The first President of Greece was an Albanian, 1824!

[TrueMacedonian]

OMG the modern "greek" has been our whipping boy today that is for certain. Very nice find SoM. You've destroyed the myth of indigenous hellenes in Italy.

[Soldier of Macedon]

The habits and manners of Greece are represented by the Albanians. Kind of hard to argue against that, but we aren't reading anything new here, the Albanians roots run deep in Greece, no doubt.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Here is something interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Greece

First Hellenic Republic Governorate Excluding Greeces First President George Konduriottes (1828-1833) not noted in any moden text because of Greek political sensitivity about his Albainian identity as noted by George Finlay, in his book History of the Greek Revolution Published by W. Blackwood and sons in 1861.

Something to be ashamed of? At least all of our heads of state could speak our language and were of Macedonian origin, unlike the Germans and Albanians that ran modern Greece from its birth.

[Soldier of Macedon]

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13351/13351-8.txt

The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, G.C.B., Admiral of the Red, Rear-Admiral of the Fleet

At length, in 1820, there was an open rupture. Ali was denounced as a traitor, and ordered to surrender his pashalik. Instead of so doing, he organized his army for prompt rebellion, trusting for success partly to the support of the Greeks. Most of the Greeks held aloof; but the Suliots, a race of Christian marauders, the fiercest of the fierce community of Albanians, sided with him, and for more than a year rendered him valuable aid by reason of their hereditary skill in lawless warfare. Not till January, 1822, was Ali forced to surrender, and then only, perhaps, through the defection of the Suliots.

The Suliots, dissatisfied with Ali's recompense for their services, had gone over to the Greeks, who, not caring to serve under Ali in his
rebellion, had welcomed that rebellion as a Heaven-sent opportunity for realising their long-cherished hopes.

"Phanariots and doctors in medicine," says an eye-witness, "who, in the month of April, 1824, were clad in ragged coats, and who lived on scanty rations, threw off that patriotic chrysalis before summer was past, and emerged in all the splendour of brigand life, fluttering about in rich Albanian habiliments, refulgent with brilliant and unused arms, and followed by diminutive pipe-bearers and tall henchmen."

The result was altogether disheartening to the Greeks. They saw that their condition was indeed desperate. George Konduriottes, a Hydriot merchant, an Albanian who could not speak Greek, and who was alike unable to govern himself or others, had, in June, 1824, been named president of the republic, and since then the rival interests of the primates, the priests, and the military leaders had been steadily causing the decay of all that was left of patriotism and increase of the selfishness that had so long been rampant.

An overwhelming power was thus organized during the last weeks of 1825, and the defenders of Missolonghi were left to succumb to it, almost unaided. Their previous successes had induced the Greeks of other districts to believe that they could continue their defence alone..............As far as their vision stretched over the waves they beheld only Turkish flags. The plain was studded with Mussulman tents and standards; and the gradual appearance of new batteries more skilfully disposed, the field days of the Arabs, and the noise of saws and hammers, gave fearful warning. Yet these gallant Acarnanians, Etolians, and Epirots never flinched for an instant." On the 13th of January, Ibrahim Pasha sent to say that he was willing to treat with them for an honourable surrender if they would convey their terms by deputies who could speak Albanian, Turkish, and French. "We are illiterate, and do not understand so many languages," was their blunt reply; "pashas we do not recognize; but we know how to handle the sword and gun."

What, no deputies among the defenders of Missolonghi in this 'Greek' war of independence could speak Greek? Just Albanian? Clearly they aren't even conversant in Turkish or hardly so, French being out of the question. Ali's aim was to have somebody that could be understood by all, rebels (Albanian), rulers (Turkish) and foreigners (French).

The idea (and likelihood) of this state becoming Albanian-speaking could not have been far from the surface, had a few things gone in favour of the main players on the ground level.

[Risto the Great]

Had the modern Greeks adopted the (more appropriate) Albanian identity. The church would have been of little significance in relation to the artificial creation of Greeks in what is now northern Greece. A very different ball game would have ensued.

[Soldier of Macedon]

How could the emerging state possibly be viewed as 'Greek' if a non-Greek-speaking Albanian was its first president? Granted, there existed people that spoke only Greek for whatever historical reason, but who are they? Nearly every single figure cited as a hero of the independence is an Albanian (or Vlach) by origin, many of whom could not speak Greek or spoke it as a second language.

If the new state did not come under a Bavarian German monarch and subsequently fulfill the dream of the foreign Philhellenes, what could have been the result? Would Kondouriottes and others like him settle for a new Hellenic identity at the expense of their existing Albanian identity? The Bavarians ensured that the concept of Neohellenism was nurtured in the new state itself, without them, Albanian may well have become the official language and identity.

[TrueMacedonian]

Excellent research SoM The politicians of grcija avoid this topic at all costs. I would love to see this 1827 document in which it was one or two votes shy that Arvanitika would have been the official language of modern "greece" instead of Romaika. Osiris and many others have mentioned this document. Is there any source available to post this document up here? If there is then all hell will break loose on the net and that info will spread like wildfire.

[Soldier of Macedon]

If such a document exists, it will be the final nail in the coffin of the modern Greek myth. We should intensify our searches for it, regardless of how far deep it is buried, something must exist that cites the event (or related events).

I still can't get over this:

First President George Konduriottes (1828-1833) not noted in any moden text because of Greek political sensitivity about his Albainian identity..........

What a disgrace, so the Greek feelings aren't hurt by the TRUTH, it is avoided at all costs, and not cited in any modern text produced by Greeks. Just do a quick google search on George Konduriottes, next to none of the pages come from Greek sources.

[Giorgo]

So how do you explain that there are so man Greeks in Albania today ?
Who taught them Greek ?

[TrueMacedonian]

So how do you explain that there are so man Greeks in Albania today ?
Who taught them Greek ?

Anyone can learn a language. BTW the Albanians did not have their own church in the Albanian language until the beginning of the 20th century. So romaika was used and the population, according to William St.Clair, called themselves "greek" due to religious association. Nice try though. Better luck next time georgaki

[Risto the Great]

So how do you explain that there are so man Greeks in Albania today ?
Who taught them Greek ?

How many Greeks do you believe exist in Albania Giorgo?
Do you think there are more Greeks than Macedonians in Albania?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Giorgo, this thread is about the Albanian origin and history of modern Greece. If you care to challenge any of the above, like, for example, why the modern Greeks are ashamed of their first president and why he is ommitted from nearly all literature concerning the independence movement, feel free to comment. While you are at it, perhaps you can explain, in defence of your nation, why nearly all of the leaders and fighters of the movement were Albanians who knew little or no Romaika at all.


If you would like to discuss the so-called 'Greeks' in Albania, open a specific thread for it, I am sure several members would be willing to engage in a discussion about that topic, including myself.

[osiris]

So how do you explain that there are so man Greeks in Albania today ?
Who taught them Greek ?

what has this got to do with koundouriotis

but to answer the above probably the same reason your great grandparents learned greek gio the rikach

[Soldier of Macedon]

TM,

I have seen you post a text concerning Kolokotronis' aim to have an bilingual country (Albanian-Greek), I can't seem to find that post, can you please add it here? Cheers.

Perhaps Kolokotronis' memoirs may hold the key answers to some important questions.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Imagine that, modern Greeks harp on about how they could converse with 2,500 year old Alexander the Great were he alive, solely due to the fact that both parties acquired the language through learning, yet they could not communicate with the first president of their modern state, lol. Would such a man like Konduriottes, who could not speak Greek, willingly choose the Greek language as the official tongue of a state his people created? Hard to believe.