Geography
The Souliotes were named after the village of Souli, a mountain settlement in Thesprotia, Greece. The name Souli is of uncertain origin. It has been suggested that it derives from the ancient Greek region of Selaida "Σελάϊδα" or "Soulaida" ("Σουλάϊδα"). Another view claims that it derives from the name of a Turk that was killed there. Yet another opinion based on etymology claims that the word derives from the Albanian term sul, which can be idiomatically interpreted as 'watchpost', 'lookout' or 'mountain summit'.
Souli is a community originally settled by refugees who were hunted by the Ottomans in Paramythia, Thesprotia, Greece. In time, immigrants from elsewhere, attracted by the privileges of autonomy in Souli, assimilated and were also named Souliotes. The Greek peasants who tilled Souliot land were distinguished by the name of the village in which they dwelt. Clan, class and territorial labels had significance in addition to religion.
Around 1730 Souli had not more than 200 men bearing arms. Inhabitants of the neighboring countryside would retire to the mountains to avoid Ottoman oppression and thus the Souliote population increased. Before the final war with Ali Pasha, the families of Souli were:
- Zervaioi, from Zerva, a village near Arta.
- Botzaraioi, originally from Dragani, today Ampelia, south of Paramythia.
- Drakaioi, from Martane, a village of the valley of Lamari, today in Thesprotia prefecture.
- Buzbataioi, from the Vlachochoria (Vlach Villages) of Mt. Pindus.
- Dagliaioi, from Fanari, near Preveza.
- Zavellaioi and Pasataioi, of unknown origin.
In early modern times the total population of Souli was about 12,000 After their expulsion, the population of the region was significantly reduced. In the last Greek census of 2001, the population of the community was 748. The seat of the community is in Samoniva. The core of Souli consists of four villages (Greek: Τετραχώρι), namely: Souli (also known as Kakosouli), Kiafa, Navariko and Samoniva, which are believed to have been founded some time around 16th century.
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