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Ottoman Conquest of Crete Begins With Siege of Chania in 1645

Saturday, 27 June 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

In the summer of 1645, Ottoman forces under Yusuf Pasha launched a siege of Chania (Hania) that lasted approximately two months, marking the beginning of Ottoman rule over Crete. The Ottoman army had landed on the island just days before initiating the siege, and the fall of Chania set in motion a decades-long campaign that would eventually bring all of Crete under Ottoman control by 1669. For visitors to Chania today, this history is visible throughout the old city. The Venetian harbor, the mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan (now an exhibition space), and the narrow streets of the old town all reflect this layered past. The Archaeological Museum of Chania and the Maritime Museum offer exhibits covering this period. The old town is walkable and open to visitors year-round.

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