Greek War of Independence; 200th year anniversary

The Greek War of Independence led to the establishment of a national state for the first time in Europe.  It was in 1814 that several young Greek intellectuals of the diaspora formed a secret society called Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends).  One of its leaders was Alexander Ypisilantis.  He and his brother Dimitrios Ypsilantis played major roles in the revolution that started in 1821.

Battle scene from the Greek War of Independence by Georg Perlberg.

Today, March 25th, Greek Independence Day, our country will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the revolt against the Ottoman Empire.  It was on that day, the day of the Annunciation, Greeks swore to "fight or perish" in 1821.  Four hundred years had elapsed since the Ottoman Turks had conquered Constantinople and brought the end of the Byzantine Empire.

  As in every revolt, many battles were important but the Siege(s) and Exodus from Missolonghi were renowned for their heroism.  Although most Greeks, men, and women perished, their sacrifice raised strong feelings among Europe's philhellenes the most notable of whom was Lord Byron who moved to Greece joined the revolution lived and died in Missolonghi.

Two of the protagonists in the struggle to establish the new country of Greece were; Theodoros Kolokotronis (1770-1843) the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces in Peloponnese or Morea and Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831) a distinguished statesman and diplomat who had served as the Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire.  Kapodistrias was elected as the first Head of State of the newly independent  Greece.  He found a country that was totally destroyed.  In his brief tenure, he instituted reforms to modernize the country and jump-start its moribund economy.  He was assassinated on September 27th, 1831.

  Although most of the rebels were men, I will mention two women, Laskarina "Bouboulina" Pinotsi and Manto Mavrogenous who contributed as much to the cause as any of the men.  It was Bouboulina who raised the first flag of the revolution on the mast of her ship.  Mavrogenous was a wealthy and well-educated woman who spent her entire estate for the cause and died penniless.

Land battles were important but it was in the sea battles that Greeks excelled.  Konstantinos Kanaris (1790-1877) contributed his ship to the Greek Navy and achieved fame because of his effective use of fire-ships.  In 1822 he blew up the Turkish admiral's flagship.  In the years that followed he burned several Turkish ships off the coast of Asian Minor and the Eastern Aegean islands.  In addition to Kanaris, several other seamen such as Miaoulis, Koudouriotis, and Bouboulina managed to cut the supply lines from Turkey to their forces fighting against the rebels in the Greek mainland thus helping immensely the outnumbered and outgunned Greeks succeed against superior forces and win their freedom.

Painting of Burning of the Turkish Frigate by Constantine Volanakis

The revolt lasted between 1821 and 1830.  As in every revolution, many battles and events took place but the sea battle that concluded the war took place in the bay of Navarino where the naval forces of France, Brittain, and Russia defeated the Ottoman fleet following which the new country of Greece was born.

Ζητω η Ελλας!

Painting of the sea battle of Navarino by Ambroise Louis Garneray (1827)

Saronic Gulf

When we concluded the passing thru Corinth’s canal we headed east towards Athens.  Our course was in between the historic island of Salamis and the Saronic islands. 

It was in the Salamis strait in the Saronic Gulf the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Sea battle of Salamis in 480 BC. (Painting by von Wilhelm Kaulbach, 1868).  For more information on the famous sea battle that changed the course of history please visit my post on Salamis sea battle.    

Two millennia later a critical battle took place at Phaliron a southern suburb of Athens during the Greek war of independence.  It was in this battle George Karaiskakis was fatally wounded on April 23, 1827.  It was because of bravery and selfless acts of heroes like him, Greece was liberated against all odds in the titanic struggle against the all powerful Ottoman Empire.  

During our sail we realized that the Saronic Gulf is studded with merchant marine boats that load and unload their cargo in several of its ports.

Many fast moving ferries carry passengers between the port of Piraeus and islands of the Aegean archipelago.

After three weeks at sea we tied at the dock of Athens marina where relatives and friends were waiting for us. 

On the same peer we tied at the legendary cruiser “Averof” is on permanent display serving as a nautical museum.  The ship was launched in1910 and sailed into the Phaliro under the command of Admiral Kountouriotis.  Averof played a major role during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13.

Panoramic view of the Flisvos marina at Phaliron (Greek: Φάληρον).  Phaliron was the main port of Ancient Athens, until Piraeus was developed in the 5^th century BC.  Although it was tempting to finish our journey here we had to cast off again for the final leg(s) of our journey as our destination was the bay of Porto Rafti, another port of Ancient Athens on the east coast of Attica’s peninsula and Vravron the place were the Greek fleet gather before they sailed to Troy.