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Learning about Greek Independence Day

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cubrinj

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I want to start researching the Greek War for Independence - since Greek Independence Day is celebrated on March 25th of every year. I know that this is when we celebrate Greece's freedom from the Ottoman Empire. However, I recently learned that March 25th is actually when the war began for most of Greece, and in Mani I know it started maybe about a week earlier... This isn't what I originally thought, and it means that I don't really know much about it.

So, these are the topics I want to learn about - feel free to chime in with others I can research:
  • How did Greece come under Ottoman control in the first place?
  • How did the War for Independence really start?
  • Who are some of the main players for this war?
  • Are there some battles, etc that I should look up?
 
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I think this could help!
 
cubrinj said:
I want to start researching the Greek War for Independence - since Greek Independence Day is celebrated on March 25th of every year. I know that this is when we celebrate Greece's freedom from the Ottoman Empire. However, I recently learned that March 25th is actually when the war began for most of Greece, and in Mani I know it started maybe about a week earlier... This isn't what I originally thought, and it means that I don't really know much about it.

So, these are the topics I want to learn about - feel free to chime in with others I can research:
  • How did Greece come under Ottoman control in the first place?
  • How did the War for Independence really start?
  • Who are some of the main players for this war?
  • Are there some battles, etc that I should look up?
Click to expand...

Although Greek Independence Day was this past weekend, technically the 25th of March marked the beginning of the war. So there is still time to research. That is one thing that I really think is interesting - why commemorate on the 25th? Usually, we commemorate an event like this on the day when independence was achieved.
 
Thank you, everyone, for chiming in! I spend some time researching some of these topics and feel that I really understand the events surrounding Greek Independence Day. I wore blue on March 25th in honor of this event in history.
 
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  2. A Poet’s Declaration: The revolution officially began after Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in Peloponnese, symbolizing the call to arms. However, it was rumored that the war of independence was actually declared a few days earlier by Alexandros Ypsilantis, a Greek national hero, in the Danubian Principalities.
  3. International Support: The Greek fight for independence was not just a local effort; it garnered substantial international support from prominent figures such as Lord Byron from Britain, who notably spent his own money and later died in Greece, contributing to the Greek cause. This international backing was crucial for the morale of the Greek fighters and helped in diplomatic efforts later on.
  4. The Battle of Navarino: A pivotal point in the Greek War of Independence was the Battle of Navarino in 1827, where the combined fleets of Britain, France, and Russia defeated the Ottoman and Egyptian fleets. This naval battle marked a significant turning point that led to the eventual independence of Greece.
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