Mount Athos, Greece
The first monasteries of the Mount Athos were built in 10th century. The exact year of the first built monastery - the Great Lavra monastery is not known but it is believed that it was constructed around year 963. The monasteries of Mount Athos flourished during the Byzantine Era until the 15th century when the Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Ottomans. The monks of Mount Athos maintained good relations with the Ottoman authorities after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and preserved their independence.
Mount Athos was captured from the Ottoman Empire by the Greeks during the First Balkan War in 1912 but they came into conflict with Russia over sovereignty of the Holy Mountain. Chalkidiki peninsula and with it also the Athos Mount fell under Greek sovereignty after World War I. The Greek Government proclaimed Mount Athos a part of Greece in 1926 but allowed the monasteries to retain an autonomous theocratic government.
