The Birth of a Nation-State

1071. In Manzikert, part of modern Turkey, a new Muslim dynasty, the Seljuks, manages to dominate in a battle against the Byzantines - a historical event that marks the beginning of the end for the Byzantine Empire.

Following a 53-day siege, Constantinople falls into the hands of the Ottomans on March 29, 1453. With the capital of the Byzantine Empire now taken, it’s only a matter of time before Greece is also conquered.

In order to fill up the empire’s treasure chests after conquering new territories, Ottomans imposed heavy taxes to their non-Muslim subjects. In Greece, tax collection was as ruthless as it could be.

Under the Ottoman rule, a long period of intellectual darkness began in Greece. With almost all educated people and scientists having fled to Europe, the difficult work of the preservation of Greek letters fell on the Church.

With intellectuals away from Greece, Church took on the role of the watchful guardian of the Greek language. But equally important for the spreading of Greek language and culture were folk poetry and songs.

Before the Revolution of 1821, Greece’s population was a mosaic of people of different religions. Amid the extremely difficult life conditions and numerous restrictions, Greeks tried to preserve their traditional way of life.

Since the fall of Constantinople, Greeks staged 123 smaller or bigger revolutions, which were usually instigated by the great European powers. All of them were drowned in blood, but they paved the way for the 1821 Revolution.

With their modern ideas and activities, Greek intellectuals and expatriates prepared the ground for the burst of the Revolution in 1821. Two of the most emblematic figures were Adamantios Korais and Rigas Velestinlis.

Beside Greek intellectuals, crucial role to the preparation of the Revolution played the numerous secret organizations, with Filiki Eteria being the most prominent, as well as certain areas of Greece, like Mani and Souli.

On February 24, 1821, Alexandros Ipsilantis, who has taken on the leadership of Filiki Eteria after Kapodistrias’ refusal, declares the beginning of the revolution in Iasi. But the heart of the Struggle beats in the Peloponnese.

Conflicts over power and the management of British loans gave rise to civil wars between rebelled Greeks. Finally, the victories of Kolokotronis and Karaiskakis as well as the tragedy in Missolonghi reignited the Struggle.

The fact that the Revolution of 1821 was the only one to have employed the navy was the key to its success. Hydra, Spetses and Psara led the war at sea and their famous fire ships stroke some heavy blows to the Ottoman fleet.

In a very short time period, Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, managed to create a state from scratch. But, his conflict with the Opposition and the traditional social ranks made his position precarious.

The period of anarchy that followed Kapodistrias’ murder destroyed almost everything he had created. To fill his gap, the Great Powers chose 17-year-old prince Otto to become the first ruler of the newly-found Greek state.