Constantine Kanaris

Constantine Kanaris during the Greek War of Independence.

He was born and grew up on the island of Psara, close to the island of Chios, in the Aegean. His exact year of birth is unknown. The official records of the Hellenic Navy indicate 1795 but modern Greek historians believe that 1793 is more probable.

Constantine was left an orphan at a young age. Having to support himself, he chose to become a seaman like most members of his family since the beginning of the 18th century. He was hired as a boy on the brig of his uncle Dimitris Bourekas.

Constantine gained his fame during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829). Unlike most other prominent figures of the War, he had never been initiated into the Filiki Eteria (Friendly Society), which played a significant role in the revolution against the Ottoman Empire, primarily by secret recruitment of supporters against the Empire.

By early 1821, it had gained enough support to declare a revolution. This declaration seems to have surprised Constantine, who was absent at Odessa. He returned to Psara in haste and was there when the island joined the Revolution on 10 April 1821.

The island formed its own fleet of ships and the famed seamen of Psara, already known for their successful naval combats against pirates and their well-equipped ships, proved to be effective at full naval war. Constantine soon distinguished himself as a fire ship captain.[3]

The destruction of the Ottoman flagship at Chios by Kanaris.

At Chios, on the moonless night of 6–7 June 1822 forces under his command destroyed the flagship of the Turkish admiral Nasuhzade Ali Pasha in revenge for the Chios massacre. The admiral was holding a celebration (Bayram), so Kanaris and his men managed to place a fire ship next to it without being noticed. When the flagship's powder store caught fire, all men aboard were instantly killed. The Ottoman casualties comprised 2000 men, both naval officers and common sailors, as well as Kara-Ali himself.

Later in the year he led another successful attacks against the Turkish fleet at Tenedos in November 1822. He was famously said to have encouraged himself by murmuring "Konstantí, you are going to die" every time he was approaching a Turkish warship on the fire boat he was about to detonate.

The seven-barrled musket of Kanaris.

The Turkish fleet captured Psara on 21 June 1824. A part of the population, including Kanaris, managed to flee the island, but those who didn't were either sold into slavery or slaughtered.

After the destruction of his home island, Kanaris continued to lead his men into attacks against the Turks. He took part to sea fights in the Dodecanese in August 1824.

In August 1825, Kanaris led the raid on Alexandria, a daring attempt to destroy the Egyptian fleet via fire ships that might have been successful if the wind had not failed just after the Greek ships entered Alexandria harbor.[4]

Following the end of the war and the independence of Greece, Constantine became an officer of the new Greek Navy, reaching the rank of admiral, and later became a prominent politician.

Monument of Constantine Kanaris in Kypseli, Athens.

Constantine Kanaris was one of the few with the personal confidence of Ioannis Kapodistrias the first Head of State of independent Greece.[5] Kanaris served as Minister in various governments and then as Prime Minister, in the provisional government, from 11 March to 11 April 1844. He served a second term (27 October 1848 – 24 December 1849), and as Navy Minister in Mavrokordatos' 1854 cabinet.

In 1862, he was one of the few War of Independence veterans that helped in the bloodless revolution that deposed King Otto of Greece and put Prince William of Denmark on the Greek throne as King George I of Greece. Under George I, he served as a prime minister for a third term (17 March  – 28 April 1864), fourth term (7 August 1864 – 9 February 1865) and fifth and last term (7 June  – 14 September 1877).

Kanaris died on 2 September 1877 whilst still serving in office as Prime Minister. Following his death his government remained in power until 14 September 1877 without agreeing on a replacement at its head. He was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens, where most Greek prime ministers and celebrated figures are also buried. After his death he was honored as a national hero.

To honour Kanaris, three ships of the Hellenic Navy have been named after him;

• Kanaris (L53); a Hunt-class Type III destroyer, formerly HMS Hatherleigh, transferred from the Royal Navy on 18 December 1941.
• Kanaris (D212); a Gearing-class destroyer, formerly USS Stickell (DD-888), transferred from the U.S. Navy on 1 July 1972.
• Kanaris (F464); an Elli-class frigate, formerly the HNLMS Jan van Brakel (F825), bought from The Netherlands on 29 November 2002.

The silver container with the heart of Constantine Kanaris at the National Historical Museum, Athens.

In 1817, he married Despina Maniatis, from a historical family of Psara. They had seven children:

• Nikolaos Kanaris, (1818–1848) – a member of a military expeditionary force to Beirut, killed there in 1848.
• Themistoklis Kanaris, (1819–1851) – a member of a military expeditionary force to Egypt, killed there in 1851.
• Thrasyvoulos Kanaris, (1820–1898) – Admiral.
• Miltiadis Kanaris, (1822–1901) – Admiral, member of the Greek Parliament for many years, Naval Minister three times in 1864, 1871, and 1878.
• Lykourgos Kanaris, (1826–1865) – Lawyer
• Maria Kanari, (1828–1847) – married A. Balambano.
• Aristeidis Kanaris, (1831–1863) – officer killed in the uprising of 1863.

Wilhelm Canaris, a German Admiral, speculated that he might be a descendant of Constantine Kanaris. An official genealogical family history that was researched in 1938 showed that he was unrelated and that his family was from Italy.[6]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Constantine Kanaris.

• Listed among other Major Figures of the Greek War of Independence
• The History of the Grand Lodge of Greece Explains the Origins of the Philiki Etairia
• Short profile of Mohammad Ali, Viceroy of Egypt
• Short Profile of Ibrahim Pasha
• Statue of K. Kanaris in Park on Chios Island, Greece