View source for Konstantinos Kanaris

{{Short description|Greek politician and admiral}}
{{About|the Greek admiral and politician|the Hellenic Navy ships named after him|Greek ship Kanaris}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
<!-- DO NOT ADD HONORIFICS OR NUMBERS OF SUCCESSION; THEY ARE NOT USED IN GREECE -->
| name                = Konstantinos Kanaris
| native_name         = {{nobold|{{Lang|el|Κωνσταντίνος Κανάρης}}}}
| image               = Konstantinos Kanaris.png
| caption             = Konstantinos Kanaris, Prime Minister of Greece.
| office1             = [[File:Coat of arms of Greece (Wittelsbach).svg|22px]] <br> [[Prime Minister of Greece]]
| term_start1         = 12 February 1844
| term_end1           = 30 March 1844 ([[Old Style|o.s.]])
| monarch1            = [[Otto of Greece|Otto]]
| predecessor1        = [[Andreas Metaxas]]
| successor1          = [[Alexandros Mavrokordatos]]
| term_start2         = 27 October 1848
| term_end2           = 14 December 1849 (o.s)
| predecessor2        = [[Georgios Kountouriotis]]
| successor2          = [[Antonios Kriezis]]
| term_start3         = 5 March 1864
| term_end3           = 16 April 1864 (o.s)
| monarch3            = [[George I of Greece|George I]]
| predecessor3        = [[Dimitrios Voulgaris]]
| successor3          = [[Zinovios Valvis]]
| term_start4         = 26 July 1864
| term_end4           = 2 March 1865 (o.s)
| predecessor4        = [[Zinovios Valvis]]
| successor4          = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros]]
| term_start5         = 26 May 1877
| term_end5           = 2 September 1877 (o.s)
| predecessor5        = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros]]
| successor5          = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros]]
| birth_date          = c. 1790
| birth_place         = [[Psara]], [[Eyalet of the Archipelago]], [[Ottoman Empire]] (now [[Greece]])
| death_date          = 2 September 1877 (aged 87)
| death_place         = [[Athens]], [[Kingdom of Greece]]
| resting_place       = [[First Cemetery of Athens]]
| nationality         = [[Greeks|Greek]]
| awards              = [[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.png|30px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Redeemer]] <br> [[File:UK Royal Guelphic Order ribbon.svg|30px]] Grand Cross of the [[Royal Guelphic Order]] <br> [[File:DNK Order of Danebrog Grand Cross BAR.png|30px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]]
| signature           = Konstantinos Kanaris signature 1838.svg
<!--Military service-->
| allegiance          = [[File:Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg|22px|border]] [[First Hellenic Republic]] <br> [[File:State Flag of Greece (1863-1924 and 1935-1973).svg|22px|border]] [[Kingdom of Greece]]
| branch              = {{navy|Greece}}
| serviceyears        = 1821–1844
| rank                = [[Admiral]]
| battles             = {{tree list}}
* [[Greek War of Independence]]
** [[Burning of the Ottoman flagship off Chios|Burning of the Ottoman Flagship]]
** [[Destruction of Psara]]
** [[Battle of Samos]]
** [[Greek raid on Alexandria (1825)|Raid on Alexandria]]
{{tree list/end}}
| spouse              = Despina Maniati
| children            = Nikolaos Kanaris <br> [[Miltiadis Kanaris]] <br> Themistoklis Kanaris <br> [[Aristeidis Kanaris]] <br> Lykourgos Kanaris <br> Maria Kanari <br> Thrasyvoulos Kanaris
| party               = [[Russian Party (Greece)|Russian Party]]
}}
'''Konstantinos Kanaris''' ({{langx|el|Κωνσταντίνος Κανάρης}}, {{transliteration|el|Konstantínos Kanáris}}; c.&nbsp;1790<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation">[https://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2012/03/16/kanaris/ Αργολικη Αρχειακη Βιβλιοθηκη Ιστοριασ και Πολιτισμου] (Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation).</ref>{{spaced ndash}}2 September 1877{{Greece Old Style dating}}), also [[Anglicisation (linguistics)|anglicised]] as '''Constantine Kanaris''' or '''Canaris''',<ref>Note: ''Κανάρης'' has often been [[Romanization of Greek|romanized]] as ''Canaris'' instead of ''Kanaris'' in Western literature before the 20th century. This has since been avoided, following the emergence of a German ''Canaris'' family (including Admiral [[Wilhelm Canaris]] among its members) with no ties to the Greek ''Κανάρης'' family.</ref> was a [[Greeks|Greek]] statesman, admiral, and a hero of the [[Greek War of Independence]].<ref name=Woodhouse129>Woodhouse, p. 129.</ref>
==Biography==
===Early life===
Konstantinos Kanaris was born and grew up on the island of [[Psara]], close to the island of [[Chios]], in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]]. The exact year of his birth is unknown. Official records of the [[Hellenic Navy]] indicate 1795, however, modern Greek historians consider 1790 or 1793 to be more probable.<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
He was left an [[orphan]] at a young age. Having to support himself, he chose to become a [[Sailor|seaman]] like most members of his family since the beginning of the 18th century. He was subsequently hired as a boy on the [[brig]] of his uncle Dimitris Bourekas.
===Military career===
[[File:Konstantinos Kanaris by Karl von Krazeisen.png|left|thumb|200px|Konstantinos Kanaris during the Greek War of Independence. Lithography by [[Karl Krazeisen]], 1831.]]
Kanaris 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]]'' (Society of Friends), which played a significant role in the uprising against the [[Ottoman Empire]], primarily by secret recruitment of supporters against the Turkish rule.<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
By early 1821, the movement had gained enough support to launch a revolution. This seems to have inspired Kanaris, who was in [[Odessa]] at the time. He returned to the island of [[Psara]] in haste and was present when it joined the uprising on 10 April 1821.<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
The island formed its own fleet and the famed seamen of Psara, already known for their well-equipped ships and successful battles against [[Piracy|sea pirates]], proved to be highly effective in [[naval warfare]]. Kanaris soon distinguished himself as a [[fire ship]] captain.<ref name=Woodhouse138>Woodhouse, p. 138.</ref>
[[File:The burning of the Turkish flagship by Kanaris.png|thumb|left|200px|''The burning of the Turkish flagship by Kanaris''. Painting by [[Nikiforos Lytras]], 1873.]]
At [[Chios]], on the moonless night of 6–7 June 1822, forces under his command [[Burning of the Ottoman flagship off Chios|destroyed the flagship]] of [[Nasuhzade Ali Pasha]], [[Kapudan Pasha]] (Grand Admiral) of the [[Ottoman Navy|Ottoman fleet]], in revenge for the [[Chios massacre]]. The admiral was holding a [[Bayram (Turkey)|''Bayram'']] celebration, allowing Kanaris and his men to position their fire ship without being noticed. When the flagship's powder store caught fire, all men aboard were instantly killed. The Turkish casualties comprised {{formatnum:2300}} men, both naval officers and common sailors, as well as Nasuhzade Ali Pasha himself.<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
Kanaris led another successful attack against the Ottoman 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/06/06/june-6-1822-the-revenge-of-the-chios-massacre|title=June 6, 1822: Revenge of the Chios Massacre|work=Greek City Times|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chiosradio.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166:constantine-kanaris-the-avenger-of-chios&catid=31&Itemid=216|title=Constantine Kanaris – The Avenger of Chios|work=Chios Radio|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Gysis Nikolaos After the destruction of Psara.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''After the destruction of Psara''. Painting by [[Nikolaos Gyzis]], 1898.]]
The Ottoman fleet [[Destruction of Psara|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, he continued to lead attacks against Turkish forces. In August 1824, he engaged in naval combats in the [[Dodecanese]].<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
The following year, Kanaris led the [[Greek raid on Alexandria (1825)|Greek raid on Alexandria]], a daring attempt to destroy the [[Egyptian Navy|Egyptian fleet]] with fire ships that might have been successful if the wind had not failed just after the Greek ships entered [[Alexandria Port|Alexandria harbour]].<ref>Brewer, David ''The Greek War of Independence'', London: Overlook Duckworth, 2011, p. 244.</ref>
After the end of the War and the independence of Greece, Kanaris became an officer of the new [[Hellenic Navy]], reaching the rank of [[admiral]], and a prominent [[politician]].
===Political career===
Konstantinos Kanaris was one of the few with the personal confidence of [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]], the first Head of State of [[First Hellenic Republic|independent Greece]]. After the assassination of Kapodistrias on 9 October 1831, he retired to the island of [[Syros]].<ref name=Woodhouse152>Woodhouse, p. 152.</ref>
During the reign of King [[Otto of Greece|Otto I]], Kanaris served as [[Minister (government)|Minister]] in various governments and then as [[Prime Minister of Greece|Prime Minister]] in the provisional government (16 February{{spaced ndash}}30 March 1844). He served a second term (15 October 1848{{spaced ndash}}12 December 1849), and as [[Navy]] Minister in the 1854 cabinet of [[Alexandros Mavrokordatos]].
[[File:Konstantinos Kanaris monument in Kypseli, Athens.png|thumb|right|200px|Monument to Konstantinos Kanaris in [[Kypseli, Athens]]. Sculpture by [[Lazaros Fytalis]].]]
In 1862, he was among the rare War of Independence veterans who took part in the [[Expulsion of Otto of Greece|bloodless insurrection]] that deposed the increasingly unpopular King Otto I and led to the election of Prince William of [[Denmark]] as King [[George I of Greece|George I]] of Greece. During his reign, Kanaris served as a Prime Minister for a third term (6 March{{spaced ndash}}16 April 1864), fourth term (26 July 1864{{spaced ndash}}26 February 1865), and fifth and last term (7 June{{spaced ndash}}2 September 1877).<ref name="Argolis' File-Library of History and Civilisation"/>
[[File:Tomb of Konstantinos Kanaris in Athens.png|thumb|right|200px|Grave of Konstantinos and Despoina Kanaris in the [[First Cemetery of Athens]].]]
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]] and his heart was placed in a silver [[urn]].
[[File:Konstantinos Kanaris heart preserved.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Silver urn containing the heart of Konstantinos Kanaris at the [[National Historical Museum, Athens|National Historical Museum]], Athens.]]
==Legacy==
Konstantinos Kanaris is considered a national hero in Greece and ranks amongst the most notable participants of the [[Greek War of Independence|War of Independence]]. Many [[statue]]s and [[bust (sculpture)|bust]]s have been erected in his honour, such as ''[[Kanaris at Chios (sculpture)|Kanaris at Chios]]'' by [[Benedetto Civiletti]] in [[Giardino Inglese (Palermo)|Palermo]], a statue by [[Lazaros Fytalis]] in [[Kypseli, Athens|Athens]], and a bust by [[David d'Angers]]. He was also featured on a Greek [[Modern drachma|₯]]1 [[coin]] and a ₯100 [[banknote]] issued by the [[Bank of Greece]].
[[File:Konstantinos Kanaris 1 Drachma.png|thumb|right|200px|Greek [[Modern drachma|₯]]1 coin featuring the portrait of Konstantinos Kanaris.]]
To honour Kanaris, the following ships of the [[Hellenic Navy]] have been named after him:<ref>[https://hellenicnavy.gr/en/fleet/frigates/hs-kanaris-f-464/ History of HS ''Kanaris'' (F-464)], including a list of the five ships of the Hellenic Navy named after Konstantinos Kanaris.</ref>
* ''[[Greek ship Kanaris|Kanaris]]'', a [[gunboat]] commissioned in 1835
* ''[[Greek ship Kanaris|Kanaris]]'', a [[torpedo boat tender]] commissioned in 1880
* {{Ship|Greek destroyer|Kanaris|L53|3}}, a [[Hunt-class destroyer|''Hunt''-class]] [[destroyer]] commissioned in 1942
* {{Ship|Greek destroyer|Kanaris|D212|3}}, a {{Sclass|Gearing|destroyer}} commissioned in 1972
* {{Ship|Greek frigate|Kanaris|F464|3}}, an {{Sclass|Elli|frigate}} commissioned in 2002
[[File:Kanaris (F-464) in Málaga, 2008-08-11.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Elli''-class frigate [[Greek frigate Kanaris (F464)|''Kanaris'' (F464)]] of the Hellenic Navy.]]
''Te Korowhakaunu / Kanáris Sound'', a section of [[Taiari / Chalky Inlet]] in New Zealand's [[Fiordland National Park]], was named after Konstantinos Kanaris by French navigator and explorer [[Jules de Blosseville]] (1802–1833).<ref>{{cite web |title=Proposal considered by the Board on 20 April 2021 for: Te Korowhakaunu / Canaris Sound, or Te Korowhakaunu / Kanaris Sound, or Te Korowhakaunu / Kanáris Sound |url=https://www.linz.govt.nz/system/files_force/media/doc/nzgb_report_te-forowhakaunu-canaris-sound_20210421.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106230024/https://www.linz.govt.nz/system/files_force/media/doc/nzgb_report_te-forowhakaunu-canaris-sound_20210421.pdf |archive-date=2022-01-06 |url-status=live |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref>
==Family==
In 1817, Konstantinos Kanaris married Despoina Maniatis, from a historical family of [[Psara]].
They had seven children:
* Nikolaos Kanaris (1818–1848), killed during a military expedition in [[Beirut]]
* Themistoklis Kanaris (1819–1851), killed during a military expedition in [[Ottoman Egypt|Egypt]]
* Thrasyvoulos Kanaris (1820–1898), admiral
* [[Miltiadis Kanaris]] (1822–1901), admiral, member of the [[Hellenic Parliament|Greek Parliament]] for many years, Naval Minister three times in 1864, 1871, and 1878
* Lykourgos Kanaris (1826–1865), naval officer and lawyer
* Maria Kanaris (1828–1847), married A. Balabano
* [[Aristeidis Kanaris]] (1831–1863), officer killed in the uprising of 1863
[[Wilhelm Canaris]], a German Admiral, speculated that he might be a descendant of Konstantinos Kanaris. An official genealogical family history that was researched in 1938 showed however, that he was of [[Italy|Italian]] descent and not related to the Kanaris family from [[Greece]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Hitler's Spy Chief: The Wilhelm Canaris Mystery |last=Bassett |first=Richard |year=2005 |publisher=Cassell |isbn=978-0-304-36718-4|page=65|quote=His name was of Italian origin, as was later shown in an elaborate family tree}}.</ref>
==Honours==
===Greek honours===
* [[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.png|55px]] [[Order of the Redeemer]] ([[Kingdom of Greece]]): Grand Cross, 1864
===Foreign honours===
* [[File:UK Royal Guelphic Order ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Royal Guelphic Order]] ([[Kingdom of Hanover]]): Grand Cross
* [[File:DNK Order of Danebrog Grand Cross BAR.png|55px]] [[Order of the Dannebrog]] ([[Denmark|Kingdom of Denmark]]): Grand Cross
==See also==
* [[List of prime ministers of Greece]]
* [[Greek War of Independence]]
* [[Kanaris family]]
* [[Hellenic Navy]]
* [[History of Greece]]
* [[Greek ship Kanaris|Greek ship ''Kanaris'']]
* [[First Cemetery of Athens]]
==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}
===Works cited===
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Kanaris, Constantine}}
* {{Naval Wars in the Levant 1559–1853}}
* {{Cite book | last = Finlay | first = George | author-link = George Finlay | title = History of the Greek Revolution, Vol. I | publisher = William Blackwood and Sons | location = Edinburgh and London | year = 1861 | url = {{Google Books|-ktoAAAAMAAJ | plainurl = y}}}}
* {{Cite book | last = Vakalopoulos | first = Apostolos E. | author-link = Apostolos Vakalopoulos | script-title = el:Ιστορία του νέου ελληνισμού, Τόμος ΣΤ′: Η Μεγάλη Ελληνική Επανάσταση (1821–1829) – Η εσωτερική κρίση (1822–1825) | trans-title = History of modern Hellenism, Volume VI: The Great Greek Revolution (1821–1829) – Internal Crisis (1822–1825) | language = el | location = Thessaloniki | year = 1982}}
* {{Cite book | last = Woodhouse | first = Christopher M. | date = 1968 | title = The Story of Modern Greece | url = https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571197941-modern-greece-a-short-history | language = en | location = London | publisher = Faber and Faber}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030414014305/http://www.grandlodge.gr/history.html A concise history of the Grand Lodge of Greece and the origins of the Philiki Etairia]
* [http://rulers.org/indexk1.html#kanar Biography of Konstantinos Kanaris on Rulers.org]
* [http://www.fragrant-chios.com/info/people_kanaris.php Statue of Konstantinos Kanaris on Chios island, Greece]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030402025910/http://www.nostos.com/greekrev/ Major figures of the Greek War of Independence]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030407224756/http://www.horus.ics.org.eg/html/modern_egypt_under_mohammad_ali.html Modern Egypt under Mohammad Ali, Viceroy of Egypt]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef| before = [[Andreas Metaxas]]}}
{{s-ttl| title = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]| years = 12 February - 30 March 1844}}
{{s-aft| after = [[Alexandros Mavrokordatos|Alexandros <br> Mavrokordatos]]}}
|-
{{s-bef| before = [[Georgios Kountouriotis|Georgios <br> Kountouriotis]]}}
{{s-ttl| title = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]| years = 27 October 1848 - 14 December 1849}}
{{s-aft| after = [[Antonios Kriezis]]}}
|-
{{s-bef| before = [[Dimitrios Voulgaris|Dimitrios <br> Voulgaris]]}}
{{s-ttl| title = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]| years = 5 March - 16 April 1864 }}
{{s-aft| after = [[Zinovios Valvis]]}}
|-
{{s-bef| before = [[Zinovios Valvis]]}}
{{s-ttl| title = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]| years = 26 July 1864 - 2 March 1865}}
{{s-aft| after = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros|Alexandros <br> Koumoundouros]]}}
|-
{{s-bef| before = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros|Alexandros <br> Koumoundouros]]}}
{{s-ttl| title = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]| years = 26 May 1877 - 11 January 1878 }}
{{s-aft| after = [[Alexandros Koumoundouros|Alexandros <br> Koumoundouros]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Heads of government of Greece|state=collapsed}}
{{Greek War of Independence|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanaris, Konstantinos}}
[[Category:1790s births]]
[[Category:1877 deaths]]
[[Category:Kanaris family|Konstantinos]]
[[Category:People from the Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:19th-century prime ministers of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of naval affairs of Greece]]
[[Category:People from Psara]]
[[Category:Hellenic Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Greek people of the Greek War of Independence]]
[[Category:Burials at the First Cemetery of Athens]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog]]
[[Category:Russian Party politicians]]