On This Day in 1866: The Cretan revolt begins

·

The isle of Crete, despite its many attempts to free itself from under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, including during the Greek Revolution of 1821, was still under occupation in 1866. The strong desire of the local Christians to rejoin with the motherland was what sparked the flame of this resurgence. It may have been short-lived but it did manage to turn the eyes of almost the entire civilized Europe towards the island’s plight.

Written below are five of the most important facts you need to know about the Cretan revolt of 1866:

The Monastery of Arkadi as it looks today. Image: Supplied
  1. It all began after a number of petitions towards the then-Sultan Abdulaziz by the citizens of Crete were ignored. This triggered them to taking up arms against their suppressors and forcing them towards the outskirts of the island.
  2. The Cretans set up their headquarters at the Monastery of Arkadi, which was set to become the location of their final stand as their conquerors began to gain ground and push them back.
  3. According to reports, over 700 women and children had taken refuge at the monastery.
  4. Just before the Ottoman army could break in, the abbot of Arkadi blew up all the gunpowder that was being stored in the vaults, thus putting an end to the lives of not just the rebels, but the innocents who were seeking asylum from the conflict as well.
  5. The Ottoman army that arrived at the island to put a stop to the insurrection numbered 15,000 while they also had with them over 30 cannons. On the other side, the Cretans were but a few thousand.

Sources: Greek Boston and Wikipedia.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From passion to production: Steven Koutzoumis launches SoundCult studio in Sydney

In the heart of Beverly Hills, a fresh sound is taking shape - and it’s being led by young Greek Australian Steven Koutzoumis who has a vision

Greek immersion in the early years pays off for Year 8 student Mariah Palaktsoglou

Year 8 student Mariah Palaktsoglou won the Hellenic Dreaming High School Short Story Competition held by the Greek Museum of Adelaide Inc.

Faith, family and football: The making of Nectarios Triantis

Growing up in a bustling Greek Australian household in Sydney, footballer Nectarios Triantis was never far from a football - or chaos.

Bella Spasis’ big deal: Live music in Victoria set to thrive

Greek-Victorian bar owner, Isabella (Bella) Spasis, hosted a remarkable event at her venue, ‘The Dog’s Bar’ early on Sunday morning, July 6.

GOCNSW Home for the Aged welcomes Consul General and celebrates its donors

The Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged played host to the Consul General of Greece in Sydney and some of its major donors.

You May Also Like

Discussions ongoing between Clubs and Football Australia over National Second Tier

Discussions are ongoing between Football Australia and the eight National Second Tier Foundation Clubs on the future of the competition.

Greek Australians fail to make BBL finals despite incredible season performances

Greek Australians Peter Hatzoglou and Marcus Stoinis have failed to reach the Big Bash League finals after their teams finished last and second-to-last respectively.

The Cretan Lifestyle Conference: Exploring Wellness, Food and Culture

A conference titled Cretan Lifestyle: Mediterranean Tradition & Modern Applications assembled some of the world’s top thought leaders.