How a distinct ethnic community became an integral part of the Greek nation

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, the Arvanites were a distinct community in Greece, speaking an Albanian variety known as Arvanitika. Once a dominant population in the Peloponnese and Attica, they played a vital role in the Greek War of Independence, eventually shifting their identity to become a cornerstone of modern Greek nationalism.

The Arvanites are a population group in Greece of Albanian origin. Settlers first arrived in southern Greece during the late 13th and early 14th centuries, while the last significant migratory surge took place during the 18th century's latter half. These groups were often invited by Byzantine or Latin rulers to resettle areas depopulated by war or disease, or were employed as soldiers. These early migrants were also used to occupy mountainous regions of Thessaly. Some groups even established military holdings in the area during the 1330s.

By the 19th century, Arvanites were considered an integral part of the Greek nation, largely due to their shared Christian Orthodox religion and their significant contributions to the Greek War of Independence. In the mid-19th century, specifically between 1854 and 1861, it is estimated that Arvanites made up roughly 16% to 25% of the population in the small Kingdom of Greece. Their influence extended to the Ionian Islands, where they comprised over 11% of the population by 1879.

The 20th century brought significant cultural shifts. As the modern Greek state pursued policies that discouraged the use of Arvanitika, and as large-scale internal migration to cities increased, the community underwent a process of assimilation. Today, most Arvanites self-identify as Greeks rather than Albanians. While Arvanitika was once the primary language of the Greek naval fleet—with sailors on islands like Hydra speaking both Greek and Albanian—the language is currently in a state of attrition due to this shift toward Greek. This linguistic decline was further accelerated by the massive movement of people from rural areas into urban centres.

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