Theodoros Deligiannis

Theodoros Deligiannis                    ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΣ   ΔΗΛΙΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ  
       

Born January 2, 1820, Arkadia       Died 31 May, 1905, Athens

Section 1, Number 110

Theodoros Deligiannis was one  half of the dynamic duo monopolizing Greek politics in the 1880s and 90s in a push-me-pull-me fight for the fickle favour of the Greek electorate. HarilaosTrikoupis was the other half, and they were polar opposites. If Harilaos stood for liberal values and internal reforms, Theodoros, ever the populist, opted for a militaristic stance and good old fashioned politics as usual. Theodoros wanted to go full steam ahead and push the boundaries of the new nation even farther into Ottoman territory; Harilaos, while not abandoning the Great Idea, urged caution and a “let’s get things at home straightened out first” approach to foreign affairs.  They could not even agree about Greece holding the Olympics in 1896. Trikoupis saw the venture as a vast money pit; Theodoros as a way for Greece to assure its rightful place as the ‘source’ of all that was great in European culture. Their rivalry and enmity was so great that Deligiannis could gain political ground simply by declaring to his followers that whatever Trikoupis was for, he was against!

 Modern historians have declared liberal minded Trikoupis the winner and relegated Deligiannis to the back burner of history – the one forward looking and the other an anachronism. But, it could be argued that each represents a part of a struggle for identity – their rivalry an externalization of a conflict that is still unresolved in the political psyche of Greece today.

Who Was Theodoros Deligiannis?

Anyone in the Peloponnese can answer that question. The Deligiannis family were a powerful clan from Langadia in Arcadia who did very well during the Turkish occupation and had control of enough land and warriors to take care of their many financial interests. Even the great Theodoros Kolokotronis worked for the family at one time. When independence came, the Deligiannis family, like other prominent families in “Old Greece” (including the Mavromichalis clan from the Mani,) flocked to Athens and became social and political movers and shakers.

His Life

Theodoros was born in Langadia, studied law in Athens, and entered politics in 1843, serving under both King Othon and his successor King George 1. He did serve for a time as Greek minister in Paris but, like Trikoupis, his interest lay in politics at home. He held various important posts over the years and in 1883 became leader of the Nationalist Party – the main rival to Trikoupis’ New Party. A Hawk by nature, Deligiannis would advocate pushing the Ottomans militarily for territorial concessions when he formed his first government in 1885. That policy ended in the British blockade of Piraeus and his political downfall. But he kept at it, returning to power in 1890, losing in 1892 (dismissed by the king really) because of his inability to handle the financial crisis (caused mainly by Trikoupis’ ambitious reforms and his own military spending), and returning again in 1895. He would lead Greece into a disastrous war over Crete in 1897 causing the king to dismiss him for a second time. His party hit its nadir in 1899 in terms of public support but he kept his own seat and slowly gained influence once more, becoming Prime Minister in late 1902 for a short time, and again in 1905, just in time to be assassinated on the steps of the Greek parliament by a gambler, Antonios  Gerakaris, in revenge for his recent legislation against gambling dens.  He was 85. He had been prime minister 5 times during the last 19 years of his life.

a lithograph of the assassination

Outside of the Old Parliament Building on Stadiou Street stands an imposing marble statue of Theodoros  Deligiannis just to the north of the very steps where he was murdered.

On the side of the building and facing south west towards Syntagma Square, is the even more imposing statue of Trikoupis, with an angel sitting on its base and “Greece wants to live, and will live” * engraved in large letters.

 * The word ‘live’ might better be translated as ‘prosper’ – that is its connotation.

 It would appear that, in the marble statue sweepstakes, at any rate, Trikoupis has the edge.  But don’t count Deligiannis out quite yet. In his book A History of the Balkans 1804-1945, S.K. Pavlowitch comments that the populism favoured by Deligiannis ‘better reflected the prejudices of the public’ than did the more measured and thoughtful approach of Trikoupis. (p. 150).

 Has anything really changed? The issues and rivalries of this era seem all too familiar today. The only thing missing is the royal family.

His Grave

Section One, Number 110

It would be easy to miss the Deligiannis family grave in spite of the fact that it backs onto the main walkway to Agios Lazarus church.  The letters are faded and, when you approach it from its entrance side, it is quite derelict. It is not far from the resting place of Harilaos Trikoupis. Not surprisingly, they are facing in different directions.

On both sides of the upright monument   you will see the name THEODOROS DELIGIANNIS Then:

BORN IN LANGADIA GORTYNIA, MAY 12 1823

FALLEN ON THE STEPS OF PARLIAMENT MAY 13, 1905

The Map