What did the Ottomans gain from the Greek revolution of 1821?

A lot has been said and written about the importance of the 1821 revolution for the Greeks of the time and the creation of the Greek state. But is it possible that the impact it had on the Ottoman state has been underestimated?

Benaki '1821 Before and After' exhibits: (L) Jean Baptiste Vanmour, Woman from Phanari, early 18th c (R)Theophilos Chatzimichael,The Hero Markos Botsaris, 1933 Source: Benaki Museum

Key points

• Τhe impact of the Greek struggle for independence on Ottoman ideology
• Greek researcher to discuss lesser known perspectives of the Greek revolution
• The lecture is presented at Melbourne’s Greek Centre

Dr Leonidas Moiras addresses this gap in his upcoming lecture titled ‘Ottoman Perceptions of the Greek Revolution’ to be presented in Melbourne.

The Greek revolution outburst was a major challenge on its own for the Ottomans, who were called to suppress the insurgents.

State authorities and the elite class were also tasked with identifying the reasons behind the revolution, responding at large with military mobilization.

But at the same time, the Greek Revolution facilitated the dissemination of the main ideas of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment reaching and shaping decisively the Ottoman imperial thought and ideology.

An example of how this process of ‘knowledge transmission would take place is through the intercepted documents of Greek rebels by the Ottoman authorities.

In Dr Moiras’ words:

This paper is an attempt to investigate the Ottoman perceptions and reactions to the Greek Struggle of Independence. I will try to investigate how the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II., the central state elite and the intelligentsia experienced the Greek War of Independence and the “making” of the modern Greek state through the examination of the contemporary Ottoman sources and the terminology of the state elite. Also, I will discuss the reflection of the major events of the Greek Revolution, such as the Chios Massacre, in the Ottoman sources.

Dr Leonidas Moiras Source: GOCMV/Supplied

Dr Moiras is teaching History of the Ottoman Empire (15th – 18th cent.) and Ottoman Paleography at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and he is the author of the book “The Greek Revolution through the Ottoman Eyes” (Athens, 2020).

The lecture is presented as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Mlebourne.

Where: Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale street.

When: Thursday 20 May, at 7.00pm.