 |
 |
People
Greek War Of Independence (1821-1829)
Rigas Fereos (1757-1798)
|
|
Andonios Kiriazis (Rigas Fereos-Velestinlis) {Αντώνιος Κυριαζής (Ρήγας Φεραίος-Βελεστινλής)} (1757-1798) [Flags] [50 Drachmas] [200 Drachmas] [€0.10c] [Society Of Friends]. National martyr and forerunner of the 1821 Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule. He was an eminent pioneer of the Greek Enlightment and the writer of a great rousing poem called "Thourios" {Battle Song ~ Θούριος}, which is also known as "O Thourios Tou Riga" {Rigas' Battle Song ~ Ο Θούριος Του Ρήγα}.
Rigas Fereos was the Master who nurtured the National hopes of the subjugated Greeks, and who gave them courage for the great uprising through his death as a martyr. He was from Velestino {Βελεστίνο} in Thessaly {Thessalia ~ Θεσσαλία} and began his education at the Zagora {Ζαγορά} school in Pilion {Πήλιον}. As a young man he served as school teacher of Kissos {Κισσός} (a village in Pilion).
Persucuted for his anti-Ottoman views, he sought refuge with the Hegemon of Vlachia, Mavrogenis {Μαυρογένης} and became his secretary. In Rigas' opinion, the subjugated peoples of the Aimos {Emos ~ Αίμος} Peninsula needed to join forces in a joint uprising rather than wait for foreigners to come and liberate them.
In 1797 Rhigas went to Vienna to put his plan into action. There he had his "Map of Great Greece" {Harta Tis Megalis Ellados ~ Χάρτα Τής Μεγάλης Ελλάδος} printed, as well as a lot of other material related to his revolutionary plan. The following year he went on to Trieste with the intention of crossing over to the Peloponnese {Peloponnisos ~ Πελοπόννησος}.
However, all his activities had been reported to the police who, acting under orders from the Government of Austria, arrested him and handed him to the Pasha of Belgrade. He ordered his death and that of 7 of those who collaborated with him.
Before his execution in June 1798, he shouted out in Turkish: "This is the way brave fighting men die. I have sown plenty of seed. Soon it will germinate and my nation will harvest the sweet fruit".
Andonios Kiriazis (Rigas Fereos-Velestinlis) (1757-1798)
04-23-2004