Konstantinos Kanaris


Konstantinos Kanaris, also anglicised as Constantine Kanaris or Canaris, was a Greek statesman, an admiral, and a hero of the Greek War of Independence.
Despite not having been a member of the revolutionary organization Filiki Eteria, his fleet engaged in several successful battles and operations against the Ottoman Navy from 1821 to 1824, most famously burning the Ottoman flagship off Chios in 1822, in retaliation for the Chios massacre; this action elevated him to the status of national hero. Despite the destruction of his home island Psara in 1824, and the ambitious, but failed Raid on Alexandria in 1825, he remained a prominent ally of Ioannis Kapodistrias until the latter's assassination in 1831, which led to his retirement.
After the 3 September 1843 Revolution, Kanaris returned to public life as a prominent member of the powerful Russian Party and became the Kingdom of Greece's second Minister of Greece|prime minister] in 1844, presiding over the fall of his party in government. During King Otto's constitutional reign, Kanaris returned as prime minister in 1848, and became minister of the navy in 1854, after the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853. He played a prominent role in Otto of Greece|Otto's deposition] in 1862, and under King George I became prime minister twice in 1864, resigning both times to retire in Athens. He returned to the premiership to lead a grand coalition government in 1877 before dying 99 days later of a heart attack, becoming the second prime minister to die in office. His most significant actions as head of government were the ratification of the country's first two constitutions, in 1844 and 1864.
He remains a celebrated figure among Greeks and is recognised as the maritime leader of the Greek revolutionaries during the War of Independence.

Biography

Early life

Konstantinos Kanaris was born and grew up on the island of Psara, close to the island of Chios, in the Aegean. The exact year of his birth is unknown. Official records of the Hellenic Navy indicate 1795, however, modern Greek historians consider 1790 or 1793 to be more probable.
He was left an orphan at a young age. Having to support himself, he chose to become a seaman like most members of his family since the beginning of the 18th century. He was subsequently hired as a boy on the brig of his uncle Dimitris Bourekas.

Military career

Kanaris gained his fame during the Greek War of Independence. Unlike most other prominent figures of the War, he had never been initiated into the Filiki Eteria, which played a significant role in the uprising against the Ottoman Empire, primarily by secret recruitment of supporters against the Turkish rule.
By early 1821, the movement had gained enough support to launch a revolution. This seems to have inspired Kanaris, who was in Odessa at the time. He returned to the island of Psara in haste and was present when it joined the uprising on 10 April 1821.
The island formed its own fleet and the famed seamen of Psara, already known for their well-equipped ships and successful battles against sea pirates, proved to be highly effective in naval warfare. Kanaris soon distinguished himself as a fire ship captain.
At Chios, on the moonless night of 6–7 June 1822, forces under his command destroyed the flagship of Nasuhzade Ali Pasha, Kapudan Pasha of the Ottoman fleet, in revenge for the Chios massacre. The admiral was holding a Bayram celebration, allowing Kanaris and his men to position their fire ship without being noticed. When the flagship's powder store caught fire, all men aboard were instantly killed. The Turkish casualties comprised men, both naval officers and common sailors, as well as Nasuhzade Ali Pasha himself.
Kanaris led another successful attack against the Ottoman fleet at Tenedos in November 1822. He was famously said to have encouraged himself by murmuring "Konstantí, you are going to die" every time he was approaching a Turkish warship on the fire boat he was about to detonate.
The Ottoman fleet captured Psara on 21 June 1824. A part of the population, including Kanaris, managed to flee the island, but those who didn't were either sold into slavery or slaughtered. After the destruction of his home island, he continued to lead attacks against Turkish forces. In August 1824, he engaged in naval combats in the Dodecanese.
The following year, Kanaris led the Greek raid on Alexandria, a daring attempt to destroy the Egyptian fleet with fire ships that might have been successful if the wind had not failed just after the Greek ships entered Alexandria harbour.
After the end of the War and the independence of Greece, Kanaris became an officer of the new Hellenic Navy, reaching the rank of admiral, and a prominent politician.

Political career

Konstantinos Kanaris was one of the few with the personal confidence of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Head of State of independent Greece. After the assassination of Kapodistrias on 9 October 1831, he retired to the island of Syros.
During the reign of King Otto I, Kanaris served as Minister in various governments and then as Prime Minister in the provisional government. He served a second term, and as Navy Minister in the 1854 cabinet of Alexandros Mavrokordatos.
In 1862, he was among the rare War of Independence veterans who took part in the bloodless insurrection that deposed the increasingly unpopular King Otto I and led to the election of Prince William of Denmark as King George I of Greece. During his reign, Kanaris served as a Prime Minister for a third term, fourth term, and fifth and last term.
Kanaris died on 2 September 1877 whilst still serving in office as prime minister. Following his death his government remained in power until 14 September 1877 without agreeing on a replacement at its head. He was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens and his heart was placed in a silver urn.

Legacy

Konstantinos Kanaris is considered a national hero in Greece and ranks amongst the most notable participants of the War of Independence. Many statues and busts have been erected in his honour, such as Kanaris at Chios by Benedetto Civiletti in Palermo, a statue by Lazaros Fytalis in Athens, and a bust by David d'Angers. He was also featured on a Greek ₯1 coin and a ₯100 banknote issued by the Bank of Greece.
To honour Kanaris, the following ships of the Hellenic Navy have been named after him:Kanaris, a gunboat commissioned in 1835Kanaris, a torpedo boat tender commissioned in 1880
Te Korowhakaunu / Kanáris Sound, a section of Taiari / Chalky Inlet in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, was named after Konstantinos Kanaris by French navigator and explorer Jules de Blosseville.

Family

In 1817, Konstantinos Kanaris married Despoina Maniatis, from a historical family of Psara.
They had seven children:
Wilhelm Canaris, a German Admiral, speculated that he might be a descendant of Konstantinos Kanaris. An official genealogical family history that was researched in 1938 showed however, that he was of Italian descent and not related to the Kanaris family from Greece.

Honours

Greek honours

Foreign honours

Works cited

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