During the first years of Christianity, the region of the current prefecture of Arta was part of the province of Old Epirus, with capital Nikopolis. The big gap of historical news is continued up to 1082, when the wider region of Epirus becomes the centre of important historical events, related to the effort of emperor Aleksios A Komninos to expel the Normen from the western territories of Byzantine Empire. Then (1082), Arta is mentioned for the first time with its new name. It appears that with the progressive decline of Nikopolis, enough residents installed themselves in Arta, because its position offered greater safety to them.
The exact moment that Arta was given its new name is unknown. Also unknown remains the name's precise etymology. According to a theory, the word Arta most likely originated from paraphrasing the name Amvrakia or from the name of river Arachthos. Remarkable is the effort of etymology, that connects the new name with the euphoria of town's products, with which the town itself ¨artizotan¨ (were fed), as did the nearly regions. Also interesting is the theory that the word Arta comes from the Latin word artus or Arta, which means "narrow".
After the occupation of Constantinople from the Crusaders in 1204, Arta became capital of the state of Epirus, that is known as Despotato of Epirus because most souvereigns of the state brought the title of despot. Despotato was extended from Epirus up to the Dyrrahio, and included the entire north-western Greece and regions of Thessaly and north-western Macedonia. Its founder was Micheal A' Aggelos Komninos Doukas (1205-1215), relative of imperial family of Komninos. After his death, his brother Theodoros (1215-1230) extended the state and he achieved to reoccupy Thessalonica, which until then was at the hands of the Crusaders and he founded the kingdom of Thessalonica. Theodoros made enough efforts to also reoccupy Constantinople and to restore the Byzantine Empire. His nephew, Michael II (1231-1267) during the time of his governing, fortified Arta and built the monasteries of Down Panagia and Pantanassa near Filippiada.
During the next years Arta was controlled successively by the dynasty of Italian Orsini (1318-1337) and by Albanian souvereigns (1359-1416). At the beginning of 15th century B.C. was conquered by the earl of Cephalonia Karolos I Tocco (1411-1429), who was despot (souvereign) of Ioannina at the time.
During the 13th-15th century. Arta was an important artistic centre of Greece. At the time the population of the town was considerably increased, and its commercial activities were extended. At the same period a lot of churches, monasteries, public buildings were built and the town was fortified with a castle.
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