Η Γαλλική Επανάσταση και η νοτιοανατολική Ευρώπη (review)

Abstract

Reviews 285 Paschalis Kitromilides. Πασχάλης Κιτϕομηλίδης, H Γαλλική Επανάσταση και η νοτιοανατολική Ευϕώπη. Adiens: Diatton. 1990. Pp. 180. Professor Paschalis Kitromilides of Athens University has made a very important study of the influence of die French Revolution on souuieastern Europe, also known as the Balkans. This study is significant because even though many writers on the history of this region mention the influence of the French Revolution, few go into detail and none has penetrated so deeply into diis subject. Furthermore, what distinguishes diis work from otiiers is die vigorous analytical methodology diat die author has applied to his topic. The harsh and unpredictable rule of the Ottomans made the elites of southeastern Europe welcome the ideals of die French Revolution. It should be pointed out, however, that even tiiough Kitromilides emphasizes the French Revolution he does not neglect the intellectual movement of the Enlightenment , which preceded it. The Enlightenment arrived rather late in souuieastern Europe; that is why its influence as well as the influence of the French Revolution and of Napoleon overlapped and coalesced in an almost indistinguishable whole. Professor Kitromilides divides his study in three parts: (1) forging the revolutionary mentality; (2) the liberal critique of the French Revolution; (3) Balkan radicalism. In die first part the author conjures up the historical climate of the revolutionary period. He analyzes the political ideas current at the time, identifies the agents who propagated them, and describes how the southeastern European elites, especially the Greeks, responded to them. Kitromilides spends a great deal of time on Napoleon. More than his ideas, it was the commanding personality of this great general that caught the people's attention. The Greeks were highly impressed when Napoleon marched across nordiern Italy and then seized the Ionian Islands. He abolished the feudal vestiges on these islands, and the cry of Liberté, Égalité, and Fraternité was heard across the land. On that occasion fiery speeches were delivered welcoming die French, and many "liberty trees" were planted. Those Greeks who served in Napoleon's armies brought home their military experience, but even more importantly they brought to Greece their revolutionary spirit. That is why Kolokotronis, the most renowned chieftain in the Greek revolution against Turkey, said: "The French Revolution and Napoleon in my opinion opened die eyes of the people. Previously, nations as such were unknown; people thought the kings were like gods on earth; whatever they did was considered well done." If Napoleon impressed the nations of southeastern Europe so much it was because they were looking for a savior. The Greeks were affected more deeply, however, because in a number of ways they were more advanced than dieir neighbors. They had more contact with Western Europe, a larger commercial class, and a growing intelligentsia that could focus on the events of die French Revolution. Hence Kitromilides's observation that the French 1789 led to the Greek 1821. In the second part of his book, Kitromilides examines the views of the 286 Reviews liberal Greeks concerning the French Revolution. He regards the views of Adamantios Korais, known as Coray in France, as representative of Ulis group. Korais reached Paris in 1788 during the crisis that brought about the French Revolution. Kitromilides makes clear to us Koraïs's main views and most important concerns by providing long excerpts from his correspondence. We learn that he was endiusiastic about the French Revolution in its early stages, commenting with approval on the abolition of aristocratic privileges. The event that really impressed him, however, was the bringing of Voltaire's remains back to Paris to be buried in triumph. Nevertheless, Kitromilides points out that, after 1792, Koraïs's mood turned sour. Korais described the king's execution in such a way mat it leaves no doubt that he was against it. He completely mistrusted the Jacobins, considering Robespierre a tyrant. His favorite politician and thinker was Malesherbes, a minor figure to us today, but important to a humane and moderate ideologue like Korais. One can imagine his distress when the Jacobins sent his hero to the guillotine. Even so, Korais remained pro-French, going to the extent of advocating the creation of a "Graeco-French Republic." He was such an incurable Francophile diat he fancied die...