Daskalogiannis
Encyclopedia
Ioannis Vlachos better known as Daskalogiannis (?-June 17, 1771) was a wealthy shipbuilder and shipowner who led a Cretan
revolt against Ottoman
rule in the 18th century.
, a semi-autonomous region of Crete, in 1722 or 1730. His father, who was a wealthy shipowner, sent him to be educated abroad. Due to his education, his compatriots called him "Daskalos" (teacher), hence his nickname Daskalogiannis. He is referred to as a town clerk, in 1750, and chairman of the region of Sfakia in 1765, and as the owner of four, three-mast, merchant ships that sailed between the ports of the Mediterranean. These would have sailed from Prosyalo and the gulf of Loutro
.
Daskalogiannis knew Emmanouil Benakis at Mani and it is likely that Benakis introduced him to Count Orlov
who Catherine the Great had sent to the Peloponnese
in 1769 to instigate a revolt there. Many men from Sfakia also participated in the revolt in the Peloponnese.
emissaries, who hoped to instigate a revolt
amongst the Greek subjects of the Ottoman Empire
. Daskalogiannis agreed to fund and organise a rebellion in Sfakia against the Turk
ish authorities when the Russian emissaries promised to support this. In the spring of 1770 Daskalogiannis made preparations for the revolt at Sfakia, he brought together men, rifles, and supplies and had defences built at strategic locations. However, the Russian fleet in the Aegean, under Count Orlov did not sail for Crete, and the Cretan revolt was left to its own devices. The uprising began on 25 March 1770, with the flag raised at the church of Agios Georgios of Anopolis, and for a short time, parts of Crete had the attributes of an independent nation, including its own coins, minted in a cave near Hora Sfakion
.
The coming winter was difficult because the Russian intervention, promised to Daskalogiannis, did not materialise. The uprising did not spread to the lowlands, and without outside support, it was put down brutally by the superior Turkish forces of the island, who easily defeated the ca. 1,300 rebels. Sfakia was for the first time fully dominated by Turkish forces. Daskalogiannis surrendered with 70 men at the castle of Frangokastello
near Hora Sfakion. On the orders of the Pasha
of Candia (Heraklion
), he was tortured outside Heraklion's harbour fortress, skinned alive and executed οn 17 June 1771. He is said to have suffered all this in dignified silence. The Turks forced Daskalogiannis' brother to watch the torturous execution and it drove him insane.
The international airport
of Chania
(CHQ/LGSA) bears Daskalogiannis' name. A memorial statue can be seen at Anopolis where he was born. One of the regular ferries in the Crete southeast routes is named the Daskalogiannis.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
revolt against Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule in the 18th century.
Life and career
Ioannis Vlachos was born in Anopolis village in SfakiaSfakia
Sfakiá is a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island of Crete, in the Chania peripheral unit. It is considered one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers...
, a semi-autonomous region of Crete, in 1722 or 1730. His father, who was a wealthy shipowner, sent him to be educated abroad. Due to his education, his compatriots called him "Daskalos" (teacher), hence his nickname Daskalogiannis. He is referred to as a town clerk, in 1750, and chairman of the region of Sfakia in 1765, and as the owner of four, three-mast, merchant ships that sailed between the ports of the Mediterranean. These would have sailed from Prosyalo and the gulf of Loutro
Loutro (island)
Loutro is a rocky islet in the gulf of Loutro, Chania on the southwest coast of Crete in the Libyan Sea. The islet can be found close to the end of the Mouri cape. Administratively, it is part of the municipality of Sfakia. The coastal village of Loutro is approximately 71 km south of Chania...
.
Daskalogiannis knew Emmanouil Benakis at Mani and it is likely that Benakis introduced him to Count Orlov
Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov
Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov was a Russian soldier and statesman, who rose to prominence during the reign of Catherine the Great.Orlov served in the Imperial Russian Army, and through his connections with his brother, became one of the key conspirators in the plot to overthrow Tsar Peter III...
who Catherine the Great had sent to the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
in 1769 to instigate a revolt there. Many men from Sfakia also participated in the revolt in the Peloponnese.
Leader of revolt
In early 1770, he was contacted by RussianRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
emissaries, who hoped to instigate a revolt
Orlov Revolt
The Orlov Revolt was a precursor to the Greek War of Independence , which saw a Greek uprising in the Peloponnese at the instigation of Count Orlov, commander of the Russian Naval Forces of the Russo-Turkish War...
amongst the Greek subjects of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Daskalogiannis agreed to fund and organise a rebellion in Sfakia against the Turk
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
ish authorities when the Russian emissaries promised to support this. In the spring of 1770 Daskalogiannis made preparations for the revolt at Sfakia, he brought together men, rifles, and supplies and had defences built at strategic locations. However, the Russian fleet in the Aegean, under Count Orlov did not sail for Crete, and the Cretan revolt was left to its own devices. The uprising began on 25 March 1770, with the flag raised at the church of Agios Georgios of Anopolis, and for a short time, parts of Crete had the attributes of an independent nation, including its own coins, minted in a cave near Hora Sfakion
Hora Sfakion
Image:Chora Sfakion 1941 evacuation monument.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Monument commemorating the evacuation during WW2 of British and ANZAC forces from Hora Sfakion in May 1941. Click on the left plaque for a closer viewrect 198 536 320 1082 rect 0 0 900 1200...
.
The coming winter was difficult because the Russian intervention, promised to Daskalogiannis, did not materialise. The uprising did not spread to the lowlands, and without outside support, it was put down brutally by the superior Turkish forces of the island, who easily defeated the ca. 1,300 rebels. Sfakia was for the first time fully dominated by Turkish forces. Daskalogiannis surrendered with 70 men at the castle of Frangokastello
Frangokastello
Frangokastello is the location of a castle and scattered settlement on the south coast of Crete, Greece, about 12 km. east of Chora Sfakion and within the prefecture of Chania....
near Hora Sfakion. On the orders of the Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
of Candia (Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
), he was tortured outside Heraklion's harbour fortress, skinned alive and executed οn 17 June 1771. He is said to have suffered all this in dignified silence. The Turks forced Daskalogiannis' brother to watch the torturous execution and it drove him insane.
Legacy
Daskalogiannis was immortalised in several folk tales and songs, the most prominent of which is the celebrated epic ballad by Barba-Pantzelios, a poor cheese-maker from Mouri - To tragoudi tou Daskalogianni of 1786:- …Φτάνουν στο Φραγκοκάστελο και στον πασά ποσώνου,
- κι εκείνος δούδει τ' όρντινο κι ευτύς τσοι ξαρματώνου.
- Ούλους τσοι ξαρματώσασι και τσοι μπισταγκωνίζου
- και τότες δα το νιώσασι πως δεν ξαναγυρίζου.
- ...They arrive at Frangokastello and surrender to the pasha,
- and he gives the order to disarm them at once.
- All of them were disarmed and ill at ease,
- for now they sensed that they would never go home.
The international airport
Chania International Airport
Additionally, several airlines operate charter flights to the airport, including:-External links:* ***...
of Chania
Chania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
(CHQ/LGSA) bears Daskalogiannis' name. A memorial statue can be seen at Anopolis where he was born. One of the regular ferries in the Crete southeast routes is named the Daskalogiannis.