Hatzigiannis Mexis ( el, Χατζηγιάννης Μέξης) or "Ioannis Mexis" (1754 - 1844) was the first governor of

Spetses Spetses ( el, Σπέτσες, grc, Πιτυούσσα "Pityussa", Arvanitika: Πετσε̱) is an upscale affluent island in Attica, Greece. It is included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolis ...

and shipowner with considerable power and wealth, who played an important role in the Greek revolution of 1821 in which he participated with four of his ships and in the newly formed Greek state.

Biography

His father was Theodoros Mexis, an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

chieftain of Labovë. Due to the persecutions of the Turks, he fled to

Leonidio Leonidio ( el, Λεωνίδιο, Katharevousa: Λεωνίδιον, Tsakonian: Αγιελήδι) is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynou ...

Kynouria Cynuria ( – ''Kynouria'' or – ''Kynouriake'') is an ancient district on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, between the Argolis and Laconia, so called from the Cynurians, one of the most ancient tribes in the peninsula. It was believed to ...

and then to Spetses. Ioannis was the first-born, his younger brother was Thodorakis Mexis. Near the end of the 1790s, Ioannis Mexis traveled to the

Holy Lands ''Holy Lands'' is a 2017 French-Belgian comedy-drama film written and directed by Amanda Sthers and starring James Caan, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Rosanna Arquette, Efrat Dor and Patrick Bruel. It is based on Sthers' novel ''Les Ter ...

and from then on he took the surname Hatzis and is referred to as Hatzigiannis. He was active in trade and the sea from a young age with great success due to his resourcefulness and risk-taking nature. Hatzigiannis Mexis had become a member of the

Filiki Eteria Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends ( el, Φιλικὴ Ἑταιρεία ''or'' ) was a secret organization founded in 1814 in Odessa, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek ...

and was the leader of the aristocratic section of Spetses who did not want to participate in the

Greek Revolution of 1821 The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

. But immediately after the start of the revolution, he reconciled with the leader of the popular party Botasi and together they raised the flag of the Greek revolution in Spetses, and he urged Hydra and Psara to do the same and became one of its most ardent supporters and organizers her. He brought out four of his ships in the joint fight, "Themistocles", "Epaminondas", "Leonidas" and "Pericles". All four were well equipped. Other ships of Mexi, in which he had a share, took part in the fight. Leonidas figurehead

But he was also distinguished for his imposing and esteemed physiognomy, his determination, his activity and his courage. He personally took part in the various battles and was a delegate to the 1st National Assembly of Epidaurus and the 2nd National Assembly of Astros. When the Revolution ended, he was elected State Counselor, Senator and Plenipotentiary from Spetses.

Otto of Greece Otto (, ; 1 June 181526 July 1867) was a Bavarian prince who ruled as King of Greece from the establishment of the monarchy on 27 May 1832, under the Convention of London, until he was deposed on 23 October 1862. The second son of King Ludw ...

honored him with the Golden Cross. He died in 1844.

Family

His wife was Diamanto Moraitis, daughter of merchant Nikolos Moraitis from the Peloponnese. He had nine children: Four sons and five daughters, with whose marriages he strengthened his relations with most of the Speciotian families. His sons were Theodoros and Nikolaos, Panagiotis and Georgios. Theodoros became a deputy of Spetses and Nicolaos mayor of Spetses senator, plenipotentiary, plenipotentiary of Spetses and minister during the eviction of Othon. Panagiotis (1800-1885) participated in the revolution with a privately owned ship and became the president of the Spetses Eldership. For his sons it is stated that they had married daughters of the Vassilis Gini,

Laskarina Bouboulina Laskarina Bouboulina ( el, Λασκαρίνα Μπουμπουλίνα; 1771 – 22 May 1825) was a Greek naval commander, heroine of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and considered the first woman to attain the rank of admiral. She was b ...

and Lazarai.Ta Spetsiotika, vol.2, p. 151 The youngest Georgios (1810-1837), married to the daughter of

Georgios Kountouriotis Georgios Kountouriotis ( el, Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης) (1782 – 13 March 1858) was a Greek ship-owner and politician who served as prime minister from March to October 1848. Life He was born in 1782 on the Saronic island of ...

from Hydra, died aged 27 in Nafplio.

His mansion

The mansion of Hatzigianni Mexis was built between the years 1795-1798 and 1938, it was donated to the state by Kalomira Mexis and Niketa Thermisioti-Katsina, his heirs and it houses the Spetses Museum and the island's historical archive.Spetses Museum
Ministry of Culture and Tourism

References

{{Reflist 1754 births 1844 deaths People from Spetses 19th-century Greek businesspeople Arvanites Greek people of Albanian descent Greek people of the Greek War of Independence Greek businesspeople in shipping