Knowing European History: The Awakening of Hellenism

How the Western intellect and the aftermath of the French revolution sow the seed for the uprising of the Greeks. Adamantios Korais, the Greek rulers of Moldovlachia and the Phanariotes… The awakening of the Greeks for their freedom begins.

In the broadcast of Sunday, August 18, Aris Portosalte and the guest Mr. Tudor Dinou, professor at the chair of Modern Greek studies at the University of Bucharest, discuss the history of Moldavia and the part of the Greek revolution of 1821 that took place in Moldavia and Wallachia. They begin their discussion of Ismailia, a Moldavian city right on the Danube River.

In 1821, after the detachment of Eastern Moldavia from the Russians, Ismailio was already on Russian territory but at a breathing distance from the hegemony of Moldavia, so it was considered by Alexandros Ypsilantis as an ideal place to hold the meeting of the Friendly Society.

Alexander Ypsilantis was the son and grandson of the rulers of Wallachia and Moldavia. Specifically, his grandfather Alexander Ypsilantis was perhaps, according to historians, the best Phanariot ruler of Wallachia while his father Konstantinos Ypsilantis had an unfortunate hegemony from 1802 to 1806 in Wallachia due to the biggest earthquake in the history of Wallachia and Romania. generally, which prompted him to side with the Russians and seek refuge in Russia.

Alexander Ypsilantis, after his father fled to Russia, grew up as a Russian aristocrat, he knew Greek very well but did not know the manners and mentality of the Greeks. He careered in the Russian army, excelling at the Battle of Dresden, the Napoleonic Wars, and after an accident he retired and became one of the Tsar’s many retainers living a life of luxury in St. Petersburg.

But when he was asked to take over the leadership of Philiki Etairia, he decided to sacrifice everything for the liberation of the homeland, even though he knew that he had no support from the Tsar.

You can listen to the show in detail below