History Greeks in Turkey

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 ottoman empire
1.3 world war , aftermath
1.4 republic of turkey
1.5 current situation

history
background

distribution of anatolian greeks in 1910. demotic greek speakers in yellow. pontic in orange. cappadocian greek in green. shaded regions not indicate greek-speakers majority.



agia triada greek orthodox church in beyoğlu, istanbul

greeks have been living in turkey continuously since middle 2nd millennium bc. following upheavals in mainland greece during bronze age collapse, aegean coast of asia minor heavily settled ionian , aeolian greeks , became known ionia , aeolia. during era of greek colonization 8th 6th century bc, numerous greek colonies founded on coast of asia minor, both mainland greeks settlers colonies such miletus. city of byzantium, go on become constantinople , istanbul, founded colonists megara in 7th century bc.

following conquest of asia minor alexander great, rest of asia minor opened greek settlement. upon death of alexander, asia minor ruled number of hellenistic kingdoms such attalids of pergamum. period of peaceful hellenization followed, such local anatolian languages had been supplanted greek 1st century bc. asia minor 1 of first places christianity spread, 4th century ad overwhelmingly christian , greek-speaking. next 600 years, asia minor , constantinople became capital of byzantine empire centers of hellenic world, while mainland greece experienced repeated barbarian invasions , went decline.

following battle of manzikert in 1071, seljuk turks swept through of asia minor. while byzantines recover western , northern anatolia in subsequent years, central asia minor settled turkic peoples , never again came under byzantine rule. byzantine empire unable stem turkic advance, , 1300 of asia minor ruled anatolian beyliks. smyrna (turkish: İzmir) fell in 1330, , philadelphia (turkish: alaşehir), fell in 1398. last byzantine greek kingdom in anatolia, empire of trebizond, covering black sea coast of north-eastern turkey border georgia fell in 1461.

ottoman empire


pontian greek ladies , children of trebizond, 20th century

constantinople fell in 1453, marking end of byzantine empire. beginning seljuk invasion in 11th century, , continuing through ottoman years, anatolia underwent process of turkification, population gradually changing predominantly christian , greek-speaking predominantly muslim , turkish-speaking.

a class of moneyed ethnically greek merchants (they commonly claimed noble byzantine descent) called phanariotes emerged in latter half of 16th century , went on exercise great influence in administration in ottoman empire s balkan domains in 18th century. tended build houses in phanar quarter of istanbul in order close court of ecumenical patriarch of constantinople, under ottoman millet system recognized both spiritual , secular head (millet-bashi) of orthodox subjects (the rum millet, or roman nation ) of empire, acting archontes of ecumenical see. cosmopolitanism , western (sometimes roman catholic) education, phanariots aware of hellenism; according nicholas mavrocordatos philotheou parerga: race hellenic .

the greek kingdom , greek diaspora in balkans , western asia minor, according professor g. soteiriadis, 1919

the first greek millionaire in ottoman era michael kantakouzenos shaytanoglu, earned 60.000 ducats year control of fur trade russia; executed on sultan s order. wealth of extensive greek merchant class provided material basis intellectual revival prominent feature of greek life in second half of 18th century , beginning of 19th century. greek merchants endowed libraries , schools; on eve of greek war of independence 3 important centres of greek learning, schools-cum-universities, situated in chios, smyrna , aivali, 3 major centres of greek commerce.

the outbreak of greek war of independence in march 1821 met mass executions, pogrom-style attacks, destruction of churches, , looting of greek properties throughout empire. severe atrocities occurred in constantinople, in became known constantinople massacre of 1821. orthodox patriarch gregory v executed on april 22, 1821 on orders of ottoman sultan, caused outrage throughout europe , resulted in increased support greek rebels.

by late 19th , 20th century, greek element found predominantly in constantinople , smyrna, along black sea coast (the pontic greeks) , aegean coast, , few cities , numerous villages in central anatolian interior (the cappadocian greeks). greeks of constantinople constituted largest greek urban population in eastern mediterranean.

1914 document showing official figures 1914 population census of ottoman empire. total population (sum of millets) given @ 20,975,345, , greek population given @ 1,792,206.


world war , aftermath

given large greek populations, constantinople , asia minor featured prominently in greek irredentist concept of megali idea (lit. great idea ) during 19th century , 20th century. goal of megali idea liberation of greek-inhabited lands , eventual establishment of successor state byzantine empire constantinople capital.

during world war , aftermath (1914–1923), government of ottoman empire instigated violent campaign against greek population of empire. campaign included massacres, forced deportations involving death marches, , summary expulsions. according various sources, several hundred thousand ottoman greeks died during period. of survivors , refugees, in eastern provinces, took refuge in neighbouring russian empire.

following greece s participation on allied side in world war i, , participation of ottoman empire on side of central powers, greece received order land in smyrna triple entente part of planned partition of ottoman empire.

on may 15, 1919, twenty thousand greek soldiers landed in smyrna, taking control of city , surroundings under cover of greek, french, , british navies. legal justifications landings found in article 7 of armistice of mudros, allowed allies occupy strategic points in event of situation arising threatens security of allies. greeks of smyrna , other christians, greeted greek troops liberators. contrast, majority of muslim population saw them invading force.

greece subsequently awarded eastern thrace chatalja lines @ outskirts of constantinople, islands of imbros , tenedos, , city smyrna , vast hinterland treaty of sèvres, of contained substantial greek populations.

greek soldiers taking posts in smyrna amidst jubilant ethnic greek population of city, 15 may 1919.

during greco-turkish war, conflict followed hellenic occupation of smyrna in may 1919 , continued until great fire of smyrna in september 1922, atrocities perpetrated both hellenic , turkish armies. massacres occurred during greco-turkish war of 1919–1922, british historian arnold j. toynbee wrote greek landings created turkish national movement led mustafa kemal: greeks of pontus , turks of greek occupied territories, in degree victims of mr. venizelos s , mr. lloyd george s original miscalculations @ paris.

after end of greco-turkish war, of greeks remaining in ottoman empire transferred greece under terms of 1923 population exchange between greece , turkey. criteria population exchange not exclusively confined ethnicity or mother language, on religion well. why karamanlides (greek: Καραμανλήδες; turkish: karamanlılar), or karamanlis, turkish-speaking (while employed greek alphabet write it) greek orthodox people of unclear origin , deported native regions of karaman , cappadocia in central anatolia greece well. on other hand, cretan muslims part of exchange re-settled on aegean coast of turkey, in areas formerly inhabited christian greeks. populations of greek descent can still found in pontos, remnants of former greek population converted islam in order escape persecution , later deportation. though these 2 groups of ethnic greek descent, speak turkish mother language , cautious identify greeks, due hostility of turkish state , neighbours towards greek.

republic of turkey

the main targets of anti-greek riots in istanbul; 6–7 september 1955.

due greeks strong emotional attachment first capital importance of ecumenical patriarchate greek , worldwide orthodoxy, greek population of constantinople exempted , allowed stay in place. article 14 of treaty of lausanne (1923) exempted imbros , tenedos islands population exchange , required turkey accommodate local greek majority , rights. part, turks disregarded agreement , implemented series of contrary measures resulted in further decline of greek population, evidenced demographic statistics.

punitive turkish nationalist exclusivist measures, such 1932 parliamentary law, barred greek citizens living in turkey series of 30 trades , professions tailoring , carpentry medicine, law , real estate. wealthy levy imposed in 1942 served reduce economic potential of greek businesspeople in turkey.

the final blow greek population on 6–7 september 1955, when anti-greek riots orchestrated in istanbul turkish military s tactical mobilization group, seat of operation gladio s turkish branch; counter-guerrilla. events triggered news turkish consulate in thessaloniki, north greece—the house mustafa kemal atatürk born in 1881—had been bombed day before. bomb planted turkish usher of consulate, later arrested , confessed, incited events. turkish press conveying news in turkey silent arrest , instead insinuated greeks had set off bomb. although mob did not explicitly call greeks killed, on dozen people died during or after pogrom result of beatings , arson. jews, armenians , others harmed. in addition commercial targets, mob targeted property owned or administered greek orthodox church. 73 churches , 23 schools vandalized, burned or destroyed, 8 asperses , 3 monasteries.

the program accelerated emigration of ethnic greeks turkey, , istanbul region in particular. greek population of turkey declined 119,822 persons in 1927, 7,000 1978. in istanbul alone, greek population decreased 65,108 49,081 between 1955 , 1960.

current situation

greek population in istanbul (1844-1997) , percentage of total city population

today of remaining greeks live in istanbul. in fener district of istanbul ecumenical patriarchate of constantinople located, fewer 100 greeks live today. handful live in other cities of anatolia. elderly.

another location greek community lives islands imbros , tenedos near dardanelles, community diminishing fast , 200 elderly greeks have remained there, less 2%. in 1950s, estimated 98% of island greek.

the so-called antiochian greeks (rum) living in hatay, adana , mersin technically christian arabs, called greek due namesake of church, greek orthodox church of antioch. in fact, speak or spoke arabic mother language, , why managed avoid exchange , able stay in anatolia. not speak greek @ all, younger generation speaks turkish, , have turkish names now. population 4000-5000, , faithful patriarchate of antiochia, although ironically in damascus. reside largely in antakya and/or hatay province, few in adana province.

the greek minority continues encounter problems relating education , property rights. 1971 law nationalized religious high schools, , closed halki seminary on istanbul s heybeli island had trained orthodox clergy since 19th century. later outrage vandalism of greek cemetery on imbros on october 29, 2010. in context, problems affecting greek minority on islands of imbros , tenedos continue reported european commission.

in july 2011, istanbul s greek minority newspaper apoyevmatini declared shut down due financial difficulties. four-page greek-language newspaper faced closure due financial problems had been further aggravated economic crisis in greece, when greek companies stopped publishing advertisements in newspaper , offices have been shut down. ignited campaign newspaper. among supporters students istanbul bilgi university subscribed newspaper. campaign saved paper bankruptcy time being. because greek community close extinction, obituary notices , money greek foundations, subscriptions overwhelmingly turkish people, sources of income. income covers 40 percent of newspaper expenditures.

that event followed in september 2011 government cash grant of 45,000 turkish liras newspaper through turkish press advertisement agency, part of wider support of minority newspapers. turkish press advertisement agency declared intention publish official government advertisements in minority newspapers including greek papers apoyevmatini , iho.

as of 2007, turkish authorities have seized total of 1,000 immovables of 81 greek organizations individuals of greek community. on other hand, turkish courts provided legal legitimacy unlawful practices approving discriminatory laws , policies violated fundamental rights responsible protect. result, foundations of greek communities started file complaints after 1999 when turkey s candidacy european union announced. since 2007, decisions being made in these cases; first ruling made in case filed phanar greek orthodox college foundation, , decision turkey violated article 1 of protocol no. 1 of european convention on human rights, secured property rights.

a government decree published on 27 august 2011, paves way return assets once belonged greek, armenian, or jewish trusts , makes provisions government pay compensation confiscated property has since been sold on, , in move thwart possible court rulings against country european court of human rights.

since vast majority of properties confiscated greek trusts (and other minority trusts) have been sold third parties, result cannot taken current owners , returned, greek trusts receive compensation government instead. compensation properties purchased or sold third parties decided on finance ministry. however, no independent body involved in deciding on compensation, according regulations of government decree of 27 august 2011. if compensation judged , paid in full, state have pay compensation worth many millions of euros large number of properties. weakness of government decree state body direct interest in reducing amount of compensation paid, finance ministry, body permitted decide on amount of compensation paid. government decree states minority trusts must apply restitution within 12 months of publication of government decree, issued on 1 october 2011, leaving less 11 months applications prepared , submitted. after deadline terminates on 27 august 2012, no applications can submitted, in government aims settle issue permamenetly on legally sound basis , prevent future legal difficulties involving european court of human rights.