Daskalogiannis

Daskalogiannis (Greek Δασκαλογιάννης, actually: Ioannis Vlachos (Greek Ιωάννης Βλάχος; * 1725 in Anopoli, † June 17, 1771 in Heraklion), the leader of an uprising of the Greek population of the island of Crete against the Ottoman rule in the 18th century.

Biography

Ioannis Vlachos came from the village Anopoli in Sfakia, one of the Ottomans never completely dominated region in the southwest of Crete. He was born 1722-1730. Its name refers to a vlachische or Aromanian origin of his family. His father, a wealthy shipowner, sent him abroad for training; the acquired there education earned him the nickname Daskalogiannis (, teacher Giannis '). It is named in 1750 as a senior official in the region of Sfakia and as the owner of four merchant ships.

The uprising of 1770

During the Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774), Grigori Grigoryevich Orlov brothers and Fyodor Grigoryevich Orlov tried on behalf of the Russian Empress Catherine II, to persuade the Greek subjects of the Ottoman Empire to rebellion; which of them instigated surveys are after them called Orlofika (Greek Ορλόφικα ). They came early in 1770 with Daskalogiannis in conjunction. This then organized a revolt of 2,000 Sfakiots against Turkish rule and equipped them at his own expense with weapons. He trusted in the promise of the Russians to support him. The uprising began on 25 March 1770, when the Greek flag was hoisted at the church of Agios Georgios in Anopoli. However, the rebellion was not significantly spread. The Russian fleet, which stood in the Aegean Sea under the command of Grigori Orlov, did not appear in Crete. Without their support, the rebels could not claim and the rebellion was brutally suppressed by the Turkish armed forces. The Pasha of Chania presented Daskalogiannis peace negotiations in view. Hoping to save the lives of his comrades to Daskalogiannis resulted in Frangokastello along with 70 fellow militants. However, the Pasha punished him terribly: He ordered Daskalogiannis skinning alive. This was carried out on 17 June 1771 in Heraklion. The brother Daskalogiannis ' said to have been forced to witness this ordeal, and have here about lost his mind.

Fame

Numerous folk tales and songs have the memory of Daskalogiannis kept alive and made ​​him immortal. The most famous is a ballad of the poor Senners Barba - Pantzelios Mouri - To tragoudi tou Daskalogianni (1786 ):

Chania " Ioannis Daskalogiannis " (CHQ / LGSA ) airport is named after Daskalogiannis, also a ferry, numerous streets and clubs. In his birthplace Anopoli and monuments in Heraklion remember him.