Editing Chios (section)

==History==
[[File:Chios by Piri Reis.jpg|alt=|thumb|16th-century detailed map of Chios by [[Piri Reis]]]]

===Etymology===
The ancient writer [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] tells us that the poet [[Ion of Chios|Ion]] of Chios believed the island received its name from ''[[Chios (mythology)|Chios]]'', the son of [[Poseidon]] by a nymph of the island, who was born amidst snowfall ({{langx|grc|χιών}} {{lang|grc-Latn|chiōn}} 'snow').<ref>Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'': 7.4.8</ref> Other ancient authors attributed the name to a nymph called [[Chione (Greek myth)|Chione]].<ref>[[Stephanus of Byzantium]], s.v. ''[https://topostext.org/work/241#Ch693.7 Chios]''</ref><ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], ''[[Naturalis Historia]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D5%3Achapter%3D38#note2 5.38]</ref> Known as '''Ophioussa''' ({{lang|grc|Ὀφιοῦσσα}}, 'snake island') and '''Pityoussa''' ({{lang|grc|Πιτυοῦσσα}}, 'pine-tree island') in antiquity, during the later [[Middle Ages]] the island was ruled by a number of non-Greek powers and was known as {{lang|lij|Scio}} ([[Genoese dialect|Genoese]]), {{lang|it|Chio}} (Italian) and {{lang|ota-Latn|Sakız}} ({{lang|ota|صاقيز}} in [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]]). The capital during that time was [[Castle of Chios|Kastron]] ({{lang|el|Κάστρον}}, 'castle').

===Prehistoric period===
{{main|Emporio, Chios}}

Archaeological research on Chios has found evidence of habitation dating back at least to the [[Neolithic]] era. The primary sites of research for this period have been cave dwellings at Hagio(n) Galas in the north and a settlement and accompanying [[necropolis]] in modern-day Emporeio (also known as Emporio) at the far south of the island. Scholars lack information on this period. The size and duration of these settlements have therefore not been well-established.

The [[British School at Athens]] under the direction of [[Sinclair Hood]] excavated the Emporeio site in 1952–1955, and most current information comes from these digs.<ref>Boardman, John ''Excavations in Chios, 1952–1955: Greek Emporio'' (London : British School of Archaeology at Athens; Thames and Hudson, 1967), cf. also Hood, Sinclair ''Excavations in Chios, 1938–1955: prehistoric Emporio and Ayio Gala'' (London : British School of Archaeology at Athens: Thames and Hudson, 1981–) {{ISBN|0-500-96017-8}}</ref> The [[Greek Archaeological Service]] has also been excavating periodically on Chios since 1970, though much of its work on the island remains unpublished.

The noticeable uniformity in the size of houses at Emporeio leads some scholars to believe that there may have been little [[Acephalous Society|social distinction]] during the Neolithic era on the island. The inhabitants apparently all benefited from agricultural and livestock farming.<ref>Merouses, Nikos ''Chios. Physiko periballon & katoikese apo te neolithike epoche mechri to telos tes archaiothtas. (Chios. Natural Environment & Habitation from the Neolithic Age to the end of Antiquity)'' pg. 80. Papyros, 2002</ref>

It is also widely held by scholars that the island was not occupied by humans during the [[Middle Bronze Age]] (2300–1600), though researchers have recently suggested that the lack of evidence from this period may only demonstrate the lack of excavations on Chios and the northern [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]].<ref>Merouses 2002 ch. 4</ref>

By at least the 11th century BC the island was ruled by a monarchy, and the subsequent transition to aristocratic (or possibly [[tyrant|tyrannic]]) rule occurred sometime over the next four centuries. Future excavations may reveal more information about this period.<ref>Merouses 2002 ch. 5, sect. 1</ref> 9th-century [[Euboea]]n and [[Cyprus|Cypriote]] presence on the island is attested by ceramics, while a [[Phoenicia]]n presence is noted at [[Erythrae]], the traditional competitor of Chios on the mainland.<ref>I.S. Lemos, ''The Protogeometric Aegean'' 2002:240, and Euboean ceramics in the Archeological Museum, noted by Robin Lane Fox, ''Travelling Heroes in the Epic Age of Homer'', 2008:60 note 59.</ref>

===Archaic and Classical periods===
[[File:ISLANDS off IONIA, Chios. Circa 380-350 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.32 g, 11h).jpg|thumb|ISLANDS off IONIA, Chios. Circa 380-350 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.32 g, 11h)]]

Pherecydes, native to the Aegean, wrote that the island was occupied by the [[Leleges]],<ref>[[Strabo]] 14.1.3</ref> [[Pre-Greeks]] who were reported to be subjected to the [[Minoans]] on [[Crete]].<ref>[[Herodotus]] 1.171</ref> They were eventually driven out by invading [[Ionians]].

Chios was one of the original twelve member states of the [[Ionian League]]. As a result, Chios, at the end of the 7th century BC,<ref>Agelarakis A., "Analyses of Cremated Human Skeletal Remains Dating to the Seventh Century BC, Chios, Greece".  Horos: Ena Archaeognostiko Periodiko 4 (1986): 145–153.</ref> was one of the first cities to strike or mint coins, establishing the [[sphinx]] as its symbol. It maintained this tradition for almost 900 years.

In the 6th century BC, Chios' government adopted a constitution similar to that developed by [[Solon]] in [[Athens]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Oswyn |title=Early Greece |year=1993 |publisher=Fontana |location=London |isbn=0006862497 |page=188 |edition=2nd}}</ref> and later developed democratic elements with a voting assembly and people's magistrates called ''damarchoi''.<ref name="Grant, Michael 1989 p.149">Grant, Michael (1989). The Classical Greeks. Guild Publishing London. p.149</ref>

In 546 BC, Chios was subjected to the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]].<ref name="Grant, Michael 1989 p.149"/> Chios joined the [[Ionian Revolt]] against the Persians in 499 BC. The naval power of Chios during this period is demonstrated by the fact that the Chians had the largest fleet (100 ships) of all of the Ionians at the [[Battle of Lade]] in 494 BC. At Lade, the Chian fleet doggedly continued to fight the Persian fleet even after the defection of the [[Samos|Samians]] and others, but the Chians were ultimately forced to retreat and were again subjected to Persian domination.<ref>Herodotus, ''The Histories'' IV.15</ref>

The defeat of Persia at the [[Battle of Mycale]] in 479 BC meant the liberation of Chios from Persian rule. When the Athenians formed the [[Delian League]], Chios joined as one of the few members who did not have to pay tribute but who supplied ships to the alliance.<ref>Thucydides, ''Peloponnesian War'' 3.10.</ref>

By the fifth to fourth centuries BC, the island had grown to an estimated population of over 120,000 (two to three times the estimated population in 2005), based on the huge necropolis at the main city of Chios. It is thought that the majority of the population lived in that area.<ref>Merouses 2002 ch. 5, sect. 3</ref>

In 412 BC, during the [[Peloponnesian War]], Chios revolted against Athens, and the Athenians besieged it.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, 8.14-15</ref> Relief only came the following year when the Spartans were able to raise the siege.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0247%3Abook%3D8%3Achapter%3D16 8.16]</ref> In the 4th century BC, Chios was a member of the [[Second Athenian League]] but revolted against Athens during the [[Social War (357–355 BC)]], and Chios became independent again until the rise of [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]].

===Hellenistic period===
[[File:Modern Chios sphinx.jpg|thumb|Reproduction of Sphinx (emblem of Chios).]]

Theopompus returned to Chios with the other exiles in 333 BC after [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] had invaded [[Asia Minor]] and decreed their return,<ref>[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/alexander-s-letter-to-the-chians/ A translation of the decree can be viewed online]</ref> as well as the exile or trial of Persian supporters on the island. Theopompus was exiled again sometime after Alexander's death and took refuge in Egypt.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051231184644/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/greek-lit/index.html Anthon, Charles ''A Manual of Greek Literature'', p.251, 1853]}}</ref>

During this period, the island also had become the largest exporter of Greek wine, which was noted for being of relatively high quality (see "[[Chian wine]]"). Chian [[amphoras]], with a characteristic sphinx emblem and bunches of grapes, have been found in nearly every country with whom the ancient Greeks traded. These countries included [[Gaul]], [[Upper Egypt]], and Southern [[Russia]].<ref>Hugh Johnson, ''Vintage: The Story of Wine'' pg 41. Simon and Schuster 1989</ref>

===Roman period===

During the [[Third Macedonian War]], thirty-five vessels allied to Rome, carrying about 1,000 [[Galatia]]n troops, as well as a number of horses, were sent by [[Eumenes II]] to his brother [[Attalus II Philadelphus|Attalus]]. Leaving from Elaea, they were headed to the harbour of Phanae, planning to disembark from there to Macedonia. However, [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]]'s naval commander Antenor intercepted the fleet between [[Erythrae]] (on the Western coast of Turkey) and Chios. According to [[Livy]],<ref>[[Livy]], 44.28</ref> they were caught completely off-guard by Antenor. Eumenes' officers at first thought the intercepting fleet were friendly Romans, but scattered upon realizing they were facing an attack by their Macedonian enemy, some choosing to abandon ship and swim to Erythrae. Others, crashing their ships into land on Chios, fled toward the city. The Chians however closed their gates, startled at the calamity. And the Macedonians, who had docked closer to the city anyway, cut the rest of the fleet off outside the city gates, and on the road leading to the city. Of the 1,000 men, 800 were killed, 200 taken prisoner.'

After the Roman conquest Chios became part of the province of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]].

In the spring of 14 BC, King [[Herod the Great|Herod]] of [[Herodian kingdom|Judaea]], known for his extensive architectural projects, funded the construction of a [[stoa]] on Chios, which had suffered destruction during the [[Mithridatic Wars|Mithridatic War]]. Additionally, he settled the outstanding taxes owed by the people of Chios to the Romans.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Guy MacLean |title=For the Freedom of Zion: the Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66-74 CE |date=2021 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-24813-5 |location=New Haven |pages=22, 536}}</ref>

[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] remarks upon the islanders' use of variegated [[marble]] in their buildings, their appreciation for such stone above murals or other forms of artificial decoration,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D36%3Achapter%3D5 |title=Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XXXVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STONES., CHAP. 5. (6.)—AT WHAT PERIOD MARBLE WAS FIRST USED IN BUILDINGS |publisher=Perseus.tufts.edu |access-date=2013-03-26}}</ref> and the cosmetic properties of the [[Chian earth|local earth]].<ref>Pliny, ''Nat. Hist.'', Book XXXV, Sect. 56.</ref> The marble from Chios, called ''marmor chium'' or "portasanta" today, became one of the most desirable and expensive in the Roman world and later.<ref>Pensabene P., I marmi nella Roma antica, Rome 2013, pp. 59-62.</ref> It has a pinkish coloured background containing yellow-orange, brown and grey spots of variable shape and size, separated by whitish or red veins. The name "portasanta" derives from the door jambs of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, being made of this marble.

According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Luke the Evangelist]], [[Paul the Apostle]] and their companions passed Chios during Paul's third missionary journey, on a passage from [[Lesbos]] to [[Samos]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|20:15|NKJV}}</ref>

===Byzantine period===
{{Further|Aegean Sea (theme)|Samos (theme)}}
[[File:Νέα Μονή Χίου - Καμπαναριό.jpg|thumb|[[Nea Moni of Chios]] (11th century)]]
[[File:Κάμπος Χίου - Παναγία Κοκοροβιλιά.jpg|thumb|Byzantine Panagia Kokorovilia Church (13th century) in [[Kampochora|Kampos]]]]

After the permanent division of the [[Roman Empire]] in 395 AD, Chios was for seven centuries part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. This came to an end when the island was briefly held (1090–97) by [[Tzachas]], a Turkish bey in the region of Smyrna during the first expansion of the Turks to the Aegean coast.<ref>[[Lars Brownworth|Brownworth, Lars]] (2009) ''Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization'', Crown Publishers, {{ISBN|978-0-307-40795-5}}: "...the Muslims captured Ephesus in 1090 and spread out to the Greek islands.  Chios, Rhodes, and Lesbos fell in quick succession." p. 233.</ref> However, the Turks were driven back from the Aegean coast by the Byzantines aided by the [[First Crusade]], and the island was restored to Byzantine rule by admiral [[Constantine Dalassenos (thalassokrator)|Constantine Dalassenos]].

This relative stability was ended by the sacking of Constantinople by the [[Fourth Crusade]] (1204) and during the turmoil of the 13th century the island's ownership was constantly affected by the regional power struggles. After the Fourth Crusade, the Byzantine empire was divided up by the [[Latin Empire|Latin emperors of Constantinople]], with Chios nominally becoming a possession of the [[Republic of Venice]]. However, defeats for the Latin empire resulted in the island reverting to Byzantine rule in 1225.

===Genoese period (1304–1566)===
{{See also|Lordship of Chios|Maona of Chios and Phocaea}}
[[File:ΚΑΣΤΡΟ ΧΙΟΥ ΕΙΣΟΔΟΣ.jpg|thumb|[[Castle of Chios]]]]
[[File:Map of Chios - Bordone Benedetto - 1547.jpg|thumb|Chios map by [[Benedetto Bordone]], 1547]]
[[File:Εσωτερική άποψη Κτήμα Αργέντικον 07.jpg|thumb|Building in [[Kampochora|Kampos]]]]
[[File:Francesco Solimena - The Massacre of the Giustiniani at Chios - WGA21628.jpg|thumb|''The Massacre of the Giustiniani at Chios'' by [[Francesco Solimena]]]]

The Byzantine rulers had little influence and through the [[Treaty of Nymphaeum (1261)|Treaty of Nymphaeum]], authority was ceded to the [[Republic of Genoa]] (1261).<ref>William Miller, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/624735 "The Zaccaria of Phocaea and Chios. (1275–1329.)"] ''The Journal of Hellenic Studies'', Vol. 31, 1911 (1911), pp. 42–55; {{doi|10.2307/624735}}.</ref> At this time the island was frequently attacked by pirates, and by 1302–1303 was a target for the renewed Turkish fleets. To prevent Turkish expansion, the island was reconquered and kept as a renewable concession, at the behest of the Byzantine emperor [[Andronicus II Palaeologus]], by the Genovese [[Benedetto I Zaccaria]] (1304), then admiral to Philip of France. Zaccaria installed himself as ruler of the island, founding the short-lived [[Lordship of Chios]]. His rule was benign and effective control remained in the hands of the local Greek landowners. Benedetto Zacharia was followed by his son [[Paleologo Zaccaria|Paleologo]] and then his grandsons or nephews [[Benedetto II Zaccaria|Benedetto II]] and [[Martino Zaccaria|Martino]]. They attempted to turn the island towards the Latin and Papal powers, and away from the predominant Byzantine influence. The locals, still loyal to the Byzantine Empire, responded to a letter from the emperor and, despite a standing army of a thousand infantrymen, a hundred cavalrymen and two galleys, expelled the Zacharia family from the island (1329) and dissolved the fiefdom.<ref>Arbel, Benjamin, Bernard Hamilton, and David Jacob. ''Latins and Greeks in the Eastern Mediterranean After 1204''. {{ISBN|0-7146-3372-0}}.</ref>

Local rule was brief. In 1346, a chartered company or ''[[Maona]]'' (the "''[[Maona di Chio e di Focea]]''") was set up in Genoa to reconquer and exploit Chios and the neighbouring town of [[Phocaea]] in Asia Minor. Although the islanders firmly rejected an initial offer of protection, the island was invaded by a Genoese fleet, led by [[Simone Vignoso]], and the castle besieged. Again rule was transferred peacefully, as on 12 September the castle was surrendered and a treaty signed with no loss of privileges to the local landowners as long as the new authority was accepted. The Maona was controlled by the [[Giustiniani]] family.

The Genoese, being interested in profit rather than conquest, controlled the trade-posts and warehouses, in particular the trade of mastic, alum, salt and pitch. Other trades such as grain, wine oil and cloth and most professions were run jointly with the locals. After a failed uprising in 1347, and being heavily outnumbered (less than 10% of the population in 1395), the Latins maintained light control over the local population, remaining largely in the town and allowing full religious freedom. In this way the island remained under Genoese control for two centuries. A notable Genoese inhabitant from this period was [[Christopher Columbus]] who lived in Chios in the 1470s before his voyages to the Americas. In 1566, when Genoa lost Chios to the [[Ottoman Empire]], there were 12,000 Greeks and 2,500 Genoese (or 17% of the total population) in the island.<ref>[http://www.chioshistory.gr/en/itx/itx22.html Chios History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002113459/http://www.chioshistory.gr/en/itx/itx22.html |date=2 October 2011 }}</ref>

===Ottoman period: economic prosperity and the Great Destruction===
{{main|Sanjak of Sakız}}
{{Further|Greek War of Independence|Chian Committee|Chios Massacre|Chian diaspora|Chios expedition}}
[[File:Scène des massacres de Scio.jpg|thumb|''[[The Massacre at Chios]]'' by [[Eugène Delacroix]]. This, and the works of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]], did much to draw the attention of mainland Europe to the catastrophe that had taken place in Chios (1824, oil on canvas, {{cvt|419|x|354|cm|0}}, [[Louvre|Musée du Louvre]], Paris).]]
[[File:Lytras-nikiforos-pyrpolisi-tourkikis-navarhidas-apo-kanari.jpeg|thumb|"The blowing up of the Nasuh Ali Pasha's flagship by [[Konstantinos Kanaris]]", painted by [[Nikiphoros Lytras]] ({{cvt|143|×|109|cm|0}}. [[Averoff Gallery]]). Kanaris blew up the flagship as a revenge for the massacre.]]
[[File:Anavatos, Chios 03.png|thumb|[[Anavatos]] abandoned village]]

In April 1566, the island of Chios was captured by the [[Ottoman Empire]] after the surrender to [[Piali Pasha|Piyale Pasha]]. Subsequently, the Genoans were sent to the capital and after some time upon the request of the French ambassador they were allowed to return with a firman.<ref name="TDVIA">{{TDV Encyclopedia of Islam|title=Sakız Adası |volume=36 |pages=6–10 |first=Ali Fuat |last=Örenç |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/sakiz-adasi}}</ref>

During Ottoman rule, the government and tax gathering again remained in the hands of Greeks and the Turkish garrison was small and inconspicuous.<ref>William St. Clair, That Greece Might Still Be Free, ''The Philhellenes in the War of Independence'', Oxford University Press, London, 1972, p.79. {{ISBN|0-19-215194-0}}.</ref>

As well as the Latin and Turkish influx, documents record a small Jewish population from at least 1049 AD.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sephardicstudies.org/chios.html |title=The Sephardic Community of Chios |publisher=Sephardicstudies.org |access-date=22 March 2009}}</ref> The original Greek ([[Romaniotes|Romaniote]]) Jews, thought to have been brought over by the Romans, were later joined by Sephardic Jews welcomed by the Ottomans during the [[Alhambra Decree |Iberian expulsions of the late 15th century]].

The mainstay of the island's famous wealth was the mastic crop. Chios was able to make a substantial contribution to the imperial treasury while at the same time maintaining only a light level of taxation. The Ottoman government regarded it as one of the most valuable provinces of the Empire.<ref>William St. Clair, p. 79</ref>

When the [[Greek War of Independence]] broke out, the island's leaders were reluctant to join the revolutionaries, fearing the loss of their security and prosperity. However, in March 1822, several hundred armed Greeks from the neighbouring island of [[Samos]] landed in Chios. They proclaimed the revolution and launched attacks against the Turks, at which point islanders decided to join the struggle.

Ottomans landed a large force on the island consequently and put down the rebellion. The Ottoman [[Chios Massacre|massacre of Chios]] expelled, killed or enslaved thousands of the inhabitants of the island.<ref>[http://greece.org:8080/opencms/opencms/HEC_Projects/Genocide/el/2_Events Hellenic Genocide Events] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804040759/http://www.greece.org:8080/opencms/opencms/HEC_Projects/Genocide/el/2_Events/ |date=4 August 2008 }} retrieved 19 May 2008</ref> It wiped out whole villages and affected the [[Mastichochoria]] area, the mastic growing villages in the south of the island. It triggered also negative public reaction in Western Europe, as portrayed by [[Eugène Delacroix]], and in the writing of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]] and [[Victor Hugo]]. In 1825, [[Thomas Barker of Bath]] painted a fresco depicting the [[Chios Massacre]] on the walls of Doric House, [[Bath, Somerset]].<ref>YJC Cartledge, 'The Chios Massacre (1822) and early British Christian-humanitarianism', ''Historical Research'', vol. 93, no. 259 (February 2020), pp. 52-72, at pp. 60-61.</ref> Finally, Chios was not included in the [[First Hellenic Republic|modern Greek state]] and remained under Ottoman rule.

The [[1881 Chios earthquake]], estimated as 6.5 on the [[moment magnitude scale]], damaged a large portion of the island's buildings and resulted in great loss of life. Reports of the time spoke of 5,500–10,000 fatalities.<ref name="Altinok">{{cite journal |author1=Y. Altinok |author2=B. Alpar B |author3=N. Özer |author4=C. Gazioglu |year=2005 |title=1881 and 1949 earthquakes at the Chios-Cesme Strait (Aegean Sea) and their relation to tsunamis |journal=Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=717–725 |url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/29/92/70/PDF/nhess-5-717-2005.pdf|access-date=31 July 2010 |doi=10.5194/nhess-5-717-2005|bibcode=2005NHESS...5..717A |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Remarkably, despite the terrible devastation, in the later 19th century Chios emerged as the motherland of the modern Greek shipping industry. Indicatively, while in 1764, Chios had 6 vessels with 90 sailors on record, in 1875 there were 104 ships with over 60,000 registered tonnes, and in 1889 were recorded 440 sailing ships of various types with 3,050 sailors. The dynamic development of Chian shipping in the 19th century is further attested by the various shipping related services that were present in the island during this time, such as the creation of the [[shipping insurance]] companies ''Chiaki Thalassoploia'' (Χιακή Θαλασσοπλοΐα), ''Dyo Adelfai'' (Δυο Αδελφαί), ''Omonoia'' (Ομόνοια) and the shipping bank ''Archangelos'' (Αρχάγγελος) (1863). The boom of Chian shipping took place with the successful transition from sailing vessels to steam. To this end, Chian ship owners were supported by the strong ''[[Chian diaspora|diaspora]]'' presence of Chian merchants and bankers, and the connections they had developed with the financing centers of the time (Istanbul, London), the establishment in London of shipping businessmen, the creation of shipping academies in Chios and the expertise of Chian personnel on board.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Σταύρος Γ. Λιβανός. Η Χιώτικη Ναυτιλιακή παραδοση στην κορυφή της παγκόσμιας ναυτιλίας |last=Μιχαηλίδης |first=Σταύρος Γ. |year=2014 |location=Χίος}}</ref>

===In independent Greece===
[[File:Λαγκάδα, Λιμένας.jpg|thumb|The port of Lagada]]

Chios joined the rest of independent Greece after the [[First Balkan War]] (1912). The Greek Navy [[Battle of Chios (1912)|landed at Chios]] in November 1912 and took control of the island after a series of clashes that lasted for over a month. The Ottoman Empire recognized Greece's annexation of Chios and the other Aegean islands by signing the [[Treaty of London (1913)]].

Although Greece was officially neutral, the island was occupied by the British during World War I, on 17 February 1916. This may have been due to the island's proximity to the Ottoman Empire and the city of İzmir in particular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First World War.com – On This Day – 17 February 1916 |url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1916_02_17.htm |website=www.firstworldwar.com|access-date=2016-02-17}}</ref>

It was affected also by the population exchange after the [[Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922]], with the incoming Greek refugees settling in Kastro (previously a Turkish neighborhood) and in new settlements hurriedly built south of Chios town.

The island saw some local violence during the [[Greek Civil War]] setting neighbour against neighbour. This ended when the final band of communist fighters was trapped and killed in the orchards of Kampos and their bodies driven through the main town on the back of a truck. In March 1948, the island was used as an internment camp for female political detainees (communists or relatives of guerillas) and their children, who were housed in military barracks near the town of Chios. Up to 1300 women and 50 children were housed in cramped and degrading conditions, until March 1949 when the camp was closed and the inhabitants moved to [[Paleo Trikeri|Trikeri]].<ref>Becoming a Subject: Political Prisoners During the Greek Civil War: Polymeris Voglis, Published 2002Berghahn Books {{ISBN|157181308X}}</ref>

The production of [[mastic (plant resin)|mastic]] was threatened by the [[2012 Chios forest fire|Chios forest fire]] that swept the southern half of the island in August 2012 and destroyed some [[Pistacia lentiscus|mastic groves]].

By 2015, Chios had become a transit point for refugees and asylum seekers entering the EU from Turkey. A reception and identification centre was formed at VIAL near the village of Chalkeio, however, in 2021 the Greek government announced a new closed reception centre will be built in a more isolated location at Akra Pachy near the village of Pantoukios.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= 28 January 2021|title=Χίος : Νέα προσφυγική δομή στο νησί ανακοίνωσε το υπ. Μετανάστευσης |url=https://www.in.gr/2021/01/28/greece/xios-nea-prosfygiki-domi-sto-nisi-anakoinose-yp-metanasteysis/amp/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128183841/https://www.in.gr/2021/01/28/greece/xios-nea-prosfygiki-domi-sto-nisi-anakoinose-yp-metanasteysis/amp/ |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date= |website=}}</ref>