Family and Early Life
Fokás's grandfather, Emmanouíl Fokás (Gk: Εμμανουήλ Φωκάς), fled Constantinople at its fall in 1453, accompanied by his brother Andrónikos (Gk: Ανδρόνικος). The two settled first in the Peloponnese, where Andrónikos remained, but in 1470 Emmanouíl moved to the island of Cefalonia. Iákovos (Gk: Ιάκωβος), Ioánnis's father established himself in the village of Valerianos (Gk: Βαλεριάνος) on the island and came to be known as "the Valeriáno Fokás" (Gk: ο Φωκάς ο Βαλεριάνος) to distinguish him from his brothers.
It was in this village of Valeriáno that Fokás was born in 1536. Little to nothing is known about his life before he entered the service of Spain, some time around 1555.
Read more about this topic: Juan De Fuca
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