Ikaria Free State

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Free State of Ikaria
Ελευθέρα Πολιτεία Ικαρίας
Elefthéra Politía Ikarías
1912–1913
Flag of the Free State of Ikaria unknown
flag coat of arms
Official language Greek
Capital Agios Kirykos or
Evdilos
(controversial)
Form of government republic
Form of government Presidential system
Head of State and Government President
Ioannis Malachias
surface 300 km² (including Fourni )
Residents 16,000
Population density 53.33 inhabitants / km²
currency Greek drachma
founding July 18th jul. / July 31, 1912 greg.
(Proclamation of the Free State)
resolution November 4th jul. / November 17, 1912 greg.
(Occupied by Greek troops)
June 24th jul. / July 7, 1913 greg.
(Incorporation into the Kingdom of Greece)
National anthem
Time zone UTC + 2 EET
Location of the Free State of Ikaria

The Free State of Ikaria ( Greek Ελευθέρα Πολιτεία Ικαρίας Elefthéra Politía Ikarías ) was a historical state that was formed in 1912 from the island of Ikaria and the Fourni Islands in the eastern Aegean and was annexed by Greece in June 1913 .

history

25 Lepta postage stamp of the Free State, issued October 8th Jul. / October 21, 1912 greg.

The island of Ikaria belonged to the Ottoman Empire since 1521 . After Italy had conquered the Dodecanese during the Italo-Turkish War in April 1912 , the majority of the Greek population feared that it would also be incorporated into the Italian colonial empire. In order to forestall this step, July 17th July . / July 30, 1912 greg. captured the Turkish garrison of only 30 men and declared the Free State of Ikaria the following day . The Greek government, which had been informed of the islanders' intentions, had refused to join Greece immediately because it did not feel strong enough for a possible military confrontation with the Ottoman Empire. Ioannis Malachias became president of the small state and headed a board of directors of nine. On August 14th, July / August 27, 1912 greg. the neighboring Fourni archipelago also became part of the Free State. The question of which place should become the capital, Agios Kirykos or Evdilos , almost led to a civil war between the islanders.

Greek troops occupied the islands during the First Balkan War on November 4th jul. / November 17, 1912 greg. and thus ended the sovereignty of the Free State. The formal annexation by Greece took place on June 24th jul. / July 7, 1913 greg. after Greece was able to assert its claim to the islands with British help at the London Ambassadors' Conference .

During the short period of its independence, the Free State of Ikaria introduced a flag and a national anthem and operated a postal service for which a stamp series consisting of eight values ​​was issued in October 1912 (see Postal History and Stamps of the Free State of Ikaria ).

literature

  • Anthony J. Papalas: Rebels and Radicals. Icaria 1600-2000 . Bolchazy-Carducci, Wauconda IL 2005, ISBN 0-86516-606-4 .
  • Ioannis Zelepos : The island of Ikaria from July to November 1912. The uprising against Ottoman rule and the "Free State of Ikaria" up to the unification with Greece . In: Ioannis Vassis, Günther S. Herich, Diether R. Reinsch (eds.): Readings. Festschrift for Athanasios Kambylis on his 70th birthday . de Gruyter, Berlin a. a. 1998, ISBN 3-11-015894-9 , pp. 338-350.

Web links