Extracted from various articles in European newspapers from the 19th century.
Greek outlaws attack and rob a French captain and engineer in 1841
“Near Kephissia, not far from this place, a French engineer, Captain, and his servants were attacked, robbed, and mistreated. The Captain was tied to a tree with willow branches, where he endured twenty-four hours in the unbearable heat and under the agonizing bites of insects, facing death by starvation.
Fortunately, he was discovered and rescued by farmers. Several raids against this gang were unsuccessful. Later, three of these robbers were captured, and two of them were executed in Thebes.
The Greek robber appears and disappears in the same instant and always finds hiding places in the mountains that are known only to him and accessible only to him. At that time, he didn’t have to fear betrayal very much, as entire villages often agreed with him or dared not report him for fear of revenge.”
Source: Erinnerungen aus Griechenland in den Jahren 1833-34 und 35, etc. F. X. M. von PREDL. 1841
Greek bandits or “robber rabble” mentioned in German newspaper from 1870
“Members of foreign embassies, gentlemen and ladies of the high aristocracy, had to be affected by the extraordinary audacity of the robber rabble dwelling in Greece in order to draw the attention of the leading circles of Europe more energetically than before to the causes from which such savage conditions of society, mocking all notions of civilized state life, can arise.
With loud complaints from the press and the less considered public about this, you comfort the gloomy pilgrims. The Greek robbery problem: Sadly enough, with atrocities constantly threatening public safety and the lives and property of travelers, especially in recent years, there has never been a shortage, even in Hungary and Italy.
As for the Greek robbery problem specifically, it is an old problem of a country otherwise so eagerly striving for culture in its educated classes. The mischief has developed there, as it were, into a peculiar national institution, a trade, since the resistance against the Turks was waged through so-called small wars.”
Source: Deutsche Blaetter literarisch-politisches Sonntags-Blatt ; literar.-polit. Feuilleton-Beilage zur Gartenlaube 1870.
Greek robbers and pirates in Morea and Scala Nuova in the 1830s
“Letters from Morea are filled with reports of thefts and robberies occurring there. The chief of the topographical brigade, Major, is to ensure that the merchant ships arriving at this Imperial Residence and receiving permission to enter the Black Sea, according to the terms of the decrees to be granted to them, may sail through in accordance with the aforementioned Most High Will without being charged a transit toll.
Letters from Samos dated May 31st confirm the previously communicated news that eighteen Greek robbers who came from this island were arrested on the coast of Asia Minor near Scala Nuova. It is known in Samos that three such robber gangs exist, which have divided themselves along the coast.
The measures taken by the Turkish authorities have made their work very difficult, and a number of robbers from the second gang, who found themselves under severe pressure on the mainland, found no other means of escape than to return to Samos and surrender to the authorities there. The English brig Levant was attacked on the night of June 3rd to 4th by a Greek vessel with 15 men.
The ship’s owner, who had been awakened by the noise and wanted to go up on deck, although the stairs to the cabin were already occupied by the robbers, was killed by a pistol shot. The captain and an English merchant from Smyrna who was on board saved their lives by surrendering their watches and gold.
The robbers left after taking everything they could find. They are believed to be Greek fishermen who had come aboard the ship as friends a few days earlier. The investigation against the 13 inhabitants arrested in Syra during the unrest of April 24th is being continued on board the Greek corvette Hydra. Thelemy was murdered on the way from Kalamata to Nissi.”
Source: Staats und gelehrte zeitung des hamburgischen unpartheyischen correspondenten, 1830.
Greek robber’s price of ransom for kidnapped civilians in 1853-1857
“In 1853, Mr. Mac Graith was captured by Greek robbers but released upon payment of 400 pounds sterling (8,000 marks). In 1857, a ransom of 1,500 pounds sterling (30,000 marks) had to be paid for Mr. Lennep. In 1880, Greek robbers demanded and received 6,000 pounds sterling (120,000 marks) for Colonel Synge, whom they had kidnapped, and in 1881, a staggering 15,000 pounds sterling (300,000 marks) was paid for the captured English engineer Suter.
Mark demands the amount that the British ambassador actually paid to Niko Pappas’s Greek bandit gang for his release. We must leave aside what value these robbers placed on a person in their valuations; in any case, they certainly took into account the ethical value of the kidnapped person, both for their family and for the nations to which they belonged. The fact is that the four sums mentioned were paid and that the shameful craft of kidnapping achieved such success.”
Source: Der Werth des Menschen. Part 1. Ernst Engel. 1883.
Greek authorities chase bandit captain Spannos into Turkish territory in 1880
“The Greek government pursued its persecution of bandits even into Turkish territory, disregarding border violations, which led to several complaints. This was particularly true of the capture last year of the notorious bandit captain Spannos, who, although a Turkish subject for several years and granted amnesty by the Porte, was captured on Ottoman soil through treachery and betrayal.
The Turkish government opposed Spannos’s execution and sought his extradition. After a daring escape attempt from the Athens prison nearly succeeded, he is now imprisoned in the fortress of Nafplio. Spannos was one of the notorious bandit leaders of 1870. Recently, numerous fears have been expressed that banditry could resurface in Greece as a result of political events.
Opposition newspapers even claim to know of several bandits, including a gang of 15 men, near Lamia. I have not been able to officially confirm these reports. To prevent such eventualities, the Ministry, as previously announced, has enacted the anti-bandit law. Deportation law recently activated.”
Source: Actenstücke aus den Correspondenzen des Kaiserliches und Königliches Gemeinsamen Ministeriums des Äussern über Orientalische Angelegenheiten. Austria. Ministerium des Kaiserliche und Königliche Hauses und des Äussern. 1880.
Greek criminals Plevritis (Tsirit) and Nikolaos Polyannos (Tsolakis) mentioned in 1881
“Greek robbers. According to a report that had been delayed for some time, first the small merchant, then the baker, then the greengrocer. His comrade Plevritis, called Tsirit because of his speed, is a Cretan, about 33 years old, and lives in Smyrna. 255 Turkish pounds, a gold watch, and other items were found in his possession.
He had just bought a house for 10,000 drachmas to establish his asylum there. It seems, according to the investigations conducted so far, that Athens was the place where various extremely profitable robberies were planned and arranged. According to the AA newspaper, the robber captain Nikolaos Polyannos, called Tsolakis, was arrested in Athens these days, and on Tuesday, the robber Immanuel Plevritis, from the gang that had captured the Englishman Suter, was apprehended.
The robber captain, in whose possession 470 Turkish pounds, a gold watch with chain, valuable rings, and other items were found, is a native of Tenedos and 43 years old. After the Suter’s ransom payment had taken him on a journey to Europe with his share of the loot; from Vienna he returned to Athens and played there where he had previously lived.”
Source: Salzburger Volksblatt die unabhangige Tageszeitung fur Stadt und Land Salzburg. Volume 11. 1881.
Macedonian and Greek clergy and mayors as criminals in 1889
“Regarding the chapter on brigandage in Macedonia, a Viennese newspaper presents some accounts that are all the more instructive as they show that in Macedonia people like high-ranking clergy and mayors participate in the lucrative business of robbery. Approximately three months ago, four robbers from Kastoria, three women in robber’s attire, and a priest from the Cherilovo Monastery came to Vlaho Klissura, where they broke into the house of the Serbian sub-Thian, Simon Kotta Naum, at night.
He was bound, dragged back to Kastoria, and taken to the house of a Greek clergyman located next to the gendarmerie barracks. In this house, the unfortunate man was held captive for three full months. Blindfolded, with his ears plugged with cotton wool, and with his hands tied behind his back, he was locked in a cell from which he was only let out for meals.
The venerable prior of the Cherilovo Monastery, who was also the leader of the robbers, was the father. During this time, Gregorius twice went to Wlaho Klissura to see the prisoner’s mother. He told her that robbers had kidnapped her son, that he had met him in a nearby forest, and that he had received a letter from him addressed to his mother. In this letter, the son demanded 1500 Turkish pounds for his ransom, otherwise his nose and ears would be cut off.
On the second visit, July 21st, the prior received 300 pounds, but the next day he told the mother that the robbers were not satisfied with that. On the night of July 23rd to 24th, brigands left Kastoria with their prisoner, whom they carried on their backs and whose eyes were still blindfolded. One of the perpetrators stepped into a garden on the way.
The Turks rushed to battle, in which the gardener was killed and two Turks were wounded. During this time, the prisoner found an opportunity to hide in a bush where he was found by the guards of the nearby tobacco monopoly, who had been summoned by the gunfire and whose guards seem to have scared off the robbers. Archimandrite Gregorius, two robbers, and two of the women have already been arrested, although 60 pounds of the extorted money were still found.
The mayor of Klissura, Steffikis, has been deposed on suspicion of being in secret contact with the brigands and arrested along with his son, who is himself said to be a robber. These are edifying conditions. Strange sport.”
Source: Der freie Landesbote unabhängiges Organ für die Vertretung freiheitlicher Bestrebungen. 1889. 7/12.
Greek bandits kidnapp English Colonel Suter
“The Greeks have now achieved their first success in Turkey. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Turk who was affected, but rather the English Colonel Suter, whom Greek bandits happily captured near Thessaloniki. Strangely enough, whenever something happens somewhere, England always comes out looking bad.”
Source: Kladderadatsch. Volume 3. 1881.
Greek bandit epidemic in Athens and Greek bandit chief Spanos mentioned in newspaper in 1872
“Greek Bandits In Greece: banditry is currently flourishing like never before. It is no secret that Athens is in a kind of state of siege. No one dares venture even a thousand paces outside the city under the fire of an escort, for the bandits lie invisibly behind the cliffs, hidden in rock crevices and under bushes, and can shoot down the escort from there before the enemy discovers them and can think of defense or attack.
The notorious bandit chief Spanos, known for 30 years, holds the fate of Greece in his hands, for no progress is possible as long as this state of affairs lasts. The insecurity of property prevents the development of agriculture. No one dares to invest capital in land whose yield would be declared good money by the bandits.
Half the Greek army has been hunting Mr. Spanos for several months, who, with his gang, has been staying in the immediate vicinity of Athens during this time, and is even said to have been in Athens itself several times. in order to seize power by means of a coup d’état against one or the other high-ranking person and to secure impunity for their release.”
Source: Neues Fremden-Blatt. 1872.
Greek outlaws kill the son of Turkish merchant in Alampsa in 1880
“We continued our journey to the village of Alampsa, which in 1880 was the scene of a tragic event. In this village lived the Turkish merchant Hadji Uzin, who was known to possess 30,000 pounds sterling and had only one child, a 25-year-old son. Twenty Greek robbers landed in a large boat one Friday evening in September during the festival of Ramadan and went to Alampsa, only half an hour from the sea.
At the hour of prayer, when they knew that Hadji Uzin was in the mosque, they went to his house, seized his son, and took him away to demand a large ransom. Unfortunately, the two guards resisted, shot at the bandits, and wounded one of them. Since the entire village was thrown into turmoil by the gunfire, and the robbers feared being pursued by the Turks, they killed the two guards as well as Hadji Uzin’s son, who had been enjoying himself.
He would have sacrificed his entire fortune for his son’s life and fled. A similar skirmish in which two workers and two robbers were killed took place in July 1879 in the village of Kalifatli, only 20 minutes away from Hissarlik.”
Source: Unsere zeit. 1881.
Greek robbery problem so severe it is called a “Greek institution” in a German newspaper in 1871
“Greek Robbers: The government has done much in the last six months to control the robbery problem, but the roots of the evil run so deep that it can practically be called a Greek institution. Even a disproportionately large military force for the country has not been enough to completely eradicate it, and all the government’s measures have proven inadequate.
The causes of this situation are as follows: countries with declining agriculture and weak governments are ideal breeding grounds for robbers. Near larger cities, where agricultural products can be easily sold, and in the vineyards, it may well be that the Greeks lead a happy Arcadian existence and amass many thalers, which they gladly bury in the ground, as Fallmerayer reports.
However, the situation is different in all other regions. The peasants live very poorly, have no beds but sleep on the ground, and have little to eat. Their bread consists of barley flour and wheat bran, with nothing but olives and cheese. In winter, they have herbs and some milk. In summer, if things go well, they eat chicken on holidays and Paschal lamb at Easter; no other meat.
What they don’t consume at home, they transport on tiny pack animals along rocky paths to remote markets. This tax forms two-thirds of the state’s revenue and is mostly used to pay the troops needed to collect it. Furthermore, armored frigates are built for the construction and improvement of roads, but little or nothing is done to increase traffic and thus the yield of the land.
Society is still based on Byzantine principles; the rural population is taxed most oppressively and squalidly, just as by the archons who acted as tax collectors under Turkish rule, but without the communal institutions that, at least in the time of the sultans, allowed some independence.
Without the great fertility of the soil, the farmer could hardly eke out a living under such circumstances. Nevertheless, the hardships are such that the life of a bandit seems only slightly more arduous, far less burdensome, and therefore tempting. It happens that the sons of a peasant landowner disdain to hire themselves out as farmhands when, as is usually the case, the inheritance is only sufficient for one and the others cannot attain a suitable position as policemen, night watchmen, town servants, customs officers, or postmen in offices established by the political party.
They then turn to idleness, soon do something that brings them into conflict with the law, and become robbers. Since the founding of the Kingdom of Greece, the political situation there seemed rotten, and a reformation along French lines was, for the South Slavic people of the so-called Hellenes, just the right thing to fully expose all lies, deceit, and corruption, and to systematically gain the upper hand.
The Greeks derived their belief in robbery from this long before anyone abroad suspected a connection. They accused the Crown Council of supporting outlawed robbers and provided at least some proof that their readers believed such things. It is not unbelievable. While public opinion can be falsified by newspapers, there are far more reliable sources from which one can assume the same thing.
The current Finance Minister, Soteropulos, openly accuses the robbers of Morea, his rivals, in his writing, that they do not consider it beneath their dignity to favor and use robbers. He reports that the gang that captured him was appointed by people who had decided on his downfall in order to indulge their wickedness and eliminate a political opponent. Even assuming that this were not the case, the probability of such a situation still arises from the fact that a dignitary of reputation and position presents it in this way.
Since those in power know how to protect their robbery protégés from punishment by omitting just judges and rewarding the prison guards for letting the criminals escape, it seems difficult and dangerous to bring such wrongdoers to justice. The most rightful robbers to Convicting someone is not easy; carrying out the sentence is almost impossible. Soteropulos says that in Greece, prison is only a punishment in name, because after a short time in jail, the worst villains are usually released by the Minister of Justice.
The cruel revenge of the escaped robbers is the most appalling aspect of this terrible scene. The Greek constitutional monarchy is still not far enough along to have independent judges; they can be appointed and dismissed at will without cause. Naturally, there are enormous protests against the death penalty. And so it came to pass that even in Attica one could never truly control the evil.”
Source: Klagenfurter Tagespost. (Verantwortlicher Red. August Emmer.). August Emmer. 1871
