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| − | The '''Filiki Eteria''' (spelt also ''Philikí Etaireía''), meaning ''Friendly Society'' in [[Greek language|Greek]], was a secret organisation working in the early [[19th century]], whose purpose was to overthrow the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule over [[Greece]] and to establish an independent Greek state.
| + | [[Image:Odysseus_androutsos.jpg|frame|left|Odysseus Androutsos]] |
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| − | Eteria members were mainly young Greeks from Russia. Eteria received political and material support from Tsar Alexander I, who had an interest in extending Russian influence in the [[Balkans]].
| + | '''Odysseus Androutsos''' was a hero of the Greek [[War of Independence]]. He was born in [[Ithaca]] in [[1788]], however his family was from the village of [[Livadates]] in [[Phthiotis prefecture]]. His father was [[Andreas Androutsos]], a [[klepht]]. |
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| − | One of the leaders of the Eteria was [[Alexander Ypsilanti]].
| + | After losing his father, Androutsos joined the Albanian army of [[Ali Pasha]] and became an officer, however, in [[1818]] he joined the Friendly Society ([[Filiki Eteria]]) which was planning the liberation of [[Greece]] from the Ottoman Empire. |
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| − | == The beginnings == | + | == The [[War of Independence]] == |
| − | In the context of ardent desire for independence of Turkish occupation and with the explicit influence of secret societies from Europe, three Greeks met one another in [[1814]] in [[Odessa]] and decided the constitution of a strictly secret organisation which would prepare the revolution of all Greeks. These men were 42-years old Nikolaos Skoufas from [[Arta Prefecture|Arta]] province, 42-years old Emmanuel Ksanthos from [[Patmos]] and 26-years old Athanasios Tsakalov from [[Epirus]]. Skoufas had already particular contacts with Konstantinos Rados who was initiated into [[Carbonarism]]. Ksanthos was initianted in a [[freemasonry|Free-Masonic]] Lodge of Lefkada (Society of Free Builders, of St. Mavra), while Tsakalov was a founding member of the "Greek-speaking Hotel", (''Ελληνόγλωσσο Ξενοδοχείο'' or Ellinoglwsso Xenodoxeio) a former but not successful society for the liberation of Greece. | + | In May [[1821]], [[Omer Vryoni]], the commander of the Turkish army, advanced with 8,000 men, after crushing the resistance of the Greeks at the river of Alamana ([[Spercheios]]) and putting [[Athanasios Diakos]] to death, heading south into [[Peloponnesus]] to crush the Greek uprising. Odysseus Androutsos with a band of 100 or so men took up a defensive position at an inn near Gravia, supported by [[Panourgias Panourgias|Panourgias]] and [[Yiannis Diovouniotis|Diovouniotis]] and their men. Vrioni attacked the inn but was repulsed with heavy casualties (over 400 dead). Finally, he was forced to ask for reinforcements and artillery but the Greeks managed to slip out before the reinforcements arrived. |
| | + | Androutsos lost two men in the battle and earned the title of commander in chief of the Greek forces in Rumeli ([[Central Greece]]). |
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| − | The growth of the Friendly Society is impressive. At the beginning during the [[1814]]-[[1816]] period, there were roughly twenty members. During [[1817]], the Society developed mainly between the Greeks of Russia and of Moldowallachia (Moldavia and Wallachia), but once again its membership does not exceed thirty. They started doing massive initiations in [[1818]]. In [[1820]] the Society expanded in almost all regions of Greece and most Greek communities abroad. By the first months of [[1821]], the membership numbered around one thousand and the Society had exceeded her own limits. Among her members there were tradesmen, clergy, executives of [[Ottoman Empire]] from [[Phanariotes|Fanari]], chieftains as [[Theodoros Kolokotronis]], [[Odysseas Androutsos]], the metropolite of Old Patrases German and more.
| + | Androutsos' glory did not last long. In the following year, [[1822]], he was accused (probably with some justification) of being in contact with the Turks and was stripped of his command. Finally, in [[1825]], the revolutionary government placed him under arrest in a cave at the [[Acropolis]] in [[Athens]]. The new commander, [[Yiannis Gouras]], who once was Androutsos' second in command, had him executed on [[June 5]], [[1825]]. |
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| − | == The organisational structure ==
| + | Androutsos was a controversial figure in his life. [[Yiannis Makriyiannis]], in his memoirs on the 1821 War of Independence both defends him (in the beginning) and attacks him (later on). Androutsos had served Ali Pasha and at some point in his life may have espoused Islam. The accusations of the revolutionary government had some merit. However, had Androutsos not impeded Vrioni's progress at Gravia, the success of the war at its early stage would have been endangered. |
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| − | The whole structure of Philiki Etaireia was imitating the organisational models of Carbonarism and Freemasonry. The leading team was called the "Invisible Authority" and was surrounded at the first moment with such secret glamour that everybody believed that a lot of important personalities participated, not only Greeks but foreigners like Russian czar Alexander I. The reality was that during the start, the Invisible Authority was only the three founders. Then, from [[1815]] until [[1818]], five more were added and after Skoufas' death three more were added. In 1818 the Invisible Authority was renamed to "Authority of Twelve Apostles" and each Apostle shouldered the responsibility of a big region.
| + | [[Category:Greek War of Independence|Androutsos, Odysseus]] |
| − | | + | [[Category:1788 births|Androutsos, Odysseus]] |
| − | The whole structure was pyramid-like formed and in the top dominated the "Invisible Authority". No one knew it or had the right to ask who created it. Her commands were executed unquestioned, and members did not have right to make decisions. The society was called «Temple» and it had four levels of initiation: a) ''brothers'' or ''vlamides'', b) the ''recommended'', γ) the ''priests'' and d) the ''shepherds''. The Priests were charged with the duty of initiation in the first two levels. When the Priest approached somebody, it was first to made sure of his patriotism and catechized him in the aims of society; the last stage was to put him under oath.
| + | [[Category:1825 deaths|Androutsos, Odysseus]] |
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| − | Afterwards the initiated were considered ''neophyte'' members of the society, with all the rights and obligations of his rank. The Priest immediately had the obligation to reveal all the marks of recognition between the ''Vlamides'' or ''Brothers''. ''Vlamides'' and ''Recommended'' ignored the revolutionary aims of the organisation. They only knew that there existed a society that tried hard for the general good of the nation, which included in its ranks important personalities. This myth was propagated deliberately, in order to stimulate the morale of members and also to make proselytism easier.
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| − | == The course to the revolt ==
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| − | In 1818, the seat of Philiki Etaireia had migrated from Odessa to [[Istambul]], and Skoufas' death had been a serious loss. The rest of the founders attempted to find a major personality to undertake the reins, one who would give prestige and fresh ''impetus'' to the Society. In the beginning of 1818, they had a meeting with the J. Kapodistrias, who not only denied, but later wrote that he considered Philiki Etaireia guilty for the havoc that was foreboded in Greece. Finally, after many contacts, in April [[1820]] [[Alexander Ypsilanti]] undertook the leadership of Philiki Etaireia.
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| − | == Recommended Reading ==
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| − | *Vournas Tasos, ''Friendly Society: her illegal organisational and persecution by the foreigners'', Tolides Bros, (Athens 1982).
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| − | *Metropolite of Old Patrases Germanos, ''Memoirs'', (''Introductory note, index, ref.'' Ioanna Yiannaropoulos – Tassos Gritsopoulos), (Athens 1975).
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| − | *Yiannis Kordatos, ''Rigas Feraios and Balkan Federation'', (Athens, 1974)
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| − | *Xanthos Em., ''Memoirs for the Friendly Society'', (facsimile reprint of 1834 ed), Vergina, (Athens 1996)
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| − | <!-- to be continued -->
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| − | [[Category:History of Greece]] | |
| − | [[Category:Greek War of Independence|Filiki Eteria]] | |
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| − | [[el:Φιλική Εταιρεία]]
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Odysseus Androutsos
Odysseus Androutsos was a hero of the Greek War of Independence. He was born in Ithaca in 1788, however his family was from the village of Livadates in Phthiotis prefecture. His father was Andreas Androutsos, a klepht.
After losing his father, Androutsos joined the Albanian army of Ali Pasha and became an officer, however, in 1818 he joined the Friendly Society (Filiki Eteria) which was planning the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire.
In May 1821, Omer Vryoni, the commander of the Turkish army, advanced with 8,000 men, after crushing the resistance of the Greeks at the river of Alamana (Spercheios) and putting Athanasios Diakos to death, heading south into Peloponnesus to crush the Greek uprising. Odysseus Androutsos with a band of 100 or so men took up a defensive position at an inn near Gravia, supported by Panourgias and Diovouniotis and their men. Vrioni attacked the inn but was repulsed with heavy casualties (over 400 dead). Finally, he was forced to ask for reinforcements and artillery but the Greeks managed to slip out before the reinforcements arrived.
Androutsos lost two men in the battle and earned the title of commander in chief of the Greek forces in Rumeli (Central Greece).
Androutsos' glory did not last long. In the following year, 1822, he was accused (probably with some justification) of being in contact with the Turks and was stripped of his command. Finally, in 1825, the revolutionary government placed him under arrest in a cave at the Acropolis in Athens. The new commander, Yiannis Gouras, who once was Androutsos' second in command, had him executed on June 5, 1825.
Androutsos was a controversial figure in his life. Yiannis Makriyiannis, in his memoirs on the 1821 War of Independence both defends him (in the beginning) and attacks him (later on). Androutsos had served Ali Pasha and at some point in his life may have espoused Islam. The accusations of the revolutionary government had some merit. However, had Androutsos not impeded Vrioni's progress at Gravia, the success of the war at its early stage would have been endangered.
