the name alexis was considered a byzantine name which was deemed to be a link between hellenism and byzantine culture; his father had, in lassithi and elsewhere, estates such as orchards and hereditary fiefs from the byzantine period (961-1204), most of which were given to the prefectures. he donated a byzantine feudal estate in viannos to host a resort in crete. byzantine nobleman alexis kallergis and his family (formerly the phokas family) used lassithi as a base during the cretan revolutions of 1283 and 1364. according to tradition, the alexis family had an affinity with the cretan callergi or (kallergi) family, which had many members named alexis and, like other freedom fighters of crete, were patriots people involved with issues and beliefs that benefited their homeland. alexis donated properties to the monastery of agias pelagias and the crystallenias or (croustallenias) monastery.