|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 5, 2008 23:34:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:33:28 GMT -5
The three liberations of Northern EpirusAfter the liberation of Ioannina from the Turks (21.02.1913), the Greek Army continued liberating the cities of Northern Epirus one after the other, until it arrived outside Avlona. Some cities had regained their freedom earlier (e.g. Chimarra by Sp. Spyromilios – 5.10.1912, Korytsa by Pan. Daglis (7.12.1912). On 17 December 1913, Italy and Austo-Hungary, unfortunately serving their own interests, signed the Protocol of Florence, according to which the Albanian state was created for the first time, comprising the region of Northern Epirus, as reinforcement to the newly created Albania. Since then, the north part of Epirus is known as “Northern Epirus”. Moreover, they extorted the Greek government to choose between the eastern Aegean Sea islands and Northern Epirus. This made the Greeks of Northern Epirus rise and proceed in armed rebellion, with the INDEPENDENCE of Northern Epirus on 17 February 1914 as a highlight. A new Government was formed with Georgios Christakis Zografos as the Prime Minister, and the heroic Metropolitans Vassileios of Dryinoupolis, Spyridon of Vella and Konitsa, and Germanos of Korytsa, as members. The flag of the Independent Epirus was hoisted and the Hellenism of Northern Epirus, who joined the voluntary independence forces and “sacred battalions”, liberated Northern Epirus, forcing the Albanians to sign on 17 May 1914 (i.e in 3 months time) the Corcyra Protocol. According to that, the independence and the right for self-government was recognized to Northern Epirus, along with the freedom of education, language, religion, and the right for Northern Epirus to maintain its own Armed Forces and Police. The territory was named “Epirus”, and it comprised Chimarra, Argyrokastro, Ag. Saranda, Kolonia, Leskovikio, Premeti, Korytsa etc, and its citizens were to be called “Epirots” and not “Albanians”. The outbreak of the World War I, and the floating situation in Albania, forced Europeans to allow the entrance of the Greek Army in Northern Epirus, so as to restore the order. On 14 October 1914, the Greek Army liberated Northern Epirus for the second time. The independency government willingly surrendered its authority to the liberating army. The unification of Northern Epirus and Greece was followed by the participation of 16 representatives of Epirus in the Greek Parliament and in the elections that took place one year later. However, the discord and the lack of unanimity in Greece (El. Venizelos – King Constantine), which resulted to the loss of Asia Minor (1922), gave to the European patrons of Albania the opportunity to detach Northern Epirus once more from the Greek state. In the 1920’s, the Albanian nationalism arbitrarily cut off the Albanian Church from the Constantinople Patriarchate. They also tried to impose the Albanian language as the only functional language in the whole Albanian State. (The main representative was Albanian false bishop Fan Noli, from the USA). In the 1930’s, king Ziogou set on the Greek education. The Northern Epirots appealed to the Court of Hague and were vindicated (1935).On 28 October 1940, two Albanian divisions joined forces with the Italians and intruded Greece. But the brave Greek Army marched victoriously once again in Northern Epirus, and was accepted by the Northern Epirots as liberator. It was the third time that Epirus was liberated. This freedom lasted only until April 1941, when the Germans invaded Greece, and the Greek Army left Northern Epirus. After the end of the World War II and the defeat of the Axon Powers, the Greek Government requested the unification of Northern Epirus and Greece, in the International Peace Conference of 21 Nations in Paris (30.08.1946). The issue was committed – due to reactions on behalf of the Soviet Foreign Affairs Minister Molotov and other communistic countries – to the Foreign Affairs Minister Council of the Great Powers (French, U.S.A., Great Britain, Russia), that took place in New York (4.11 – 12.12.1946). The Council postponed the decision for the Northern Epirus issue until after the Peace Treaty with both Austria and Germany was signed. The Peace Treaty with Austria was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna and with Germany on 12 September 1990 in Moscow. The Northern Epirus issue still remains pending.www.sfeva.gr/76F95304.en.aspx
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:49:39 GMT -5
“Epirus, Primitive Hellas”“Epirus, Primitive Hellas”. With these words Claudius Ptolemeos (2nd c. A.D.) characterizes this region of Greece, whilst Aristotle (4th c. B.C.) calls it “Hellas, the Ancient”. The name of Epirus has always been related to the fate of Hellenism, 3.000 years of indisputable and continuous presence of the Greek culture are maintained by the innumerable archaeological sites and monuments found Epirus. In the “infinite land” (infinite = άπειρος [apeiros], as Epirus is called in Doric dialect) Hellenism has lived and flourished throughout history; where nowadays it still lives, fights and resists… The unity of the Epirotic region (Northern and Southern)When historians refer to “EPIRUS”, they do not only mean the four provinces of NW Greece, but NORTHERN EPIRUS as well, that part of the united Epirus that is now under the Albanian domination, due to political expediencies. For Procopius (6th c. A.D), Epirus stretches up to the town of Epidamnus (Dyrhacchion) “Up to the city of Epidamnus, situated by the sea, there are Greeks, who are called Epirots”. There, at Epidamnus, the borders of the Epirotic tribes are placed by Thucydides as well. Dionysius the Traveler (1st c. B.C.) specifies the borders at the north of Avlona. The ancient dictum “The beginning of Greece leans upon the land of Orikos” has Greece to begin from the Orikos region. Finally, Strabo (1st c. A.D.) regards as boundary between the Epirots and Illyrian tribes the Genoussos River and the neighboring Via Egnatia, which started from Dyrhacchion and reached Byzantium. Epidamnus (Dyrhacchion) was a Corinthian and Corcyran colony. The Epirots were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, while the citizens of Epidamnus were involved in the Peloponnesian War as allies of Athens and Corcyra. The unity of the Epirotic region (Northern and Southern) with the rest of Greece is evident and indisputable throughout the ancient history. The first inhabitants of EpirusThe first inhabitants of Epirus are considered to be Pelasgi. Later on, the Ionians make their appearance in the region and after them the Dorians, who finally dominated. According to Theopompus (4th c. B.C) the epirotic tribes were 14 while, according to Strabo, 11 – all of which Greek. The oracle of Dodoni, dedicated to Zeus, was the religious center of all Epirots. The Greek hero Achilles offered sacrifices to Dodoneus Zeus. Statues of the same god were found all over Northern Epirus. The worship of Apollo, Aphrodite, Artemis – Diana, Athena, Poseidon – Neptune, Dionysus, Asclepius was also widespread as in the rest of Greece. Historical sources and archaeological findingsHistorical sources and archaeological findings prove the existence of active Hellenism in Vouthroto (near Ag. Saranda), Antigonea (Tepeleni), Epidamnus (Dyrhacchion) Antipatrea (Berati), Apolonia (Pogiani-Fieri), Vyllida, Astaki, Amandia (Pliosa), Chimera (Chimarra), Panormo, Foiniki, Ogchismos (Ag. Saranda), Adrianoupolis – Dryinoupolis, Nymphaion, Orikos, that is in the whole of the Northern Epirus region. The unity of the cultural heritage of Northern Epirus with that of the rest of Greece is manifested and maintained by the archaeological works: In Apolonia, a Corinthian and Corcyran colony, archaeologists have found temples dedicated to Apollo, Artemis – Diana and Poseidon – Neptune, as well as a Greek theatre; in Nymphaion, Attic vessels and tomb anaglyphs, representing scenes of the Greek mythology, statutes of Dodoneus Zeus, of Lyceos Apollo, Virgin Athena, Demeter, Hermes, Apollo, Atlas holding Uranus on his shoulders, a bust of Demosthenes, a necropolis with many findings etc. Voutrhoto and FoinikiIn Voutrhoto (Ag. Saranda), which, according to Virgil was built by Elenus, a hero of the Trojan war, there are findings of ancient walls, a Temple of Asclepius, a Gymnasium, a magnificent ancient theater, a prytaneion, Apollo’s head, a altar dedicated to Dionysus and many inscriptions in Greek language. Moreover, in the neighboring Foiniki, archaeologists excavated a theatre, tombs with sarcophaguses, a temple of Athena, a Gymnasium, etc. It should be noted that Foiniki, still keeps its ancient Greek name: Foiniki, capital of Chaonia. VyllidaIn Vyllida (close to Fieri) archaeologists brought to light: the famous theater combining the Doric and Ionian style, a gymnasium, a stadium, burial buildings influenced by the Macedonian style, an ancient forum, a house featuring a peristyle yard and multi-colored mosaics, a coin representing Dodoneus Zeus, Artemis – Diana, Hercules, Achilles or Alexander the Great, as well as inscriptions in Greek language. Despite all this evidence, the Albanian nation, following the practice adopted by Skopje, presents all these Hellenic monuments as Albanian cultural legacy… Alexander the Great and PyrrhusThe Macedonian king Alexander the Great descended from Epirus, form his mother Olympiad, the daughter of Neoptolemus 1st, king of Molossus. Molossus kingdom, a great epirotic tribe, reaches its maximum flourishing in the 3rd century B.C., during king Pyrrhus’s era. Pyrrhus managed to unify all epirotic tribes, and attempted to conquer the Italian Peninsula. Unified Epirus – Northern and Southern – from Acheloos River up to Aoos River, experienced a period of glory and grandeur. One century later, the Romans dominated, and a period of decline and disaster come for the Greek cultural inheritance in unified Epirus. ChristianizationApostle Paul very soon brings the Holly Words of Jesus Christ in Epirus. There are martyrs from Northern Epirus since the early centuries: St. Asteius, Bishop of Dyrhacchion (98 A.D.), St. Eleftherios, Bishop of Avlona (120 A.D.), St. Donatos, Bishop of Foiniki (250 A.D.), Deacon Isavros (3rd c. A.D.). The presence of Bishops in Ecumenical Synods (since 381 A.D.), proves how organized the Church was in that region. The large number of paleo-Christian baptisteries preserved (in Vouthroto, Foiniki, Achrida), reveal the development of the Christian Church in Epirus. Ancient ChurchesThe advancement of temple construction is also impressive: Paleo-Christian Basilicas featuring beautiful mosaics have been found in Voutrhoto, Vyllida, Amandia, Dyrhacchion, Mesaplik, Achrida. Later on, the Byzantine and post-Byzantine architecture presents us with: the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Labovo, St. Nikolaos in Berati, Virgin Mary in Zervati (10 c. A.D), St. Ioannis in Bobostitsa- Korytsa, St. Nikolaos in Mesopotamos, Virgin Mary in Boria – Korytsa, and in the region of Berati: Virgin Mary of Vlacherna, St. Michael and Holly Trinity (12th – 14th century), St. Kyriakos of Douviani, the Birth of Virgin Mary in Episkopi (16th century), St. Prodromos in Moschopolis – Korytsa and Virgin Mary of Kokamia (17th century), St. Nikolaos in Moschopolis (18th century) etc. Hagiography (icon painting)The art of hagiography developed in the area of Northern Epirus is also amazing. The most ancient hagiographies date back in the 12th century (Virgin Mary in Boria – Korytsa). The artists follow the Byzantine style. Some of the most significant hagiographers were Onoufrios and his son Nikolaos (16th century), who worked in Temples in Berati and Kastoria. Other significant hagiographers were Onoufrios the Cypriot (17th century) and David from Selenitsa (18th century). At this point, it should be underlined that all inscriptions were written in Greek language. The unity of art in both Southern and Northern Epirus as well as in Western Macedonia proves the relation that existed between these parts of Greece.
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:51:51 GMT -5
Ottoman OccupationDuring the sable years of slavery, the Hellenism of Northern Epirus suffers: the Turks are trying to impose islamization by force. Those who are persuaded, become fanatic Muslims and anti-Greeks. Hundreds of New Martyrs emerge from Northern Epirus region, and the phenomenon of Secret Christians of Spatia, is really touching as well. The Hellenism of Northern Epirus is literally saved by the Bishop of Dryinoupolis, Mathaios, and the Bishop of Argyrokastro, Sofianos as well as by Nectarios Terpos. The presence and the contribution of St. Kosmas Aetolos prove to be catalytic. He travels around Epirus, and especially Northern Epirus, preaching the Word of Jesus Christ, building hundreds of schools, supporting people’s hope, keeping the fire for Liberty burning, speaking of the “desirable” – that is, liberty –of Northern Epirus as well; something the Turk-Albanians never forgave him for, and hung him in Kolikondasi of Northern Epirus (close to Fieri) on 24.08.1779. Ottoman Occupation (continued)During the murky era of the Turkish occupation, the 80 monasteries of Northern Epirus were rendered not only famous worship places, but also centers of social welfare, national onsets, bases of operations, shelters for revolutionists and mostly centers of Greek education: most of the monasteries operated culture and arts schools. On the 18th century, Moschopolis in Korytsa was regarded as the “Athens of the North”, having a “New Academy” and especially the only printing office in the greater Eastern area. It is there that the first Albanian (as well as Greek and Vlach) dictionary was printed. It should be noted that until then the Albanian did not exist as a written language. It is representative the fact that the first systematic attempts to put the Albanian language in written were made by the literate circles of the New Academy: the first Albanian alphabet was based on the Greek alphabet. However, it seems that the Albanians envied the brilliancy of Moschopolis, and burned it down… ResistanceThe armed resistance of Epirus against the Turkish occupation is legendary: Souli, in Southern Epirus remained unoccupied for four centuries; Chimarra in Northern Epirus forced the Turks to yield its autonomy and special privileges. Northern Epirus proceeded in many revolutionary actions against the Turks. Also, in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, thousands of Northern Epirots actively participated. Still, Northern Epirus remained under slavery for one more century… The Great BenefactorsWhen, after the liberation, the small Greek State started being organized, once again the still enslaved Northern Epirots offered their assistance: the Great Benefactors Chr. Zografos (Kestorati of Argyrokastro), Ap. Arsakis (Hotahova of Premeti), Simon and Georgios Sinas (Moschopolis of Korytsa), Evaggelos and Konstantinos Zappas (Labovo of Argyrokastro), Ioannis Bagkas (Korytsa) etc., built and donated to the Greek State the Athens’ Observatory, the Arsakeia Schools, the Athens’ Academy, the Zappeion Edifice – to mention some of the famous donations. Unfortunately, their villages are still abandoned by us, the modern Greeks… First LiberationIn 1912 – ‘13, during the Balkan Wars, the Greek Army liberates along with Macedonia and Southern Epirus, the Northern Epirus region as well: from Chimarra to Korytsa. The “desirable” of St. Kosmas seemed to become a reality when, on December 1912, the Greek flag was put up in Korytsa… Second LiberationHowever, the interests of the contemporary Great Powers prevailed: Under the initiative of Italy and Austrian-Hungary, the Albanian State was created out of nothing. To render the new state sustainable, they seize the free Northern Epirus to this new state by force. The Greek Northern Epirots rebel against this injustice. On 17 February 1914, they declare in Argyrokastro the INDEPENDENCE OF NORTHERN EPIRUS. A government is assigned with G. Zografos as Prime Minister, and Metropolitans Vassileios of Dryinoupolis, Spyridon of Vellas and Konitsa, and Germanos of Korytsa (photo), as members. The Northern Epirots start an armed struggle, without – unfortunately – the support of the Greek State. The revolution against the Albanian slavery succeeds, and on 17 May 1914 the Great Powers and Albania are forced to sign the CORCYRA PROTOCOL (THE PROTOCOL OF CORFU), i.e. THE INDEPENDENCE OF NORTHERN EPIRUS. The Sovereignity Government hands control over to the Greek Army in October 1914, which liberated Northern Epirus for the second time. The tyrannical regime of ZogouUnfortunately, the Albanians violated their promises: During the 1920’s they managed to split the Orthodox Church from the Mother Church, the Patriarchate in Constantinople, and turn it into a tool of the Albanian nationalism. During the 1930’s, king Zogou sets upon Greek Education, by closing schools down, persecuting teachers, parents and students. The Northern Epirots appeal to the Standing Court of International Justice (Hague) and are justified, while the Albanian State is forced to open the Greek Schools again. Still, strives against Greek Education did not cease during the Hozha government and up to nowadays. Third LiberationIn the early 1940’s, Albania officially declared that all the enemies of Italy are considered to be Albania’s enemies as well. On 28 October 1940, the Albanian army divisions, sided with fascistic Italy, attacked Greece. The victorious Greek Army once again triumphantly entered the Northern Epirus, welcomed as liberator by its people. But unfortunately, once again, the interests of the Great Powers wanted Northern Epirus enslaved to Albania. After the end of the war, the Greek State asked from the Peace Council in Paris, and then from the Council of the (Four) Victorious Powers the concession of Northern Epirus to Greece. The discussion of the subject was postponed until the Austrian (1955) and the German (1990) issues were resolved. This appeal is still pending nowadays… The communist dictatorship of HozhaThe retreat of the Greek Army in 1941 and the consequent occupation brought back the obscurity of slavery in Epirus. In Southern Epirus, Moslem Tsams collaborating with the conquerors proceeded to destructions, loots and slaughters. In Northern Epirus, the communist dictatorship of Hozha has been the worst slavery in the history of Hellenism: religion was illegal, and every religious action was penalized, Greek education was prosecuted, live barbwires on the boundaries and huge spotlights at the sea, turned Albania into an endless prison; thousands of people were executed or let to die imprisoned, anything reminding Jesus Christ and Greece was extinguished. Albania brutally strangled even the basic rights of the Northern Epirots. Sevastianos, P.A.N.E.R. (ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Β.Α.) and S.C.C.N.E.R. (Σ.Φ.Ε.Β.Α)In Greece, as years pass by, the reactions against the Albanian government increased. The Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa Mr. Sevastianos, supported by P.A.N.E.R. – ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Β.Α. and S.C.C.N.E.R. – Σ.Φ.Ε.Β.Α., traveled around Greece, made appeals to International Organizations, organized conferences to awaken consciences, but also offering love and affection to hundreds of Northern Epirot and Albanian fugitives. And he was doing all this, while the official Greek State turned a deaf ear to the tragedy, keeping silent before the crimes committed, and moreover, trying to silence every voice of protest against Hozha’s regime. CHRISTMAS 1990CHRISTMAS 1990: The Northern Epirots dare to celebrate Christmas, not long after Hozha’s tyranny had come to an end. Members of S.C.C.N.E.R. – Σ.Φ.Ε.Β.Α., taking high risk, transferred sacred vessels, books and sacerdotal vestments for the Christmas Mass to Tirana, and from there, with the assistance of the Greek Embassy, to Dervitsani in Argyrokastro. That was the first open Holly Mass and the first Christmas celebrated after 24 years of persecution… PresentNowadays, the one-party domination of communism no longer exists, but unfortunately, anti-Hellenism of the entire Albanian leadership has taken its place. The situation of Hellenism still remains tragic, Orthodoxy is not allowed to spread, Greek Education is being persecuted, schools are closing down while those still in operation are turned into Albanian schools, teachers are being threatened and persecuted so as not to teach the Greek language, OMONOIA os not allowed to participate in the national elections, Northern Epirots are being dismissed from their jobs, gangs and extra-governmental mechanisms steal, destroy, terrify, murder; the Albanian police kills old people in cold blood, chases after young children, pointedly arrests and imprisons young Greeks; immigrants from Kosovo are transferred and take the jobs, properties and houses of the Northern Epirots who temporarily live in Greece; the Albanian state uses all means in order to force the Greeks out of the Northern Epirus… .
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:52:09 GMT -5
The Great war ... - Page 163 by George Henry Allen, Henry C. Whitehead, French Ensor Chadwick, William Sowden Sims, James William McAndrew, Edwin Wiley - World War, 1914-1918 - 1919And.
Pictures and info in this post by chicagogeorge www.macedoniaontheweb.com/forum/epirus-forum/5228-northern-epirus-4.htmlSeems the Greeks were the majority back in last century !!! The ethnic cleansing has been so successful for the Albanian state. Off course they have no shame in committing these acts ONLY ignored the Greater Powers wishes for an Autonomous Northern Epirus and proceeded into ethnic / cultural cleansing instead. .
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:52:28 GMT -5
Thanks to Olvios for the scans. .
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 6, 2008 8:52:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bordura on Aug 6, 2008 15:40:01 GMT -5
Nowadays, the one-party domination of communism no longer exists, but unfortunately, anti-Hellenism of the entire Albanian leadership has taken its place. The situation of Hellenism still remains tragic, Orthodoxy is not allowed to spread, Greek Education is being persecuted, schools are closing down while those still in operation are turned into Albanian schools, teachers are being threatened and persecuted so as not to teach the Greek language, OMONOIA os not allowed to participate in the national elections, Northern Epirots are being dismissed from their jobs, gangs and extra-governmental mechanisms steal, destroy, terrify, murder; the Albanian police kills old people in cold blood, chases after young children, pointedly arrests and imprisons young Greeks; immigrants from Kosovo are transferred and take the jobs, properties and houses of the Northern Epirots who temporarily live in Greece; the Albanian state uses all means in order to force the Greeks out of the Northern Epirus…after reading this paragraph my first impulse was to laugh. It is so ridiculous and so far from reality. My second and lasting impression was fear. I'm afraid of ignorance. YOUR ignorance of the reality and your passionate will to cling with spreading lies it is really frightening. i consider you and people thinking as you as a threat to my life.
|
|
|
Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 6, 2008 23:09:26 GMT -5
Arxileas, There is a mistake in the article. When referring to North Epirus and they deal with history (as the article obviously did) is acceptable; but referring to North Epirus instead of South Albania nowadays is the mistake we all make when we start the discussion. Also re: the hate feelings...let's see what Donnie will tell us (in Albanian forum, I explicitly asked him to give some details of what he saw in there...see Alb. forum for further info)
|
|
|
Post by kartadolofonos on Aug 7, 2008 7:55:34 GMT -5
Greek population in 1989 varied from 59,000, or 1 percent of the total (from the official Albanian census); to 266,800, or 8 percent (from data published by the United States government); to as high as 400,000, or 12 percent (from the "Epirot lobby" of Greeks with family roots in Albania). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Etymology of the name - E P I R U S - The Greek name Epirus signifies "mainland" or "continent", to distinguish it from the Ionian islands off the Epirote coast. It was originally applied to the whole coast south to the Gulf of Patras. The name is thought to go back Mycenean-Greek Aπειρος/apeiros, from an Indo-European root apero- meaning 'coast'. Boundaries and definitions The historical region of Epirus is generally regarded as extending from the Bay of Vlorë in Albania to the Gulf of Arta or Ambracian Gulf in Greece. Its eastern boundary is defined by the Pindus Mountains that form the spine of mainland Greece and separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly. To the west, Epirus faces the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. The island of Corfu is situated off the coast but is not generally regarded as part of the province (politically it is part of the Ionian Islands province of Greece). Geography and ecology Epirus is a rugged and mountainous region. It is largely made up of mountainous limestone ridges, part of the Dinaric Alps, that in places reach 2,650 m. In the east, the Pindus Mountains that form the spine of mainland Greece separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus. The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece. The climate of Epirus is mainly alpine. The vegetation is made up mainly of coniferous species. The animal life is especially rich in this area and features, among other species, bears, wolves, foxes, deer and lynxes. History Early settlement Epirus has been occupied since Neolithic times, when hunters and shepherds inhabited the region and constructed large tumuli to bury their leaders. The tumuli had many similar characteristics to those later used by the Myceneans, suggesting a possible ancestral link between Epirus and the Mycenean civilization. Certainly, Mycenean remains have been found and even at the most important ancient religious sites in the region, the Necromanteion (Oracle of the Dead) on the Acheron river, and the Oracle of Zeus at Dodona. The Dorians invaded Greece via Epirus and Macedonia at the end of the 2nd millennium BC (circa 1100 BC-1000 BC), though the reasons for their migration are obscure. The region's original inhabitants were driven southward into the Greek mainland by the invasion and by the early 1st millennium BC three principal clusters of Greek-speaking tribes had emerged in Epirus. These were the Chaonians of northwestern Epirus, the Molossians in the centre and the Thesprotians in the south. Epirus and ancient Greece Unlike most other Greeks of the time, who lived in or around city-states such as Athens or Sparta, the Epirotes lived in small villages. Their region lay on the edge of the Greek world and was far from peaceful; for many centuries, it remained a frontier area contested with the Illyrian peoples of the Adriatic coast and interior. However, Epirus had a far greater religious significance than might have been expected given its geographical remoteness, due to the presence of the shrine and oracle at Dodona - regarded as second only to the more famous oracle at Delphi. The Epirotes though apparently Greek-speaking seem to have been regarded with some disdain by the Athenians when the latter rose to power, a fate suffered by many Greek enemies of Athens or those Greeks they considered culturally inferior to themselves. The 5th century BC Athenian historian Thucydides describes them as "barbarians" due to the fact they tried to detach Acarnania from the sphere of Athenian power and allied themselves with the Spartans to do so during the Peloponnesian War. This term was used by Athenians in a pejorative and politically motivated manner against many Greeks. The Epirote aristocracy were the Aeacidae, who claimed to be descended from Neoptolemus, son of Achilles. As well Strabo says: "and even to the present day the Thracians, Illyrians, and Epeirotes live on the flanks of the Greeks (though this was still more the case formerly than now); indeed most of the country that at the present time is indisputably Greece is held by the barbarians — Macedonia and certain parts of Thessaly by the Thracians, and the parts above Acarnania and Aetolia by the Thesproti, the Cassopaei, the Amphilochi, the Molossi, and the Athamanes — Epeirotic tribes." On the other hand, other ancient Greek and Roman writers such as Apollodorus, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Frontinus, Pausanias, Ptolemy, Cassius Dio and Eutropius, describe them as Greeks. Plutarch mentions an interesting cultural element of the Epirotes regarding Achilles. In his biography of king Pyrrhus, he claims that Achilles "had a divine status in Epirus and in the local dialect he was called Aspetos." (Homeric aspetos 'unspeakable,unspeakably great,endless' (Aristotle F 563 Rose; Plutarch, Pyrrhus 1; SH 960,4). The Aeacidae established the Molossian dynasty, who built a state in Epirus from about 370 BC onwards, expanding their power at the expense of rival tribes. The Molossians allied themselves with the increasingly powerful kingdom of Macedon and in 359 BC the Molossian princess Olympias, niece of Arybbas of Epirus, married King Philip II of Macedon. She was to become the mother of Alexander the Great. On the death of Arybbas, Alexander of Epirus succeeded to the throne and the title King of Epirus. Aeacides of Epirus, who succeeded Alexander, espoused the cause of Olympias against Cassander, but was dethroned in 313 BC. His son Pyrrhus came to throne in 295 BC, and for six years fought against the Romans in southern Italy and Sicily. His campaigns gave Epirus a new, but brief, importance and a lasting contribution to the language with the concept of a "Pyrrhic victory". In the 3rd century BC Epirus remained a substantial power, unified under the auspices of the Epirote League as a federal state with its own parliament (or synedrion). However, it was faced with the growing threat of the expansionist Roman Republic, which fought a series of wars with Macedonia. The League remained neutral in the first two Macedonian Wars but split in the Third Macedonian War (171 BC-168 BC), with the Molossians siding with the Macedonians and the Chaones and Thesproti siding with Rome. The outcome was disastrous for Epirus; Molossia fell to Rome in 167 BC, 150,000 of its inhabitants were enslaved and the region was so thoroughly plundered that it took 500 years for central Epirus to recover fully. Roman and Byzantine rule The Roman invasion permanently ended the political independence of the Epirotes. In 146 BC Epirus became part of the province of Roman Macedonia, receiving the name Epirus vetus, to distinguish it from Epirus nova to the east. Its coastal regions grew wealthy from the Roman coastal trade routes, and the construction of the Via Egnatia provided a further boost to prosperity. Epirus became the westernmost province of the Eastern Roman Empire (subsequently the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire), ruled from Constantinople when the empire was divided in two in 395 AD. When Constantinople fell to the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Michael Angelos Komnenos Ducas seized Aetolia and Epirus to establish an independent Despotate of Epirus. The rulers of the Despotate controlled a substantial area corresponding to a large swathe of northwestern Greece, much of modern Albania and parts of the modern Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In 1318 Epirus was overrun by Serbs in one of a series of uprisings. Following an Albanian uprising in 1359 , in which the Despot Nicephorus II was killed, the Byzantines re-established a measure of control of the despotate by making it a vassal state. However, in 1430 the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Murad II annexed Epirus. Before the Ottoman Invasion Epirus,Illyria was Hellenophone(Grecophone) percentage sequence similarity with AlbaniansGreek...........82.5%Macedon......73.4% Lebanese.....70.4% Syrian...........64.8% Calabrian......60.7% Turkish.........60.6% Czech and Slovakian.....56.1% Croatian.......53.5% Georgian......50.9% Italian............47.6% Hungarian....47.3% Polish............43% Udmurt..........37.1% Saami...........36.2% Ukrainian......32% Mari..............18.1% ----- percentage sequence similarity with GreeksAlbanian.......82.5%Lebanese.....69.2% Calabrian......68.6% Czech and Slovakian......62.3% Macedon......61% Georgian......60.8% Turkish.........58.6% C.& N. Italian.58.1% Syrian..........57.6% Andalusian...52.1% Hungarian....47.6% Croatian.......43.8% Polish...........39.7% Udmurt.........36.4% Saami...........24.5% Ottoman rule Ottoman rule proved particularly damaging in Epirus; the region was subjected to deforestation and excessive cultivation, which damaged the soil and drove many Epirotes to emigrate to escape the region's pervasive poverty. Nonetheless, the Ottomans did not enjoy total control of Epirus. In 1443 George Kastriotis Skenderbeis, the Epirote National Hero, revolted against the Ottoman Empire and conquered Northern Epirus, but on his death it fell to Venice. The Ottomans expelled the Venetians from almost the whole area in the late 15th century. The Vilayets of the Ottoman Empire. The Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule [[1821]] - [[1947]] Vorio Epirus ?The three liberations of Northern Epirus After the liberation of Ioannina from the Turks (21.02.1913), the Greek Army continued liberating the cities of Northern Epirus one after the other, until it arrived outside Avlona. Some cities had regained their freedom earlier (e.g. Chimarra by Sp. Spyromilios – 5.10.1912, Korytsa by Pan. Daglis (7.12.1912). On 17 December 1913, Italy and Austo-Hungary, unfortunately serving their own interests, signed the Protocol of Florence, according to which the Albanian state was created for the first time, comprising the region of Northern Epirus, as reinforcement to the newly created Albania. Since then, the north part of Epirus is known as “Northern Epirus”. Moreover, they extorted the Greek government to choose between the eastern Aegean Sea islands and Northern Epirus. This made the Greeks of Northern Epirus rise and proceed in armed rebellion, with the INDEPENDENCE of Northern Epirus on 17 February 1914 as a highlight. A new Government was formed with Georgios Christakis Zografos as the Prime Minister, and the heroic Metropolitans Vassileios of Dryinoupolis, Spyridon of Vella and Konitsa, and Germanos of Korytsa, as members. The flag of the Independent Epirus was hoisted and the Hellenism of Northern Epirus, who joined the voluntary independence forces and “sacred battalions”, liberated Northern Epirus, forcing the Albanians to sign on 17 May 1914 (i.e in 3 months time) the Corcyra Protocol. According to that, the independence and the right for self-government was recognized to Northern Epirus, along with the freedom of education, language, religion, and the right for Northern Epirus to maintain its own Armed Forces and Police. The territory was named “Epirus”, and it comprised Chimarra, Argyrokastro, Ag. Saranda, Kolonia, Leskovikio, Premeti, Korytsa etc, and its citizens were to be called “Epirots” and not “Albanians”. The outbreak of the World War I, and the floating situation in Albania, forced Europeans to allow the entrance of the Greek Army in Northern Epirus, so as to restore the order. On 14 October 1914, the Greek Army liberated Northern Epirus for the second time. The independency government willingly surrendered its authority to the liberating army. The unification of Northern Epirus and Greece was followed by the participation of 16 representatives of Epirus in the Greek Parliament and in the elections that took place one year later. However, the discord and the lack of unanimity in Greece (El. Venizelos – King Constantine), which resulted to the loss of Asia Minor (1922), gave to the European patrons of Albania the opportunity to detach Northern Epirus once more from the Greek state. In the 1920’s, the Albanian nationalism arbitrarily cut off the Albanian Church from the Constantinople Patriarchate. They also tried to impose the Albanian language as the only functional language in the whole Albanian State. (The main representative was Albanian false bishop Fan Noli, from the USA). In the 1930’s, king Ziogou set on the Greek education. The Northern Epirots appealed to the Court of Hague and were vindicated (1935). On 28 October 1940, two Albanian divisions joined forces with the Italians and intruded Greece. But the brave Greek Army marched victoriously once again in Northern Epirus, and was accepted by the Northern Epirots as liberator. It was the third time that Epirus was liberated. This freedom lasted only until April 1941, when the Germans invaded Greece, and the Greek Army left Northern Epirus. After the end of the World War II and the defeat of the Axon Powers, the Greek Government requested the unification of Northern Epirus and Greece, in the International Peace Conference of 21 Nations in Paris (30.08.1946). The issue was committed – due to reactions on behalf of the Soviet Foreign Affairs Minister Molotov and other communistic countries – to the Foreign Affairs Minister Council of the Great Powers (French, U.S.A., Great Britain, Russia), that took place in New York (4.11 – 12.12.1946). The Council postponed the decision for the Northern Epirus issue until after the Peace Treaty with both Austria and Germany was signed. The Peace Treaty with Austria was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna and with Germany on 12 September 1990 in Moscow. The Northern Epirus issue still remains pending. Something more than 100 years ago, the Albanian poet Naim Frasheri, a sage person, wrote a short poem about Albanians and Greeks, considering them BROTHERS On 17 December 1913, Italy and Austo-Hungary, unfortunately serving their own interests, signed the Protocol of Florence, according to which the AntiGreek Albanian state was created for the first time. We are today Albanians, you are Greeks, you have Greece, we have Albania, you have your greek language, we have our new albanian created language. In this way friendship will be cement. Brothers, do not listen our enemies who try to make religion vehicle for hate means of fanatism and our disaster. They want to seperate us in theirs interest
|
|
|
Post by kartadolofonos on Aug 7, 2008 8:24:23 GMT -5
Here is what Aristotle wrote in his work Meteorologica: "The deluge in the time of Deucalion, for instance, took place chiefly in the Greek world and in it especially about ancient Hellas, the country about Dodona in Epiros and the Achelous, a river which has often changed its course. Here the Selli dwelt and those who were formerly called Graeci and now Hellenes." Strabo says Hepirotans were Greeks, Pausanias that mainland Greece is Epirus, Apollodoros calls Pyrrhus army the mightiest among the Greeks. Omiros says "Epirus and rest of Greece". also says Pyrrhus is a descedant of Greek Achilleas. Theodor Mommsen says Pyrrhus was Greek This is proof my Albanian friends Homer, Iliad 16:127 (Achilles prayer) XIII. “…Thus the ambassador of Pyrrhus returned; and, when Pyrrhus asked him “what kind of a place he had found Rome to be,” Cineas replied, that “he had seen a country of kings, for that all there were such, as Pyrrhus alone was thought to be in Epirus and the REST OF GREECE.” XI. Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who derived his origin from the family of Achilles… “Greece starts at Oricus and the most ancient part of Greece is Epirus. “Arha Ellas apo Oricias kai arhegonos Ellas Epiros“ Eutropius (Abridgment of Roman History) Historiae Romanae Breviarium “So Pyrros was the first to cross over against Rome from mainland Greece, Epirus, and even so he went over only because he was called in by Tarentum” Pausanias, 1.11 Apollodorus, 6.12 “It was for this reason that Pyrrhus was defeated by the Romans also in a battle to the finish. For it was no mean or untrained army that he had, but the mightiest of those then in existence AMONG THE GREEKS and one that had fought a great many wars Pyrrhus aim was the Hellenic-Greek unification (like and the aim of his second cousin, Alexander) in order to lead the war against the Romans. Thus he entered Italy with a strong Greek army in a bid to subdue the Romans and he defeated the Romans, in the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC. 15,000 Roman were dead and 13,000 Greeks. The Greek cities of Croton and Locri joined Pyrrhus. He then offered the Romans a peace treaty, which was eventually rejected. In 281 the Greek city of Tarentum, in southern Italy, fell out with Rome and was faced with a Roman attack and certain defeat. Rome had already made itself into a major power, and was poised to subdue all the Greek cities in Magna Graecia Great Greece(the west Mediterranean Greek colonialism in nowadays Italy, France etc.). The Greeks Tarentines asked from their compatriot Greek Pyrrhus of Epirus to help them. Pyrrhus recognized the possibility of carving out a new Hellenic empire for himself in Italy!!! The Pyrrhus became king of the Molossians (from 297 BC), king of Epirus (306-301, 297-272 BC) and king of Macedon + Epirus(288-284, 273-272 BC). Pyrrhus and Attila were the strongest opponents of Roman Empire in history. His aim was the Hellenic-Greece unification (like and Alexander's aim before him) in order to lead the war against the Romans. Olympias brother Arymbas was the grandfather of the one of the most successful ancient Greek generals of the Hellenistic era the legendary ancient Greek 'Pyrrhus of Epirus' 318-272 BC. Pyrrhus (Greek term means "Fire like") was the son of Aeacides(Greek term means "of the earth") of Epirus and Phthia(her name is the region name of Achilles house) Also Pyrrhus was the second cousin of Alexander the Great. Olympias was the mother of Alexander the Great. Olympias was daughter of Neoptolemus king of Epirus. Her father descent from Neoptolemus(son of Achilles). This formed the basis of Alexander's claims to be a new Achilles and son of Zeus !!!
|
|
|
Post by albquietman on Aug 7, 2008 22:21:26 GMT -5
Arxileas, I know you have a thing about so called North Epirus. All the material that you've brought here is plain greek propaganda, biased of course and not even real. We've talked about it several times. We even suggested you to go to Albania and see it yourself how much your vorio-ipirotes have suffered...so instead of spending time and energy collecting all these articles, save some money and go there. Talk to them the way you talk here and tell us what you'll get in response...not what you'll expect of course...
|
|
|
Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 22:50:53 GMT -5
Albania as a Nation By JOSEPH S. ROUCEK by THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY Albania as a Nation Author(s): Joseph S. Roucek Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 232, A Challenge to Peacemakers, (Mar., 1944), pp. 107-109 Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science Stable URL: www.jstor.org/stable/1023342PRIOR to 1912 few of us knew what manner of men Albanians were. Except for chance remembrance of a tale in Byron's Childe Harold, the country was but a geographical expression of a province somewhere in the Balkans. The Albanian immigrant, when asked about his homeland, was also very vague about the whole thing. He only knew that his people called themselves Shqipetare ("Sons of the Eagle") and titled their country Shqiperia ("the Land of the Eagle"). They were dubbed thus three centuries before Christ by Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, for their swiftness in battle. for more info, see "Federal Writers' Project of The Works Progress Administration of Massachusetts, The Albanian Struggle in the Old World and New (Boston: The Writer, Inc., 1939), pp. 3-4. 2 Joseph S. Roucek, The Politics of the Balkans (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1939), Chap. V, "Albania," pp. 84-98, and bibliography pp. 97-98.
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 7, 2008 22:58:47 GMT -5
Greek population in 1989 varied from 59,000, or 1 percent of the total (from the official Albanian census); to 266,800, or 8 percent (from data published by the United States government); to as high as 400,000, or 12 percent (from the "Epirot lobby" of Greeks with family roots in Albania [/b]). [/font][/color][/quote] That is correct. 1994 Cia gives Greeks 8% permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1993/wf940002.txtGreeks give 12% countrystudies.us/albania/49.htmAnd the next years albanians declare that they are only 3%...........
|
|
|
Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 23:02:05 GMT -5
That data should be updated; what they do wrong on their calculations is the fact that most of those who gets identified as Greeks are Albanians Orthodox or after 1990 like to call themselves Greeks, believing it is better ...due to the stigma of Greeks towards Albanians...what on earth are they? Wait a minute...I'll give you the answer...
|
|
|
Post by Arxileas on Aug 7, 2008 23:05:42 GMT -5
That data should be updated; what they do wrong on their calculations is the fact that most of those who gets identified as Greeks are Albanians Orthodox or after 1990 like to call themselves Greeks, believing it is better ...due to the stigma of Greeks towards Albanians...what on earth are they? Wait a minute...I'll give you the answer... No. Dear Albanian nationalists your entitled to your biased opinions, who ever do NOT derail the topic. Also many of you fail to see the statement "ISSUE IS STILL PENDING" several times. Any general chit chat or off topics will be removed without warnings. .
|
|
|
Post by Teuta1975 on Aug 7, 2008 23:08:00 GMT -5
ALBANIA'S DEMANDS Albania as a Nation Author(s): Joseph S. Roucek Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 232, A Challenge to Peacemakers, (Mar., 1944), pp. 107-109 Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science
...That Albania is unhappy over Italy's domination is evident from the continued resistance in spite of stern repression. Most tribes have never taken to Italian rule, and are especially irritated by continuous forcible requisitioning of their cattle and crops. Zog's voice has been periodically heard from exile, seeking membership in the United Nations. Nearly all Albanians, including opponents of the Zog regime, show a strong irredentist sentiment for the "lost provinces" of Kossovo and Chameria, the first held by Yugoslavia and the second by Greece. But any claims made for the site of the plain of Kossovo ("the Field of the Blackbirds") is bound to produce most violent reaction among the Serbs and the Yugoslavs, for whom the district is a sacred place. The question of Northern Epirus will be equally contested by Greece. Some 100,000 Albanians live in northwestern Greece, hopelessly intermixed with Greeks. In fact, Newman points out that "Greek claims for a frontier re- adjustment are at least as strong as the Albanian, for there are about 45,000 Greeks to the north of the boundary." Furthermore, over 100,000 Albanians are of the Orthodox faith, and many of these feel that their religious allegiance is of greater importance to them than nationalistic allegiance to their Moslem neighbors. In fact, in 1914 the inhabitants of Northern Epirus revolted when the area was given to Albania. Most of the scattered Albanian famiies in northern Greece appear to be interested only in being left alone, and the Greeks in Albania (about 50,000) are practically all bilingual. Whether they are Hellenized Albanians or semi- Albanized Greeks is a question which no man can resolve. Newman concludes: But for the intervention of the Italians, this would never have become a problem at all. Race consciousness is not strongly developed among the Albanians, whose state only so recently found a precarious independence. ... If the problem is pur- sued, however, it is capable of reasonable solution by minor modifications of the frontier and exchange of populations.6 This opinion, however, appears to underestimate the force of exaggerated tendencies of modern nationalism under the impact of World War II.
Newman, op. cit., p. 360
See Louis Adamic, My Native Land (New York: Harper, 1943), "The Cult of Kossovo," pp. 224-47; Stoyan Pribichevich, World With- out End (New York: Reynold & Hitchcock, 1939), pp. 63-64 ff.; Bernard Newman, The New Europe (New York: Macmillan, 1943), pp. 360-65.
E. P. Stickney, Southern Albania or North- ern Epirus in European International Affairs (Stanford University: Stanford University Press, 1926) is the best study of this problem.
|
|
rex362
Senior Moderator
Pellazg
PELASGIANILLYROALBANIAN
Posts: 19,058
|
Post by rex362 on Aug 7, 2008 23:54:04 GMT -5
Arxileas....... you asparationalist you.... send your Orthodox Turks back home and all our (yours and mine) problems will be solved. we make opa all night ..... and leave all the Greek Zionist tactics alone .....
|
|
|
Post by meltdown711 on Aug 8, 2008 0:19:48 GMT -5
Wrong. Albania still has it at 1%, its America that corrected itself once Albania was opened up and proper research methods were created. See the 3% was attained by the fact that most British estimates put the Greek number of the population are around 50,000, as the journal article put above. Then America did the math with respect to proper population growth. The Greeks grew by 2x during those period whereas Albs by 4x. Hence the number of 100,000. However I contest the 3% by the simple fact that the Albanian population growth was far far higher then the Greek one. It completely trounced the Greek growth. And as for your book, its the biggest bulls**t yet. In actuality, there were no cities in south Albania that were Greek majority and almost all, with exception to Korca, were Muslim dominated. See the Christian population was tied to the land. It was Muslims who inhabited the cities. The Christian influx only occurred during the Communist period. The reason I stated Korca was an exeption was because Korca was rose in the post 1800's period; therefore under different cultural circumstances. The cities of the Ottoman Empire were always Muslim dominated. Hell even Athens and Belgrade were Muslim majority. I dont know where that book got its info, but I can give you some sources to direct you better. And for your Greek/French source. That was what the Greeks presented to the international community. It was a Greek created ethnic map which included all Christians of the region, regardless of whether they were Albanian or Greek, as Greeks. Hence the majority. See Arxhi... what a little thinking can do to sources? Of course if you wish for a more proper source. I can start you off here: www.farsarotul.org/nl17_1.htmI also posted a lot of info way back in the old forum, here: p100.ezboard.com/fbalkansfrm91.showMessage?topicID=641.topic&index=136Its actually quite the good reading since its, well, properly researched. On another note: Its unfortunate that since Shpata and Bibleriot left, we have no had a single proper discussion on actual ethnic issues on this forum... now we are forced to deal with half-brains who religiously copy and paste everything they see on different websites....
|
|
|
Post by PrijesDardanian on Aug 8, 2008 1:53:56 GMT -5
how stupid are those greeks, 60% of modern greeks (refugees ) have origin from Asia Minor (1919-1922) and now those refugees not only stolen South Epiri and Thessaly now want to steal more lands from native populations.
|
|