F ROM THE G REEK R EVOLUTION OF 1821 TO O TTO ’ S M ONARCHY.

FROM THE GREEK REVOLUTION OF 1821 TO

OTTO’S MONARCHY

THE GREEK REVOLUTION (1821 – 1830 AD)

17th c. AD: The whole Greek territory had become a part of the Ottoman Empire

Ideological Background of the Revolution:

o French Revolution in 1789 AD & its declaration of freedom, independence, equality & democracy Ideological base & example for any revolution in the 19th c. AD

o Classicism & Romanticism Expression of similar ideas

o Admiration of the Greek Culture as the base of the European Culture – Impression of less civilized Ottomans (compared with the Greeks)


Hostile political environment in Europe:

o Restoration of Monarchy, after the ultimate defeat of Napoleon (1815 AD in Waterloo)

o Political status of great empires in Europe, such as the Austrian-Hungarian, the Prussian, the Russian & partly the Ottoman Empire Many European nations under foreign occupation

o Institution of the Holy Alliance (Paris 1815 AD) among Russia, Prussia & Austria-Hungary, in order to reassure the “divine” right of the emperors Under the powerful influence of the Austrian chancellor Prince Klemens von Metternich, a bastion against democracy & revolution, aiming to political stability


Preparation:o Modern Greek Enlightenment

(aiming to national consciousness through education)

o Dream of a wider Balkan revolution against the Ottoman Empire

o Spread of such ideas by the merchants & edited texts of the Greek Diaspora

Institution of Filiki Etairia in Odessa, which was the organizer of the Greek War of Independence by initiating members under a mystic oath (founders: Nikolaos Skoufas, Emmanuel Xanthos & Athanasios Tsakalov)


Happy circumstances:o Rebellion of Ali Pasha of Ioannina Transport

of the main Ottoman army force to Epiruso Klephts & armatoloi, military experienced o Philhellenism Disadvantages of the Greek rebels: o Lack of any organized military plano Limited financial & military force against the vast & powerful Ottoman Empire o Limited number of experienced soldiers,

weapons & other facilitieso Not fully accepted leader of the rebelso Inner conflicts among the rebel groups (elders,

warriors, Phanariotes) Disappointment of the Philhelleneso Immediate cruel reprisals from the Ottomans, usually aiming

the Patriarch, the elders or the civilians


First Reactions:o Refusal of Ioannis Kapodistrias

(Foreign Affairs’ Minister of Russia) to be the leader Leadership to Alexander Ypsilantis (officer of the Russian Army)

o Attempts to persuade the local leaders in Peloponnese & Central Greece, especially by Papaflessas - Hesitation of the elders, the high priests & some intellectuals (as responsible for the whole nation to the Ottoman authority)


Greek arguments FOR the Greek revolution: o Greeks & Ottomans are two completely

different nations.o The Greek enslaved citizens of the Ottoman

Empire had too many duties, but almost not even one respected right.o The Greeks were enslaved by force & this

enslavement wasn’t confirmed by any signed convention. The Ottoman occupation is illegal.

o The Ottomans have no historical rights or any other kind of connection with the Greek territory.

o The Greeks have the right to be connected with the European world, because they offered the bases of the European culture.


First revolutionary act: Invasion in the Danubian Principalities by crossing the Pruth River (Russia Moldavia Wallachia) under the leadership of Alexander Ipsilantis (hint at Russian help)

o Inexperienced army of Greeks from Russia & the Danubian Principalities (e.g. Sacred Band, consisting of young students of the Army Academy of Jassy & Bucharest) – Only partial support of the locals (Theodor Vladimireskou)

o Total defeat of Ypsilantis’ army in Dragasani

End of the Phanariotes’ rule in the Danubian Principalities


Proclamation of the National Uprising:

o 25th March 1821 at the Monastery of Agia Lavra by Bishop Germanos III of Old Patras, who blessed a Greek flag & the warriors


Ottoman reaction:o Greek Revolution considered at first as

an act of thieves & weak rebelso Disregard for the Greek nation & the

Orthodox religiono Cooping with serious inner problems

Bloody conflicts in Constantinople & other cities against the Greek population

Public hanging of Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople

European (& especially Russian) disapproval of the Ottoman reprisals


Greek leaders: Theodoros Kolokotronis, Athanasios Diakos, Markos Botsaris, Odysseas Androutsos, Mando Maurogenous, etc. (land battles) & Konstantinos Kanaris, Andreas Miaoulis, Laskarina Bouboulina, etc. (battles in the sea)


Basic fighting technique of the Greek rebels, the guerrilla war

Serious damages of the enemy ships by the little fire ships

Ottoman’s difficulty to transfer military forces, by the sea because of the little fire ships & by the mainland because of the great distance & expense

Greek aim to survive the Ottoman attacks & turn the Greek revolution to a European matter


Revolutionary attempts in Thessaly, Epirus & Macedonia Contemned from the beginning (territories close to the Ottoman military bases)

Greek victories: Alamana, Gravia, Valtetsi, conquest of Tripolitsa (1821), calamity of Dramalis’ army in Dervenakia (1822), etc.

Admiration of the Europeans


Tragic moments of the Revolution: The slaughter of Chios (1822), the destruction of Kasos & Psara (1824), the siege & the heroic exit of Missolonghi (1826), etc.

European sympathy for the Greek rebels & anger & disgust at the Ottoman cruelty


During the Greek War of Independence:

Problems by inner conflicts Danger of putting down the

revolution by the strong forces of Ibrahim (alliance between the Ottomans & the Egyptians)

Six National Assemblies, in order to draft the Constitution of revolutionary Greece & take serious national decisions


Acts of recognition of the Greek national attempt for independence:

o 1823 AD: Official recognition from Great Britain (George Canning, Minister of Foreign Affairs) Mainly financial interest

o 1824-5 AD: Loans from British bankso 1825 AD: Official recognition from

Russiao 1826 AD: Official recognition from

France

Enforcement of the revolution by the European Great Powers Battle of Navarino between the Ottoman & the British-French-Russian fleet (1827)


1827 AD National Assembly Appointment of Ioannis Kapodistrias as the temporary governor of the free Greek nation (for 7 years)

The Greek War of Independence inspired many Greek & European artists, such as Dionysios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos, Eugene Delacroix, Nikolaos Gyzis, Theodoros Vryzakis, Konstantinos Volanakis, etc.

THE RULE OF KAPODISTRIAS (1828 – 1831 AD)

Difficulties:o Parts of the Egyptian army still in Peloponneseo Albanian gangs in Central Greeceo Tax collection from army leaders (used for

covering their own needs)o Claim for compensation by former boat

ownerso Inner political conflictso Independent territory of Mani (out of the

central authority’s control)o Claims for compensation by the warriors from

Macedonia, Epirus & Thessalyo Negotiations with the Great Forces & the

Great Gate about the Greek independence & the territories of the newly born state (claims also for Epirus & Thessaly)

THE RULE OF KAPODISTRIAS (1828-1831 AD)

Ideological bases of the policy of Kapodistrias:

o Need of an honest paternalistic authority

o Education for all the citizenso Distribution of the land at the farmerso Limitation of the elders’ influence & their

control on the peopleo Not immediate granting of Constitution,

which would limit the essential changes

Open conflict with the local interests & authorities 1831 AD: Assassination of Kapodistrias by Konstantinos & Georgios Mauromichalis (leaders of Mani)

THE RULE OF KAPODISTRIAS (1828-1831 AD)

Kaporistrias’ Contribution:o Organized collection of the taxeso Institution of organized public

serviceso Attempt to form an organized army (not

successful)o Control of piracy & robberyo Development of agriculture – Import of new sorts of

cultivation (e.g. potato)o Public education of 1st & 2nd degree – Mutual teaching -

Technical educationo 1830 AD: Protocol of London Official Recognition

of the new independent Greek State, which included Peloponnese, Central Greece (from Acheloos to Sperchios river), Euboea, Cyclades & Sporades, with a population of approximately 750.000 people

GREECE AS A KINGDOM

1832 AD: Agreements between Great Britain, France & Russia & the Great Gate, according to which:

o Greece was from now on an independent state within the already decided borders, supervised by the three “Protective” Forces (Russia, Great Britain & France)

o Greece will be governed by a foreign king, Otto Friedrich Ludwig von Wittelsbach (Bavarian Prince)

EVALUATION OF THE GREEK REVOLUTION

More than 2.000.000 Greeks still under Ottoman occupation

Very limited & weak new Greek State Three Great Forces as supervisors,

controlling every movement of the new state

Already large Greek debt to the British banks, because of the three loans during the War of Independence

End of the Greek struggle for freedom& democracy with a foreign monarch

A lot of inner problems & conflicts

F ROM THE G REEK R EVOLUTION OF 1821 TO O TTO ’ S M ONARCHY.

Documents

o greek revolution

o lack

facilities o

o greeks ottomans

o french revolution

o modern greek enlightenment

ottoman empire o spread

g reek r evolution