Philhellenes’ Archive

Paul Marie Bonaparte, the Philhellene nephew of M. Napoleon

Paul Maria Bonaparte was born on 19 February 1809 in Canino, Italy and died on 7 September 1827 in Nafplio. He was a prince of the Bonaparte family, a nephew of Napoleon the Great. He was a Philhellene and took part in…

Hyacinthe De Lavillasse, French chieftain in Greece, Chief of Staff of Kolokotronis

Biographies

During the Greek struggle, many Philhellenes arrived in Greece and fought alongside the Greeks in many different roles and in many different contexts. However, some of them really wanted to understand the character of…

Edgar Allan Poe, a great American poet and Philhellene

Biographies

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) is considered a central figure of the Romantic period in the United States and of American literature in general. Even people who never consciously choose to read literature have heard his…

François Graillard, French Philhellene, Chief of the Greek Regular Army, creator of the Hellenic Gendarmerie

Biographies

François Graillard (Gralliardos), was one of the French Philhellenes who settled permanently in Greece. He was born on August 23, 1792, to a French noble family in Dijon, France, and was the only son of a glorious…

Marshal Auguste Régnault de St-Jean d’Angely, French Philhellene, founder of the Greek Cavalry

Biographies

Auguste Michel Marie Étienne Régnault (or Régnaud) de St-Jean d'Angely, was born in Paris on July 30, 1794. His birth certificate states that he was the "son of Marie-Louise-Augustine Chenié, artist, and Michel-Louis-Etienne…

General Karl Normann, German Philhellene, noble and heroic figure of the Greek war for independence

Biographies

Karl Friedrich Lebrecht von Normann-Ehrenfels is inextricably linked to the organization, action and fate of the Battalion of the Philhellenes. A descendant of an aristocratic family, Karl Normann was born on September…

Frank Abney Hastings British Commander, Philhellene, founder of the Hellenic Navy, hero of the Greek Revolution, national benefactor of Greece

Biographies

Frank Abney Hastings (1794-1828) was a British Commander and great Philhellene, with important action and contribution throughout the Greek War for independence. He was born in 1794 and was the second-born son of Baron…

The Siege of Cornth of the great Philhellene and composer Rossini – the first Live Aid in history!

Biographies

Gioachino Rossini was born on February 29, 1792, in Pesaro, a small spa town of Marche, in the Adriatic. He had a birthday every four years, in every leap year… His father played the horn and his mother was a soprano.…

François-Antoine-Christophe Gérard, Philhellene, Commander of the Regular Army, creator of the “Model Battalion”

Biographies

General François-Antoine-Christophe Gérard was born on July 25, 1786 in Nancy, France. His father's name was François Gérard and his mother was Marie Elisabeth Gabriel. He served in the French Army, where he enlisted…

The French Philhellene Baron Louis Dentzel

Biographies

The General Jean-Chrétien Louis Dentzel was a baron, and French Philhellene who took part in the Greek Revolution, as a commander of the troops of Western Greece. Jean-Chrétien Louis Dentzel was of German descent,…

Jonathan Peckham Miller: American philhellene, colonel in the Greek army, humanitarian, politician

Biographies

Jonathan Peckham Miller is one of the most important American Philhellenes present in Greece during the Greek Revolution. Miller came to Greece sent by the philhellenic committees of the USA. He fought on many fronts…

Pierre-Antoine Lebrun, French poet, writer and politician, passionate Philhellene

Biographies

Pierre-Antoine Lebrun was born in Paris on November 29, 1785 and died on May 27, 1873. He was an important poet and writer of the 19th century of the Romantic school. He studied at the Military College of Saint-Cyr.…

August Maximillian Myhrberg (1797–1867): Swedish-Finnish Philhellene, participant in numerous battles during the Greek War of Independence, Commandant of the Palamidi Fort and idealised figurehead as a model freedom fighter in Scandinavia

Biographies

August Maximilian Myhrberg was one of the two philhellenes who were born in Finland. He was born in 1797 in Raahe, a town on the west coast of Finland. Official documents most often refer to him named as a Swede, but…

Chardon de la Barre, Louis, French officer, Philhellene

Biographies

Although this French officer was present in Greece for a log period, there are few things we know about him. According to the biographer of the Philhellenes Henri Fornèsy, Chardon de la Barre, Louis, was born in Amiens,…

Olivier Voutier – French officer, Philhellene who participated in the Greek Revolution, and wrote works about it

Biographies

Colonel Olivier Voutier is another well-known French Philhellene officer who took part in the Greek War for Independence, promoted the cause of the Greeks throughout Europe with his writing, and contributed to the expansion…

Latest Posts

“To be full Greek”, the British Philhellene Lord Guilford14 October 2026 - 2:18 pm
“To be full Greek”, The British Philhellene Lord Guilford, the Spiritual Renaissance of Hellenism, and the establishment of the first university in the modern history of Greece and Southeastern Europe On October 14th, 1827, just days before the historic Naval Battle of Navarino, one of the most iconic, distinctive, and moving figures of international […]
Donation by the SHP – Philhellenism Museum: Monument to the Philhellenes, Frank Abney Hastings, and the “Karteria” in Itea28 September 2026 - 1:50 pm
In an atmosphere of deep emotion and national pride, the official unveiling ceremony of the emblematic Monument to the Philhellenes, Frank Abney Hastings, and the legendary steam-powered warship “Karteria” was held on Sunday, September 27th, 2026, at the Port of Itea. The event took place within the framework of the celebrations commemorating the anniversary […]