We start off the chilly month of December with a hot battle in the history of Athens, one of the world's oldest cities. After the Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in the 15th Century, much of the old Eastern Roman Empire, including all of Greece, fell under Ottoman control. Three centuries of Islamic rule began in the ancient land, but not without obvious resentment from the native Greeks. While the Turks were enamored with the antiquated beauty of Athens, the city's population had less than cordial feelings toward their new rulers.
Despite the fact that Turkish forces were ordered to leave the ancient ruins of Athens in peace, most inhabitants had fled the city by the start of the 19th Century. In the coming years, constant conflict with the west meant many of the city's buildings, even on the famed Acropolis, were turned into fortresses, and the Turks went as far as burning most of the city to stop a Venetian attack in 1688. By 1814, a secret society of Greek patriots known as the Filiki Eteria, or "Society of Friends", felt it was time to restore the nation to its rightful owners.
For the most part, Europe was unsure of how to view the Greek nationalists. While any swipe at the Ottomans was seen as beneficial, western rulers were nervous that uprisings against an established empire could incite similar movements at home. Some Europeans, however, knew exactly where they stood. Enter our honorary over-zealous Frenchman of the day, Charles Nicolas Fabvier. As you might imagine, Fabvier had very different ideas about European involvement in Greece.
Charles Nicolas Fabvier, in traditional Greek dress.
A well-schooled engineer and expert in all types of cannon, he once served as an artillery major under the indomitable Michel Ney. After joining the army in 1804 Fabvier was wounded in several major engagements during the Napoleonic wars. He was the representative from France who signed the peace treaty after Bonaparte was exiled the first time, then reenlisted and followed his emperor to Waterloo. In 1823, Fabvier was under investigation by the French government for aiding Bonapartists when he decided to join the Greek Independence movement.
After rebuilding the coastal fortifications in Navarino Bay, on the western coast of Greece, Fabvier was given command of the newly formed Greek Army. His men made their way to Athens, which had briefly been held by the Greeks before being retaken by the Ottomans, to lay siege to the Turkish forces occupying the Acropolis. There, on December 1, 1826, Fabvier's men succeeded in breaking through enemy lines and seizing the ancient monument to Western Civilization.
Unfortunately for the Greeks, and for Fabvier's legacy, the capture of the Acropolis was not the end of the war. Two more years of fighting and more than three more years of negotiations still lay ahead for the troubled crossroads between east and west. Following his battle in Athens, Fabvier returned to France to drum up further support for Greek independence. He made his way back to Greece to participate in the final battles of the war in 1828.
Following the War of Independence, King Othon of Greece makes his way to the foot of the Parthenon on the Acropolis after entering Athens in 1833.Perhaps because he was a foreigner, Fabvier does not get the same credit as other heroes of the Greek War of Independence, most notably Alexander Ypsilantis and Theodoros Kolokotronis. In spite of this, his contributions cannot be overlooked. A soldier through and through, Fabvier was eventually promoted to Lieutenant General by the French government and later served in parliament. In keeping with our goals at Lies Agreed Upon, we felt the tale of this fighting Frenchie was too good to pass up.
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