Poros 1821...
... Poros played a vital role in the Revolution
of 1821, the time period when many monuments
were preserved.
In August of 1818, Anagnostaras and Elias
Chrysopathis came to Poros and Hydra as emissaries
of the Filiki Etairia (Society of
Friends).
This was where Nikiforos Pampoukis,
a monk and teacher, was initiated. Afterwards,
the merchants and captains of ships followed
in the initiation as opposed to the elders
who were cautious about it. Nikolaos Pampoukis
was referred to as a catechist in the Filiki
Etairia of Hadjianastasi Manesis and
Kyriako Douzinas. The number of residents
of Poros that were initiated in the Filiki
Etairia was remarkable.
On
the eve of the riots, all three islands (Poros,
Spetses and Hydra) had men who were not only
skilled warriors but also had a strong bond
amongst themselves.
This helped in manning
the warships with men from all three islands,
especially from Poros. One thing that must
be taken into consideration is the fact that
a large number of ships from Hydra and Spetses
had a wintry anchorage in Poros because their
ports were small.
Notable
skippers along with common people, either
as officers, commanders-in-chief, sailors
or soldiers were found at the fortress from
the first moment. Their mission on land begins
with the declaration of the War and from April
of 1821, they vigorously participate in the
Greek Revolution.
Thus,
the revolutionary flag of Poros is raised
and the residents armed with rifles in their
hands begin, enthusiastically, to carry out
the dream of many generations. By then, Poros
had already been an informal dockyard of
the
rebellious nation.
Besides
the vessels and the manned fleet (officers,
commanders or boatmen), extra technicians
and necessary materials were offered for
the
war.
Most
people from Poros, depending on their capabilities,
provided weapons for the soldiers and campaigned
in the siege of Corinth and Akrocorinth in
April and May of 1821 accompanied by the residents
of Aegina and Dervenohoria and continued throughout
the war.
The skippers offered their ships (Manesis,
Kapasakis, Nitis, Vesis, Kofinas, Karamanis
and others), the merchants offered their
money and everyone participated in the financial
enhancement of the Supreme Administration
handing over 3,600 gros (Medieval coinage)
from charity work done throughout the Aegean
islands, as stated in a document dated August
22nd 1823 by the elders of the town. The
donation of 262,686 grosses offered by the
people of Poros up until the 23rd of December
1823 was revealed in another document. Therefore,
without any hesitation or ulterior motives,
they serve their country intending to be
freed from the Turkish rule.
It is well known that during the Greek Revolution
of 1821, Hydra played a major role in the
nation’s naval battle.
The supplies necessary
for the Marines were kept there but in February
of 1827, they were transferred to Poros because
the residents of Hydra persistently tried
to seize them. Consequently, a basic naval
station was set up. Weapons, guns, bullets,
ropes, sails, anchors and pulleys were placed
there, whereas health and pharmaceutical
supplies
came directly from Marseilles.
There, the Maritime
Committee in February
of 1827 rented warehouses
and chartered a fishing boat to transport
the provisions from Hydra because the Turkish
fleet had set sail and was expected to attack
Hydra and Spetses.
Their main concern was
Hydra being looted. So, from then on, Poros
becomes an informal yet essential naval station
for the free Hellenic nation. The Relief Committee
will also be established there (Heideck, Baily
and a Greek banker named Ksenos who was Goss’
assistant).
Poros
built central warehouses where supplies from
foreign philhellenic committees were arriving,
mostly American, to be distributed to famished
civilians and Greeks who were suffering. The
first shipment arrives from America to Poros
on May 19th , 1827 and is unloaded after Miaoulis
and Kanaris accepted it. More than eight supply
shipments came from America after that.
The
allied fleet started from Paros in the victorious
battle of Navarino in
1827.
In June of 1827, J. Miller (the first American
philhellene) came to Poros accompanied by
his compatriot, Henry Post as representatives
of the New York Philhellenic Committee. Their
mission was to distribute relief supplies.
At that time, Poros was accommodating dozens
of refugees. On November
25th in 1827, the
first Naval Hospital was inaugurated by the
Bishop of Damalas, Jonah from Trizinia which
was constructed by American compatriots S.
Howe, Russ and J. Miller.
Poros was not only considered the safest
harbor but the most secure and peaceful place.
The committee of the 3rd National Assembly
held its meeting in Nafplio on August
2nd 1826. Even though publication #122 was unacceptable,
it states that Poros is considered the ideal
place to hold meetings because it was safe
and free from massive crowds, which therefore
made it easier for the committee to carry
out its work faster
The anti-governmental committee became well
known by the Assembly of Trizina in April
1827. It classified Poros as its headquarters
on April 15th 1827, where it remained until
June 16th, 1827 and temporarily had power
until the arrival of I. Kapodistrias in Greece.
A conference of ambassadors of the Three Defending
Powers was held here that autumn as well.
In October 1828, the meeting of the three
Powers took place in Poros, so as to define
the borders of the newly established Greek
state.
In
1830, the first military naval dockyard of
independent Greece was built at the port of
Poros
Specially
important historical events were occuring
in Poros in 1831 during the strong civil conflict
between I. Kapodistrias and the residents
of Hydra, which resulted in blowing up a part
of the Greek fleet that was anchored in the
bay of Poros.
