1821, March 25th , The Beginning of the Greek Uprising for Independence
In this editorial, the Cyprus law firm G Kouzalis LLC will inform you about 25 March 1821, the beginning of the Greek struggle against the Ottomans for liberation and Independence.
March 25, 1821, is a pivotal date in Greek history, marking the beginning of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. This revolution led to the establishment of modern Greece after nearly 400 years of menacing Ottoman rule. The uprising was part of a broader wave of nationalist movements in Europe and was heavily inspired by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.
The Ottoman Empire had controlled Greece since the mid-15th century, imposing heavy taxation and limiting the human rights of the Greek population, depressing the Greeks not to have any education and stealing their male children to become warriors – “Yennitsaroi” – and the female children to become part of their harems. However, Greek identity and culture were preserved through the Greek Orthodox Church and secret night educational networks (Kryfo scholio). Over the years, various uprisings had been attempted but were crushed by the Ottomans.
The revolution was largely organized by the Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends), a secret organization founded in 1814 in the Greek city of Odessa, Russia (modern-day Ukraine). This group, influenced by European revolutionary ideas, coordinated Greek efforts for independence and secured support from the Greek diaspora and Philhellenes across Europe.
On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, calling for armed resistance against the Ottomans. This symbolic event, although debated by historians, remains a powerful national myth. Soon after, armed uprisings spread across the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Hepirous, Cyprus, Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands.
Key figures in the revolution included is Theodoros Kolokotronis, a brilliant military leader who led the Greek forces in major battles. Georgios Karaiskakis, a skilled fighter and strategist. Laskarina Bouboulina, one of the very first woman naval commander who financed and led Greek warships and Athanasios Diakos a hero who fought bravely but was executed by the Ottomans.
The revolution faced brutal retaliation from the Ottomans, including the Massacre of Chios (1822) and the destruction of Psara (1824), and many other . However, European nations, influenced by the Romantic movement and the efforts of Philhellenes like Lord Byron, began to support Greece.
By the late 1820s, Britain, France, and Russia intervened militarily. The decisive Battle of Navarino (1827), in which the Ottoman fleet was destroyed by European forces, marked a turning point.
In 1830, the London Protocol officially recognized Greece as an independent state, and in 1832, the Kingdom of Greece was established with Otto of Bavaria as its first king.
March 25 is now a national holiday in Greece, celebrated with military parades, cultural events, and church services. The day is also linked to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, a major religious feast in Greek Orthodoxy.
The Greek War of Independence remains a defining moment in Hellenic history, symbolizing the nation’s struggle for freedom and self-determination.
If you would like more information about Greek independence day please do not hesitate to contact us, your lawyers in Cyprus, at G KOUZALIS LLC, lawfirm@cytanet.com.cy, or by phone at 00 357 23811788.
The above is not legal advice and is provided for information only. We accept no liability arising to any person for any loss or damage suffered through using this information.