#Papaflessas

[epestrefe]

Παπαφλέσσας

26 Ιανουαρίου 1821: Αρχίζει η διάσκεψη της Βοστίτσας (Αίγιο). Στο σπίτι του Αντρέα Λόντου, ο Παπαφλέσσας παρουσιάζει στους προύχοντες πληρεξούσια γράμματα του Αλέξανδρου Υψηλάντη και τους διαβάζει διαταγή να ετοιμάσουν 25.000 άνδρ��ς. Ανακοινώνει στους προκρίτους ότι η επανάσταση εναν��ίον των Οθωμανών έχει οριστεί για τις 25 Μαρτίου.

[kaliarda]

"The Kiss". Ibrahim kissing dead Papaflessas on the cheek as a sign of extreme respect after the Battle of Maniaki, oil painting on canvas by Andreas Georgiadis, 1960

[gemsofgreece]

Which greek hero (or heroine) of the Greek War of Independence you find underrated, in a sense we don't hear about them as often as some other familiar names, like Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis, Androutsos, Mavrogenou, Bouboulina and countless others I don't have the patience to list?

Ypsilantis, but I mean Demetrios, not Alexander. Demetrios is not well known or he is only known as the little brother of Alexander and for his engagement to Manto Mavrogenous, but he was far more than that. In my opinion, he is way more significant than his brother or at least more successful at what he set out to do.

Demetrios Ypsilantis (1793 - 1832) was a Greek prince, born in Constantinople, and serving as a military officer in the Imperial Russian Army. Ypsilantis was trained in the military schools of France.

After his brother Alexander became the leader of the Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends), the organisation of Greek expats who was conspiring for the Greek Revolution, and made some wrong choices and the rebellion in the Danubian Prinicipalities failed, he was held confined for several years and couldn't come to Greece to join the cause he was the leader of. Hence he sent Demetrios in his place, under full secrecy. Demetrios had to escape many witnesses, obstacles and dangers in order to arrive to Greece. He also went to Odessa first, gathering money from Greek expats there for the cause. He also mortgaged a lot of his own fortune and heirlooms for the cause.

As soon as he arrived to the Peloponnese, he assumed the role of the leader of the revolution and he befriended Kolokotronis, Papaflessas and Anagnostarás. Other war captains weren't very appreciative of him but with his peaceful and reconciling spirit, he managed to be accepted by most. Demetrios didn't have the image of a leader or military officer, he was only 27 year old, balding and of a small and fragile stature.

Demetrios was actually in charge of the Siege of Tripolitsá. However he had to leave as the Turkish army was attempting to reach the Corinthian Gulf and he had to confront them, so the massacre in Tripolitsá broke out in his absence. As soon as he learnt of the bloodshed, he quickly returned to Tripolitsá, ended the atrocities and actually provided refuge to Turkish or other Muslim civilians in danger.

He defended Nafplion against the huge forces of Dramali Mahmud Pasha (~30,000 men) with a tiny garrison of 700 men! Demetrios lasted for 12 days and then the garrison was dissolved. However, these 12 invaluable days gave Kolokotronis the opportunity to prepare his army, take hold of critical positions in the Peloponnese and of course burn the crops. This led to the Battle of Dervenakia against Kolokotronis, in which Dramali lost ~24,000 of his men.

While he was elected leader of the National Assembly, Demetrios refused to take sides in the infighting between the war captains and the intellectuals - this made him less powerful but also earned everyone's respect. He was adamant that all Greeks should fight united.

His biggest success was his second defense of Nafplion alongside General Yannis Makriyannis in the Battle of the Lerna Mills, this time against Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt. Here are the stats in wiki:

Once Greece became an independent state, Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias appointed Demetrios as the General Commader of the troops in Eastern Greece. In this position, he gave several victorious battles against the Turks in Boeotia, most notably including the Battle of Petra, on 25 September 1829, which was the official ending of the active operations of the Greek War of Independence. So, Demetrios completed the war his brother started!

Demetrios was in love and engaged with fellow heroine Mantó Mavrogenous. Ioannis Kolettis, a politician and the forefather of corruption in Greek politics already, fearing that such a marriage between two wealthy heroes could have enormous influence over the Greek populace, defamed Mantó relentlessly to Demetrios. Demetrios was swayed and broke up with her, breaking her heart.

Again, despite his bravery, Yspilantis was frail and prone to illnesses. He died young, at the age of 39, due to illness. Some speculate it might have been some form of muscular dystrophy but nothing is certain. In his funeral, Georgios Tertsetis said "He chose to sacrifice everything for his country, without ever allowing hatred to cast a shadow in his soul". Historian Konstantinos Vaskalopoulos called Ypsilantis as "the potentially purest and most selfless of the captains of the Greek War of Independence".

[sotiriabellou]

ibrahim paşa/papaflessas enemies to lovers, slowburn, right person wrong time, 270k

[firewalkwithme92]

ksexasa fr oti o ibrahim dietakse tous antres tou na shkwsoun ton NEKRO papaflessa, na ton krathsoun orthio kai meta ton filhse ws endeiksh sevasmou ton ten gayest moments in modern greek history

[elladastinkardiamou]

Among the many heroes of the Greek War of Independence, Georgios Dimitrios Dikaios, better known by the nickname “Papaflessas,” was perhaps the most controversial personality.

Papaflessas was not only a clergyman but a brave warrior with a magnetic personality with incredible leadership skills. He was one of the very first to raise his rifle and shout “Liberty or Death.”

A leading member of Filiki Eteria, Panagiotis Sekeris had described him as “impetuous.” Papaflessas justified this at every opportunity

At the same time he was a womaniser and hard drinker who lived a life of debauchery, completely unfit for a man of the cloth.

He was also very irritable, belligerent and prone to create rivalries, even among his fellow fighters in the Greek War of independence.

For all these reasons, Papaflessas was personally hated by most of the rebelling Greeks, yet no one could deny that he was a devoted patriot who died for his homeland.

[wordsmithic]

Παπαφλέσσας (Papaflessas) -  Friedel von Friedelsburg

Grigorios Dimitriou Dikaios-Flessas (Γρηγόριος Δημητρίου Δικαίος-Φλέσσας; 1788 – 25 May 1825), popularly known as Papaflessas (Greek: Παπαφλέσσας) was a Greek priest and government official who became one of the most influential figures during the Greek War of Independence.

The prefix papa- (παπα-) in the name "Papaflessas" indicates his status as a cleric since the word means "priest" in Greek. He was appointed Archimandrite in 1819. He served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Chief of Police in the government of Alexander Mavrocordatos. Papaflessas was killed during the Battle of Maniaki on May 20, 1825, fighting against the forces of Ibrahim Pasha at Messinia.

After Papaflessa's death from a bullet in the chest, Ibrahim ordered that his body be cleaned of blood and dirt and tied to a tree. After a few minutes of looking at his foe, Ibrahim walked up to the corpse and kissed it on the cheek as a sign of extreme respect. In speaking of Papaflessas after his death, it is said that Ibrahim told his officers: "If Greece had ten heroes like him, it would not have been possible for me to undertake the military campaign against the Peloponnese".

[alatismeni-theitsa]

We also don't make as much art about our ancient past bc, unlike most foreigners, we're aware of our more recent past (about which a lot of great content has been coming out lately, but can be seen also in the older films like Papaflessas) and our present (most Greek series takes place in the "present", which of course as time passes becomes the recent past). I don't think it's that unusual even among the countries obsessed with ancient Greece, that most content is more contemporary.

Yes, this is what I also think! We have our head full of names and periods and wars in the recent centuries and we have such a rich history to pick subjects from - mainly the recent events who affected us the most - but for foreigners only know about antiquity.

[isidoros1983]

https://youtu.be/il8ZnLMCAOU

Full movie Papaflessas 1971 - 25 March 1821 Greek revolution for Independence against ottoman empire

[clarajustice]

The Modern Town of 25th Island of Greece, Greece

The town of Messini was referred to as far back as 150AD by Pausanias under the name of Limnai where the sanctuary of 25th Island of Greece  Artemis Limnatida was located. In 440 AD the town was settled by the inhabitants of Ancient Messini and became the seat of Diocese of Messini until 1300 when the seat was transferred to Androusa.

The modern town of Messini is to be found 10km south west of Kalamata. It is the second largest town in Messinia and has a population of 7000. Messini it positioned close to the Pamisos River which is on the Messinian plane in an area called Makaria or in Greek 'happy land'.

The History of 25th Island of Greece

The town of Messini was referred to as far back as 150AD by Pausanias under the name of Limnai where the sanctuary of 25th Island of Greece  Artemis Limnatida was located. In 440 AD the town was settled by the inhabitants of Ancient Messini and became the seat of Diocese of Messini until 1300 when the seat was transferred to Androusa. In 900 AD the Melissinans constructed the Melipyrgos fort at a location today call Paniyirstra. The bountiful waters of the Pamisos and the Riaka stream gave the fortified site of Melipyrgos the feeling of an island, from which the town was given its nickname of Nisi (island). This name was first encountered in texts from the Frankish occupation and still survives today. In the French Chronicle of Morea, Messini (Nisi) was mentioned as being the favorite place of the Frankish Queen Isabele Villehardouin who was better known as Princess Isabeau.

On 25th May 1770 the last page of the Orloff Uprising was written in the ruins of Melipyrgos which is also where the last remaining fighters under Yannis Mavronichallis fell. Among those who met a heroic death was Yorgis Felessas, the grandfather of Papaflessas and Yannis Kolokotronis, the grandfather of the old man of Morea who was captured and tortured to death.

Along with Kalamata, Messini was one of the first towns to participate in the 1821 Revolution. It endured the colossal financial burden of training and organisation of the army. Consequently, in 1825 it was destroyed by Ibrahim Pasha. The Diocese of Messini was set up once more in 1825 and in 1867 the name Messinas was officially reinstated.

In the years between the two World Wars, 25th Island of Greece Messini was the muse of an exceptional literary figure Sotiris Patatzis, who among other works wrote novels called Methismeni Politia (Drunken Country) and I Neraida tou Vithou (The Water Nymph of the Deep).

Many other famous Greek people can also trace their origins back to Messini including Frida Liappa (film director), Ellie Fotis (actress) and Nikos Doulamis (singer) to name but a few.

The Town Of 25th Island of Greece Today

The economy of the present day town is based on agriculture, as well as a growing service industry comprising of hotels, restaurants, bars and various shops. It also has several banks, pharmacies, general practitioners, dentists and a health center. Sports facilities include a national football field and various gymnasiums.

The town centers round a large square with fountains at one end. Beside the square is a lovely shady park which has a restaurant next to an amphitheater where bands play music and plays are performed during the summer. There are many festivals throughout the year and in September an open-air market is held and is renowned throughout Greece. Messini's main beach is Bouka which is 3km from the center of town. Bouka beach has been awarded the Blue Flag of Europe for its 20km of sandy shoreline.

There are air and land transport connections with the rest of Greece. Kalamata International Airport 25th Island of Greece is located 1.3km from the center of Messini and has charter services during the summer season as well as daily flights to Athens. The bus station is situated in the central square and the train station is on the edge of Messini town.

Claire May is a well-informed author of articles regarding property in Greece and Messinia. Her articles aim to help buyers with their research and assist them through the unfamiliar Greek property purchasing procedures. Claire has also designed a property in Messinia websites to provide readers with information about property in Messinia. Happy reading and good luck with your venture, you deserve it!

[windupteam]

Άγιοι Ανάργυροι - Agioi Anargyroi. The hiding place of Papaflessas (4K v...

[gemsofgreece]

Χρόνια πολλά! Happy Greek Independence Day! March 25th 🇬🇷

Enjoy the major Greek National Day with a portrait collection of some of the most influential Greek heroes of the Independence War and their short yet layered biographies under the cut:

Theódoros Kolokotronis (1770 - 1843). Member of a powerful family clan and almost certainly the most prominent figure of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, Kolokotronis was general and commander-in-chief of the Greek forces in the Peloponnese. Already mature when the revolution started, he was known as the “Old Man of Morea”. His victories, strategic genius, intense personality and fervor for the Greek cause made him revered among Greeks and Turks who imagined him almost like a demi-god. Kolokotronis lived to see his country liberated but he was imprisoned and sentenced to death by Otto’s regency because he had opposed it. When King Otto came of age, he pardoned him because he admired him a lot. Kolokotronis and Otto’s relations were friendly and Kolokotronis died happy in his sleep shortly after he had married his daughter to a prince of Wallachia and attended a large celebration in Otto’s palace. In 1851 his memoirs were published, as told to Georgios Tertsetis. Find out more about what Kolokotronis looked like in this post.  

Geórgios Karaiskakis (1782 - 1827). Karaiskakis was originally a famed klepht (anti-Ottoman brigand) who at some point was captured by Albanian ruler Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha was impressed by his intelligence and courage and he freed him from prison to make him one of his personal bodyguards. Karaiskakis served Ali Pasha but after his death he joined the Greek revolutionaries. He started gaining fame during the last years of the war and he was appointed general of Rumeli (Sterea Hellas). His health had always been frail and he was often fighting while severely ill. He was however fatally wounded by a rifle bullet in the Battle of Phaleron. Karaiskakis has been notorious for his vulgar manner of speaking. Learn more about him and his protegee who took up arms along his side in this post. 

Odysseus Androutsos (1788 - 1825). Odysseus Androutsos was famed for his stature, great strength and fighting prowess. His biggest victory was the Battle of Gravia, where he defeated the Ottoman army with only a handful of men. Androutsos was a controversial figure, especially until 1872. One year before his death and during the Greek civil war he was accused by politician Ioannis Kolettis that he had made a secret agreement and joined the Turkish forces against the Greeks. Androutsos indeed had made an agreement because due to the civil war he and his men had been left without arms and provisions and ceded to lead the Turks in a battle himself. Androutsos abandoned the Turks in the middle of the operation and  surrendered voluntarily to his own Greek henchman, Ioannis Gouras, claiming he meant to trap the Turks but failed. Androutsos was imprisoned, tortured, beaten to death in his cell and then thrown from the top of the Acropolis while denied a trial first. However, politician and later PM Ioannis Kolettis, founder of the pro-French political party, was later revealed to be one of the most problematic politicians of the era, involved repeatedly in clientism, electoral frauds, bribery, corruption and enormous fortune obtained through politics. He also had terrible relations with other Greek fighters, reportedly attempting to destroy the reputation and happiness of Kolokotronis and Mavroyenous respectively. Initially, it was told Androutsos had escaped from prison and fell from the Acropolis in his hurry to flee. Much later, a witness revealed the warrior was killed in his cell beaten by many men simultaneously, as he could not be taken in an one-on-one fight. It was also revealed Kolettis had unsuccessfully attempted to bribe another Greek fighter to murder Androutsos, even before the seeming betrayal. Therefore, Androutsos’ reputation was restored in 1872 and a proper funeral took place for him 40 years after his death. Interestingly, the English Wikipedia seems to side against Androutsos while the page for Kolettis is short and adresses the crimes Kolettis has been accused of very carefully. Make of this what you will. I wasn’t sure if I should add Androutsos, however one of the most integral figures of the Independence War, Ioannis Makriyannis, accused Kolettis of defaming and murdering Androutsos and Kolettis is proven to have been a deeply corrupted man so...

Laskarina Bouboulina (1771 - 1825). Bouboulina was a naval commander and the first woman to attain the rank of admiral. She loved sailing from a young age. She was widowed twice and as she inherited a lot of wealth from her second husband, she commanded a big fleet. She was known as “the Captainness” and “the Lady”. She often joined assemblies of war chiefs to discuss all affairs militaire, where she was treated as an equal and her opinion was valued. During the Greek Civil War she was mistreated too, expelled to her island Spetses and briefly imprisoned on false charges. She was unfairly killed in 1825 over an irrelevant family feud. Her son and a girl had eloped, as the latter was forced to marry a man she did not want. Her father and brothers went to Bouboulina’s house believing the couple was hiding there. Bouboulina supported the couple’s choice and showed up in her balcony to confront the girl’s family. She was shot by the armed men.

Alexander Ypsilantis (1792 - 1828). Ypsilantis was member of a very old and noble Greek family from Constantinople. He was a Prince of the Danubian Principalities and the senior officer of the Imperial Russian cavalry. He lost one of his arms in the Battle of Dresden against Napoleon at the age of 21. He was appointed as the Leader of the secret Friendly Society, the association coordinating the Greek Revolution, a position he accepted with great enthusiasm. Ypsilantis attempted to raise all the Balkan people against the Ottomans and to even involve the Tsar of Russia and Austria but he failed and his army was defeated by the Turks. He was kept confined in Austria for 7 years. After his release, he retired to Vienna where he died in extreme poverty and misery. His last wish that his heart be removed from his body and sent to Greece was fulfilled. Ypsilantis’ own operation might have failed, however he offered a great distraction to the Turks as the revolt in the Peloponnese (the one that led to the successful revolution) broke out at the same time the Turks were busy fighting him. His brother Demetrios was luckier - he led many victorious battles inside Greece, including the very last one before the official establishment of the Independence. 

Nikitas Stamatellópoulos (1782 - 1849). Known as Nikitarás (big/great/fearsome Nikitas), he was notorious for his fighting prowess and for the “body count” attributed to him. There are many tales of his skills and ferocity. He once defeated a Turkish army of several thousands with a few hundreds of men. Another time it was reported he broke three swords during the same battle. He would also often keep fighting wounded. Despite his violent character in battle, outside the battlefield Nikitaras was known to be a man of integrity and decency. He was the fighter who furiously refused the bribery to kill Androutsos. He also always refused to take booty from the defeated, explaining his only motivation was the liberation of his nation. After the war, he was imprisoned alongside his uncle Theodoros Kolokotronis for the same reason, opposing Otto’s regency. Upon his release, he had serious undiagnosed diabetes which turned him blind. He was also in a state of destitution. The Greek state ignored him, giving him only a permission to be a beggar on Friday mornings! After some time, civilians complained to the state for the neglect of the great hero and the state gave him a honorary title and a tiny pension. Nikitaras’ last wish to be buried next to his uncle Kolokotronis was granted. 

Grigórios Díkeos or Papaflessas (1788 - 1825). Papaflessas was a priest, ordained to the rank of archimandrite, a politician and a warrior. He was defiant by nature and had personal hatred for the Turks, because they had killed his family. Papaflessas travelled to Mount Athos and Constantinople to study Ancient Greek and Theology, aiming to become an archbishop. There he met many patriots and he was recruited by the Friendly Society. After that he took his role very seriously and he travelled throughout Greece to raise Greeks against the Ottomans and convince them it was the right time. He is considered the most influential in spreading the desire for a revolution. During the war he fought in many battles and offered to confront Ibrahim’s newcoming Egyptian army with his 3000 men. The two thirds abandoned Papaflessas when they saw the size of Ibrahim’s army (17,000 men), however Papaflessas and his remaining 800-1000 men stayed and fell. It is said Ibrahim ordered his body to be cleaned and he kissed him on the cheek, stating that if Greece had another ten men like him, he would never be able to take Peloponnese. Papaflessas loved women and gold too much to be good for a cleric but his unwavering love and passion for freedom is indisputable.

Konstantinos Kanaris (1790 - 1877). Kanaris was an admiral and three times PM of Greece. He was very successful in naval combats and he repeatedly caused utter destruction to Turkish fleets and flagships. He had the idea to burn the Egyptian fleet in Alexandria before it set sail for Peloponnese and he would have succeeded, had the winds not changed direction as he was approaching. Kanaris would always prepare himself before a battle, saying: “Konstantí, you are going to die!”. However, he did not. He survived to become a prominent and popular politician and died at the age of 87, while still serving as Prime Minister! 

Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776 - 1831). Coming from a very old deeply wealthy family and without a doubt one of the most brilliant Greek politicians and diplomats, Kapodistrias was a lawyer, a doctor, a diplomat affiliated to the Russians, later Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and honorary citizen of Switzerland as he was the one who added two more cantons to the Swiss dominion with his diplomatic maneuvers. After the Independence he was appointed Governor of Greece. Kapodistrias tried to create a functioning state out of thin air. Britain and France loathed him and turned rich clans against him because he was so friendly with Russia. Therefore they also refused to give him loans. Kapodistrias essentially had zero funds and therefore he started building foundations, hospitals, schools, museums and sometimes entire towns out of his own fortune. Moreover, he refused to take a salary because he thought it was his duty to serve the Greek people. He also took money from the rich and gave it to the poor and tried to put an end to the feudal system the Greeks were used to during the Ottoman occupation. A Sunday morning on his way to the church, he was assassinated by family members of a well known fighter coming from a rich clan which had revolted against him. Kapodistrias was buried with the clothes he wore during his assassination, as he had no other clothes left. In fact, he had given his very last possessions to orphans and widows. For more details about this great man, check this post. 

Rigas Velestinlís or Fereos (1757 - 1798). Fereos was a teacher, writer, political thinker and revolutionary. He was a pioneer of the Greek War of Independence. He envisioned an uprising of all Christian populations against the Ottoman Empire and he came to touch with Napoleon Bonaparte and the general of the Army of Italy, hoping for aid. As the man agreed to meet Fereos, the latter set out to travel to Venice. He was betrayed to the Austrian authorities (then an ally of the Ottomans) by another Greek. Austrian authorities handed him over to the Ottomans, who imprisoned him, tortured him and eventually strangled and threw him to Danube river.

Mantó Mavroyenous (1796 - 1848). The educated daughter of a very wealthy Greek merchant in Trieste, Italy, with descent from Mykonos island, she gave her entire fortune for the Greek cause. She also encouraged many of her influential friends to offer money and weapons to the Greek revolutionaries.  She was beautiful, had studied Ancient Greek philosophy and History and also was fluent in Italian, French and Turkish besides Greek. Once the struggle began, she moved to Mykonos island where she persuaded the locals to join the war. She led them successfully in a battle against the Turks and then also equipped men and sent them to aid in Samos island and the Peloponnese. She led expenditions in western Europe, especially addressing the women of Paris, to side with the Greek cause. She moved to Nafplion, where she met Demetrios Ypsilantis and they were soon engaged. A great part of the political world didn’t want two so powerful and pro-Russian families to unite. The aforementioned politician Ioannis Kolettis took it upon himself to destroy their relationship. Mavroyenous eventually returned to Mykonos, heartbroken and destitute.  When the war ended Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias awarded her the rank of the Lieutenant General and granted her a dwelling in Nafplion, where she moved.

Athanásios Diakos (1788 - 1821). Diakos’ real surname was Grammatikós. Diakos refers to him being a Greek Orthodox deacon from an early age. Diakos was particularly good looking. It is said that the reason he abandoned the church and became a brigand was that he reacted too violently one time that he attracted the unwanted attention of a Turk. He was forced to flee his monastery and joined irregular troops in the mountains. He quickly distinguished himself in fights against the Ottomans, eventually becoming a commander. In the first year of the war, he liberated a large part of Sterea Hellas. However, in his last stand near Thermopylae (which parallels him to Ancient Spartan King Leonidas), he was captured by the Turks and suffered a most gruesome death by impalement. Two famous quotes are attributed to him. Before they killed him, the Turks offered him an officer’s position in the Turkish army as long as he converted to Islam. Diakos responded: “I was born a Greek, I shall die a Greek”. Then, according to tradition, as he was led to his horrible death, it is said he sang: “ Behold the time Charon (ancient deity who led the dead to the underworld) chose to take me, now that the branches are flowering, and the earth sends forth grass”. It is believed this had a double meaning, as he was killed in April 24th but it was also the very first year - the Spring - of the Revolution.

Ioannis Makriyannis (1797 - 1864). Makriyannis was a merchant, political officer and general of the Greek Independence War. He led the Greek armies to many victories, the most important being the defence of Nafplion, then capital of the Greek state, from Ibrahim pasha. It was the first success against Ibrahim and his enormous Egyptian fleet. Makriyannis is also known for later coordinating a revolt against King Otto, which forced the King to grant the first Constitution of Greece. Makriyannis had very active political presence and his actions were generally motivated by reason and integrity. However, he is mostly known for writing his memoirs, which remain to this day the most reliable and informative source about the Greek revolution. He also worked with an artist to create 24 drawings depicting loyally historical events as experienced by Makriyannis himself. Makriyannis’ memoirs are not only a source of information but the first great literary work in Demotic Greek. Nobel awarded Giorgos Seferis stated Makriyannis was one of the greatest masters of Modern Greek prose. 

Andreas Miaoulis (1765 - 1835). Miaoulis was originally a corn trader who gained a lot of wealth. When the war broke out, he used this money to aid the fighters and command his own fleet. He was trying to help in any way possible. He was appointed admiral and had many victories in naval combats throughout all of Greece. He was the one who was secretly supplying the sieged city of Missholonghi with stores and reinforcements through its lake, a very delicate task. Soon he retired but he returned to his position as admiral once Kapodistrias became governor, fighting the piracy in the Aegean sea effectively. However, his relationship with Kapodistrias grew hostile because Kapodistrias did not favor the (rich) clans of former warriors and was loathed by the British, whom Miaoulis favored instead of the Russians. So much that Miaoulis eventually participated in a revolt against him, ending up burning Greek ships, although it is not known whether it was by his own choice or he was told to. He has been heavily criticized both then and now for this deed. Kapodistrias was ready to pardon him and his men but his assassination came first. Miaoulis’ reputation was officially restored upon King Otto’s arrival in Greece. It is known he expressed some regret over his action, confessing to politician Spyridon Trikoupis that if he had a wise man like him by his side to advice him, he wouldn’t have done it. Furthermore, he was appointed again as an admiral but this time Miaoulis refused, which historians believe it was due to feelings of guilt. When he died, he was buried in the coast of Piraeus where it is believed the Ancient Athenian general and admiral Themistocles was buried too. His heart is kept in a silver urn in the Museum of Hydra. 

[nikostsatsakis]

Άγιοι Ανάργυροι - Agioi Anargyroi. The hiding place of Papaflessas

[anastasiachristou]

PHOTOGRAPHY MAJOR PROJECT 1: INTERVIEW REGARDING THE TURKISH INVASION

During my research for Major Project 1, I got in touch through email with a former resident of Famagusta who experienced the Turkish Invasion in Cyprus, 1974.  His name is Demetrios and he was introduced to me by a fellow student. I got the opportunity to ask him a couple of questions regarding the Turkish Invasion which he kindly took the time and responded in detail.

 Interview with Demetrios:

Demetrios is Cypriot, born in Tanzania. He spent his school years in boarding schools in Tanzania, then Athens and the last two years at The English School of Nicosia, Cyprus getting his GCEs.

 Anastasia Christou: Were you a resident in Famagusta or were you just visiting at that time?

Demetrios: I graduated from University in England in International Relations in 1973, and I was doing extra studies there, when my father asked for my help as he was setting up a new business in a village west of Famagusta, in January 1974. He was setting up a factory manufacturing bulk sacks for agricultural produce such as potatoes, and industrial ropes and twines.

The factory started operating in May of 1974. Bad timing! As I was working there, I was also taking a MA degree in Business Administration through the United Nations sponsored program. A few fellow students were Turkish Cypriots as was one of the lecturers. I was in Nicosia driving to one of the lectures when the coup begun by the Greek officers.

 AC: What were your initial thoughts about the situation at that time? What was your action plan?

D: Having a strong interest in politics, and my parents fearing for my safety due to my left-wing opinions after the April 21st, 1967 right-wing military coup in Greece, I ended up at the English School in Nicosia. Cyprus politics were very turbulent then with Makarios being a thorn to the Greek military junta’s side. I was worried the regime in Greece would try to destabilize Makarios (President at that time) with American help, as they did not see eye to eye with him.

When the coup in Cyprus happened I was afraid this would open the door to Turkey to invade. I thought it was unlikely but not impossible. I didn’t think the Americans would allow it. But Kissinger was the first to recognize Sampson’s government. There was no action planned because we did not think the Turks would invade.

  AC: Were you alone in Cyprus, or did you have family or other people with you?

D: On the 15th of July 1974, when the Turkish Invasion began, we thought we would be safe in Famagusta, but then the airstrikes started. Not being a Cypriot citizen (British citizen and passport having been born in Tanzania, then a British colony) I was not called up in the army and I was eating watermelon for breakfast with my mother. My mother had volunteered as a nurse, (having been one before marriage, in 1948) and was working with Doctor Marangos looking after the wounded and she was home to get a few hours of rest.

Our home was right on the beach between two hotels called Constantia and Florida. One of the bombs hit the hotel next to our building which flattened half of it. At that time my grandparents and a few other relatives had taken refuge in our house. We all rushed to the basement and felt all fourteen floors above us sway, from the continuing bomb blasts. We could hear the Turkish jets screaming overhead. My grandmother lost it and rushed outside to yell and curse the Turks. My father and I went after her and dragged her back. That is when I saw the devastation: burning cars on the street, half the building next door had collapsed from a direct hit and a mangled body draped over the smouldering rubble.

Once everything went quiet we got in our cars and headed outside Famagusta in the orange groves pondering our next move. The car radio was reporting that the Turks were moving towards Famagusta, so we decided to drive out to Larnaca and then on to Limassol to the safety of my uncle’s village Fasouri which was citrus fruit plantation, and was within the British sovereign near Akrotiri.

 AC: What is your opinion about the Turkish people? Has this changed throughout the years?

D: I never saw the Turkish-Cypriots as the enemy or had any hatred towards them. I saw them as victims of national rivalry between Greece and Turkey: Greece for supporting our once strong desire for Union with “mother” Greece, and Turkey for trying to reclaim Cyprus as part of the Turkish state. My enmity is towards Turkey for having dispossessed me and torn me away from my country to which I have been connected since the Trojan War. 

In the north of Cyprus, near Ayios Georgios village, there is a small sandy beach, not more than a couple of hundred yards long. You will not find it marked on any map. Its name handed down by word of mouth by those living there for the last three thousand or so years? It’s called Akti Acheon. The beach of the Achaeans! Remnants of the Achaeans who were one of the Greek tribes, part of the Greek expedition that fought in the Trojan War. When that ended, some of them landed on that beach; hence its name. That is the thread that connects me and you to Cyprus and its history. That is the connection the Turks have cut off.

My father’s ancestors are buried up there in the village Karavas. In the mid-'80s, some mainland settlers from Turkey heard that Christians were buried with their gold crosses. They tore up the graves at the Karavas cemetery looting them for the gold crosses. Turkish-Cypriots would not  have done that because they were respectful of us, as we were respectful of them until Britain asked Turkey to start getting mixed up again in Cyprus (prohibited from doing so by the Treaty of Lausanne) to forestall Greek-Cypriot demands for union with Greece. The Brits set us up against each other with Turkey and Greece winding us up to start killing each other.

When I was a schoolboy learning about Greek history, Turkey was always the enemy. I was 13 when the troubles started in Cyprus in 1963. As I grew older and started reading for myself I saw that things were not as simple as portrayed in high school history class. I realised that both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots were victims of mother countries’ power games. I feel sorry for the Turkish-Cypriots because they are used as Turkey’s Trojan horse for its attempts to control Cyprus. Ihsan Caglayangil, Turkish foreign minister in the 70s once famously said: we did not come to Cyprus for the Turkish-Cypriot blue eyes. So no, I do not hate the Turkish-Cypriots.

 AC: In regards to the division, and the fact that almost half a decade has passed, do you believe that Cyprus will be one again? If you do follow this political situation, can you please tell me your views about it?

D: Either we carry on like China and Taiwan, unresolved but the rest of the world accepting even informally of the division and learning to accommodate it or there is a solution that nobody is happy with.

It all depends on Erdogan’s (President of Turkey) fate. He is leading Turkey into dangerous waters. He thinks he is turning Turkey into a great power by striking an independent line from the west but getting in bed with Putin will come to no good. Playing the west against Putin is a game played on a razor’s edge. There is no guarantee that not another coup to depose Erdogan and Turkey has a habit of lurching from one economic crisis into another. Unless Turkey is severely weakened it will always try to annex Cyprus, or at least control it through the political control the Turkish-Cypriots will get from a reluctant but imposed solution.

As Greek-Cypriots we never miss an opportunity for a solution. Read about all the solutions proposed since the mid-50s starting with Britain offering us self-determination in ten years with nary a thought about the Turkish-Cypriots -after all, they were an insignificant minority- which naturally, we turned down because we wanted a union and we wanted it now!

 Kolokotronis, Papaflessas and Karaiskakis (important figures of the Greek War of Independence) never compromised, and neither will Greek-Cypriots say as we ignore history and how Greeks won their independence only because it suited the great powers of the day to weaken the Ottoman Empire. We ignore how our great Orthodox leadership wanted nothing to do with 1821 because they were enjoying privileges bestowed by the Ottomans. Leave aside the stories of Germanos III of Old Patras (an Orthodox Metropolitan of Patras who played an important role in the Greek Revolution of 1821, having diplomatic and political activity) blessing the start of the war of independence against the Ottomans. They wanted nothing to do with it. But they teach us this nonsense at school because there is a use for a national narrative that gives us a noble sense of history and that we are our own agents of it. It is a glue that strengthens our national identity.

 Every following proposal for Cyprus was worse than the one before. We think we are the centre of the world and that someday the Virgin Mary will perform a miracle and restore things as rosy as before. And we will also take back Constantinople (Istanbul) and the church bells will ring once again at Hagia Sophia. We are naive, stupid and ahistorical people that refuse to understand how history plays out for tiny nations. You either learn to ride on the back of sharks or you get eaten as you think you are writing golden pages in the history books. The best we can hope for is some solution of a much-decentralised government with minimal compensation for lost properties. A few villages will be handed back along with parts of Famagusta and that will be that.

I will be 70 next year and was 24 when we were ethnically cleansed from our homes and erased from our history. Soon there will be very few who will be alive and remember how things were before 1974. The only ones who will remember or at least keep the problem alive will be Greek-Cypriot politicians who have made their careers from fiery speeches about the “Cyprus Problem”. They will be the ones winding up the chauvinists and earning their votes. How many still clamour to return to Smyrna? They are all dead and Smyrna is only a distant memory in the history books. 

But then, I never thought apartheid would come to an end or that the Soviet Union would one day collapse. Now we never think that China's Communist Party will ever lose power, or that North Korea will fare a similar fate. Yet history can be full of surprises. I live in hope.

[hellas-inhabitants]

Papaflessas rouses the Greeks. Ethnological Museum of History. Ο Παπαφλέσσας ξεσηκώνει τους Έλληνες. Εθνολογικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο.