REASONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
The vastness (big size) of the Turkish Empire led to the success of the Greek war of independence by 1832. From the 14th up to the close of the 18th centuries, Turkey had built a very large and powerful empire which the Sultan could not effectively control. At the peak of its power, the empire stretched from the boarders of Austria and Russia in the North through Asia Minor, Syria and North Africa including Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. In the Balkan Peninsular, it controlled Rumania, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and the Albanians. Thus, as the Sultan attempted to concentrate on one group, he gave way for others to revolt successfully. This therefore enabled the Greeks to stage a successful revolt.
The support from the foreign powers led to the success of the Greek War of Independence. For example, Russia mobilized support for the Greek cause across all the Slav people and through the popular forum of Pan-Slavism. Russia also provided sanctuary for the Greek nationalists that escaped the political persecution and brutality of the Ottoman leaders. Britain and France also declared and officially recognized the Greek independence through signing the Treaty of Adrianople of 1829 and later re-
affirmed their support in another Treaty of London in 1832 which enabled the Greeks to succeed.
The strength of the Greek nationalism also led to the success of the war. The spirit of being independent had been strongly developed among the Greek nationals. This high spirit of nationalism instilled courage and determination among the Greek revolutionaries to fight harder so as to attain their independence, hence leading to their success by 1832.
The weaknesses of the Congress System contributed to the success of the Greek War of Independence. Formed in 1818 at Aix–la–Chapelle, the Congress System was marred by many weaknesses. For example, it was characterized by divisions or disagreements especially between Russia and Austria over the Greek revolt. These disagreements among the congress powers were exploited by the Greeks to stage a successful revolt against the Ottoman administration by 1832.
The weaknesses of the Turkey or Ottoman Empire led to the success of the Greek War of Independence. From the close of the 18th and the beginning of 19th centuries, the once mighty Ottoman Empire started declining militarily and economically. For example, she lacked strong naval force to deal with her enemies like the Greeks who were being supported by the powerful European powers like Britain and Russia. This decline in strength of Turkey therefore enabled the Greeks to fight and defeat her, thus contributing to the success of the Greek War of Independence.
The presence of able leadership led to the success of the Greek war of independence. The Greeks were blessed with a number of elites like Alexander Hypsilanti and Capodistrious who became charismatic leaders in the struggle against the Ottoman Turks. These leaders mobilised, sensitized and commanded the Greeks in their war against the Turks as well as laying strategies to defeat their Turkish masters. This therefore enabled the Greeks to succeed in their war by 1832.
The conflicting interests of the European powers in the Ottoman Empire also partly facilitated the Greek success. For example, although Britain and France were initially against the idea of the Greek war against Turkey, by 1832 they had endorsed the Greek cause for independence. Russia strongly supported the revolutionaries whereas Austria and Prussia remained vehemently opposed to the revolt. Such disagreements provided the Greeks an opportunity to mobilize, fight and eventually liberate themselves from the Ottoman rule by 1832.
The role of Pan-Slavism led to success of the Greek War of Independence. This was a popular call for the liberation of the Slav people across Europe. It was fuelled (promoted) by Russia which therefore provided the morale, courage and determination among the Greeks to fight against the Ottoman rule, hence leading to their success by 1832.
The role of religion contributed to the success of the Greek War of Independence. The outbreak of the Greek War of Independence was inspired by the Greek Orthodox Church. As a result, during course of fighting, the Christian religion acted as a unifying factor that brought together all the Greeks of different backgrounds. This therefore helped them to defeat the Ottoman Turks, hence leading to the success of the war.
The role of secret societies also contributed to the success of the Greek War of Independence. Several secret societies had been formed by the Greek elites to arouse the Greek nationalism and fight for independence. For example, there was the Hetaria Philike (the Society Friends) formed in 1814 by Alexander Hypsilanti. This secret society offered able leadership to the Greek struggle for independence as well as mobilising the Greeks for a rebellion which led to their success.
The death of Tsar Alexander I in 1825 and the subsequent rise of Tsar Nicholas I led to the success of the Greek War of Independence. Unlike his predecessor Tsar Alexander I, Tsar Nicholas I was more aggressive and committed to the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman rule as well as satisfying the selfish interests of Russia in the Ottoman Empire. He therefore committed a lot of Russian military and financial support to the Greek rebels which enabled to them to succeed over the Ottoman Turks by 1832.
The weakness of the “Metternich system” in Europe partly led to success of the Greek war of independence. Prince Metternich was the chancellor of the Austrian empire up to 1848. As a conservative aristocrat, Metternich was strongly opposed to liberal and nationalistic movements in Europe and to suppress these two forces, he put in place what was known as the “Metternich system”. Using this system, Metternich vowed to suppress any revolution in Europe. However, he was unable to go to the Ottoman Empire and crash the Greek revolution which enabled the Greeks to succeed.
The outbreak of the 1820s and 1830 revolutions in Europe contributed to success of the Greek War of Independence. These revolutions did not only inspire the Greeks to fight harder against the Ottoman leadership but also preoccupied many European powers that ought to have suppressed the Greek War of Independence like Austria under Metternich. This therefore explains the success of the Greeks by 1832.
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