Ionian Islands
the name commonly given to the seven islands, Cephalonia, Cerigo, Corfu, Ithaca, Paxo, Santa Maura, and Zante, with a number of islets, extending along the S. W. coast of Greece; area 1,097 square miles; pop., about 230,000. Pop. of Corfu (1917) 140,757. Products, corn, grapes, olives, currants, cotton, honey, wax, etc. Manufactures salt, olive oil, oil, wine, brandy. The Ionian Islands, with their dependencies, were erected into the republic of the Seven United Islands, March 21, 1800. It was to pay a moderate tribute to the Porte, and its independence was guaranteed by Turkey and Russia. The French captured the islands in 1807, and Russia ceded them to France by a secret article of the treaty of Tilsit, July 7, 1807. The French garrisons surrendered to an English force, Oct. 3, 1809, and by a treaty between Great Britain and Russia, signed at Paris Nov. 5, 1815, they were formed into an independent State, called the United States of the Ionian Islands, or the Septinsular Republic, under the protection of England. With the consent of Great Britain, they were reunited to the kingdom of Greece in 1864.