He was born in Corfu, then part of the Venetian Republic, and came from an aristocratic family with roots in Epirus. He initially studied medicine (which he practiced in Corfu, often offering his services, often free of charge, to his poorer fellow citizens) and political science in Italy, but soon turned to diplomacy. His career took off when he was recruited into the service of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. At the Tsar’s court, he distinguished himself as a skilled diplomat, helping to shape the foreign policy of the Russian Empire. He was an important negotiator at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, where he established the postcolonial order in Europe. Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias, a Greek statesman.
After the declaration of the Greek Revolution in 1821, Kapodistrias received an invitation from the Greeks to take over their leadership. Initially, he was reluctant to get involved, but in 1827, at the Third National Assembly of Troizina, he was elected governor of Greece. He arrived in Greece in 1828 and tried to organize a state out of the chaos of war. He laid the foundations for administration, economy, and education, and sought international recognition of Greece’s independence.
As governor, Kapodistrias refused to accept a salary, as well as refused monetary compensation from the Tsar to avoid being accused by his opponents of partiality towards Russia, and disposed of all his property for the purposes of the state. However, his reforms met with strong opposition from local chieftains and fanatics.
Opposition to these reforms, as well as his attempt to limit the power of local lords, eventually led to his assassination. On 27 September 1831 (9 October in the new calendar), he was assassinated in Nafplio outside the church of St. Spyridon by the brothers Konstantinos and Georgios Mavromichalis. The Mavromichalians belonged to one of the powerful families of Mani, who were influenced by the decisions of Kapodistrias.
His death left Greece in a period of anarchy until the advent of Otto. However, Kapodistrias’ legacy as the founder of modern Greek administration and his sacrifice for national independence remain alive in the memory of all Greeks.
Kapodistrias: Photos from the film by Yannis Smaragdis
Credit to @Pavloskanenas for all the good work.
