Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831

In the last stage of the disastrous war for Greek independence (1829‑31), the suggested northern frontier line changed three times. The uncertain future of the region, the pressure of the central government to create regular armed forces and to safeguard security along the new border land brought th...

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Main Author: Basil C. Gounaris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre d'Études Balkaniques 2018-12-01
Series:Cahiers Balkaniques
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/ceb/11433
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author Basil C. Gounaris
author_facet Basil C. Gounaris
author_sort Basil C. Gounaris
collection DOAJ
description In the last stage of the disastrous war for Greek independence (1829‑31), the suggested northern frontier line changed three times. The uncertain future of the region, the pressure of the central government to create regular armed forces and to safeguard security along the new border land brought the local Greek and Albanian military élites, after ten years of heavy fighting, in an awkward position. Their options were restricted and their welfare as mercenaries was threatened. The crumbling Empire and the soon‑to‑be Greek nation-state, were unpredictable in their responses either as allies or as enemies. Their choices of reaction varied, yet their method was uniform: to bargain tough before compromising, even if the given choice involved mutiny and extensive civil strife. Their opponents, on the other side, Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and Grand Vizier Mehmed Reşid had to show in the eyes of the Great Powers determination and improvisation, in order to gain the necessary prestige and win back the disputed territories. Eventually the making of the frontier forced both warlords and politicians to transform their tactics and reconsider their alliances.
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spelling doaj-art-9412bc0612254171a92fbe531d48bfba2025-08-20T01:55:00ZengCentre d'Études BalkaniquesCahiers Balkaniques0290-74022261-41842018-12-014510.4000/ceb.11433Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831Basil C. GounarisIn the last stage of the disastrous war for Greek independence (1829‑31), the suggested northern frontier line changed three times. The uncertain future of the region, the pressure of the central government to create regular armed forces and to safeguard security along the new border land brought the local Greek and Albanian military élites, after ten years of heavy fighting, in an awkward position. Their options were restricted and their welfare as mercenaries was threatened. The crumbling Empire and the soon‑to‑be Greek nation-state, were unpredictable in their responses either as allies or as enemies. Their choices of reaction varied, yet their method was uniform: to bargain tough before compromising, even if the given choice involved mutiny and extensive civil strife. Their opponents, on the other side, Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias and Grand Vizier Mehmed Reşid had to show in the eyes of the Great Powers determination and improvisation, in order to gain the necessary prestige and win back the disputed territories. Eventually the making of the frontier forced both warlords and politicians to transform their tactics and reconsider their alliances.https://journals.openedition.org/ceb/11433GreeceAlbaniarobbersarmatolsklephtsbetrayal/capitulation/agreement/haggling
spellingShingle Basil C. Gounaris
Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
Cahiers Balkaniques
Greece
Albania
robbers
armatols
klephts
betrayal/capitulation/agreement/haggling
title Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
title_full Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
title_fullStr Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
title_full_unstemmed Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
title_short Blood Brothers in Despair: Greek Brigands, Albanian Rebels and the Greek-Ottoman Frontier, 1829‑1831
title_sort blood brothers in despair greek brigands albanian rebels and the greek ottoman frontier 1829 1831
topic Greece
Albania
robbers
armatols
klephts
betrayal/capitulation/agreement/haggling
url https://journals.openedition.org/ceb/11433
work_keys_str_mv AT basilcgounaris bloodbrothersindespairgreekbrigandsalbanianrebelsandthegreekottomanfrontier18291831