Northern Epirote Declaration of Independence
Encyclopedia
The Northern Epirote Declaration of Independence occurred on February 28, 1914, in Argyrokastron (Gjirokastër), against the decision of incorporation of Northern Epirus
to the newly established Albanian principality
.
During the aftermath of the Balkan Wars
, part of modern southern Albania, known as "Northern Epirus" to Greeks, was under the control of the Greek Army. However, the Protocol of Florence had assigned it to the newly established Albania
n state, a decision that was rejected by the local Greek populations. As the Greek army withdrew to the new border, the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
was proclaimed and a provisional government was formed under Georgios Christakis-Zografos
to support the state's objectives.
, parts of modern southern Albania
, known as Northern Epirus
to Greeks, came under the control of the Greek forces, as a result of the Ottoman defeat in the Epirus front. However, the following Treaty of London and the Protocol of Florence, signed in December 1913, awarded the region to the newly established Principality of Albania
. This decision by the Great Powers was unpopular among the local Greek population.
, a former Greek foreign minister and native of the region, took the initiative and discussed the situation with the local representatives in Gjirokastër.
On February 22, Zografos sent a note to the representatives of the Great Powers where he addressed the present situation:
The following day declarations of autonomy were proclaimed in a number of cities: Himarë
, Gjirokastër, Sarandë
and Delvinë
.
Consequently, on 28 February 1914, the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was declared in Gjirokastër and a provisional Government was formed to support the state's objectives. Christakis-Zografos himself became president of the provisional government. The declaration was also signed by the local Greek Orthodox Bishops Vasileios
of Dryinoupolis, Spyridon
of Velas and Konitsa
and Germanos of Korcë.
Zographos notified the International Control Commission
, an organization set up by the Great Powers to secure peace and stability to the region, of his appointment as President of the provisional government and announced that the Epirotes would regard as an act of hostility and would resist any attempt by the newly founded Albanian gendarmerie to cross their border. Besides Gjirokastër, the Autonomous Northern Epirus also included Himarë
, Delvinë
, Sarandë
and Permet
.
On the same day Zografos sent a telegram to Korcë urging the people to follow the example of the rest of the Northern Epirotes. However, on March 1, under the terms of the Protocol of Florence the town surrendered to the Albanian gendarmerie. The Greek Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos
, immediately ordered the withdrawal and hand over of the nearby region of Kolonjë
to the Albanian units, before the population could join the uprising too. As a result bishop Spyridon, who planned to become the head of the movement in this region, was arrested and expelled by the Greek authorities. Venizelos also ordered the blockade of the port of Sarandë
. Although the official position of the Greek government was that of strict neutrality, it cannot be doubted that it sympathized with the demands of the Northern Epirotes. In fact the only way for Eleftherios Venizelos to stop this uprising was to declare martial law in the region but this action would have caused major political instability and the possible resignation of the government.
In his speech on 2 March, Zographos explained that the aspirations of the Northern Epirotes were completely ignored and the Great Powers not only rejected the possibility to become autonomous inside the Albanian state, but also refused to give even guarantees about their fundamental human rights. Zografos concluded that the Northern Epirotes, after five centuries of Ottoman occupation, would not accept the destiny which the Powers had imposed upon them.
was signed. According to this agreement, the regions of Gjrokastër and Korcë, which comprised Northern Epirus, would be an autonomous, fully self-governing part of Albania under the suzerainty of the Albanian prince. However, the Protocol was never implemented due to political instability in Albania. In 1921 the region was finally ceded to Albania, while the Albanian Prime Minister recognized a number of the Greek minority's rights, which were soon ignored. As an eminent result most of the Greek schools were forced to close and Greek education was allowed only in certain areas.
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
to the newly established Albanian principality
Principality of Albania
The Principality of Albania refers to the short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by William, Prince of Albania and to the state after the First World War, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1925, when Albania was declared a republic.-Principality:The Principality was established on February...
.
During the aftermath of the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, part of modern southern Albania, known as "Northern Epirus" to Greeks, was under the control of the Greek Army. However, the Protocol of Florence had assigned it to the newly established Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n state, a decision that was rejected by the local Greek populations. As the Greek army withdrew to the new border, the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
The Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was a short-lived, self-governing entity founded on February 28, 1914, in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, by the Greeks living in southern Albania ....
was proclaimed and a provisional government was formed under Georgios Christakis-Zografos
Georgios Christakis-Zografos
Georgios Christakis-Zografos was a Greek politician, minister of foreign affairs and president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus .-Studies & early career:...
to support the state's objectives.
Background
During the Balkan WarsBalkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, parts of modern southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, known as Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
to Greeks, came under the control of the Greek forces, as a result of the Ottoman defeat in the Epirus front. However, the following Treaty of London and the Protocol of Florence, signed in December 1913, awarded the region to the newly established Principality of Albania
Principality of Albania
The Principality of Albania refers to the short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by William, Prince of Albania and to the state after the First World War, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1925, when Albania was declared a republic.-Principality:The Principality was established on February...
. This decision by the Great Powers was unpopular among the local Greek population.
Panepirotic Assembly
Before the evacuation of the Greek Army started, a Panepirotic Assembly took place in Gjirokastër on February 13, 1914. The assembly decided that the Northern Epirotes would accept local autonomy or at least an international administration, since incorporation to Greece was not possible under the current circumstances. They felt that the Greek government had ignored them. This triggered a series of events. Georgios Christakis-ZografosGeorgios Christakis-Zografos
Georgios Christakis-Zografos was a Greek politician, minister of foreign affairs and president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus .-Studies & early career:...
, a former Greek foreign minister and native of the region, took the initiative and discussed the situation with the local representatives in Gjirokastër.
On February 22, Zografos sent a note to the representatives of the Great Powers where he addressed the present situation:
The following day declarations of autonomy were proclaimed in a number of cities: Himarë
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....
, Gjirokastër, Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
and Delvinë
Delvinë
Delvinë is a small town in Vlorë County in southern Albania, 16 km northeast of Saranda. Delvinë is the seat of the Delvinë District. Delvinë has lost over a third of its citizens since 1990, having a population of 4,200 .The city is built on a mountain slope...
.
Declaration
Vasileios of Dryinoupolis
Bishop Vasileios of Dryinoupolis was one of the most important religious figures of the Greek Orthodox church in Northern Epirus of his time and member of the provisional Government of Northern Epirus ....
of Dryinoupolis, Spyridon
Spyridon of Athens
Spyridon , was Archbishop of Athens and All Greece from 1949 until 1956. He was born in Chili , in present-day northern Turkey, and studied at the Halki seminary...
of Velas and Konitsa
Konitsa
Konitsa is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos...
and Germanos of Korcë.
Zographos notified the International Control Commission
International Commission of Control
The International Commission of Control was the commission established on October 15, 1913, on the basis of the decision by the six Great Powers made on July 29, 1913, according to the London Treaty signed on May 30, 1913...
, an organization set up by the Great Powers to secure peace and stability to the region, of his appointment as President of the provisional government and announced that the Epirotes would regard as an act of hostility and would resist any attempt by the newly founded Albanian gendarmerie to cross their border. Besides Gjirokastër, the Autonomous Northern Epirus also included Himarë
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....
, Delvinë
Delvinë
Delvinë is a small town in Vlorë County in southern Albania, 16 km northeast of Saranda. Delvinë is the seat of the Delvinë District. Delvinë has lost over a third of its citizens since 1990, having a population of 4,200 .The city is built on a mountain slope...
, Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
and Permet
Përmet
Përmet is a town in Albania, capital of Përmet District. The population is 7,717. It is flanked by the Vjosë river, which runs along the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë mountain chain, between Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, and through the Këlcyra gorge....
.
On the same day Zografos sent a telegram to Korcë urging the people to follow the example of the rest of the Northern Epirotes. However, on March 1, under the terms of the Protocol of Florence the town surrendered to the Albanian gendarmerie. The Greek Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent and illustrious statesman as well as a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Elected several times as Prime Minister of Greece and served from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1932...
, immediately ordered the withdrawal and hand over of the nearby region of Kolonjë
Kolonje
Kolonjë is a small village in Gjirokastër District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania, located northwest of the city Gjirokastër which is about 30 minutes away. The village has a festival every year on the 10th of May called Dhjet Maj , when everyone who has left the village returns to celebrate...
to the Albanian units, before the population could join the uprising too. As a result bishop Spyridon, who planned to become the head of the movement in this region, was arrested and expelled by the Greek authorities. Venizelos also ordered the blockade of the port of Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
. Although the official position of the Greek government was that of strict neutrality, it cannot be doubted that it sympathized with the demands of the Northern Epirotes. In fact the only way for Eleftherios Venizelos to stop this uprising was to declare martial law in the region but this action would have caused major political instability and the possible resignation of the government.
In his speech on 2 March, Zographos explained that the aspirations of the Northern Epirotes were completely ignored and the Great Powers not only rejected the possibility to become autonomous inside the Albanian state, but also refused to give even guarantees about their fundamental human rights. Zografos concluded that the Northern Epirotes, after five centuries of Ottoman occupation, would not accept the destiny which the Powers had imposed upon them.
Aftermath
On April 11, 1914 Northern Epirote units took control of Korçë, but four days later the Albanian gendarmes led by Dutch officers recaptured the city. As a result the Dutch arrested and expelled the Greek Orthodox bishop Germanos, since they had proof that he was the chief instigator of the uprising, as well as other members of the town council. In May, the Great Powers and the International Control Commission intervened and the Protocol of CorfuProtocol of Corfu
The Protocol of Corfu , signed on May 17, 1914, was an agreement between representatives of the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized the area of Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Albanian state...
was signed. According to this agreement, the regions of Gjrokastër and Korcë, which comprised Northern Epirus, would be an autonomous, fully self-governing part of Albania under the suzerainty of the Albanian prince. However, the Protocol was never implemented due to political instability in Albania. In 1921 the region was finally ceded to Albania, while the Albanian Prime Minister recognized a number of the Greek minority's rights, which were soon ignored. As an eminent result most of the Greek schools were forced to close and Greek education was allowed only in certain areas.
Sources
- Tara Ashley O' Brien. Manufacturing Homogeneity in the Modern Albanian Nation-Building Project. University of Budapest, 2008.