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Greece: Independence war

See also :

The Greek independence war

The Greek struggle for independence lasted from 1821 to 1829. Many different flags were used by the Greek forces during the fight against the Ottomans. Some of these flags had already been used in localized insurrection movements before the general uprising of 1821-22.
The independent state of Greece was proclaimed in 1822 and national flags were officially adopted. However, the fight against the Turks lasted until 1829.
After the independence, Greece attempted to incorporate all areas inhabited by Greeks and the definitive borders with the neighbouring countries were stabilized only in the mid-1920s.

Ivan Sache, 25 October 2003

The blue cross revolutionary flag

Greek revolutionary flag - Image by Herman De Wael, 26 March 1998

According to the book Hellenic flags [kok97], a white flag with a blue cross is known to have been used by forces connected with the Kolokotronis family, as well as the Cypriot forces of Hadjigeorgios. It was also used by the forces of Mellissinos Makarios after (perhaps during) the 1769 revolution. This probably does not exhaust its usage. As such, it was perhaps the most widely used Greek revolutionary flag.
Nevertheless, a different national flag was adopted by the provisional government.

Norman Martin, 26 March 1998

Flag used by Greek guerillas (1821-1829)

Greek guerilla flag - Image by Ivan Sarajčić, 31 May 2000

The flag is horizontally divided yellow-blue-white, with a white cross in the middle of the blue stripe, flanked by two green branches. The revolutionary motto:
ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ Η ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ (Freedom or Death)
the main motto of this war and the current national motto of Greece, is horizontally written, in black, in the lower part of the flag.

This flag was used by the Greek guerillas against the Ottoman occupation during the independence war (1821-1829).

Selefkos, 31 May 2000

Alexander Ypsilantis's standard (1820-1821)

Flag of Ypsilantis' Sacred Battalion, obverse - Image by Jaume Ollé, 11 January 1999

Alexander Ypsilantis (1792-1828) was a Greek who served as a general in the Russian Army. He was the leader of the political movement called Philiki Etairia (1820-1821) and led an invasion of Moldavia in an abortive attempt to liberate the Balkans from Ottoman rule.

Ypsilantis' flag is horizontally divided red-white-black.
Red stands for the imperial purple robe and the self-government of the Greek people; white stands for innocence of the just cause of the Greek struggle against tyranny; and black represents the death of the Greeks for country and freedom.

The obverse of the flag shows Saint Constantine (Emperor Constantine the Great) and his mother Saint Helena, flanked by the words, in black:
ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΟ / ΝΙΚΑ (In this sign / thou shall conquest).

The reverse of the flag shows a phoenix emerging from the ashes.

It was the flag of Alexander and Demetrius Ypsilantis. The members of the Sacred Battalion and Georgios Olympos, heroes of the Greek independence struggle, fought and died under this flag.

Source: Hellenic flags [kok97]

Pascal Vagnat, 11 January 1999

Andreas Londos' standard (1821)

On 21 March 1821, Andreas Londos flew a red flag with a black Latin cross resting on a white crescent, with horns down. The reverse of this flag is reported as plain red.

Source: Hellenic flags [kok97]

Norman Martin, 18 July 2003

Nikitaras' standard

Nikitaras' standard - Image by Thanos Tzikis, 4 April 2004

The flag used by Nikitaras, from his real name Nikitas Stamelopoulos (1782-1849) is shown in the National History Museum in Athens.

Thanos Tzikis, 4 April 2004