Thessaly

Region of ancient Greece, and a department on mainland Greece, situated on the northwest corner of the Aegean; area 13,904 sq km/5,368 sq mi; population of Thessaly department (2003 est) 1,062,300. The department is divided into Larisa, Karditsa, Magnesia, and Trikkala prefectures; chief cities include Larisa, Vólos, and Karditsa. It is a major area of cereal production.

History
Thessaly was the largest region of ancient Greece, corresponding roughly to present-day Larisa and Trikkala prefectures. Civilization in the region dates from prehistoric times, and a tribe known as the Thessalians had entered the area from the northwest before 1000 BC. It was an independent and powerful state in ancient Greece, but was conquered by Philip II of Macedon in 344 BC, and later formed part of the Roman province of Macedonia. After the death of Constantine the Great it became a separate province. It passed to the Turks in 1355 and was ceded to Greece in 1881.