Kalymnos in the Middle Ages

According to archaeologists, the marbles of the Appolonian temple were used to construct the temple of 'Jesus of Jerousalem'. The temple of Telendos and of Agios Ioannis of Melitsaha were also built on the ruins of an ancient temple - probably that of Poseidon. From the existence of the temples of Telendos we come to the conclusion that the destruction of the town, which was between Myrties and Telendos, and the separation of those places may have completed during that massive and powerful earthquake which struck during the time of Ioustinianos and lasted for fourteen days.

With the new administrative division of the Byzantine Empire into parties, Kalymnos becomes part of Samos.

Right after the occupation of Rhodes, in 1310, the Knights realising the danger they faced from the Turkish, organised the defence of the island by dominating the surrounding islands for safety and protection of their source of revenue. The leader of the knights, Fulque de Villaret, within a few years managed to seize the islands from Leros to Kastellorizo. The knights were aware of the fact that in order to maintain their sovereignty over the islands - not only because the Turkish were a threat, but also because they were afraid of a probable revolution by the Greeks - constructed many fortresses, such as the fortress of Chorio and of Chrisoheria and repaired the Kastelli which was built by the Byzantines.

In 1390, the islands of Kalymnos and Leros came under the authority of the governor of Kos, Peter Schlegelhod. In 1428, during the General Assembly of the knights of Rhodes, it was decided that Nisiros would be given to Fantino, the second son of John IV Quirini, who didn't hesitate at all to take under his authority Kos, Kalymnos and Leros.During his reign though, the residents of these three islands revolted against the Knights in 1453. Fantino Quirini was imprisoned and Kalymnos, Kos and Leros were given to Jean de Chateauneuf.

In 1495 a massive earthquake destroys the island of Kalymnos.

In 1523, Rhodes is conquered by the Turkish. After that, the Kalymnians, unable to defend themselves, decide to surrender in order to prevent the savage massacre and the complete annihilation. However, since the law of the Islam allowed the surrendered people to live as they used to, Kalymnos managed to become almost independent and to create the conditions which led to the development of free spirit, even within the Turkish Empire.