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The First National Assembly of Epidaurus (, 1821–1822) was the first meeting of the Greek National Assembly, a national representative political gathering of the Greek revolutionaries.
The assembly opened in December 1821 at Piada (today Nea (New)
The First National Assembly of Epidaurus (, 1821–1822) was the first meeting of the Greek National Assembly, a national representative political gathering of the Greek revolutionaries.
History
The assembly opened in December 1821 at Piada (today Nea (New) Epidaurus
Epidaurus ( gr, Ἐπίδαυρος) was a small city ('' polis'') in ancient Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros: '' Palaia Epidavros'' and '' Nea Epidavros''. Since 2010 they belong t ...
). It was attended by representatives from regions involved in the revolution
In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
against Ottoman rule.
The majority of the representatives were local notables and clergymen from the Peloponnese, Central Greece
Continental Greece ( el, Στερεά Ελλάδα, Stereá Elláda; formerly , ''Chérsos Ellás''), colloquially known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), is a traditional geographic region of Greece. In English, the area is usually called Central ...
and the islands. In addition, a number of Phanariotes and academics attended. However, a number of prominent revolutionaries, including Alexander Ypsilantis and the most prominent military leaders were absent. Of the 59 representatives at the assembly, 20 were landowners, 13 were ship-owners, 12 were intellectuals, 4 were military leaders, 3 were archpriests, 3 were merchants.
The first document adopted by the assembly proclaimed the independence of the Greek nation from the Ottoman Empire. The first paragraph was:
:" ''In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity''.
:''The Greek nation, wearied by the dreadful weight of Ottoman oppression, and resolved to break its yoke, though at the price of the greatest sacrifice, proclaims today before God and man, by the organ of its lawful representatives, met in national assembly, its independence''."
It also passed a number of other important documents, including:
* The ''Provisional Regime of Greece'' (''Προσωρινό Πολίτευμα της Ελλάδος''), sometimes translated as ''Temporary Constitution of Greece'' (more commonly known as the Greek Constitution of 1822), which also included a '' Declaration of Independence''.
The Assembly elected a five-member executive on 15 January 1822, which was presided over by Alexandros Mavrocordatos. The executive in turn appointed the first government which had 8 ministries.
The first legislature had 33 members.
Another characteristic of the First National Assembly is the absence of any reference in the Constitution to the Filiki Eteria, although Dimitrios Ypsilantis, brother of Alexandros Ypsilantis
Alexandros Ypsilantis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Υψηλάντης, Aléxandros Ypsilántis, ; ro, Alexandru Ipsilanti; russian: Александр Константинович Ипсиланти, Aleksandr Konstantinovich Ipsilanti; 12 Dece ...
and official representative of the Filiki Eteria, was appointed president of the legislature, a body controlled by the local notables.
List of delegates
See also
*Executive of 1822 The Executive of 1822 ( el, Εκτελεστικό του 1822) was one of the two chambers that were set up in the First National Assembly at Epidaurus. There were five members, and they had to implement the decisions of Legislative Corps. The term ...
References
Citations
Books
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:First National Assembly At Epidaurus 1821 in Greece 1822 in Greece 1st History of Argolis Peloponnese in the Greek War of Independence