The Antonios Damalas Foundation building, Piraeus, Greece

The Damalas family has remained one of the most prominent in Chios, as attested by many historians, including Konstantinos Amantos and Nikos Perris.

While the current day members are few, the Damalas have made efforts in recent years to regain their former notoriety.

In 2012, Anastasia Damala formed the philanthropic Antonios Damalas Foundation which hosts intellectual seminars on the sciences, philosophy, current events and history.

These events are held in an 8-story building in Piraeus that is owned by the family and houses conference halls, a library, museum and chapel.

The foundation also has operations in Chios, within one of their ancestral homes, directly across from the ruins of the Kamenos Pyrgos estate.

Notably, this home is on land that has been held since their Zaccaria ancestors acquired it and constructed Kamenos Pyrgos.

Genealogical tree showing the legitimate patrilineal descent from from Martino Zaccaria up to the modern-day Damalas.

In 2023, a genealogical study was conducted regarding the Agnatic descendants of Martino Zaccaria de Chios e Damalà, the first historic head of the Zaccaria de Damalà branch that took hold in the Principality of Achaea after his marriage to Jacqueline de La Roche.

According to the family succession traditions in history, the most senior male-line descendant of Martino is the current legitimate head of the family, which leads, through the aforementioned genealogical study, to Constantine Zaccaria de Damalà (b. 1992).

The legal background regarding the nobiliary status of the family was the topic of a book published in 2024, titled Achaean Disputes: Eight Centuries of Succession Conflicts for the Title of Prince of Achaea, authored by Ugo Stornaiolo S.

Church of the Holy Apostles

Fresco of the founders, 1665. Symeon Damalas and his family hold up an effigy of the Church. Above the church's dome "ΔΑΜΑ ΛΑΔΕC" is written in medieval Greek, translating to ΔΑΜΑΛΑΔΕΣ, (DAMALADES, Damalas, in plural) in modern Greek.

The Church of the Holy Apostles is a late Byzantine church located in Pyrgi, the largest medieval village of Chios. It is one of the best preserved examples of Byzantine architecture in Greece. The church originally existed as one of the private shrines of the Damalas family, from which it is believed Pyrgi was built around, as in the late Byzantine period, population centers began around churches with a tower and manor house. As such, the church is situated just northeast of the village's main square.

Church of the Holy Apostles, in Pyrgi.

Holy Apostles is a small reproduction of the katholikon (main church) of Nea Moni, being richly decorated outside with brick patterns. The interior is completely covered with frescoes painted by Antonios Kenygos of Crete, in 1665.

An inscription over the main entrance of the church tells us that monk Symeon of the Damalas family, who eventually became the metropolitan bishop of Chios, raised the church "from its foundations" in 1564.

This most likely refers to an extensive renovation, since its architectural and morphological features indicate that it was constructed in the middle of the 14th century.

It is likely that the original church was destroyed in one of the great earthquakes of 1546, and 18 years later, the monk Symeon had found it in ruins. Under the property law at the time, it would have belonged to his family and would have been his obligation to rebuild it. Nonetheless, the exact family relation of this Symeon Damalas to the Zaccaria de Damalà family that was present in Chios during that time has remained obscure and unproven, aside from apocryphal family tradition.

The manor house and fortified tower that accompanied the church were destroyed like many structures in the 1881 Chios earthquake.

Male-line tree list

Below are all the male-line dynastic descendants of Martino, titular King and Despot of Asia Minor, and subsequently of Centurione II, Prince of Achaea. The numbers represent the positions in the line of succession. A silver crown designates previous heads of the family while gold denotes the current head.

• Martino, titular King and Despot of Asia Minor (c. 1291–1345)
  • Bartolomeo, Marquess of Bodonitsa (c. 1309–1334)
  • Centurione I, Bailiff of Achaea (c. 1318–1386)
    • Andronikos, Grand Constable of Achaea (c. 1357–1401)
      • Centurione II, Prince of Achaea (c. 1375–1432)
        • Centurione III, Prince of Achaea (c. 1406–1469)
          • Antonio (c. 1428–?)
            • Pietro Antonio (c. 1452–?)
              • Angelo (c. 1482–?)
            • Giovanni (c. 1458–?)
              • Antonio, Ambassador of the Duchy of Naxos to the Ottoman court (1498–1578)
                • Giovanni (c. 1559–c. 1608)
                  • Antonio (c. 1590–c. 1633)
                    • Giovanni (1615–?)
                      • Costantino (1649–c. 1712)
                        • Francesco (c. 1690–?)
                        • Baldassare (1705–c. 1759)
                          • Nicola (1736–1760)
                          • Giovanni (1740–1812)
                            • Nicola Isidoro (1766–c. 1768)
                            • Nicola (1768–?)
                            • Ioannis Zanni, Governor of Chios (c. 1778–1822)
                              • Ambrosios, Mayor of Ermoupoli (1808–1869)
                                • Ioannis, Mayor of Chios (1845–1916)
                                  • Ambrosios (1892–1913)
                                • Pavlos, Mayor of Piraeus, CVO (1853–1925)
                                  • Ambrosios (1898–1913)
                                • Aristidis Iakovos, aka Jacques Damala (1855–1889)
                              • Dimitrios (c. 1815–?)
                                • Nicholas, Royal Commissioner to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece (1842–1892)
                                • Athanasios Dimitrios (c. 1852–?)
                                  • Ioannis Athanasios (1877–1947)
                                    • George John (1923–2015)
                                    • Constantine John (1923–2004)
                                      • John Constantine (1955–2007)
                                      • Stefanos Constantine (1959–)
                                        • Constantine Paul (1992–)
                                  • Evangelos Athanasios (c. 1878–?)
                                  • Stefanos Athanasios (1884–1943)
                                    • Nasos Stefanos (1922–1923)
                                  • Apostolos Athanasios (c. 1889–?)
                                  • Harry Panagiotis (c. 1891–?)
                                  • Panagiotis Harry (1911–1994)
                                    • (1) Harry Peter (1946–)
                                      • (2) Peter Christopher (1975–)
                                    • Spyros Dimitrios (1951–2024)
                                  • George Athanasios (1892–1959)
                                    • Thomas George (1918–1965)
                                      • Thomas (c. 1936–?)
                                      • Ronald (c. 1936–?)
                                • Alexandros Dimitrios (c. 1854–?)
                                  • Antonios Alexandros (1874–?)
                                    • Dimitrios Alexandros (1906–1999)
                                      • Isidoros Dimitrios (c. 1924–?)
                                      • Antonios Dimitrios (1930–1989)
                                        • (3) Dimitrios Antonios (c. 1948–)
                                          • (4) Antonios Dimitrios (1997–)
                                        • (5) Markellos Antonios (c. 1950–)
                                    • Stylianos Alexandros (1912–1993)
                                      • Antonios Stylianos (1935–1992)
                                      • Nicholas Stylianos (1947–1999)
                                    • Alexandros (1916–1985)
                                  • Petros Alexandros (1883–1943)
                                    • William Peter (1924–1998)
                                      • Anthony William (1945–2010)
                                        • (6) Daniel Anthony (1951–)
                                      • William Thomas (1947–2015)
                                        • (7) Scott Thomas (1972–)
                                      • (8) Thomas Steven (1951–)
                                        • (9) David Thomas (1976–)
                                    • Gus Peter (1926–1995)
                                      • Peter Gus (1952–2000)
                                  • Constantine Alexandros (1887–?)
                                    • Alexander Constantine (1919–?)
                                  • Harry Alexandros (1888–1956)
                                    • Alex Harry (1938–1999)
                                      • (10) Alex Harry (1961–)
                                • Mikes Dimitrios (1855–1912)
                                  • Dimitrios (c. 1873–?)
                                    • Mikes (c. 1891–?)
                                      • Dimitris (c. 1909–?)
                                • Isidoros Dimitrios (c. 1856–?)
                              • Iakovos (c. 1817–?)
                                • Zanni Iakovo (1835–1898)
                                  • Jacques (1868–1937)
                                  • Alexandros (1869–?)
                                • George (1837–?)
                                • Dimitrios (1841–?)
                          • Costantino (1744–?)
                          • Severio (1746–?)
                      • Louca, Voivode of Mykonos (c. 1650–1688)
                      • Neophytos, Bishop of Thessaloniki (c. 1652–c. 1688)
                      • Mathon (c. 1653–c. 1688)
                    • Francesco (c. 1620–?)
                      • Michele (c. 1670–?)
                        • Francesco (c. 1688–?)
                          • Michele (c. 1706–c. 1775)
                            • Francesco (1743–?)
                            • Giacomo (1746–?)
                            • Giovanni (c. 1758–?)
                              • Michele (1785–1817)
                    • Nicola (c. 1626–?)
                      • Andrea (c. 1651–c. 1711)
                    • Grigorio (c. 1632–c. 1675)
                      • Antonio (c. 1669–?)
                • Costantino (1590–?)
                  • Giovanni (1617–?)
                • Nicoli (c. 1610–?)
                  • Antonio (1638–?)
                  • Giovanni (1642–?)
                • Filippo (c. 1560–c. 1607)
                  • Antonio (c. 1580–?)
                    • Filippo (1602–?)
                    • Nicola (1604–?)
                      • Antonio (1635–1636)
                      • Antonio (1636–c. 1642)
                      • Antonio (1642–?)
                    • Giovanni (1607–?)
                  • Filippo (c. 1585–c. 1621)
          • Angelo Giovanni (c. 1430–?)
        • Martino (?–c. 1424)
      • Stefano, Archbishop of Patras (?–1424)
      • Benedetto (?–c. 1418)
      • Erard IV, Baron of Arcadia (?–1404)
    • Martino (c. 1336–c. 1375)
    • Filippo (?–c. 1402)
      • Giovanni (1402–?)
    • Manuele (?–c. 1413)
  • Octaviano (c. 1319–c. 1350)
  • Manfredo (c. 1319–c. 1350)

Notable members

• Martino Zaccaria, lord of Chios in the Byzantine Empire, baron of Damala in the Principality of Achaea and titular King and Despot of Asia Minor in the Latin Empire of Constantinople.
• Bartolomeo Zaccaria, marquis of Bodonitsa jure uxoris.
• Centurione I Zaccaria, baron of Damala, Chalandritsa and Estamira in the Principality of Achaea, bailiff of the Principality of Achaea for the Angevin Kings of Naples; mid 14th century.
• Andronikos Asen Zaccaria, baron of Chalandritsa, Arcadia and Estamira, titular Baron of Damala, Great Constable of Achaea; late 14th century.
• Marulla Zaccaria Pallavicini, daughter of Bartolomeo, lady of Aerina and Salamis
• Maria II Zaccaria, Princess of Achaea per suo jure, 1402–1404.
• Centurione II Zaccaria, Prince of Achaea, 1404–1429, baron of Chalandritsa, titular baron of Damala, baron of Arcadia until 1432.
• Stephen Zaccaria, Latin Archbishop of Patras, 1404-1424.
• John Asen Zaccaria, known as Centurione III, short-ruling Prince of Achaea, 1453–1454 during the 1453 Morean Revolt.
• Antonio (Zaccaria de) Damalà, ambassador of the Duchy of Naxos to the Ottoman court, 1498-1578.
• Symeon Damalas (?), bishop of Chios; mid 16th century.
• Louca Damalas, voivode of Mykonos; late 17th century.
• Neophytos Damalas, bishop of Thessaloniki, late 17th century.
• Ioannis Zanni Damalas, governor of Chios; early 19th century.
• Constantino Damalas, Greek revolutionary during the Greek war of independence; early 19th century.
• Ambrosios Damalas, merchant and politician, mayor of Hermoupolis from 1853 to 1862.
• Jacques (Aristides) Damala, Diplomat, military officer, actor, socialite and husband of Sarah Bernhardt; late 19th century.
• Nikolaos Damalas, theologian and university professor, royal commisioner to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece; mid to late 19th century.
• Ioannis Damalas, mayor of Chios from 1878 to 1882.
• Pavlos Damalas, merchant and politician, mayor of Piraeus from 1903 to 1907, honorary CVO, and founder of the Ereto Rowing Club.
• Tereza Damala, socialite, illegitimate daughter of Jacques Damala, ward of Basil Zaharoff, lover of Ernest Hemingway and Gabriele d'Annunzio, and model of Pablo Picasso, late 19th to early 20th centuries. Subject of the historical novel Tereza, by Greek journalist Freddy Germanos.
• Mikes Damalas, cinematographer; mid 20th century.
• Antonios Damalas, academic, writer and researcher; mid-late 20th century.
• Anastasia Damala, philanthropist and founder of the Antonios Damalas Foundation.
• Spyros Dimitrios Damalas, businessman and pioneer in ecotourism in Costa Rica.
• Constantine Zaccaria de Damalà, equity trader, current head of the family.

Sources

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• Trapp, Erich; Walther, Rainer; Beyer, Hans-Veit; Sturm-Schnabl, Katja (1978). "6495. Zαχαρίας Μαρτῖνος". Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit (in German). Vol. 3. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 3-7001-3003-1.
• Shupp, Paul F. (1933). "Review: Argenti, Philip P. The Massacre of Chios". Journal of Modern History. 5 (3). doi:10.1086/236057. JSTOR 1875872.
• Hopf, Carl Hermann Friedrich Johann (1873). Chroniques Gréco-Romanes Inédites ou peu Connues. Berlin: Librairie de Weidmann.
• Miklosich, Franz (1860–1890). Acta et Diplomata Monasteriorum et Ecclesiarum Orientis Tomus Primus. Acta et Diplomata Graeca Medii Aevi Sacra et Profana. Vol. 4. Berlin: Vindobonae, C. Gerold.
• Πειραιωτών, Φωνή. "Ιδρυμα Για Τον Πολιτισμο, Την Επιστημη, Την Κοινωνια". Η Φωνη Των Πειραιωτων. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
• Γαΐλα, Τασσώ. "Πολιτιστικό Ίδρυμα Δαμαλά!". Tο μοσχάτο μου. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
• Argenti, Philip P. (1955). Libro d' Oro de la Noblesse de Chio. London Oxford University Press.
• Hopf, Carl (1888). Les Giustiniani, dynastes de Chios: étude historique. Ernest Leroux.
• Battista de Burgo, Giovanni (1686). Viaggio di cinque anni in Asia, Africa, & Europa del Turco. Milan: Giuseppe Cossuto. ISBN 9789754282542.
• Bon, Antoine (1969). La Morée franque: recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d'Achaïe (1205-1430). E. de Boccard.
• Missailidis, Anna (2012). The Church of the Holy Apostles in the Village of Pyrgi on Chios (Thesis). Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
• Δαμαλάς, Αντώνιος Σ. (1998). Ο οικονομικός βίος της Νήσου Χίου από έτους 992 Μ.Χ. μέχρι του 1566 (Tόμος A-Δ ed.). Αθηνα, Ελλάδα: Όμιλος Επιχειρήσεων Δαμαλάς. ISBN 960-85185-0-4. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
• Topping, Peter (1975). "The Morea, 1364–1460". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Hazard, Harry W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades, Volume III: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Madison and London: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0-299-06670-3.
• Ζολώτας, Γεωργιος Ιωαννου (1923). Ιστορια της Χιου. Sakellarios. p. 211. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
• Treccani, Giovanni (2020). Dizionario biografico degli italiani (Vol. 100 ed.). Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. ISBN 9788812000326. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
• Λαϊνάς, Δημήτρης (2001). Ιστορικές χιακές οικογένειες - Ράλληδες, Σκαραμαγκάδες, Σκυλίτσηδες, Νεγρεπόντηδες, Ζυγομαλάδες, Δαμαλάδες (108 ed.). Χίος: Περιοδικό Χιόνη.
• Stornaiolo Silva, Ugo Stefano (2024). Achaean Disputes: Eight Centuries of Succession Conflicts for the Title of Prince of Achaea. Covington, LA & Boerne, TX, USA: Libertas Press. ISBN 1600200052.
• Koukouni, Ioanna (2021). Chios dicta est... et in Aegæo sita mari: Historical Archaeology and Heraldry on Chios. Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781789697476.