Although Samos declared the revolution in 1821, remaining under Greek administration throughout its duration, it was not included in the provinces of the newly established Greek state. In December 1832 the “Promotal Map” was published, which was regulating the island’s regime. According to its provisions, Samos was recognized as an autonomous hegemony, a tax on the Sultan. Her rule was taken by a Christian commander, who would be appointed by the Sultan.
The regime of Samos remained relatively the same until the union of the island with Greece. The high gate had the utmost freedom to appoint and cease the rulers of Samos, which often caused crises. At the end of 1907 the liberal team of the Samian Assembly led by the then new political Themistocles Sofoulis expressed its opposition to the policy of the gate to the island through the ruler of Andrea Kopassis. The situation was diverted and armed riots broke out. Kopassis then called on the gate to send aid to the island.
On May 12, 1908, about two hundred Ottoman soldiers landed in Samos to reinforce the local guard in the treatment of riots.
On May 12, 1908, about two hundred Ottoman soldiers landed in Samos to reinforce the local guard in the treatment of riots. A few days later, four thousand men landed on the island, who occupied neuralgic sites and buildings in the capital of Samos, Vathi. The autonomous regime of Samos was essentially overthrown after the intervention of the Ottoman forces, which allowed Kopassis to establish a personal regime. The main opposition voices, including Sofoulis, abandoned Samos and settled in Greece. Kopassis remained in power until his murder on March 9, 1912, by Macedonian Stavros Bareti, who followed orders to the Samians of Athens. Then Gregory Vegleris took over the hegemony of Samos.
In September 1912, Sofoulis landed in Marathokampos of Samos, accompanied by a group of armed, mainly Cretan and Ikarians, who was reinforced by many locals Samius. The Movement of Sofoulis was favored much by the Italian-Ottoman war that was raging at that time. The Italians had blocked the Asia Minor coast, making it impossible to send aid to overthrow the Sofoulis movement. In addition, Italian ships sank a ship of the Ottoman Coast Guard, located in the port of Vathos.
The Greek fighters have managed to repel several attacks by the Ottoman troops. On September 23, the Ottoman soldiers abandoned Samos and went to Asia Minor. The next day, the Samians elected representatives to convene the Samian Assembly. The assembly elected President Sofoulis, giving him the management of Samos cases.
About a month after the Balkan wars explosion, on November 11, 1912, the Assembly declared the “Union of Samos with the free Greek kingdom as it is with the indivisible and single Greek state” by calling on the Greek government and King George I. However, as the outcome of the war and especially of maritime operations had not yet been judged, the Greek side did not respond immediately to the Sami resolution. When the struggle at sea was found in favor of the Greek fleet, the Greek government sent Samos the “Spetsai” battleship accompanied by other fleet ships. On March 2, 1913, the Greek soldiers on board the warships landed in Vathi, where they were enthusiastically accepted by the local population.
Column Curator: Myrto Katsiera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
