From Sailors to Migrants: The Enduring Maritime Identity of Othonoi Island, Greece (Late 19th – Mid-20th Century)

This paper explores the enduring maritime identity of Othonoi, the largest of the Diapontian Islands in northwestern Greece, from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Situated at the crossroads of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, Othonoi developed as a small but dynamic maritime community whose economy and social life were deeply shaped by seafaring, coastal trade, fishing, and migration. Drawing on archival material, ship registries, oral testimonies, and local historical evidence, the study examines the island’s transformation from a traditional seafaring society into a diasporic community linked to global migration networks. It argues that migration did not sever Othonoi’s maritime character, but rather extended it beyond the island through the continued involvement of Othonian migrants in shipping-related occupations and through their enduring economic, cultural, and emotional ties to their homeland. The paper highlights the interconnected histories of maritime labour and migration, showing how island communities adapted to changing economic conditions, technological shifts in shipping, and wider geopolitical transformations. By focusing on Othonoi as a microhistorical case study, the article contributes to the scholarship on Greek maritime history, island studies, and diaspora studies, while also offering comparative insights into the resilience of small insular communities in the Mediterranean and beyond.