Filki Eteria, also known as the Society of Friends, was a separatist group in Greece founded in 1814. The group played a crucial role in the Greek uprising, which led to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
The war began on 25th March 1821 and ended in 1831, leading to Greek independence from the Ottoman empire, modern-day Turkey.
Here in this article, we will highlight the group's contribution to the independence of Greece and what differentiates them from a terrorist group. The article will walk you through the history of the nationalist separation movement in Greece so you may understand the struggle it took to get independence from the triple occupation.
The Filki Eteria started the nationalist separation movement because of occupants' atrocities against the people of Greece. From the 15th century till 1830, the Greeks were deprived of their religion, culture, language, nationality, and heritage. Greek women were raped, young men were put to unpaid work, forced to fight for the occupants, and brutally killed.
Most people in Greece were forced to convert their religion and refusing to do so caused them deaths. The Greek language was also banned within the country so the natives could forget their national language. the Greeks, however, were not easygoing.
They still had secret schools at night, where language and culture were taught to make the Greeks remember their culture, language, and history. These schools were run by priests and kept secret from the ottoman empire.
All these cruel measures from the occupants led to establishment of Filki Eteria, a nationalist separation movement.
The Greeks wanted their independence back for their religion, legacy, and power, which didn’t exist during the Ottoman occupation. The Greeks took the move because of spreading nationalism within Europe.
One of the many incidents that fueled the Greek War of Independence is the Dance of Zalongo, the mass suicide of women and their children from Souli. The event occurred in the aftermath of the invasion by Ottoman troops in December 1803. The Greek women took this step to avoid being enslaved and rapped by the Ottoman men.
The Greeks used guerilla warfare to defeat the Ottomans in the War of Independence. The weapons during this time weren’t that advanced, and the fighters had to rely on tactics that helped them take advantage of a much bigger enemy of the Ottomans.
The three strategies used by the society of friends include:
· Use of mountains to ambush the Ottomans.
· Setting fires to property they owned to kill the Ottomans, even if it cost their own lives.
· During a celebration that the Turkish admiral was holding, the Greeks set a fireship next to the flagships powder store, which caught fire, causing an explosion
The atrocities Battle of Navarino, accompanied by the death of philhellene in 1824, led the great powers to intervene. British, French, and Russian fleets 1827 destroyed Ottoman fleets at the Battle of Navarino. This became the decisive movement in the War of Independence.
Under the great power protection, the Greeks established a new government and defeat the Ottomans in the battle of Petra, the final battle of the War of Independence in Greek.
Filki Eteria is to be considered a freedom fighter since they fought a war against the occupants and for the greater good of their people, culture, and language.
Even though the new king imprisoned many generals who survived, but they established that their struggle was legitimate.
Any tactic can be used as a strategy in guerrilla warfare, and terrorist tactics are no exceptions in war. What separates a terrorist from a freedom fighter is the reasoning of war. The Ottomans outnumbered the Greeks, and they had to dive into gruella warfare to win against an enemy that had proper training, and technological advantage.
The Greeks had to recruit people without military training. This speaks volumes about their preparedness to fight the war.
The Greeks attacked the Ottoman military and didn’t capture women to rape, enslaved children, or try wiping out a nation and its heritage. They only tried to retake their land, get independence, and live as a free nation, which is their due right.
This should be sufficient to differentiate the Greeks from terrorists. Though they aren’t in the eyes of the Turkish government.
The Nationalist Separation Movement in Greece reflects a deeply rooted struggle for identity, sovereignty, and cultural preservation. While it sparks heated debates and tensions, comprehending its historical context and underlying motives is essential to navigating the path toward harmonious coexistence and a united nation.
References
The 20 heroic events that defined the Greek War of Independence. (2022, March 21). GreekReporter.com. https://greekreporter.com/2022/03/21/20-great-moments-greek-war-of-independence/
200 years of the Greek revolution: An introduction. (2022, March 16). Balkan Hotspot. https://www.balkanhotspot.org/200-years-of-the-greek-revolution-an-introduction/
3. War, politics and administration, 1821-1823. (2020, September 23). De Gruyter. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1525/9780520320444-006/pdf
403 forbidden. (n.d.). 403 Forbidden. https://erenow.net/ww/invisible-armies-an-epic-history-of-guerrilla-warfare/18.php
(n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency - CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/4B/4BB2A65F1FF9040B4BDBFBAB15CC01C1_%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA.pdf
Dance of Zalongo. (2006, May 7). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_Zalongo
Filiki Eteria. (2005, March 2). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filiki_Eteria
Filiki Eteria: The group that sparked the Greek War of Independence. (2021, September 14). GreekReporter.com. https://greekreporter.com/2021/09/14/filiki-eteria-the-diaspora-secret-society-that-sparked-greek-independence/
Greek junta. (2005, July 1). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_junta
Greek revolution, 1821. (n.d.). Greek Military Photos -- Greek Army. https://greekmilitary.net/konstantinoupoli/1821/fort1821/revolut.html
Greek War of Independence. (2003, March 24). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence#Legacy
Greek War of Independence. (n.d.). https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Greek_War_of_Independence
News9 Staff. (2022, March 28). Guerrilla warfare: What it means, tactics and all you need to know. NEWS9LIVE. https://www.news9live.com/knowledge/guerrilla-warfare-what-it-means-tactics-and-all-you-need-to-know-161456
On the trail of the Greek revolution of 1821. (2021, October 26). The National Herald. https://www.thenationalherald.com/on-the-trail-of-the-greek-revolution-of-1821/
On this day December 16, 1803: Heroic Greek women choose death over ottoman enslavement. (2020, December 4). The Pappas Post. https://pappaspost.com/on-this-day-december-16-1803-heroic-greek-women-choose-death-over-ottoman-enslavement/
The best articles, links, and news delivered once a week to your inbox.