Abstract
ABSTRACT Captain Frank Abney Hastings, a young British naval officer and a devoted supporter of the Greek cause, played a pivotal role in the Greek War of Independence, achieving many victories. Tragically, he sustained fatal injuries near Missolonghi in 1828. During his official funeral ceremony the following year, Prime Minister Spyridon Tricoupis, serving under Ioannis Capodistrias, delivered a eulogy. This speech stands as a remarkable sample of nineteenth-century Greek rhetoric, honoring War of Independence fighters. It not only extols Hastings’s contributions but also highlights the European support for the ongoing struggle of Greece for freedom. This article examines Tricoupis’s strategic use of language and imagery in the speech, which enhances its impact and significance. Furthermore, the article highlights the Orthodox Christian elements of the speech, suggesting that Tricoupis likened Hastings’s sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Interestingly, the imagery in Tricoupis’s oration aligns with a decree by Ioannis Capodistrias, issued shortly before, that celebrated the war dead of the recently liberated Missolonghi. This parallel underscores a genuine expression of gratitude and honor according to the Greek Orthodox tradition and reflects, in the elaborate imagery and high style, the honors that, historically, were actually offered.
Published Version
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