By the end of March of 1821 The revolution had spread throughout the whole Peloponnese and in much of it Greek. The excitement between the Greeks was so great that the revolutionary message began to be broadcast in other areas of Hellenism, where the action of the Friendly Society was limited. Despite the adverse factors (strong Ottoman administration, many Ottoman troops gathering centers, geographical location, etc.), by the end of that year, its Greeks declared the revolution. Halkidikiher Thessalyher Euboea and her Crete.
The accession of the major naval centers of Hellenism, Psara, Hydra and the Spetses It was considered a prerequisite for the success of the race. The sailors of these three islands had evolved in the 18th and early 19th century to the most capable seafarers, sailing for almost all ports of all ports. Mediterranean. Their ships were pretty well equipped for war clashes, as It was not uncommon to clash with pirates or dealing with other risks at sea. In general, the Greek seafarers were able to raise strong resistance to the Ottoman fleet.
The Spetsians raised the banner of the revolution and immediately sent ships to assist the siege of the fortresses of the Peloponnese.
The trigger for the start of the struggle of independence in the islands was first given by Spetses. In the declaration of the revolution on the island, the friendly ones starred Panagiotis Botsis, George Panou and Omiridis Skilitsis. When the news of the launch of revolutionary operations in the Peloponnese arrived in Spetses, led by Mani Petrobei Mavromichalis ruler, a turmoil among the residents. In early April, the situation escaped the control of the Spetses’ precursors, who first expected the uprising of the Hydra. On Sunday, April 3, 1821, the Spetsians raised the banner of the revolution and immediately They sent ships by assisting in the siege of the Peloponnese fortresseswho were still under the control of the Ottomans. At the same time, they sent ships throughout the Aegean to incite other islands to revolution.
In the following days, the islands of the Argosaronikos declared the revolution, Poros, Aegina and Salamis. In April, the example of Spetses was followed by Psara and Hydra. Close to the coast of Asia Minor, the Psarians expressed their desire to shake off the Ottoman yoke on April 10, knowing that they would be the first to face the Ottoman fleet’s counterattack when it was out. Despite the reluctance of the heads of power, in Hydra the revolution was declared on April 16/17 under the leadership of Antonios Economou.
Column: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
