Philhellenism

Philhellenism was a predominantly nineteenth century intellectual movement in Europe and North America marked by great enthusiasm for Greece and classical Greek culture. At its height, the influence of philhellenism—particularly the recognition that classical Greek culture was the foundation of modern culture—fueled the rise of the classicism and neoclassicism movements in art and literature. Philhellenism also sparked a renewed interest in studying classical Greece and inspired various efforts to revive some elements of that culture. In addition, philhellenism had a direct impact on the contemporary European political scene. Specifically, the sense of philhellenism that permeated much of Europe in the first decades of the nineteenth century played a key role in determining the outcome of the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s. With the aid of philhellenic supporters in Europe and North America, the people of Greece successfully won their independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Background

Although the fundamental concept of philhellenism as “love of Greek culture” has existed in one form or another since antiquity, the emergence of the modern philhellenism movement in the nineteenth century was inextricably linked to the Greek War of Independence. For that reason, an accurate understanding of philhellenism in the modern sense can only be achieved through examination of the events surrounding the war.

From the fifteenth century, the region encompassing modern-day Greece was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. The empire was a powerful Turkish state that controlled a vast swath of southwestern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa between the fourteenth and twentieth centuries. While the Greeks made a number of attempts to free themselves from Ottoman rule in the centuries that followed, none proved to be successful. A more fruitful move for independence eventually got its start with the founding of a secret organization known as Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends) in 1814. By that point, Greeks from all socioeconomic backgrounds strongly supported the formation of an independent Greek nation. This was due in no small part to the fact that the Greek Orthodox Church spent many years reinforcing the idea of a Greek national identity.

The Greek War of Independence officially began when Etairist general Alexandros Ypsilantis led a band of troops into Ottoman-controlled Moldavia in March 1821. Although he was quickly defeated, subsequent revolts against Ottoman rule in Greece sparked an uprising that forced the Turks out by early 1822. While the Turks never retook the Peloponnese, internal disputes kept the Greeks from consolidating their power and formally establishing an independent state. In the latter half of the 1820s, the unrest within Greece allowed the Ottomans to invade the Peloponnese and seize a number of key locales, including Athens. It was at this point that the assistance of European powers—a result of strong philhellenic spirit—helped the Greeks turn the tide and win their independence. Crippled by the destruction of the Egyptian fleet in 1827, the Ottomans were eventually forced to concede defeat and sign an agreement that led to the establishment of an independent Greek state in 1830.

Overview

Philhellenism is a fundamental response to the concept of Hellenism. Traditionally, the people of Greece do not refer to themselves as Greek. Rather, they refer to themselves as Hellenes, a term that better reflects the historical and cultural legacy that stretches back to antiquity. Since that time, people from other parts of the world have borrowed and incorporated many aspects of Hellenic culture. This process, in addition to transforming other cultures, gradually transformed Hellenic culture as well. The relationship between Hellenic culture and other cultures is known as Hellenism. In this context, philhellenism can be viewed as a love for and an appreciation of the importance of Hellenic culture among non-Hellene peoples.

Philhellenism in the modern sense first began to take hold in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. One of the main reasons for philhellenism’s rise during this time was the increasing popularity of “The Grand Tour.” A long-standing tradition dating back to the seventeenth century, The Grand Tour was a gap-year of sorts during which young aristocrats spent months or even years traveling across Europe and experiencing other cultures. As the birthplace of Western civilization, Greece was one of the most popular stops on The Grand Tour. After visiting Greece and exploring everything the region had to offer, these young people returned home with a desire to share the wonders of Hellenic culture with others. Their passion for Greece ultimately led to the creation of a variety of art and literature that helped fuel Europe’s growing sense of philhellenism. Thanks to their efforts, people across Europe and elsewhere soon came to be enthralled with all things Greek, including everything from classical philosophy to traditional Greek food and the Greek lifestyle.

Philhellenism began to reach its peak around the turn of the nineteenth century as the European embrace of Greek ideals helped lead to the French Revolution and other major events that radically altered Europe’s political status quo. Seeing this sort of change and hoping to take advantage of support from their philhellenic friends, the Greeks were inspired to look towards independence themselves. With the onset of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, philhellenic lovers of Greek culture immediately mobilized to help Greece break free from Ottoman control. Before long, philhellenic societies were formed in numerous European cities to shore up support for the Greek struggle. A similar movement occurred in the United States, though it ultimately fell short of convincing the American government to join the war effort. In any event, numerous European and American philhellenes volunteered to fight alongside the Greeks. Perhaps most notable among these volunteers was the English poet Lord Byron, who strongly supported the Greek war effort despite dying of a fever before he actually saw combat. Ultimately, philhellenic support played a critical role in Greece’s victory over the Ottomans and the establishment of an independent Greek state.

Bibliography

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