 Main street of Candia after the massacre | |
| Date | 6 September 1898 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Candia |
| Location | Crete |
| Coordinates | 35°20′N 25°08′E / 35.333°N 25.133°E |
| Type | Massacre |
| Cause | Granting by foreign powers the Christian Greek community of a series of civil rights |
| Target | British soldiers, Greek civilians |
| Participants | Armed Muslim irregular groups |
| Outcome | Accelerated the end of Ottoman rule on Crete |
| Deaths | 500–800 |
| Property damage | A significant part of Candia |
| Sentence | Leaders of the Muslim perpetrators hanged |
| Awards | One British sailor was awarded the Victoria Cross |
The Candia massacre occurred on 6 September 1898, on Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire. It occurred as a reaction by armed Muslim irregular groups (Bashi-bazouks) to the offer to the Christian community of a series of civil rights by foreign powers. They attacked the British security force in Candia (modern Heraklion), which was part of an international security force on the island.
Muslim irregulars then proceeded to massacre the local Christians in the city. As a result, 14 British military personnel were murdered, the British vice-consul and his family were burnt alive in their home, and 500–800 Christian inhabitants are estimated to have been massacred. A significant part of Candia was burnt and the massacre ended only after British warships began bombarding the city. The incident accelerated the end of Ottoman rule on Crete and two months later the last Ottoman soldier left the island.[1][2]