KHANI

also spelled Canea, city and capital of the noms (department) of Khani, Greece. It was the capital of Crete from 1841 to 1971. The city lies along the east corner of the Gulf of Khani and occupies the neck of a low, bulbous peninsula between the gulf and Sodhas Bay on the site of ancient Kydonia. Khani was occupied in 1252 by Venetians, who held it, except for a brief period under the Genoese (126790), until 1645, when it fell to the Turks. In 1878, after numerous revolts against Turkish rule, various privileges were granted to the Cretans. Khani joined the kingdom of Greece in 1912. It was severely damaged in 1941 during the German aerial invasion of Crete. After World War II, improvements to neighbouring Sodhas Bay strengthened the city's position as a major port of Crete. Khani exports citrus fruit as well as olive oil and wine. Among the local monuments are massive walls of the Venetian period and an arsenal. Pop. (1981) city, 47,451; (1981) noms, 125,856; (1991) noms, 133,774.