greek war of independence quotes greek war of independence quotes

In fact, during the Ottoman occupation and the first few years of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), many flags were used by different people . ", which he called "damning proof of the selfish indifference of the Christian world. In the early 19th century, the Greeks' desire for independence from the Ottoman Empire was stimulated by growing nationalism, the influence of the French Revolution, Turkish reverses in the Russo-Turkish wars, the 1820 rebellion of Ali Pasha and the sympathetic attitude of Tsar Aleksandr I of Russia. Greek forces under Demetrius Ypsilantis, for the first time trained to fight as a regular European army rather than as guerrilla bands, advanced against Aslan Bey's forces and defeated them. [164] The Greeks initially laughed at the Egyptian soldiers, who were short, skinny falln (peasant) conscripts, many of them blind in one eye owing to the prevalence of parasitic worms that attacked the eye in the Nile, wearing cheap red uniforms comprising a jacket, trousers and a skull-cap. 19 June].[64]. 2 Padelis E. Lekas, "The Greek War of Independence from the Perspective of Historical Sociology," The Historical Review/La Revue Historique 2, (2006): 162. https://doi. Kanaris brought with him to mainland Greece, Cypriots who created the "Column of Cypriots" ( ), led by General Chatzipetros, which fought with extraordinary heroism in Greece. Later, however, as Greece became embroiled in a civil war, the Sultan called upon his strongest subject, Muhammad Ali of Egypt, for aid. Although the origin of the Greek flag is still a matter of debate, the important fact to remember is that it was officially adopted by Greece on December 22, 1978. For the first time, a Christian subject people had achieved independence from Ottoman rule and established a fully independent state, recognized by Europe. However, when his force landed at Pyrgos Dirou, they were confronted by a group of Maniot women and repelled. [113], Following the instructions of Alexander Ypsilantis, that is to prepare the ground and to rouse the inhabitants of Macedonia to rebellion, Pappas loaded arms and munitions from Constantinople on a ship on 23 March and proceeded to Mount Athos, considering that this would be the most suitable spring-board for starting the insurrection. [78] The Ottoman commander in the Roumeli was the Albanian general Omer Vrioni who become infamous for his "Greek hunts" in Attica, which was described thus: "One of his favourite amusements was a 'Greek hunt' as the Turks called it. [45] With the support of wealthy Greek exile communities in Britain and the United States and with the aid of sympathizers in Western Europe, they planned the rebellion. In the meanwhile, Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople and the Synod had anathematized and excommunicated both Ypsilantis and Soutzos issuing many encyclicals, an explicit denunciation of the Revolution in line with the Orthodox Church's policy. In turn, the success of the Greek Revolution was to stimulate the incipient stirrings of Jewish nationalism, later called Zionism. [165] Ibrahim proceeded to defeat the Greek garrison on the small island of Sphacteria off the coast of Messenia. Codrington assembled his fleet once more, with the British returning from Malta and the French from the Aegean. Two days after crossing the Prut, at Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery in Iai (Jassy), the capital of Moldavia, Ypsilantis issued a proclamation calling all Greeks and Christians to rise up against the Ottomans:[58][59][60][61], Fight for Faith and Fatherland! Get 20% OFF + Free International Shipping with my link https://manscaped.com/kings #sponsored #fathersdayKin. The Greek cause began to draw support not only from the large Greek merchant diaspora in both Western Europe and Russia, but also from Western European Philhellenes. Be the first to contribute! Those not cut down or shot down during the "Greek hunts" were impaled afterwards when captured. [67], As news came of Ypsilantis' march into the Danubian Principalities, the atmosphere in the Peloponnese was tense, and by mid-March, sporadic incidents against Muslims occurred, heralding the start of the uprising. The Greeks of Cyprus underwent great risk to provide these supplies, and secretly load them onto boats arriving at intervals from Greece, as the Ottoman rulers in Cyprus at the time were very wary of Cypriot insurgency and sentenced to death any Greek Cypriots found aiding the Greek cause. [223], Some of the more infamous atrocities include the Chios Massacre, the Constantinople Massacre, the Destruction of Psara, Massacre of Samothrace (1821), Kasos Massacre, Naousa massacre, Third siege of Missolonghi, the massacres following the Tripolitsa Massacre, and the Navarino Massacre. Unite, then, O brave and magnanimous Greeks! From a map published in Paris in 1826. The battle-scarred hero of the Greek Revolution, Giannos "Astrapogiannos", returns home after the end of the blood-soaked War of Independence, only to find himself in a new conflict, as he locks horns with a ruthless local Kodjabashis. [69] However, a study on the archive of Hugues Pouqueville (Franois Pouqueville's brother) claims that Franois' account was accurate, without making any reference to the purported Anglophobia or Francophilia of Germanos. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The war would prove a seminal event in the history of the Ottoman Empire, despite the small size and the impoverishment of the new Greek state. Even though the Greeks were ultimately victorious, it was not without its consequences. The Greek Enlightenment has long been a focus of our collecting, the inspirational movement of Greek intellectuals who did so much to rally the support of Europe, led by Adamantios Koraes and Velestinles Regas. The great figures of the War itself include the well-known combatants: Theodoros Kolokotrones, the brigand (klepht) hero of the Peloponnese, Georgios Karaiskakes and Odysseus Androutsos, commanders of forces in Roumeli (continental Greece), and Ioannes Makrygiannes, whose Memoirs of the War are considered among the classics of Modern Greek literature. We were all plunged into great grief; for half an hour there was so complete a silence that no one would have thought there was a living soul present; each of us was revolving in his mind how great was our misfortune". GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE Aided by the great powers, Greece broke away from the Ottoman Empire to establish a modern state. [39] As the power of the Ottoman Empire declined, Greek nationalism began to assert itself. We need to . The Russo-Turkish wars of Catherine II (1762-1796) made the Greeks consider their emancipation with the aid of Russia. Codrington intercepted the force and made them retreat and did so again on the following day when Ibrahim led the fleet in person. When Muhammad Ali's fleet, which had been warned by the British and French to stay away from Greece, left Alexandria and joined other Ottoman/Egyptian units at Navarino on 8 September, Codrington arrived with his squadron off Navarino on 12 September. In collaboration with the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies under the leadership of its Director, Dimitri Gondicas, Princeton University Library has amassed a research-worthy collection related to this conflict, including both rarities held in its Special Collections and the circulating works of modern scholarship. Though sometimes referred to as the first armed conflict that established the independence of a modern nation state, the struggle was fraught with so many conflicting political interests and . [169] Popular opinion in both Greece and the rest of Europe, soon credited Ibrahim Pasha with the so-called "barbarisation project", where it was alleged that Ibrahim planned to deport the entire Christian Greek population to Egypt as slaves and replace them with Egyptian peasants. When ancient Greeks had a thought, it occurred to them as a god or goddess giving an order. In subsequent years, the successes of the Greek fire ships would increase their reputation, with acts such as the destruction of the Ottoman flagship by Konstantinos Kanaris at Chios, after the massacre of the island's population in June 1822, acquiring international fame. An operation which launched on 5 May 1827 ended in disaster, as the Greek forces got lost and scattered as the captains quarrelled with one another. The British public, many of them Philhellenes, were overjoyed at the outcome of the battle which all but confirmed the independence of Greece. From the Greek translation of Svoronos (Nicolas), Robert Zegger, "Greek Independence and the London Committee". Ibrahim, Pasha, the Egyptian general who brought the Greeks to the brink of defeat at the Siege of Mesolongion (Missolonghi) also deserves mention, as does the Greek admiral Andreas Miaoules, whose naval operations did much to turn the tide again in Greeces favor. Arrested by Austrian officials in Trieste in 1797, he was handed over to Ottoman officials and transported to Belgrade along with his co-conspirators. [59], At that point, Kapodistrias, the foreign minister of Russia, was ordered by Alexander I to send Ypsilantis a letter upbraiding him for misusing the mandate received from the Tsar; Kapodistrias announced to Ypsilantis that his name had been struck off the army list and that he was commanded to lay down arms. Written by David Jenkins, Classics, Hellenic Studies, and Linguistics Librarian. The Turks were joined by Ibrahim in mid-winter, but his army had no more luck in penetrating Missolonghi's defences. Mimir was the Norse god of wisdom. In the face of this situation, the Greeks decided to use fire ships (Greek: or ), which had proven themselves effective for the Psarians during the Orlov Revolt in 1770. From the early stages of the revolution, success at sea was vital for the Greeks. From 9 to 14 July, the Ottomans killed all prisoners on the list of the pasha, and in the next 30 days, looting and massacres spread throughout Cyprus as 4,000 Turkish soldiers from Syria arrived on the island. [149], Military leaders and representatives of Filiki Eteria were marginalized, but gradually Kolokotronis' political influence grew, and he soon managed to control, along with the captains he influenced, the Peloponnesian Senate. Today are raised from the dead the fighters, political, religious, as well as military, for our King has come, that we begat with the power of God. [182] On 13 October 1826, Gouras was killed by an Ottoman sniper and a week later, Yannis Makriyannis was wounded three times in a single day. Peter the Great had envisaged a disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the re-institution of a new Byzantine Empire with an Orthodox emperor. Tuesday, February 28, 2023 View More [37] The Greek revolts of the 18th century were unsuccessful but far larger than the revolts of previous centuries, and they announced the initiative for a national revolution. Shortly after the war ended, the people of the Russian-dependent Poland, encouraged by the Greek victory, started the November Uprising, hoping to regain their independence. [47], The Filiki Eteria expanded rapidly and was soon able to recruit members in all areas of the Greek world and among all elements of the Greek society. GeorgiadisArnakis argues that the Church of Constantinople conducted "a magnificent work of national conservation", and contributed to the national liberation of all the subject nationalities of the Balkan peninsula. Decent Essays. [184] In the meantime, the siege of Athens continued. The Ottoman Sultan called in Muhammad Ali of Egypt, who agreed to send his son, Ibrahim Pasha, to Greece with an army to suppress the revolt in return for territorial gains. 6062. He is revered throughout Cyprus as a noble patriot and defender of the Orthodox faith and Hellenic cause. O Imprio Otomano passou a controlar toda a Grcia, com a exceo das Ilhas Jnicas e a pennsula de Mani, aps as conquistas dos territrios remanescentes do Imprio Bizantino com o passar dos . [24] Some managed to establish exclusive control in their armatolik, forcing the Porte to try repeatedly, though unsuccessfully, to eliminate them. The survivors, among them Pappas, were rescued by the Psarian fleet, which took them mainly to Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros. [35] There they came into contact with the radical ideas of the European Enlightenment, the French Revolution and romantic nationalism. [205] A full engagement was begun which ended in a complete victory for the Allies and in the annihilation of the Egyptian-Turkish fleet. 66.2 French Revolution of July 1830, and Greek War of Independence (2022 Podcast Episode) Quotes It looks like we don't have any Quotes for this title yet. The Russo-Turkish wars of Catherine II (17621796) made the Greeks consider their emancipation with the aid of Russia. History of the Greek Flag. [136], The Chios massacre shocked all of Europe and further increased public sympathy for the Greek cause. The Ottomans launched sporadic attacks towards the city while the revolutionaries, led by Panagiotis Karatzas, drove them back to the fortress. His intention was to raise all the Christians of the Balkans in rebellion and perhaps force Russia to intervene on their behalf. The Greeks managed to halt the Turkish advance at the Battle of Gravia under the leadership of Odysseas Androutsos, who, with a handful of men, inflicted heavy casualties upon the Turkish army. 16, University of North Florida, " ", "Greek Auditors in the Courses of Jean Lamarck", The Greek Revolution: 1821 and the Making of Modern Europe, The Question of Greek Independence: A Study of British Policy in the Near East, 18211833, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greek_War_of_Independence&oldid=1142325284, "Today the fatherland is reborn, that for so long was lost and extinguished. In Bucharest, the relations of the two men deteriorated dramatically; Vladimirescu's first priority was to assert his authority against the newly appointed prince Scarlat Callimachi, trying to maintain relations with both Russia and the Ottomans. The Greek War of Independence,[a] also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. [82] Since the revolution began in March, the Sublime Porte had executed at random various prominent Greeks living in Constantinople, such as the serving Dragoman of the Porte and two retired dragomans, a number of wealthy bankers and merchants, including a member of the ultra-rich Mavrocordatos family, three monks and a priest of the Orthodox church, and three ordinary Greeks accused of planning to poison the city's water supply. [104] In 1821, an uprising by Christians was met with a fierce response from the Ottoman authorities and the execution of several bishops, regarded as ringleaders. Fearing that his followers might surrender him to the Turks, he gave out that Austria had declared war on Turkey, caused a Te Deum to be sung in Cozia Monastery, and on pretext of arranging measures with the Austrian commander-in-chief, he crossed the frontier. On 9 July 1821 Kk Pasha had the gates to the walled city of Nicosia closed and executed, by beheading or hanging, 470 important Cypriots amongst them Chrysanthos (bishop of Paphos), Meletios (bishop of Kition) and Lavrentios (bishop of Kyrenia). [87] Between the summer of 1821 and end of 1822, when the French started to inspect ships leaving Marseilles for philhellenes, some 360 volunteers travelled to Greece. [14], The first great uprising was the Russian-sponsored Orlov Revolt of the 1770s, which was crushed by the Ottomans after having limited success. [170] Russia warned that if the "barbarisation project" was a real plan, then such an egregious violation of the Treaty of Kk Kaynarca, under which Russia had a vague claim to be the protector of all the Orthodox peoples of the Ottoman Empire, would lead to Russia going to war against the Ottomans. [4] During the following centuries, there were sporadic but unsuccessful Greek uprisings against Ottoman rule. List of Greek soldiers and their current and former ranks, from a report published in 1865 in support of the still living veterans who fought at the Siege of Athens in 1826, demanding both their recognition and back pay. Soon the local Ottoman ruler, Mustafa Naili Pasha, attacked Frangokastello with an army of 8,000 men. [155], On 7 February 1825, a second loan to Greece was floated in the City of London. The crucial meeting was held at Vostitsa (modern Aigion), where chieftains and prelates from all over the Peloponnese assembled on 26 January. [122], In March 1822, Mehmed Emin secured decisive victories at Kolindros and Kastania. After a long and bloody struggle, and with the aid of the Great Powers, independence was finally granted by the Treaty of Constantinople in July 1832. On 17 May, the Greeks of Polygyros took up arms, killed the local governor and 14 of his men, and wounded three others; they also repulsed two Turkish detachments. [227] A large number of Christian clergymen were also killed, including the Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V.[i], Sometimes marked as allies of the Turks in the Peloponnese, Jewish settlements were also massacred by Greek revolutionaries; Steve Bowman argues that the tragedy may have been more a side-effect of the butchering of the Turks of Tripolis, the last Ottoman stronghold in the South, where the Jews had taken refuge from the fighting, than a specific action against Jews as such. Of the 89 Egyptian-Turkish ships that took part in the battle, only 14 made it back to Alexandria and their dead amounted to over 8,000. These events urged Greeks in the Peloponnese (Morea) into action and on 17 March 1821, the Maniots were first to declare war. 2 Pages. [226] Most of the Greeks in the Greek quarter of Constantinople were massacred. [31][32] Nevertheless, they seldom robbed common folk, from whose ranks they came from, and more often raided Turks, with whom they were separated by religion, nationality, and social class. Right: Account of the contributions of several Swiss communities in support of Greek independence, 1829. [208] The French troops definitely left Greece after five years, in 1833. In May1832, Palmerston convened the London Conference. After his defeat and the successful retreat of Androutsos' force, Omer Vrioni postponed his advance towards Peloponnese awaiting reinforcements; instead, he invaded Livadeia, which he captured on 10 June, and Athens, where he lifted the siege of the Acropolis. [229] The country had been ravaged by ten years of fighting and was full of displaced refugees and empty Turkish estates, necessitating a series of land reforms over several decades. This forced the Ottomans to accept Greek autonomy in the Treaty of Adrianople and autonomy for Serbia and the Romanian principalities. Open Document. In Russia, the St. Petersburg Greek committee under Prince Alexander Golitsyn had raised 973,500 roubles by August 1822. Greek War of Independence 1821-1832 The Greeks during this period lived under oppression by the Ottoman Empire (Turks).The Ottoman Empire had occupied Greece for four centuries. [93] In 1821, the Greek committee in Charleston, South Carolina sent the Greeks 50 barrels of salted meat while the Greek Committee in Springfield, Massachusetts sent supplies of salted meat, sugar, fish and flour. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:54. "We are all Greeks" Philhellenes join the fight in the Greek War of Independence Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets, perfectly captured the overall mood in his poem "Hellas." "We are all Greeks. "There are always those who wish to sanitize war by portraying its grand and noble deeds-which sometimes occur-while drawing a veil over its shameless side. I dream'd that Greece might yet be free At that point, the three Great powers Russia, Britain, and France decided to intervene, sending their naval squadrons to Greece in 1827. By the end of June, Ibrahim had captured the city of Argos and was within striking distance of Nafplion. The same day, a force of 2,000 Maniots under the command of Petros Mavromichalis advanced on the Messenian town of Kalamata, where they united with troops under Theodoros Kolokotronis, Nikitaras and Papaflessas; Kalamata fell to the Greeks on 23 March. Between 3,000 and 4,000 women and children were enslaved and many of the people who remained behind decided to blow themselves up with gunpowder rather than be enslaved. Whether we prefer to call it a war, a revolution or an insurrection, or whether we consider its political context more regional than national, or its causes more economic than religious, the conflict remains a challenging and often bewildering object of historical study. Muhammad Ali finally agreed to send his son Ibrahim Pasha to Greece in exchange not only for Crete and Cyprus, but for the Peloponnese and Syria as well. In 1828, the Egyptian army withdrew under pressure from a French expeditionary force. Meanwhile, news reached Greece in late July 1827 that Muhammad Ali's new fleet was completed in Alexandria and sailing towards Navarino to join the rest of the Egyptian-Turkish fleet. 1. He would often have political and philosophical debates with Thomas Jefferson. Finally, our research resources extend to the rich historiography that documents and interprets this period. However, the local pasha, Kk Pasha, intercepted these messages and reacted with fury, calling in reinforcements, confiscating weapons and arresting several prominent Cypriots. He was imprisoned for his defiance of the central government but was later released to help defend the Morea (Peloponnese) against the Egyptian army of Imbrahim pasha. David Brewer has captured this period of world history brilliantly, from the ground up-the heroes and villains, the victories, and the tragic defeats. In February 1824, the loan for Greece was floated in the City, attracting some 472, 000 pounds sterling (~$17.4 million in 2021), which was money that the Greeks badly needed. [118] Meanwhile, the revolt in Chalkidiki was progressing slowly and unsystematically. We, seemingly worthy of ancestral virtue and of the present century, are hopeful that we will achieve their defense and help. As co-guarantors of the monarchy, the Great Powers also agreed to guarantee a loan of 60millionfrancs to the new king, empowering their ambassadors in the Ottoman capital to secure the end of the war. of Mons" from World War I, where abundant information enables us to sift truth from fiction precisely and set both in historical context. Korais' ultimate goal was a democratic Greece much like the Golden Age of Pericles. On 29 August, the Porte formally rejected the Treaty of London's stipulations, and, subsequently, the commanders-in-chief of the British and French Mediterranean fleets, Admiral Edward Codrington and Admiral Henri de Rigny, sailed into the Gulf of Argos and requested to meet with Greek representatives on board HMSAsia. [160] Hastings persuaded the Board of Control to invest in the revolutionary technology of the steamship, making the first use of a mechanised warship in a war. [143], The Greek government had been desperately short of money since the start of the revolution, and in February 1823, the banker Andras Louritis arrived in London, seeking a loan from the City. The . After doing this, he disbanded most of his fleet, which returned to Malta, while the French went to the Aegean. [174] On 22 April, the Greeks decided to sail from the city during the night, with 3,000 men, to cut a path through the Egyptian lines and allow 6,000 women, children and non-combatants to follow. I could not deem myself a slave. In Europe, the Greek revolt aroused widespread sympathy among the public, although at first it was met with lukewarm and negative reception from the Great Powers. [72], On 17 March 1821, war was declared on the Turks by the Maniots in Areopoli. Ibrahim now began a campaign to annihilate the Greeks of the Peloponnese as he thought the Allies had reneged on their agreement. Throughout the 17th century there was great resistance to the Ottomans in the Morea and elsewhere, as evidenced by revolts led by Dionysius the Philosopher. . In addition, given that an understanding of the events and major engagements of the War requires an intimate knowledge of their geography, our collection features maps published during the era, of which many have been digitized. [104] Crete had a long history of resisting Turkish rule, exemplified by the folk hero Daskalogiannis, who was killed while fighting the Turks. [158] The Board of Control used the money to hire the naval hero, Lord Cochrane, to command the Greek Navy and to buy steamships. [b] Orthodox Christians were granted some political rights under Ottoman rule, but they were considered inferior subjects. [202], After the Greek delegation, led by Mavrocordatos, accepted the terms of the treaty, the Allies prepared to insist upon the armistice, and their fleets were instructed to intercept supplies destined for Ibrahim's forces. Votes: 6 Christopher Nolan Independence (740 quotes) Important political figures include Mahmud II, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire throughout the period, Alexandros Maurokordatos and Ioannes Kolettes, Greek leaders whose political careers extended well into the following decades, and Ioannes Kapodistrias, the first Governor of Greece, who was granted executive powers in 1828 but was assassinated in 1831 by Greek political rivals.Our collection is particularly strong in the sources and scholarship of Philhellenism, the European and American movement in support of Greek independence, famously led by Lord Byron, who died during the Siege of Mesolongion in 1824 at the age of 36. [185] When the Ottoman garrison at Ayios Spiridhon surrendered, they were promised safe conduct, but as they were marching out, a shot went off and most of the Ottoman soldiers were killed. We received your letter in which you try to frighten us, saying that if we don't surrender, you'll kill the Maniots and plunder Mani. The religious leader of the Greeks of the island at the time, Archbishop Kyprianos was initiated into the Filiki Etairia in 1818 and had promised to aid the cause of the Greek Helladites with food and money. On 9 August 1825, led by Dimitrios Kallergis and Emmanouil Antoniadis, this group of Cretans captured the fort at Gramvousa and other insurgents captured the fort at Kissamos, and attempted to spread the insurgency further afield. They also pleaded that they maintain the Concert of Europe. "All art is propaganda," wrote George Orwell. Plagued by internal strife and financial difficulties in keeping the fleet in constant readiness, the Greeks failed to prevent the capture and destruction of Kasos and Psara in 1824, or the landing of the Egyptian army at Methoni. Earth! The Greek government, in an attempt to stop the Egyptians, released Kolokotronis from captivity, but he too was unsuccessful. [24], Nevertheless, klephts and armatoloi formed a provincial elite, though not a social class, whose members would muster under a common goal. The Greek War of Independence, overall, was a bloody and difficult conflict for the people of Greece. In November 1822, the central administration decided that the new National Assembly would take place in Nafplion, and asked Kolokotronis to return the fort to the government. [117] The revolt, however, gained momentum in Mount Athos and Kassandra, and the island of Thasos joined it. To this day, many songs are sung by Greeks worldwide on 25 March to celebrate their liberation and showcase their respect for the lives that were lost during the four hundred years of Ottoman rule. 5 quotes His attitude towards Mavrokordatos caused outrage amongst the members of the legislative body. Greek War Of Independence. Select a Chapter Prelude From Resistance to Rebellion Continental Forces Fighting the War Allies and Enemies George Washington's Legacy In 1821 the struggle for revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked a struggle for independence amongst the Greeks. [201] Canning therefore prepared for action by negotiating the Treaty of London (6 July 1827) with France and Russia. [49], The population of the new state numbered 800,000, representing less than one-third of the 2.5million Greek inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire. Sithonia, Mount Athos and Thasos subsequently surrendered on terms. [100] Mavrokordhatos's wealth, education (he was fluent in seven languages) and his experience as an Ottoman official ruling Wallachia led many to look towards him as a leader. The Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), also commonly known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war waged by the Greeks to win independence for Greece from the Ottoman Empire. 73102. [127] Although they were manned by experienced crews, the Greek ships were not designed for warfare, being armed merchantmen equipped with only light guns. [139], In July 1822, the Greeks and philhellenes at the Battle of Peta under Alexandros Mavrokordatos inflicted much punishment on an Ottoman army commanded by Omer Vrioni, but reflecting the chronic factionalism and disunity that characterized the Greek war effort, were undone when one of the Greek captains, Gogos Bakolas betrayed his own side to the Ottomans, allowing Albanian infantry to advance up the ridge. The statutes provided for the creation of two local administrative organs in Central Greece, an Areopagus in the east, and a Senate in the west. Within a year the rebels had gained control of the Peloponnese, and in January 1822 they declared the independence of Greece. Metternich persuaded Alexander that Kapodistrias was in league with the Italian Carbonari (an Italian revolutionary group), leading Alexander to disavow him. Kapodistrias demanded that Alexander declare war on the Ottomans in order to liberate Greece and increase the greatness of Russia.