For the Greek people, the Revolution of 1821 is, above all, the great moment when we gained our Liberty after 400 years of slavery. But its meaning and value transcends Greek reality. The Revolution was a Great European event. A national, religious, Christian and political movement whose identity and implications were European.
From the outset, it was closely linked to European developments. It was prepared in the major European centres by distinguished Greeks, on the model of the secret political societies of the West. It was also in sync with the liberal revolutions that broke out in the European South (Spain, Portugal, Italy) during the post-Napoleonic years. Not just in terms of time and place, but mainly in terms of ideology.
Inspired by the ideals of the French and American Revolutions, the Greek Revolution was the first with a two-fold objective, national and political. It demanded Independence, but also the formation of a well-governed State in accordance with the liberal ideas of the European Enlightenment. Thus, in tandem with their national self-determination, the Greeks countered authoritarian divine right rule with a demand for Liberty and Democracy, the notion of enslaved subject with that of free Citizen, the centralism of empires with nations’ right to self-determination.
Before the Revolution was completed, they were at the forefront of their era and enshrined in the Epidaurus Constitution the principles of Popular Sovereignty, Separation of Powers, the Rule of Law, Parliamentary Control and universal protection of Human Rights (for natives and foreign born). These were all radical political ideas, genuinely liberal and democratic, that the revolutionaries had assimilated from developed Western Europe and were now passing on to the East.
The end of the Revolution marked another historic shift in the European space. Greece was founded as the first independent – not just autonomous – nation state. It created a new historical precedent and opened the way to the 19th century’s becoming “the century of Nations.”
However, Greece would not have been victorious in the Revolution without prior internationalisation of the “Greek Question.” Under pressure from the unprecedented solidarity among European and American Philhellenes with the long-suffering Greek people, political leaderships felt a political duty to help the descendants of the Ancient Greeks. The Christian faith of the revolutionaries also rallied support from Christians around the world for the Greek cause. The Revolution’s liberal identity reflected the spirit of the times, and the geopolitical stakes drew the interest of all the Great Powers of the era. Thus, European Allies initially helped to finance the Struggle and later contributed to victory through their decisive intervention at Navarino, at a time when we were in the throes of yet another civil war. Finally, in 1830 Greece was internationally recognised as a sovereign state through an official diplomatic act. As Greeks do we not forget their decisive contribution.
Since then, our country has evolved into a modern European Democracy that participates in European developments. It was one of the first countries to introduce universal suffrage, the principle of declared confidence of Parliament, and the system of checks and balances. Later, its accession to the European Communities was a milestone in their history. It was the beginning of their transformation into a geopolitical entity with strong Democratic potential. We Greeks were aware (even before the Revolution) that no ambitious political endeavor can succeed in the long term without Democratic order at its core. And this historical truth gradually affected European priorities as well.
So, during this very symbolic year, let us all reflect on how the history of our people would have evolved if our country’s fate had not become inextricably linked to that of Europe. If, 200 years ago, we had not chosen to break away from the East and, 40 years ago, reaffirm that “we belong to the West.”
“A hidden Greece resides in the hearts of all Western people,” Andre Malraux once said. But there is also a hidden Europe in the heart of every Greek.
Many happy returns, Greece!
March 28, 2021