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A Brief History of Hydra

Hydra's Byzantine History

Without a special historical presence in the Medieval Ages, it was thought that Hydra was unimportant until the first post Byzantine years when the island followed the destiny of the major cities nearby on the Peloponnese, which it belonged to. Politically and culturally the nearby Dhokos Island, belonged to Hydra throughout these centuries as it still does today.

Hydra in the 16th & 17th Centuries

Most areas of Greece were in turmoil because of war during these centuries. The island in the 16th Century was mainly populated with migrants (Arvanites) from the lands North of Greece (what is now called Albania) who settled on Hydra to become farmers. The oldest inhabited area of Hydra is called Kiafa which in the Arvanites language means "top", literally describing the highest point where early settlers built their homes in the middle ages. By the 17th Century, war combined with the outbreak of piracy in the Mediterranean, contributed to further settlement on the island. Throughout this period several Greek families moved to Hydra. From Epirus the Lazarou, Zerva, Kokini and Koundouriotis families; from Kythnos the Barou, Rafalia, Nega, Ghika and Gouma families; from Vourla of Smyrna, the Giakoumaki and Tombazis families; from Euboea the Vokos, Miaoulis, Kriezis and Boudouris families; from Kranidi the Tsamados family; from Genova Kiosses, Sahinis and Sachtouris; the Epidaurus family, the Economou family and others from all over Greece.

Arvanites (Greek: Αρβανίτες, Arvanítes; Arvanitika: Arbëreshë / Αρbε̰ρεσ̈ε̰ or Arbërorë) were a bilingual population group in Greece who traditionally spoke Arvanitika, a dialect of the Albanian language, along with Greek. They settled in Greece during the late Middle Ages and were the dominant population element of some regions of the Peloponnese and Attica until the 19th century. Arvanites today self-identify as Greeks as the result of a process of assimilation, and do not consider themselves to belong to Albania or the Albanian nation. They call themselves Arvanites (in Greek) and Arbëror (in their language). The Arvanite communities in northwestern Greece call themselves Shqiptar (the same used by Albanians of Albania). Arvanitika is in a state of attrition due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.

18th Century Hydra

Further settlement occurred during the next Venetian-Turkish war (1700 - 1715), the Russian-Turkish war (1768 - 1774) and also during the Greek revolution (1821), which molded the social and cultural evolution of Hydra. Thus, Argosaronikus, insignificant until this period, numbered 27,000 inhabitants. This demographic explosion had positive and negative consequences regarding social progress. The most positive being, were the development of trade and the rapid progress of shipping.

Hydra as a sea power

(Source https://www.nhmuseum.gr/en/exhibitions/hydra-as-a-sea-power/)

In the last years of the 18th century and up to 1815, international conjunctures, such as the decline of Venice and of its powerful navy and the rivalry between Britain and France (1792-1815), allowed Hydriotes to dominate Mediterranean trade. The leader of the Greek sailors serving in the Ottoman navy, was always a Hydriote. Hydra became the pre-eminent sea power amongst the Greek islands, a role which would be key in the Independence War.

The town of Hydra no longer resembled the small settlement of the first farmers and stockbreeders. It gradually spread amphitheatrically and opened on to the sea, which became the focal point of Hydriote administrative, economic and social life. In the last two decades of the 18th century, a number of imposing buildings were erected, most of which were clustered in a prominent position on the hill on the west side of the harbour. Their exteriors were mostly plain, but inside they exhibited riches comparable to Genoese Renaissance mansions, for they were equipped with comforts very rare at the time, elegant furniture and decorative objects brought from ports of the East and West.

The Revolution was proclaimed on Hydra suddenly on the night of 27 March 1821 by Captain Antonios Economou, member of Philiki Etaireia, and the enthusiastic inhabitants of the island. Economou took military and political power on the island, collected funds and prepared a fleet with Lazaros Koundouriotis’ help. In a declaration on April 16, 1821, Hydra officially joined the Revolution and decided that its naval squadron should put to sea under Admiral Yakoumakis Tombazis. The ships of the three "naval islands", Hydra, Spetses and Psara, formed a battle-worthy force that was placed at the disposal of the struggle for independence. From 1822, Andreas Miaoulis led the Hydriote fleet from victory to victory, effectively giving command of the Revolution’s naval affairs to Hydra. Fearless naval commanders and fireship captains, such as Sachtouris, Tsamados, Sachinis, Kriezis, Pinotsis and Pipinos, were at the forefront of the naval struggle of the Greeks.


QUARANTINE and LAZARETTOS on HYDRA 200 years ago.

Quarantine on Hydra Island Greece during the 1800s.
Quarantine on Hydra Island Greece during the 1800s.
Quarantine was described as “the greatest annoyance for travellers to Greece” in the 1800s.

During the 1700s there were two quarantine stations (Lazarettos) in Hydra – one was on the islet opposite Vlychos and the other was on the site of the present Melina Mercouri Hall.

In 1828, stringent new quarantine regulations were introduced throughout Greece and the first new lazarettos were built on Aegina, Syros, Spetses and Hydra. By then, the lazaretto in Vlychos had already fallen into disuse (it was described as a ruin at that time). The new quarantine laws were rigidly enforced, but, to the frustration of travellers, the length of quarantine varied from 10 – 40 days and was liable to constant fluctuations.

The new quarantine station on Hydra was at Mandraki and received particular praise: "Hydra has one of the best lazarettos in Greece. It is a spacious new building, situated at Mandraki. The rooms are good, well arranged, clean, and well ventilated. Attached to the lazaretto is an extensive yard for exercise. Provisions, however, at Hydra are dearer than in any other part of Greece, owing to the barrenness of the soil”. This was written by an English voyager in 1841 – but the last sentence could just as well have been written today.

Researched by Corinna Seeds © and published 1/7/2020

Hydra Prospers in the 19th Century

In 1802 the governmental system of the island changed when Kapoudan Pashas' favourite George Dimas Voulgaris, the chief commander of the Turkish flag ship, was sent to Hydra. Voulgaris was appointed by the sultan as Kotzabasis and supervisor (Naziris) of Hydra, Poros and Spetses in order to regain peace and order on the islands. His prudence as well as Ottoman favour, contributed to a well-governed island. The period of economical prosperity, the control of piracy and internal peace, which followed the years of Voulgaris' rule, gave the Hydrians the opportunity to organize their society as they wished.
 
The constant fights against pirates changed them from farmers and shepherds into bold seaman. On the eve of the Greek National Independence War the island was on alert. Hydra had 120 ships ready for war, 45,000dwt, 5,400 men and 2,400 cannons.

Hydra's Involvement During The Greek Revolution

Many Hydrians, some of them eminent persons within the island's society, joined the Filiki Etairia (Society of the Friends, the secret Greek independence organization) in around 1818. The considerable amount of 130,000 distila (about 40,000 pounds sterling) was raised by Hydra's leaders and the epic rise of the island began.
 
Hydra bore the brunt of the war and became the focal point for Greek naval forces. The successive victories during sea battles and the dominance of Hydrian heros, served to compose the islands historical picture. Koundouriotis, Tombazis, Kriezis, Sahtouris, Tsamados, Voudouris, Economou, Pipinos, Gionis, Robotsis, Vatikiotis, Gelis, Skourtis, Methenitis, Vatsaxis, Sahinis and Andreas Miaoulis with his imperious character, each contributed to the revolution in his own way and raised the status of this small, Greek piece of land throughout Europe.
 
In 1822 Andreas Miaoulis took over the leadership of the Hydrian fleet, since then the island bares the palm of the sea battles. The achievement of the objective of Hydra and Greece in general soon became apparent. In 1827 at Navarino's sea battle, the united fleets of England, France and Russia restricted the Ottomans ambitions and in 1830 forced them, with London's Protocol, to recognize the independence of the Greek state.
 
The first governor, Ioannis Kapodistirias began the difficult process of restoring peace after the state of emergency. Hydra of course wasn't an exception to the rule. The military expenditure had been a drain on the island's resources. Furthermore, relations between liberal Hydrians and the Governor, with his restorative program, deteriorated because Kapodistirias objected to paying compensation for damages to the islanders. The inevitable rupture between the two sides resulted in opposition confrontation between them especially through the press. Hydrians and other dissatisfied islanders from the Aegean sea, people of Poros, Mykonos, Syros, Naxos, Andros and Paros fought hard against Kapodistirias which led to rebellion against him when ships of the Greek fleet were set on fire.
 
On The 1st of August 1831, at the port of Poros, Andreas Miaoulis destroyed the corvettes, "Hydra" and "Spetses" and the frigate "Hellas". These tragic events reached their climax when Governor Kapodistirias, was murdered by George and Constantinos Mavromihalis on the 27th September 1831 at Nafplio.
 
In spite of the absence of Kapodistiras the situation didn't improve. Unfavourable economic circumstances, unemployment of ships crews, the revolutionary changes in navigation from sail to steam wrought by the appearance of the first steam ships in the middle of that century, contributed to an unsettled situation. The Hydrians despaired as they resisted the innovative changes and many of them decided to leave the island to seek better fortune in capital cities. The new "deus ex machina" sponge fishing, failed to provide sufficient incentive for them to stay. Athens and Piraeus became their new homes.
 
However, the historical social and political stress does not diminish the Hydra's proud contribution to the Greek nation. This small island has presented Greece with one president, five prime ministers and numerous cabinet ministers. In order of premiership, the following Hydrians have governed Greece:
  • George Koundouriotis Prime Minister and Minister of Shipping during the reign of King Otto - March to October 1844.
  • Antonios Kriezis Prime Minister during the reign of King Otto - December 1849 to May 1854
  • Dimitrious Voulgaris Prime Minister of Greece 7 times.
  • Athanasios Miaoulis Prime Minister for Greece 3 times.
  • Petros Vougaris Prime Minister of Greece - 1945.
 
Another great Hydrian of modern Greece, was Pavlos Koundouiriotis, the inspired Admiral of the Greek fleet, victorious at sea battles during the Balkan and First World War. In 1923 after the removal of King George II from the throne, Koundouriotis served as the provisional governor of Greece for 1 year. In 1924 the national assembly elected him the first President of the Greek Democracy.

Notable People

Georgios Sachtouris (Greek: Γεώργιος Σαχτούρης, 1783–1841) was a Hydriot ship captain and a leading admiral of the Greek War of Independence.


Born on Hydra Island, like most of its population he engaged in maritime commerce. Following the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, he became a leading commander of the Hydriot ships, and participated in the sea battles of Patras, Spetses, Samos, Gerontas, and others, as well as in the failed raid on Alexandria. Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias appointed him commander of the Messenian squadron, but soon he joined the opposition forces against the Governor.


With the establishment of the independent Kingdom of Greece, Sachtouris joined the Royal Hellenic Navy, receiving the rank of vice admiral and serving in several senior commands. He died at his home island of Hydra in 1841. His sons Dimitrios and Konstantinos likewise became naval officers. His great-grandson Miltos Sachtouris was a distinguished poet. The Greek navy named a 1834-built gunboat, a World War II-era Flower-class corvette, and a Gearing-class destroyer after him. Link

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