Georgios Christakis-Zografos (Greek: Γεώργιος Χρηστάκης-Ζωγράφος; 1863–1920) was a Greek politician, minister of foreign affairs and president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus (1914).
Georgios Christakis-Zografos Γεώργιος Χρηστάκης-Ζωγράφος
He was the son of the entrepreneur and benefactor Christakis Zografos, from Qestorat, (Lunxhëri) in the Gjirokastër prefecture. Christakis-Zografos studied in Paris and in Munich law and political science. When he returned in Greece, he was involved in agricultural reforms especially according to the large fields his father possessed in Thessaly. During this period he supported the concept that the large feudal estates (called cifliks during the period) of the region should be expropriated and redistributed to those who owned no land. He sold to non-land owners much of his agricultural fields in extremely low prices.
1905–1913edit
In 1905, he was elected to the Greek Parliament for the Karditsa prefecture. In 1909, he served as Foreign Minister under Dimitrios Rallis.[2] After the First Balkan War, he was appointed Governor General of newly liberated from the Greek Army Epirus region. Christakis-Zografos served as Governor General of Epirus from March 29 (March 16 OS), 1913 until December 31 (December 18 OS) of the same year.
Head of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirusedit
When the Great Powers decided to award Northern Epirus to Albania, local Greeks formed a provisional government under Christakis-Zografos on February 28, 1914 and declared their autonomy the following day in Gjirokastër. Zografos sent a note to each of the representatives of the Great Powers explaining the eminent situation:[3]
Under these conditions and in the absence of a solution that would suffice to safeguard Epirus, a solution would have been otherwise so easy to discover, the Epirote populace is forced to declare to the Powers that it cannot submit to their decision. It will declare its independence and will struggle for its existence, its traditions and its rights. But, before it executes this last decision, Epirus turns for the last time to face its judges and pleads with them to modify their decision by which a whole people is condemned. This people hopes that the Powers will be pleased to make known to it, the sole interested party, their final decision May Christian and civilized Europe, by this decision, escape the heavy responsibility for the horror of a ruthless struggle.
After a three months period of armed conflicts, the European Powers intervened and asked for negotiations on a new basis. On May 17 the state of Northern Epirus was internationally recognized by the Protocol of Corfu, as an autonomous region inside the borders of Albania. However, this state was short lived and on October 27, when World War I broke out and the Albanian government collapsed, the Greek army re-entered the area with the sanction of the Great Powers.
1914–1920edit
Christakis-Zografos after the second Greek administration in the area, returned to Greece and was elected at the following elections. He resigned his office at December 1914. A little while later he became executive of the National Bank of Greece, position he retained until September 1917, with a short-term interval (February 25-August 10, 1915) when he became for second time Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinet of Dimitrios Gounaris. He supported the entrance Greece on the side of the Triple Entente during World War I, foreseeing that this strategic move could offer to the country several advantages. He retired in 1917 and died three years later from a longtime heart ailment.
Legacyedit
During the Communist regime in Albania (1945–1992), Georgios Christakis-Zografos and his father Christakis Zografos (notable benefactor and entrepreneur), were stigmatised as 'enemies of the state'. Anyone from his home town who held the name 'Zografos' (whether relatives or not), was therefore persecuted. After 1992 however, the situation has changed. Today, the Zografeio school in Qestorati, founded by his father, has been renovated and has reopened as a museum.[4]
Referencesedit
^Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
^Pyrrhus Ruches. Albanian historical folksongs, 1716-1943: a survey of oral epic poetry from southern Albania, with original texts. Argonaut, 1967 p. 104-105.
^http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/16/57/25/PDF/de_Rapper_2005a.pdf ...were stigmatised in Albanian historiography as shovinistë and borgjezë (chauvinist, bourgeois) who had worked to destroy the Albanian nation by pretending that all Orthodox Christians were Greek or should be Greek, and by supporting the opening of Greek schools in Lunxhëri and elsewhere. In consequence of this negative propaganda, the last people who still hold the family name Zografi in their village of origin, Qestorat, were persecuted during communism....its re-opening as a museum of Lunxhëri...
Sourcesedit
Abbott, G. F. (2008). Greece and the Allies 1914-1922. BiblioBazaar. ISBN978-0-554-39462-6.
Stickney, Edith Pierpont (1926). Southern Albania or northern Epirus in European international affairs, 1912-1923. Stanford University Press. ISBN9780804761710.
Ruches, Pyrrhus J. (1965). Albania's captives. Argonaut.
georgios, christakis, zografos, other, people, with, same, name, zografos, disambiguation, greek, Γεώργιος, Χρηστάκης, Ζωγράφος, 1863, 1920, greek, politician, minister, foreign, affairs, president, autonomous, republic, northern, epirus, 1914, Γεώργιος, Χρηστ. For other people with the same name see Zografos disambiguation Georgios Christakis Zografos Greek Gewrgios Xrhstakhs Zwgrafos 1863 1920 was a Greek politician minister of foreign affairs and president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus 1914 Georgios Christakis ZografosGewrgios Xrhstakhs ZwgrafosGeorgios Christakis Zografos 1914President of the Autonomous Republic of Northern EpirusIn office 28 February 1914 28 October 1914Preceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byPosition abolishedMinister for Foreign Affairs Greece In office 7 July 1909 15 August 1909Preceded byGeorgios BaltatzisSucceeded byKyriakoulis MavromichalisIn office 25 February 1915 10 August 1915Preceded byEleftherios VenizelosSucceeded byDimitrios GounarisPersonal detailsBorn 1863 03 08 8 March 1863 1 Paris FranceDied24 June 1920 1920 06 24 aged 57 Athens GreeceNationalityGreekAlma materUniversity of ParisLudwig Maximilian University of MunichProfessionJuristMember of ParliamentDiplomat Contents 1 Life 1 1 Studies and early career 1 2 1905 1913 1 3 Head of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus 1 4 1914 1920 2 Legacy 3 References 4 SourcesLife editStudies and early career edit He was the son of the entrepreneur and benefactor Christakis Zografos from Qestorat Lunxheri in the Gjirokaster prefecture Christakis Zografos studied in Paris and in Munich law and political science When he returned in Greece he was involved in agricultural reforms especially according to the large fields his father possessed in Thessaly During this period he supported the concept that the large feudal estates called cifliks during the period of the region should be expropriated and redistributed to those who owned no land He sold to non land owners much of his agricultural fields in extremely low prices 1905 1913 edit In 1905 he was elected to the Greek Parliament for the Karditsa prefecture In 1909 he served as Foreign Minister under Dimitrios Rallis 2 After the First Balkan War he was appointed Governor General of newly liberated from the Greek Army Epirus region Christakis Zografos served as Governor General of Epirus from March 29 March 16 OS 1913 until December 31 December 18 OS of the same year Head of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus edit Main article Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus When the Great Powers decided to award Northern Epirus to Albania local Greeks formed a provisional government under Christakis Zografos on February 28 1914 and declared their autonomy the following day in Gjirokaster Zografos sent a note to each of the representatives of the Great Powers explaining the eminent situation 3 Under these conditions and in the absence of a solution that would suffice to safeguard Epirus a solution would have been otherwise so easy to discover the Epirote populace is forced to declare to the Powers that it cannot submit to their decision It will declare its independence and will struggle for its existence its traditions and its rights But before it executes this last decision Epirus turns for the last time to face its judges and pleads with them to modify their decision by which a whole people is condemned This people hopes that the Powers will be pleased to make known to it the sole interested party their final decision May Christian and civilized Europe by this decision escape the heavy responsibility for the horror of a ruthless struggle After a three months period of armed conflicts the European Powers intervened and asked for negotiations on a new basis On May 17 the state of Northern Epirus was internationally recognized by the Protocol of Corfu as an autonomous region inside the borders of Albania However this state was short lived and on October 27 when World War I broke out and the Albanian government collapsed the Greek army re entered the area with the sanction of the Great Powers 1914 1920 edit Christakis Zografos after the second Greek administration in the area returned to Greece and was elected at the following elections He resigned his office at December 1914 A little while later he became executive of the National Bank of Greece position he retained until September 1917 with a short term interval February 25 August 10 1915 when he became for second time Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinet of Dimitrios Gounaris He supported the entrance Greece on the side of the Triple Entente during World War I foreseeing that this strategic move could offer to the country several advantages He retired in 1917 and died three years later from a longtime heart ailment Legacy editDuring the Communist regime in Albania 1945 1992 Georgios Christakis Zografos and his father Christakis Zografos notable benefactor and entrepreneur were stigmatised as enemies of the state Anyone from his home town who held the name Zografos whether relatives or not was therefore persecuted After 1992 however the situation has changed Today the Zografeio school in Qestorati founded by his father has been renovated and has reopened as a museum 4 References edit Note Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 which became 1 March All dates prior to that unless specifically denoted are Old Style Genikh Grammateia ths Kybernhshs Genikh Grammateia ths Kybernhshs Archived from the original on 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2009 09 12 Pyrrhus Ruches Albanian historical folksongs 1716 1943 a survey of oral epic poetry from southern Albania with original texts Argonaut 1967 p 104 105 http hal archives ouvertes fr docs 00 16 57 25 PDF de Rapper 2005a pdf were stigmatised in Albanian historiography as shoviniste and borgjeze chauvinist bourgeois who had worked to destroy the Albanian nation by pretending that all Orthodox Christians were Greek or should be Greek and by supporting the opening of Greek schools in Lunxheri and elsewhere In consequence of this negative propaganda the last people who still hold the family name Zografi in their village of origin Qestorat were persecuted during communism its re opening as a museum of Lunxheri Sources editAbbott G F 2008 Greece and the Allies 1914 1922 BiblioBazaar ISBN 978 0 554 39462 6 Stickney Edith Pierpont 1926 Southern Albania or northern Epirus in European international affairs 1912 1923 Stanford University Press ISBN 9780804761710 Ruches Pyrrhus J 1965 Albania s captives Argonaut Political offices Preceded byGeorgios Baltatzis Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece7 July 15 August 1909 Succeeded byKyriakoulis Mavromichalis Preceded byEleftherios Venizelos Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece25 February 10 August 1915 Succeeded byDimitrios Gounaris Preceded byGreek administration President of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus28 February 27 October 1914 Succeeded byGreek administration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Georgios Christakis Zografos amp oldid 1175692519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
