Galatis family

It is speculated that the family may have earlier come from Italy, perhaps from Apulia, where a family with the same name has existed for centuries. The first noble privileges are obtained in connection to service for the Tocco family who ruled Cephalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos. In 1403, Leonardo II Tocco confirmed and recognised noble privileges on the island of Zakynthos belonging to Francilo (or Franculo) Pelegano which had earlier been granted by Leonardo I to his parents, Nikolaos Palagano and Eudokia (daughter of Nikolaos Galatis). Upon the island of Ithaca itself, Leonardo Tocco (I or II) granted certain rights and privileges together with property to the Galati on the island, and named Kaisar (Caesar) Galatis among the nobles of the state. == Venetian period ==

After a short occupation by the Ottomans, the Venetians took control of the island in 1503. The island of Ithaca was repopulated in order to promote agriculture on the island, but the Galati were found already to be resettling the island of their own accord, independent of the official re-settlement by the authorities. It is possible that they had left the island at the end of the 15th century when the region was captured by the Ottomans. With them they brought livestock and seeds in order to establish agricultural activity on the island.'la famiglia Galati al tempo del signor Lunardo De Tochis erano tornati, et trattati per persone civili et non erano sottoposti a niuna gravezza.' "the Galatis family returned in the time of the lord Leonardo Tocco, and they were treated as civili (i.e. the class of citizens) and they were not subjected to any burdens." == Post-Venetian period ==

Some essence of the noble status of the family was maintained for centuries despite the changing economic environment, since the family is found in both the 1803 and 1804 Libri d’Oro, two late registers of nobility on the island. The Galati were the only holders of noble privileges on the island of Ithaca under the Tocco and later under the Venetians. A branch was later established at the nearby village of Kioni. == Connections to other families ==

The Ithacan family Galati are not believed to have any connection to the Chian Galatis family, who came to prominence much later with certain financial interests in European banking and shipping. Despite this, these two distinct families are often confused, with some erroneously attributing the Ithacan Nikolaos Galatis (1792-1819) to the Chian family. The revolutionary Nikolaos Galatis (1792-1819) claimed to be a cousin of Count Ioannis Capodistria but this was denied by the latter and the precise connection was not made out. == Notable members ==

• Franculo (Galati) Palagano (early 15th century), castellan of the fort of St Stephen, Zakynthos • Nikolaos Galatis (1792-1819) pre-revolutionary figure and member of the Filiki Eteria • Eustathios Galatis, archimandrite, member of the Filiki Eteria, brother of the pre-revolutionary Nikolaos • Dionysios S. Galatis (d. 1893), mayor of Larisa • Dionysios Galatis (b. 1891), trader in China and consul of Greece in Tianjin, China (1930s) • Platon Galatis (1919-1993), musician from Thessaloniki • (1946-), fashion designer from Athens ==References==