During the Macedonian struggle (1903-1908) the residents of Roumlouki took part in many operations in the marsh of Giannitsa and excelled as warriors and commanders. Nisi was burned down in 1906 by comitadjis in order to terrify the inhabitants who helped the guerillas. On October 16 of 1912 the Greek army entered the villages of west Roumlouki. On October 17 the battle of Niseli took place, on October 18 Gidas was liberated and on October 20 the battle of Kara Asmak took place and finally paved the way to the liberation of Thessaloniki. The telegram announcing the liberation of Thessaloniki was send to Athens from the railway station of Gidas-Kapsochoras.
After the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922 a huge number of refugees arrived at the region and many new villages were built.
In 1932-1936 the marsh of Giannitsa was drained and arable land was shared to the residents. The irrigation system that was constructed later allowed the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural products. This fact in combination with the plain’s location at the point where the roads to Thessaloniki, to west Macedonia and to southern Greece meet attracted many of the residents and helped the economic growth of the region.
Nowadays, (2009) there are six municipalities in Roumlouki: Municipality of Alaxandreia, of Meliki, of Antigonides, of Vergina, of Platy and of Apostle Pavlos.
Alexandreia of Imathia
Ioannis D. Moschopoulos
Lawyer
Researcher of History and Folklore
Renaming of Gidas into Alexandreia
April of 1952, municipal council’s meeting:
Gidas, 02-04-1952. At 4 p.m. the town councilors came together in the conference room under the chairmanship of Andreas Kyropoulos.
Other members:
1) K. Manolopoulos, 2) N. Minopoulos, 3) G. Sotiropoulos, 4) An. Raptis, 5) K. Georgopoulos
Absent members:
1) S. Giannopoulos, T. Dinopoulos, T. Oikonomopoulos
Achieving the quorum required they decided to vote for the renaming of Gidas into Alaxandreia taking into consideration that:
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Gidas is the seat of Municipality of Gidas. It is about a centre of trade and communication, the metropolis of the agricultural area (Roumlouki) that extends between Veria, Katerini and Giannitsa with 40-45 thousand inhabitants. Gidas is the capital city of this area.
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Gidas is the closest city to the ancient city where Alexander the Great was born and has therefore the right to be named after this great man. There is no other city or village that has been named after him.
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The women of Gidas used to wear until recently the helmet of Alexander the Great, a part of the traditional costume that has its origins in the ancient times.
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The present name of the city has no historical meaning and is also dissonant.
After examining the legislation about the Municipalities and the Communities the municipal council decided that:
The city of Gidas will from now on be called ALEXANDREIA.
THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
THE PRESIDENT THE MEMBERS