In 25 March 1821, the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire broke out. This revolution will lead finally, 9 years later to the establishment of a Greek independent state with Nafplio as capital.
It was the first successful revolution of a Balkan state leading to independency. Others will follow in the 19th century (Serbs, Bulgarian, and Romanian) taking advantage by the decadence of the Ottoman Empire and the nationalistic spirit that favoured the emergence of Nation-States. The Greek revolution created significant disturbances in the order of the Holy Alliance (the alliance of the Austria, Prussia and Russia) which was fighting any effort to change the status quo in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. Henceforth, the Great European Powers will witness the weaknesses of the Ottoman Empire and realise that it was of their own benefit to see this empire collapsing in favour of the new and weak buffer state of Greece.
The Greek revolution was of course organized militarily by local warlords who had influence on their own military bands and had already experience in battlegrounds. The army who fought the Turks was not of course regular, but rather guerrillas (klephts). The struggle was supported financially and ideologically by the Greek Diaspora and by Phanariotes (a class of Greek educated merchants who gradually emerged in the Ottoman administration, acquiring great influence). Against the revolution were the Church and many of the local chiefs (kodjabashis) who both enjoyed great privileges by the Ottomans. Important personalities of the Greek Enlightment, like Rigas Feraios and Adamantios Korais, inspired by French Revolution ideas, prepared the mental basis of this revolution.
In the first years of the revolution the Greeks succeeded the liberation of Peloponnese, Athens, Roumeli (Central-South Greece) and of some islands who possessed navy (Hydra, Spetses, Psara, Myconos). Great battles took place in which Greeks heroes (T. Kolokotronis, O. Androutsos, M. Botsaris etc) -thought outnumbered- defeated thoroughly regular and well trained armies of a whole Empire (Dervenakia 1822, Gravia Inn 1821 etc.) However, the civil war between the want to-be politicians of the new "state" and the military leaders as well as the kodjabashis' financial demands, caused serious internal problems of coordination and organisation leading to successive military defeats. With the simultaneous intervention of Egyptian powers under Ibrahim in Peloponnese and the Turkish of Kutahi in Rumeli in 1825-1826, the revolution collapsed.
Two great events played a tremendous impact in the liberation of Greece by the Great Powers: the massacre of Chios by the Turkish navy in 1822, slaughtering innocent people for retaliation and the Siege of Missolonghi in 1825-1826, where the heroism of the inhabitants and the sacrifice of their lives for freedom became famous all over Europe, reinforcing the sentiment for Philhellenism (admiration for Greece and Greek culture) between European citizens. Important intellectuals like Lord Byron gave their life for helping the revolutionaries and the Greek struggle.
The heroism of the Greek revolutionaries who make the struggle known to whole world, the Philhellenism and the Great Powers' (mostly England, France and Russia) interests were the three elements that changed the situation in favour of Greece, making these three powers to intervene militarily finally and defeat the Ottomans in the naval battle of Navarino in 1827, rendering independency to Greece. Albeit enemies of the revolution at the beginning, they finally became ardent supporters.
The "friendship" of the Great Powers was only nominal of course as soon after 1830, the newly founded state will find itself more dependent than ever, gaining only a quasi-independence in reality….The three main powers will play a significant role in all Greek matters for many decades, a heritage that will follow the historical route of our state until even today, leading to disasters and weaknesses.
Today we celebrate our National Day, the Day when the Revolution started leading to our independency, we honour the heroes - both Greek and foreigners - who fought or died against tyranny, for an idea or a dream, the right of all people to live free, safe and independent.
25/3/2014
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