Ottoman rule in Crete dates back to the 17th century. Already in the same century, however, specifically in 1692, the first rebellion against it took place. From the second half of the 18th century onwards, the revolutions and movements that take place are continuous. The central goal of all was the achievement of the union of Crete with Greece.
Among these cases, the revolution of Daskalogiannis in 1770, the movement in Mournies in 1833, the revolution of Hairetis-Vassilogiorgis in 1841, the movement of Mavrogenis in 1858, the revolution of 1866-1869, the revolutions of 1878, of 1895 as well as that of 1897, which resulted in the decision for a status of autonomy from the Great Powers. According to this decision, the Cretan State was created in 1898, which was only under the high authority of the Sultan, as its protection was guaranteed by the Great Powers. The specific solution for the Cretans was considered a necessary transitional stage until the union of the island with Greece was achieved, as the conditions were difficult and required delicate manipulations at the level of diplomacy.
The High Commissioner was chosen to be Prince George of Greece, who very soon – because of the superpowers he had – would come into conflict with Eleftherios Venizelos, who was quickly emerging as a protagonist of the political scene of Crete. The so-called Revolution in Therisos, in March 1905, with Venizelos at its leading core, led to the resignation of Georgios and the assumption of the high commission by Alexandros Zaimis. However, the union would not take place even then. Similar opportunities presented themselves in 1908 as well as in 1910. Nevertheless, it would take the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 to bring about the longed-for union.
In this direction, the diplomatic acumen of Venizelos, from the position of now Prime Minister of Greece, would help to a significant extent. Greece was among the winners of the Balkan Wars and thus had the opportunity to obtain significant territorial gains, as evidenced by the incorporation of Macedonia, Epirus, the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, and Crete into the Greek State.
More specifically with regard to Crete, on May 30, 1913, the Sultan, in accordance with Article 4 of the Treaty of London, renounced all his rights to the island, while with a separate treaty, dated November 1, 1913, he also renounced sovereignty of in it.
One month later, on December 1, 1913, in the presence of the Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, as well as two fighters of the Cretan Revolutions, Hatzimichalis Giannaris and Anagonis Mantakas, the Greek flag would be raised at the Firkas fortress, in Chania. Crete was now officially a part of the Greek state, thus fulfilling the long-standing desire of the Cretans to unite with Greece.
The last Muslim inhabitants of the island would leave in 1923 with the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, and the majority of them would settle on the coasts of Asia Minor.
Column Editor: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poimenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
