According to the former Greek Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis, Macedonians “first had to be made Greek” at the end of the 19th century. If something were already Greek, it wouldn’t have to be Graecized first …
Who was Charilaos Trikoupis?
Charilaos Trikoupis, was Prime Minister of Greece from 1875 to 1895.
Trikoupis was the son of Spyridon Trikoupis, who was also Prime Minister from February to October 1833. His mother Ekaterini Mavrokordatou was the sister of the multiple prime minister Alexandros Mavrokordatos.
Trikoupis began his political career in the same year with the election of the member of the National Assembly (Voulí ton Ellínon). From June to December 1866 he was Foreign Minister in the fifth cabinet of Dimitrios Voulgaris.
He founded his own party in 1872, the so-called “Fifth Party” (Pempto Comma). On June 29, 1874, he published a political manifesto entitled “Who’s the culprit?” (Τις Πταίει?) in the daily newspaper “Kairoi”, in which he made King George I responsible for the country’s political misery. In particular, he criticized the nominations of prime ministers by the king, which spoke against the election results, and the resulting political instability. He was temporarily detained because of the manifesto.
Trikoupis was seven-time Prime Minister of Greece from 1875 to 1895.
We’re going to make Macedonians Greek
In the work “Macedonia and Greece” by John Shea we find a quote from Trikoupis about Macedonia, as Prime Minister of Greece.
It should be remembered here that Macedonian territories were first occupied by the Greeks in autumn 1912. From this quote we can guess what the country and its inhabitants would experience after the Greek occupation of South Macedonia.
Quote, page 101:
Harilaos Trikoupis, Greek prime minister from 1882 to 1895, said: “When the great war comes, Macedonia will become Greek or Bulgarian according to who wins. If it is taken by the Bulgarians they will make the population Slavs. If we take it, we will make them all Greeks”.
Used sources:
- History of the Greek People, Issue 14, Page 18, Athens Publishing House
- Macedonia & Greece by John Shea
