Dr Aris Michopoulos
In a few days we will celebrate the 203rd anniversary of the Greek Revolution with parades in Greece and around the world. Sometimes, however, we forget the serious work that preceded this uprising and which played a central role in the final outcome of the Revolution. As we know, initial planning began in the then Russian-controlled port city of Odessa. There, in 1814, three Greek merchants (Skoufas, say of current Romania and other Balkan countries, but also in Greece proper. In fact, most of the leaders of the Greek Revolution, like
Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis and many others, as well as the metropolitans who blessed the “lavara” of Agia Lavra, had been initiated into the secrets of Philike Etaireia. And the first outbreak of the Revolution did not take place in Aghia Lavra, but in present-day Romania, that is, in the Principality of Moldavia and Wallachia at the time. There, on February 24, Alexander Ypsilantis, the leader of the revolution, crossed the Prut River with a band of fighters, declared their revolution against the Sultan and, through a proclamation, invited the local population to join the revolution. Indeed, with local participation and a military force of some 4,000 men, the rebels were able to enter Bucharest on March 27, 1821. The turn of events, however, turned against them when the Tsar of Russia did not oppose the military operations of the sultan. against the rebels. In a few weeks, the Revolution was extinguished, but left a glorious legacy with the famous battle of Dragatsani (June 7) where the fighters of the Sacred Battalion, all young and educated men, fell on the field of honor for “their faith and their country.” Thus, the Revolution ended in September 1821, when its leader Alexandre Ypsilantis crossed the border into Austria, where he was captured and imprisoned until 1827. Unfortunately, he died prematurely in Vienna the following year without able to visit the liberated Greece of the time. However, his brother Démetrios Ypsilantis was able to join the Revolution in Greece from the beginning and contribute significantly to its success.
Besides the central role played by the Greeks of Russia, Romania and other Balkan countries during the Revolution, we also had the Greeks of Western Europe, i.e. England, France, Italy and other European countries, who informed and urged their citizens and governments to support the Revolution. In fact, they organized numerous committees that collected clothing, food, and military supplies to support the war. At the same time, they provoked Turkish atrocities and aroused strong philhellenic feeling towards the rebels. This led to an influx of European fighters
Greece must fight for its freedom. An excellent example of this movement is the participation of Lord Byron, who financed a large group of Souliot fighters and also gave his life during the siege of Missolonghi (April 19, 1824). Politically, they advocated the creation of a free country and provided military and financial aid. So, in a way, the various loans granted to Greece during the Revolution were a byproduct of the efforts of the Greek diaspora and others. This help became more evident and crucial towards the end of the Revolution, when the joint efforts of Greeks and changing public opinion in many European countries forced their governments to change their positions on the Revolution. Thus, the Holy Alliance formed in 1815 in Vienna, initially an enemy of the Revolution, was quickly forced to become a friend. And this change was clearly manifested in the naval battle of Navarino (1827), where England, France and Russia fought together against the Turkish-Egyptian fleet and put an end to these long and bitter battles.
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Public demonstrations and support in Europe were followed by similar actions across the Atlantic. Emerging American democracy contributed significantly to the Revolution. Many committees in major American cities, especially on the East Coast, were formed to collect clothing, money, and other necessities to support the war and starving people. These committees played a central role in the success of the war and also in encouraging young fighters to join the war. As a result, many of them joined the fighting and provided humanitarian aid. The most notable of these was the famous young physician Samuel Gridley Howe who saved many lives by treating the sick and injured. He was promoted to chief surgeon of the Greek army and also helped Greece during the Cretan Revolution. On the military front, several career and other officers joined the Greek fighters, including George Jarvis and Colonel Jonathan Miller. As Jarvis was promoted to General of the Greek Army, Colonel Jonathan Miller gave the Greek Americans their first congressman, namely Lucas Miltiades Miller. Lucas was brought to the United States as a war orphan, received an exceptional education from his adoptive father, and eventually became a member of Congress, giving the keynote speech on the Greek Revolution in 1891 to the American Congress!
While the tiny presence of the Greek diaspora in the United States at that time did everything possible to support the Revolution, one can imagine the depth and breadth of our Omogenie today. The Greek-American community is the center of the Greek diaspora today, as were the Greeks of Russia in 1821. The Greek diaspora today possesses a wealth and power never imagined fifty years ago. AHEPA is perhaps the organization that has best internalized this mission by creating sister organizations in many parts of the world, namely Australia, Canada, Europe and even Greece itself. This shows the unity of our nation in its global conceptualization. And just as the Greeks of the diaspora changed the course of history in 1821, we can do it today too. Greek-Americans are the flagship of the Hellenic diaspora, and as such, they have a serious obligation to set an example for the rest of the Greek diaspora. And we have a good example to follow: the Jews of the diaspora. In many ways, they moved the “goal posts” forward, leaving other teams behind. Here then, we have our own manifold challenges to face and overcome, so that we can proudly proclaim “ΖΗΤΩ ΤΟ ΑΘΑΝΑΤΟ 1821!” »
