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Information about Konstantinos Kanaris

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Konstantinos Kanaris (1790-1877) Athens, National Historical Museum.


Constantine Kanaris (or Canaris, Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Κανάρης) (1793 or 1795 – September 14, 1877) was a Greek admiral, freedom fighter and politician.

Family life

He was born on the Aegean Sea island of Psara as a son of Michael and Maria Kanaris. His exact year of birth is unknown. The official records of the Hellenic Navy give it as 1795 but modern Greek historians believe that 1793 is more probable. Michael Kanaris, his father, had served several terms as the island's Elder. Constantine was left an orphan at a young age. Having to support himself he chose to became a seaman, like most members of his family since the beginning of the 18th century. He was hired as a boy in the brig of his uncle Dimitris Bourekas. Over time he gained prominence in the island's society. In 1817, this was signified by his marriage to Despoina Maniatis, a member of one of the island's more affluent families. They would have seven children in all:
  • Nicholas Kanaris, (1818–1848)
  • Themistocles Kanaris, (1819–1851)
  • Miltiades Kanaris, (1822–1899) - Admiral, member of the Greek Parliament, and government minister
  • Lycurgus Kanaris, (1826–1865) - Lawyer
  • Maria Kanari, (1828–1847)
  • Aristides Kanaris, (1831–1863) - Navy officer
  • Thrasybulos Kanaris, (1834–1898) - Admiral
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Constantine Kanaris.

Military career

Constantine gained his fame during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829). Unlike most other prominent figures of the War, he had never been initiated in the Filiki Eteria (Friendly Society).

The Friendly Society, founded at September 14, 1814 in Odesa by three traders, played a significant role in the revolution against the Ottoman Empire, primarily by secret recruitment of supporters against the Empire. Its founders being members of the Freemasonry, they had adopted their methods of initiation, organising and assuring secrecy from it.

By early 1821, it had gained enough support to declare a revolution. This declaration seems to have surprised Constantine, who was absent at Odessa. He returned to Psara in haste and was there when the island joined the Revolution on April 10 1821.

The island formed its own fleet of ships and the famed seamen of Psara, already known for their successful naval combats against pirates and their well-equipped ships, proved to be effective at full naval war. Constantine soon distinguished himself as a fire ship captain.

Notably at Chios, where on the night of June 6/June 7, 1822 forces under his command destroyed the flagship of the Turkish admiral Kara-Ali Pasha in revenge for the Chios Massacre. The admiral was holding a celebration, while Kanaris and his men managed to place a fire ship next to it. When the flagships' powder keg caught fire, all men aboard were instantly killed. The Ottoman casualties consisted of 2000 men, both naval officers and common sailors, as well as Kara-Ali himself.

Constantine led three further successful attacks against the Turkish fleet in 1822-1824. But during this last year, the fate of both Kanaris and his island took a turn for the worst. He was famously said to have encouraged himself by murmuring "Konstanti, you are going to die" every time he was approaching a Turkish warship on the fire boat he was about to detonate.

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Konstantinos Kanaris (1790-1877) Athens, Photographic Archive of Hellenic Literary and Historical Museum.


Egypt was technically a province of the Ottoman Empire at the time but its viceroy Mohammad Ali (1769–1849), had earned enough power to act independently from the Sultan and had formed his own army and naval fleet.

It was headed by his adoptive son Ibrahim Pasha (1789–1848). The later had hired a number of veteran French officers - who had served under Emperor Napoleon I and were discharged from the French army following his defeat - to help organise the new army. By 1824 it counted 100,000 men and was both better organised and better equipped than the Sultan's army.

Sultan Mahmud II offered to the viceroy the command of Crete, if he agreed to send part of this army against the Greeks. They quickly reached an agreement. The Egyptian army, under the personal command of Ibrahim Pasha, started a successful campaign in both land and sea against the relatively ill-equipped, disorganized and outnumbered Greeks.

Among other victories, the Egyptian fleet managed to capture Psara on June 21, 1824. A part of the population managed to flee the island, but those who didn't were either sold into slavery or slaughtered. The island was deserted and surviving islanders were scattered through what is now Southern Greece.

After the destruction of his home island, Constantine continued to lead his men into attacks with minor successes. Despite them, Ibrahim Pasha would be virtually undefeated until the Battle of Navarino of October 20 1827. Then the Turkish-Egyptian fleet was destroyed by the combined naval forces of Britain, France and Russia, that had taken the Greeks under their "protection".

Following the end of the war and the independence of Greece, Constantine became an officer of the new Greek Navy, reaching the rank of Admiral, and later became a prominent politician (see the following).

Political career

Kanaris served as Minister in various governments and then as Prime Minister from March 11 - April 11, 1844. He served a second term (October 27 1848 – December 24 1849) and a third (May 28 1854 – July 29 1854).

In 1862 he was one of the few War of Independence veterans that helped in the bloodless revolution that deposed King Otto of Greece and put Prince William of Denmark on the Greek throne as King George I of Greece. Under George I, he served as a prime minister for a fourth term (March 17 – April 28, 1864), fifth term (August 7 1864 – February 9 1865) and sixth and last term (June 7 – September 2, 1877).

Following his death his government remained in power until September 14 1877 without agreeing on a replacement at its head. He was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens, where most Greek prime ministers and celebrated figures are also buried. After his death he was honored as a national hero.

To honour Kanaris, the Hellenic Navy named, in 18 December 1941, a Hunt III type destroyer after him. The Kanaris L51, the former HMS Hatherleigh, was transferred to Greece from the Royal Navy in 1 July 1972. A destroyer, the HNS Kanaris (D 212) (formerly USS Stickell (DD-888)), and in 29 November 2002 a frigate FFG Kanaris (F 464) (a Elli (F 450) class frigate) were also named after him.

Wilhelm Canaris, head of the German Abwehr during World War II, believed that he was descended from or related to Kanaris, whose monument he saw while on a visit to Greece in his youth, and this influenced his decision to join the German Navy. However, in 1938 genealogical research showed that there was no connection, Canaris being descended from an Italian family called Canarisi.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Andreas Metaxas		Prime Minister of Greece
March 11 1844 - April 11 1844		Succeeded by
Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Preceded by
Georgios Kountouriotis		Prime Minister of Greece
October 27 1848 - December 24 1849		Succeeded by
Antonios Kriezis
Preceded by
Antonios Kriezis		Prime Minister of Greece
May 28 1854 - July 29 1854		Succeeded by
Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Preceded by
Dimitrios Voulgaris		Prime Minister of Greece
March 17 1864 - April 28 1864		Succeeded by
Zinovios Valvis
Preceded by
Zinovios Valvis		Prime Minister of Greece
August 7 1864 - February 9 1865		Succeeded by
Benizelos Rouphos
Preceded by
Alexandros Koumoundouros		Prime Minister of Greece
June 7 1877 - September 14 1877		Succeeded by
Alexandros Koumoundouros


Greek}}} 
Writing system: Greek alphabet 
Official status
Official language of:  Greece
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recognised as minority language in parts of:
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September 14 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

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Motto
Ελευθερία ή θάνατος
Eleftheria i thanatos  
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For the ship Aegean Sea, see .


The Aegean Sea (pronounced [i:ˈdʒi:ən/span>]], Greek:
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Psara
Ψαρ?

Geography
Island Chain: North Aegean
Area:[1] 44.511 km (0 sq.mi.)
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Periphery: North Aegean
Prefecture: Chios
Capital: Psara (town)
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