The Three Faces of the Phanariots : an Inquiry Into the Role and Motivations
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THE THREE FACES OF THE PHIANARIOTS : AN INQUIRY INTO THE ROLE AND MOTIVATIONS OF THE GREEK NOBILITY UNDER OTTOMAN RULE, 1683-1821 PANAYOTIS ALEXANDROU PAPACHRTSTOU B.A., Simon Fraser University, 1988 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUTIIEMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department O Panayotis A. Papachristou 1992 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY January 1992 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. 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Title of Thesis/Project/Extended Essay THREE FACES OF THE PHANARIOTS: An Inquiry into the - Role and Motivations of the Greek Nobility under Ottoman Rule, 1683 - 1821 Author: , . -, . i '-- - i~iknature) Panayiotis Papachristou (name) 05-/,p-e / I 7 C? 9% 1 (date) Abstract This thesis examines the role and motivations of the Greek moneyed aristocracy under Ottoman rule from the late seventeeth century ro the eve of the Greek Revolution. The ascendacy of the so-called Phanariots was a corollary of Ottoman vulnerability vis-a-vis the challenge of modern Europe, and Greek political reconciiiation with Ottoman power. As a result, a Greco-Ottoman political collaboration was formed that opened a vast field of action for the abilities of the Greeks. It is in the role of collaborators and vassals of the Porte that the Phanariots are remembered today. The complicated evolution of the situation of the Phanariots leading to the events of 1821, however, tells a different story, one of ambition either to build gradually a Greco-Turkish political condominium or to establish a sovereign multinational state of their own. Using primary and secondary sources from Greek, French, English and Romanian historiography, the thesis stresses the diverse character of the Greek aristocracy and attempts to dem~nstratethe three developing and interrelated dimensions of the Phanarint mind: Ottomanism, Byzantine Imperialism and Neo-Hellenism. Phanariot actions were based on the belief in the historical distinction of their "race" and the vision of a Greek imperial regeneration. Bct, also deeply aware of their status as Ottoman officials, they had chosen the path of reform through education and cooperation with the Ottoman government. This gradualist approach (along with their position) allowed them not mly to work for a f~tureHelleno-Gttoinan partriership hialso to undermine the empire in hnpes of replacing it with their own regime -preferably one that resembled the old Byzantiurn with important accretions of Russian absolutism and enlightened utilitarianism. Accordingly, the Phanariots had an anti- revolutionary tradition. They believed that a revolution would destroy the complex network of Greek influence within the empire, and thus would jeopardize the century old effort of Greco-Christian consolidation and the future hopes associated with it. Yet, their resentment as Greeks and Christians under Turkish and Muslim masters made them increasingly candidates for action against Turkish arbitrary power. More importantly, the r.ew found emphasis on Hellenism, in the late eighteenth century, infused into them a pride that, in time, would allow many among them to become revolutionaries. It is with these complex aspects of their history that the thesis deals. lo my parents Acknowledgments The author is grateful for the continuing patience and encouragement of his senior supervisor, Dr. Rodney Day, and the members of the graduate committee, Dr. R~bertKoepke and Dr. John Spagnolo. Table of Contents Approval ........................ - ............................................................................................ ii ... Abstract ........................................................................................................... ..........III Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................... v i Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 The Ottoman Officials ...................................................................................... 5 Notes ............................................................................................................... 26 The Byzantine Imperialis fs ............................................................................ 33 Notes ............................................................................................................... 66 The Neo-Hellenists ....................................................................................... 77 Notes ............................................................................................................. 109 From Gradualism to Revolution .............................................................. 119 Notes ............................................................................................................. 151 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 160 Bibliography ................................................................................................................165 vii In a letter, dated 28 February 1820, to John Capodistrias, the Tsar's joint foreign minister, the Russian ambassador in Constantinople baron Stroganov, while referring with sympathy to the Greek aspirations for freedom, made the following remark regarding the Greek Phanariot nobility: "They are almost foreigners to the rest of their compatriots. The two Principalities are the sole objective of their avidity, the only aureole to which they aspire".' This opinion about the Greeks of Phanar was quite widespread among their conternporaries.2 Yet, when the Greek revolution