Origin
According to the Maniot tradition, confirmed by the May 31 1870 epitaph of Anastasios-Petros Mavromichalis (which may be found in the Metropolis of Athens), the first members of the clan were refugees from the community of Kardias in Eastern Thrace who escaping from the Turkish attacks in 1452, resettled in Western Mani.
The name "Mavromichalis" is said to derive from an orphan boy named Michalis, since all orphan kids were called "mavros" which means "black" because of using dark clothes for mourning, so from this "mavro" Michalis future generations bore the name of "Mavromichalis" which simply means "Black Michael" but signifying "Michael the orphan".
Initially they established in Alica, but due to blood feuds and conflicts they moved to Tsimova in the eastern part of the Messenian Gulf and from there to their final destination in the seaside village of Limeni were they made their stronghold. After fortifying the village they took advantage of the port taxations during the Venetian domination which eventually arranged their land's virtual autocephaly.
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