The Greek War of Independence

The Greek War of Independence1821-8: 

The Greek War of Independence 1821-8

The Society of Friends: 

The Society of Friends In Odessa in 1814, three businessmen Athanasios Tsakalof, Emmanuel Xanthos and Nikolaos Skoufas founded a Secret Society, the Philiki Etairia (Society of Friends). The Society was active in several parts of Europe and dedicated to throwing off the Ottoman rule. The message of the society spread quickly and branches opened throughout Greece. Members met in secret and came from all social classes. The leaders of Filiki Etairia held the firm belief that armed force was the only effective means of liberation, and made generous monetary contributions to the freedom fighters.

The Society of Friends-The Oath: 

The Society of Friends-The Oath “I swear to you, O holy and wretched Motherland! I swear by your long years of suffering. I swear by the bitter tears, which your wretched children have shed for centuries! By my own tears, which flow at this minute…if I do not do my duty [to liberate Greece] let death be my punishment…”

The Background of the Movement of Independence: 

The Background of the Movement of Independence The struggle for independence was motivated by the desire for self-determination, free thought, education (Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment), and joining the civilized nations of Europe. The movement was an organized effort, with certain objectives Western influences were largely responsible, but also Greek intellectual activity (see Velenstinlis, Koraes etc.)

The Background of the Movement of Independence: 

The Background of the Movement of Independence Filiki Etairia planned to start the uprising in three places. One was the Peloponnesse, where a core group of warlords and primates supported the plot. The second site was Constantinople-Istanbul, where there were plans for rioting among the Greek Phanariot community. The third part of the plan involved invasion of Moldavia and Walachia (in Romania) by Greek forces crossing the Russian border from Odessa.

Map of the Ottoman Empire: 

Map of the Ottoman Empire

The Beginning of the War: 

The Beginning of the War Ali Pasha's private rebellion against the sultan in 1820 gave the Greeks the opportunity they had been waiting for. On March 25, 1821 Bishop Germanos of Patras hoisted the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, an act of defiance that marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Fighting broke out throughout the Peloponnese, which had a very small Turkish population. Fearless freedom fighters, led by Petrobeis Mavromichalis, governor of the Mani, laid siege to the most strategic Turkish garrisons and razed the homes of thousands of Turks.

The Beginning of the War: 

The Beginning of the War

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) Simultaneously Alexander Ipsilantis, an officer of the Russian army, and corps of student volunteers were expected to lead Romanian peasants into battle against the Turks. When Ypsilantis and 4500 men of the "Sacred Battalion" entered Moldavia in March, 1821, however, the Romanian peasants ignored the Turks and instead attacked the manor houses of their local boyar landlords.

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) For the Greek plotters--who conformed to an Ottoman way of thinking by dividing the world into Orthodox and Muslim halves—the failure of the movement in Moldavia was a shock. Ipsilantis spent the rest of his life in an Austrian prison.

Alexander Ipsilantis's Proclamation of Revolt, 24 February 1821 : 

Alexander Ipsilantis's Proclamation of Revolt, 24 February 1821 Fight for Faith and Motherland! The time has come, 0 Hellenes. Long ago the people of Europe, fighting for their own rights and liberties, invited us to imitation. These although partially free tried with all their strength to increase their freedom and through this all their prosperity. Our brethren and friends are everywhere ready. The Serbs, the Souliots and the whole of Epirus, bearing arms, await us. Let us then unite with enthusiasm. The Motherland is calling us! Europe, fixing its eyes upon us, wonders at our inertia. Let all the mountains of Greece resound, therefore, with the echo of our battle trumpet, and the valleys with the fearful clash of our arms. Europe will admire our valor. Our tyrants, trembling and pale, will flee before us. The enlightened peoples of Europe are occupied in restoring the same well-being, and, full of gratitude for the benefactions of our forefathers towards them, desire the liberation of Greece. We, seemingly worthy of ancestral virtue and of the present century, are hopeful that we will achieve their defense and help. Many of these freedom-lovers want to come and fight alongside us. Move, O friends, and you will see a Mighty Empire defend our rights! You will see even many of our enemies, moved by our just cause, turn their backs to the enemy and unite with us. Let them approach with a sincere spirit. The Motherland will embrace them! Who then hinders your manly arms? Our cowardly enemy is sick and weak. Our generals are experienced, and all our fellow countrymen are full of enthusiasm. Unite, then, 0 brave and magnanimous Greeks! Let national phalanxes be formed, let patriotic legions appear and you will see those old giants of despotism fall by themselves, before our triumphant banners.

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) The Sultan retaliates with mindless slaughter of civilian populations in defenseless islands (Chios, Psara), which capture the western imagination The Great Powers (England, France, Russia) of the time, although instinctively against revolts, change their policy and become sympathetic to the Greek Cause

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) In the battle of Dervenakia in 1822 the commander of the Greek forces, Theodoros Kolokotronis, destroyed an Ottoman army of 30,000 men.

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) The importance of the Greek fleet for the first two years of the War of Independence Admiral Andreas Miaoulis

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) Egyptian Intervention (with a strong navy), nearly extinguishes the revolution. However, pro-Hellenic sentiment grows stronger in western Europe, and Lord Byron’s death in Greece functions as a strong propaganda in favor of the revolutionaries

The Siege of Messologi: 

The Siege of Messologi

Greek War of Independence (1821-8): 

Greek War of Independence (1821-8) Civil strife among the Greeks allowed the Ottomans to invite the Egyptian forces under Ibrahim Pasha to quell the rebellion The naval battle of Navarino in October 1827 between a joint English, Russian and French squadron and an Ottoman-Egyptian force ended with the destruction of the latter

Carneray: The destruction of the Egyptian Fleet at the bay of Navarino, by the British, French and Russian Fleet (1827): 

Carneray: The destruction of the Egyptian Fleet at the bay of Navarino, by the British, French and Russian Fleet (1827)

End of War of Independence: 

End of War of Independence The treaty of Andrianople (1929) obliged the Sultan to recognize the autonomy of Greece which, thanks to British-Russian antagonism, was transformed into independence with the London protocol of 3 February 1830 The first president of the independent Greek state was Count Ioannis Kapodistrias, who had formely been Foreign Minister to the Russian Tsar.

Ioannis Kapodistrias: 

Ioannis Kapodistrias