Jean Gabriel Eynard (1775-1863), was a Swiss banker, diplomat and prominent Philhellene, a great supporter of the Greek Revolution, and a benefactor of Greece.

His father was Gabriel-Antoine Eynard, a merchant and banker from the old and powerful noble family of Mont-Eynard, who came from the province of Dauphiné in the South East France[1].

The original branch of the family remained Roman Catholic, while the younger one had joined the Reformation. Gabriel-Antoine Eynard (father of Jean Gabriel Eynard), came from the Calvinist branch of the family, who immediately after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685), had taken refuge in Geneva to maintain his faith. Several members of the family held public office in the city and developed outstanding philanthropic work, while Jean-Gabriel Eynard’s grandfather, Jean-Louis Eynard de Trémolières, was called l’avocat des pauvres (“the lawyer of the poor”)[2].

In 1769, Gabriel-Antoine Eynard moved to Lyon, where he founded a trading company. In 1770, after his first wife Marie-Françoise de Normandie, had died, he married Marie-Madeleine Meuricoffre, the daughter of a merchant from Thurgau, Switzerland, with whom he had three children. The second one was Jean Gabriel Eynard. The young man, who is raised in a strict Calvinist environment, is extremely studious and art-loving. From an early age he learns from his father the economic and commercial processes and he excels professionally.[3].

In 1793 the bloody conflict between the Jacobins and the Girondins takes great proportions. Lyon had joined the monarchical camp, and was besieged by the troops of the French Conventional Assembly. The Eynard family was among the city’s defenders. Gabriel-Antoine Eynard was in fact the elected mayor of Lyon. On October 9, the city was occupied by the rebels[4]. Jean Gabriel Eynard managed to escape to Geneva. On the contrary, his father was arrested, sentenced to death and his property was confiscated. Nevertheless, he finally managed to escape. The whole family settled in the small Swiss town of Rolle, in the canton of Vaud, on the shores of the Geneva lake[5].

Because his paternal estate was destroyed in Lyon, Jean Gabriel Eynard’s father sent him to his half-sister, Lisette Gaulis, who lived in Genoa, to work in her husband’s important trading company[6].

He spent some time there offering his services as an employee, and then he decided to start his own trading business (Eynard Frères et Schmidt), with his brother Jacques and another former employee of Gaulis’ firm[7].

The two brothers boldly and successfully developed a business (trading olive oil, cream and chewing gum), and thus managed to pay off all the previous obligations of the parent’s company[8].

In April – June 1800 the English and Austrians besieged Genoa (Napoleonic wars of subjugation). Jean Gabriel Eynard supported the troops of the French general Andre Massena, participating bravely as a volunteer in the defense of the besieged and starving city, which finally surrendered on June 4, 1800[9].

Eynard moved for some time to Milan, where he met General Horace Francois Bastien Sebastiani de la Porta (1772-1851), later French ambassador to Constantinople[10], where he came in contact with the French staff. He then ended up in Livorno[11].

Eynard became a great merchant in Italy, a powerful banker, a capable manager and a diplomat. Indicatively, we remind that he managed to invest with great success, a loan of 1,450,000 pounds of the Duchy of Etruria, in minerals and iron mines, and in lands of Central Italy[12].

In 1803 he retired from the banking house he had founded with his brother in Genoa and settled in Florence, where he took up public office in parallel with his business and commercial / banking activities. From this operation, he acquired a large fortune and his businesses expanded to Geneva and the commercial cities of Florence and Livorno in Italy[13].

He held high public office for a number of years, which allowed him to reorganize the finances of several Italian states, such as the Duchy of Etruria, the Principalities of Luca and Piombino, the State of Tuscany, and others. In the autumn of 1804 he participated as a member of the Tuscan diplomatic delegation in the ceremonies for the coronation of Napoleon in Paris. A few months later, in Milan, he firmly defended the interests of the duchy (tax reduction) before the emperor and king of Italy Napoleon[14].

In 1807 he became central collector of taxes in the principalities of Luca and Piombino, ruled by Felix Bacciochi and his wife Eliza Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister.

In 1808 he became a Swiss citizen and citizen of Rolle. He returned to Paris next year as a member of the Tuscan delegation to thank Napoleon for the appointment of his sister Eliza to the Tuscan throne. In addition to his political duties, he spent time in Paris studying chemistry with Baron Thénard[15].

In 1814 – 15 Geneva was admitted to the Swiss Federation. Eynard organized and supplied at his expenses, the cavalry of the National Guard, of which he was appointed lieutenant colonel, with the mission of protecting the independence of the region from the aspirations of the French. He was a member of the Geneva High Council and secretary of the delegation to the “Treaties of Paris” and the Congress of Vienna, together with his uncle, through his wife Anna Eynard Lullin Charles Pictet de Rochemont (1755-1824) and Francois d’lvernois[16].

In these international meetings they tried to ensure the recognition of Geneva’s annexation to the Swiss Federation, as well as the neutrality of Switzerland[17].

Ioannis Kapodistrias, a special envoy of the Russian emperor Alexander I, consistently supported their demands in the broader context of the Russian politics and became their close friend. At the Vienna Congress, Eynard was accompanied by his wife. The couple was acquainted with most of the powerful rulers, great politicians and diplomats of the time. Their meeting with Ioannis Kapodistrias resulted in a warm, sincere and long-term friendship. The friendship of the two men was Eynard’s first substantial contact with the affairs of the Greeks. The leading Corfiot diplomat and politician, informed the French-Swiss banker about the sufferings of the Greeks enslaved by the Turks[18]. At the Congress of Vienna, the four “Great Powers” concluded the “European Agreement”, known as the Holy Alliance, against all the revolutionary and liberation movements of their time. This created a negative climate, mainly on the Austrian side, inspired by Chancellor Metternich, and for the Greek cause[19].

Between 1817 and 1821, Eynard built his family mansion in Geneva, on the Promenades des Bastions, based on designs by the Italian architect G. Salucci and the decisive contribution of himself and his wife. The building followed a Florentine – neoclassical style, and it was the most beautiful of that time in the city. This building was renovated later and became the City Hall[20]. The emblematic house of Eynard became the “headquarters” of European philhellenism and a centre of culture, a few years later. Eynard developed in parallel a rich social and intellectual activity; he was a pioneer or active member in various literary and artistic societies of Geneva, such as the Société de Lecture, Société des Arts, Société d’Histoire et d’ Archéologie, the Utilité Publique, he supported charitable initiatives, took care of the beautification of the city[21] etc. A few years later he acquired luxury residences in Florence, Rome and Paris. At the same time he continued his political activity. So in 1816 he undertook to restore the public finances of the State of Tuscany. In the autumn of 1818 he represented the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. He remained in his court as a counselor until 1821. For his contribution he was honored as early as 1818 with the title of nobleman of Florence and knight of St. Joseph[22].

After the outbreak of the Greek Revolution in the Danube Hegemonies and in Greece in 1821, Eynard was one of the first Europeans to become increasingly involved in the movement to support the revolted Greeks.

In August 1821 he founded, together with Favre-Bertrand, Et.-L. Dumont, J.C.L. de Sismondi, Bellot, and others, the first philhellenic committee in Geneva, which was quickly recognized by the committees of other Swiss cities as the coordinating authority. Eynard became immediately the organizer, the soul and the pillar of all the philhellenic committees of Europe (Geneva, Paris, Bern, Zurich, Lausanne, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, etc.). The Philhellenic Committees helped with fundraising, public events and the enlightment of the public opinion, the Greek Struggle for Liberation[23].

At the beginning of the Greek Revolution, the Phanariote princes Ioannis Karatzas, Alexandros Mavrokordatos and Michael Soutzos, were hosted at his house and became Eynard’s friends. From the autumn of 1822 he started working closely with Ioannis Kapodistrias, who, after resigning from his duties in the Czar’s Court, lived permanently in Geneva and worked for the Greek Struggle[24].

In the coming years, Eynard will become the brave sponsor of the Greek Struggle. He will facilitate and finance the transportation to Greece of foreign volunteers, of food, ammunition and money for the struggling Greeks. Being a prominent economic and political figure, he had the opportunity to promote the Greek cause to foreign European courts and governments, to diplomats and personalities from his social environment, in international meetings and conferences. His vast correspondence, travels and contacts have the sole aim of restoring Greece, which he never succeeded to visit in his life. His correspondence with the Greek chieftains and politicians, protagonists of the Revolution, is also remarkable[25]. He rightly acquired the title of “Rector of the Greeks” and “Friend of the Greeks”[26].

During the period 1825-1827, after the landing of the Egyptian troops of Ibrahim Pasha in the Peloponnese and the siege of Messolonghi, when the Struggle entered a critical phase, Eynard worked intensively in Paris for four months for the formation of the Philhellenic Committee and the delivery of financial assistance to Greece. He also tried to secure a loan with favorable terms, which would be managed by the Philhellenic Committee of Paris. Finally the Greek representatives preferred to conclude the well-known loans in London[27].

In September 1825, thanks to the actions of Eynard, the Philhellenic committee of Geneva collected 55,000 – 60,000 francs for the Greeks. He supplied another 40,000 francs to the two envoys Fr. Marcet and W. Romilly, of the Paris and Geneva Committees respectively, for food and ammunition to be sent to Greece the following year. When Eynard was informed of the siege of Messolonghi he was shocked. Especially because he had experienced the same gloomy situation twice in his life. He immediately sent as his own contribution 12,000-15,000 francs for wheat, and secured another 60,000 francs from the French Philhellenes. These sums were sent via Zakynthos to Greece, to the battlefields and to Messolonghi[28]. At the same time, he addressed an emblematic message “to the glorious military leaders of the brave Messolonghi and to its brave guard”.

His passion was such that he and his wife went to Ancona to personally oversee and manage the loading of ships with supplies for the city of martyrdom (Messolonghi), which in the meantime had succumbed to Ibrahim’s hordes.

The sacrifice of Messolonghi convinced Eynard that a more effective coordination of the relief effort was needed. It is worth noting how much he was moved by the capture of the Greeks and their sale in slave markets in the Mediterranean. He immediately sent 51,000 francs to buy back the freedom of the enslaved Greek women and children. At the same time, he appointed G. Papamanolis in Kythira and T. T. Petrini in Nafplio as his representatives. He also sent his compatriot Swiss doctor and Philhellene, Louis-André Gosse to Greece to optimize the management of the aid[29].

His insight leads him to important interventions with an impact also on the military aspects of the Greek struggle. His assessment was that Greece had to maintain its sovereignty over the sea. A domination that it had begun to lose. Thus he mediated for Admiral Cochrane[30] to be sent to Greece. At the time, Cochrane was the most famous international admiral. It was a military and political instrument, whose name alone was enough to terrorize the enemy. When it was announced that Admiral Cochrane was finally going to Greece, the interest rate of the Greek loan was immediately reduced by 15%. His arrival in Greece was for months the key topic of discussion in Greece and Turkey.

In the same context, Eynard contributed 150,000 francs to cover the costs for the shipbuilding and equipment of Karteria, the first steam-powered warship to take part in military operations in naval history[31].

From the fall of Messolonghi until the first days of 1827, the Swiss, German and French Philhellenic Committees sent to Greece, under the coordination of Eynard, food of a total weight of 7.4 million pounds. Moreover, only in 1827, Eynard sent to Greece over 800,000 francs from fundraisers. In a report that he presented at the end of 1827, he stated that only the weekly fundraiser of 1826 alone, contributed in total more than 2.5 million francs for the Greeks. Without official diplomatic status, but relying on his great international prestige, he successfully handled the great Greek diplomatic problems of the period 1827-1832, significantly influencing the decisions of London in July 1827 and Paris in 1829-30. In May 1827, the Third National Assembly in Troizina awarded honorably to him the Greek citizenship “by naturalizing him as a true Greek and a citizen of Greece”[32].

In the period between 1827 and 1831, when Ioannis Kapodistrias was appointed Governor of Greece, he found in his person the wise advisor and the constant supporter in any financial difficulty faced by the newly formed Greek State. Greece owes Eynard multifold financial support, funds for the agricultural development and the establishment of the agricultural school of Tiryns, the sending of seeds, potatoes, tools, medicines, his contribution for the reconstruction of villages, the organization of the national education and the army, the creation of the National Financial Bank (for which it sent a total of 100,000 francs), the granting of state loans that had been refused to Greece by the Powers[33], etc.

Of particular note is the loan of 1,500,000 francs in 1829, which was used to pay the army and to combat robbery. In 1828, Eynard was forced to go to the Pyrenees because of his wife’s health. He assigned Michael Soutzos in Paris to replace him, who was then appointed on the recommendation of Eynard, ambassador to Paris[34]. In 1830, although Eynard was close to French politics, he supported the candidacy for the Greek throne of the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha Leopold[35]. In the same year, the city of Thebes gave his name to its largest square, while in 1837 the city council decided to erect a monument in the square, “in honor of this gentle man and benefactor of the homeland”.

The assassination of the Greek Governor caused a crash to his beloved Swiss friend, who had even prepared a small house for him in Beaulieu, to spend the last years of his life quietly. To honour Ioannis Kapodistrias, to defend his memory from unfavorable comments of Greeks and foreigners, but also to protect the reputation of Greece, he published in Paris a collection of public and private documents on the sad events of 1831 entitled ”Official letters and documents related to the last events of Greece; which preceded and followed the death of the count Capodistrias, up to October 31, 1831”[36].

During the years 1831-1836 Eynard arranged to send the experienced French economist Arthémond de Regny, his close friend, to Greece, with a mission to organize the country’s public finances. De Regny was appointed “General Supervisor of the Kingdom’s finances”, and in 1834 he founded (and became its first president), the Court of Auditors. In 1838 he took over as general curator of financial management[37]. De Regny’s acquaintance at the Court of Auditors with Georgios Stavros and the friendship of the two men led a little later to the establishment of the National Bank.

Greece awarded Eynard in 1837 with the Royal Decree of 17.7.1837, the Grand Cross of the Knights of the Order of the Redeemer. At the same time, Eynard was honoured by the French government with the Legion of Honor[38].

From 1837 to 1840, Eynard participated in various attempts to establish a bank in the modern Greek state, either alone or with the English house Wright and later with Dutch investors. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful. In the meantime, already in 1838, Eynard lent 300,000 francs to de Regny and Georgios Stavros, with the aim of buying commercial bills in the Athenian market with 8% interest, in order to combat usury. This initiative was successful and it led to a drastic reduction of the claims of the usurers[39].

His philhellenic feelings and sincere interest never stopped. Thus, in 1841 Eynard proclaims a “new alarm of the Philhellenes”, and undertakes efforts to help the Cretan Revolution of 1841, to liberate Crete and to unite with Greece. However, he did not manage to send aid, because the revolution was quickly suppressed. He also intervened for the release of Christian prisoners in Algeria during the Franco-Algerian conflict of 1839-1841[40].

The contribution of this great man culminates with his decisive suppot for the establishment of the National Bank of Greece (NBG) in March 1841.

Eynard supported George Stavros for the position of director of the Bank. Jean Gabriel Eynard and Nikolaos Zosimas were declared “honorary directors” of NBG by the preliminary assembly of shareholders on November 13, 1841[41].

In 1842 the Educational Society elected him honorary president. In 1843, a year of economic crisis in Greece, Eynard tried to persuade foreign powers to lend the country again. When the Greek government closed its embassies, Eynard again offered to take over the diplomatic representation of Greece abroad. During this same period, he also mediated in settling the claims of various of his compatriots – investors, against the Russian state and Czar Nicholas I awarded him the Cross of the Order of St. Anne[42].

At the same time, during this period, he continued to be a pioneer in culture. Eynard was the first to promote the art of daguerreotype, becoming an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences in Paris[43].

In 1847 Eynard facilitated the Greek government by granting it a loan of 500,000 francs, in order to meet its obligation to pay the semester’s installment of the national loan of 1832 of 60,000,000 francs. From 1848 onwards he was isolated from social life, devoting more and more time to religion and to the study of Christian texts. In addition, he was suffering from health problems[44].

After the end of the Crimean War (1856) king Othon appealed to him, asking him to use his prestige to mediate at the Peace Conference in Paris, for favorable solutions in favor of Greece[45].

King Othon himself visited him in 1862 in Beaulieu, to personally convey to him the love and gratitude of the Greek people and to hand over to him the highest Greek medal, the Grand Cross of the Redeemer, which had already been awarded to him in 1837.

Jean Gabriel Eynard, this great Philhellene, national benefactor of Greece and noble pioneer of culture, passed away on February 5, 1863 in Geneva.

SHP, Greece and the Greeks will forever honour the memory of this remarkable noble Philhellene, who selflessly and generously, offered until his last breath, contributing decisively, both for the success of the Independence of Greece and the economic and social organization of the young state, as well as for the evolution of culture.

 

References

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[2]  Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[3] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[4] Chapuisat, Edouard, ‘’Jean-Gabriel Eynard et son temps : 1775-1863’’, εκδ. A. Jullien, Γενεύη, 1952, σελ.14.

[5] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα,1999, σελ. 13.

[6] Monod, Roger, ‘’Famille Eynard”, εκδ. Archives de la Ville de Genève, Γενεύη, 1982, σελ. 35.

[7] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[8] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα,1999, σελ.13.

[9] Βλ. στο ίδιο, σελ.14.

[10] Driault, Edouard, ‘’Etudes napoleoniennes’’, εκδ. F. Alcan, Παρίσι, 1904, σελ. 101.

[11] Bouvier-Bron, Michelle, ’’Une jeunesse en Italie. Les années de formation de Jean Gabriel Eynard’’, εκδ. Slatkine, Γενεύη, 2019, σελ. 179.

[12]  Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[13]  Συλλογή Diodati – Eynard 1685-1904, Βιβλιοθήκη της Γενεύης, φάκελος 15, έγγραφο υπ’ αριθμ.64.

[14]  Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[15] Chapuisat, Edouard, ‘’Jean-Gabriel Eynard et son temps : 1775-1863’’, εκδ. A. Jullien, Γενεύη, 1952, σελ. 38.

[16]  Chapuisat, Edouard, ‘’ Journal de Jean-Gabriel Eynard publié avec une introduction et des notes’’, εκδ. Plon Nouritt, Γενεύη, 1924,   α’ τόμος.

[17] Καποδίστριας, Ιωάννης, ‘’Αυτοβιογραφία Ιωάννου Καποδίστρια’’, επιμ. Μ. Λάσκαρις, εκδ. Γαλαξίας, Αθήνα,1968, σελ. 35-36.

[18] Woodhouse, Christopher Montague, ‘’Capodistria. The founder of Greek Independence’’, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, 1973, σελ. 82.

[19] Grimsted Kennedy, Patricia,’’Capodistrias and a ‘’new order’’ for restoration Europe: the ‘’liberal ideas’’ of a Russian Foreign Minister, 1814-1822’’, περ. ‘’The Journal of Modern History’’, Σικάγο, 1968, τεύχος 40, σελ. 166-172.

[20] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Ε’υ’νάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα,1999, σελ.17.

[21] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[22]  Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[23]  Rouiller, Jean-Luc, ‘’La bibliothèque de La Grange’’, εκδ. La Baconnière : Bibliothèque de Genève, Γενεύη, 2011, σελ 11.

[24] Crawley, C.V., ’’John Capodistrias: Some Unpublished Documents’’, εκδ. Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, Θεσσαλονίκη,1970,σελ.56.

[25] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα,1999, σελ.17.

[26] Βλ. στο ίδιο,σελ.18.

[27] Βλ. στο ίδιο,σελ.19.

[28] ‘’Ατομικός Φάκελος ναυάρχου Ανδρέα Μιαούλη’’, Ιστορικό Αρχείο Μουσείο Ύδρας, Ύδρα, γ’ τετράδιο, σελ. 156-160.

[29] St Clair, William, ‘’ That Greece Might Still Be Free.The Philhellenes in the War of Independence’’, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008, σελ. 335.

[30] Τρικούπης, Σπυρίδων, ‘’Ιστορία της Ελληνικής Επαναστάσεως’’, εκδ. Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Αθήνα, 2007, δ’ τόμος, σελ.118.

[31] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[32] Monod, Roger, ‘’Famille Eynard‘’, εκδ. Archives de la Ville de Genève, Γενεύη, 1982, σελ.290.

[33] Καποδίστριας, Ιωάννης, ‘’Επιστολαί διπλωματικαί, διοικητικαί και ιδιωτικαί, γραφείσαι από 8 Απριλίου 1827 μέχρι 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 1831’’, εκδ. Κωνσταντίνου Ράλλη, Αθήνα, 1841, γ’ τόμος, σελ. 285-288.

[34] Πρεβελάκης, Ελ.- Γλύτσης, Φ., ‘’Επιτομαί εγγράφων του Βρεταννικού Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Γενική Αλληλογραφία/Ελλάς’’, εκδ. Ακαδημία Αθηνών, Αθήνα, 1975, δ’ τόμος, σελ. 68-69.

[35] Καποδίστριας, Ιωάννης, ‘’ Επιστολαί διπλωματικαί, διοικητικαί και ιδιωτικαί, γραφείσαι από 8 Απριλίου 1827 μέχρι 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 1831’’, εκδ. Κωνσταντίνου Ράλλη, Αθήνα, 1841, γ’ τόμος, σελ. 379-380.

[36] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα, 1999, σελ. 20.

[37] Βακαλόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος, “L’ économiste français Arthémond de Regny et son rôle dans l’histoire financière de la Grèce (1831-1841)”, εκδ. Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1977.

[38] ‘’Diplôme et distinctions en faveur de Jean-Gabriel Eynard 1834-1854 (en français et en grec)’’, Συλλογή Diodati – Eynard 1685-1904, Βιβλιοθήκη της Γενεύης, φάκελος 15, έγγραφο υπ’ αριθμ. 77.

[39] ‘’Αρχείο Αλεξάνδρου Μαυροκορδάτου’’, Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους, Αθήνα, φακ.21, έγγρ. υπ’αριθμ.5891.

[40] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα, 1999, σελ.21.

[41] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

[42] Βλ. στο ίδιο, σελ. 22.

[43] ‘’Eynard Daguerreotypes’’, J. Paul Getty Museum, Νέα Υόρκη.

[44] Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς, Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα, 1999, σελ.22.

[45] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

 

Bibliography – Sources

• Καποδίστριας, Ιωάννης, ‘’Αυτοβιογραφία Ιωάννου Καποδίστρια’’, επιμ. Μ. Λάσκαρις, εκδ. Γαλαξίας, Αθήνα,1968.
• ‘’Diplôme et distinctions en faveur de Jean-Gabriel Eynard 1834-1854 (en français et en grec)’’, Συλλογή Diodati – Eynard 1685-1904, Βιβλιοθήκη της Γενεύης.
• St Clair, William, ‘’That Greece Might Still Be Free. The Philhellenes in the War of Independence’’, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008.
• ‘’Αρχείο Αλεξάνδρου Μαυροκορδάτου’’, Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους, Αθήνα.
• Νοταράς, Γεράσιμος, Καρατζάς , Θεόδωρος, Συνοδινός, Ζήσιμος, ‘’Ιωάννης Γαβριήλ Εϋνάρδος. Οραματιστής και κύριος συντελεστής της ίδρυσης της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος’’, εκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Αθήνα, 1999.
• Monod, Roger, ‘’Famille Eynard‘’, εκδ. Archives de la Ville de Genève, Γενεύη, 1982.
• Πρεβελάκης, Ελ.- Γλύτσης, Φ., ‘’Επιτομαί εγγράφων του Βρετανικού Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Γενική Αλληλογραφία/Ελλάς’’, εκδ. Ακαδημία Αθηνών, Αθήνα, 1975, δ’ τόμος.
• Βακαλόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος,’’ L’ économiste français Arthémond de Regny et son rôle dans l’histoire financière de la Grèce (1831-1841)’’, εκδ. Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1977.
• Καποδίστριας, Ιωάννης, ‘’Επιστολαί διπλωματικαί, διοικητικαί και ιδιωτικαί, γραφείσαι από 8 Απριλίου 1827 μέχρι 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 1831’’, εκδ. Κωνσταντίνου Ράλλη, Αθήνα, 1841, γ’ τόμος.
• Τρικούπης, Σπυρίδων, ‘’Ιστορία της Ελληνικής Επαναστάσεως’’, εκδ. Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Αθήνα, 2007, δ’ τόμος.
• ‘’Ατομικός Φάκελος ναυάρχου Ανδρέα Μιαούλη’’, Ιστορικό Αρχείο Μουσείο Ύδρας, Ύδρα, γ’ τετράδιο.
• Crawley, C.V., ’’John Capodistrias: Some Unpublished Documents’’, εκδ. Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1970.
• Rouiller, Jean-Luc, ‘’La bibliothèque de La Grange’’, εκδ.  La Baconnière: Bibliothèque de Genève, Γενεύη, 2011.
• Woodhouse, Christopher Montague, “Capodistria. The founder of Greek Independence”, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, 1973.
• Grimsted Kennedy, Patricia, “Capodistrias and a ’new order’ for restoration Europe: the ’liberal ideas’ of a Russian Foreign Minister, 1814-1822”, περ. “The Journal of Modern History”, Σικάγο, 1968, τεύχος 40.
• Chapuisat, Edouard, “Journal de Jean-Gabriel Eynard publié avec une introduction et des notes”, εκδ. Plon Nouritt, Γενεύη, 1924,   α’ τόμος.
• Chapuisat, Edouard, “Jean-Gabriel Eynard et son temps : 1775-1863’, εκδ. A. Jullien, Γενεύη, 1952.
• Bouvier-Bron, Michelle, “Une jeunesse en Italie. Les années de formation de Jean Gabriel Eynard”, εκδ. Slatkine, Γενεύη, 2019.
• Driault, Edouard, “Etudes napoleoniennes”, εκδ. F. Alcan, Παρίσι, 1904.
• Συλλογή Diodati – Eynard 1685-1904, Βιβλιοθήκη της Γενεύης.
• “Αρχείο Αλεξάνδρου Μαυροκορδάτου”, Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους, Αθήνα.

 

 

Wilhelm Bellier de Launoy (? – 1826), was a German officer and Philhellene.

He served as an officer in the Cuirassier Regiment of the Prussian Royal Guard ^[1], during the Napoleonic Wars and fought against the French.

At the beginning of the Greek Revolution of 1821, he was a civilian living in Marseille, France. He was one of the first to join the Philhellenic Committee of Marseille, which he strengthened in various ways with his work.

One of the missions that the Committee assigned to him, led him in the Autumn of 1821, to move for the first time to Greece. Among others, he fought there in December in the Siege of Athens under the command of Demetrius Ypsilanti.^[2].

He then moved to England and joined the Philhellenic Committee of London. In 1823 he followed the British colonel and important Philhellene, Leicester Stanhope on a trip to Greece, with a final destination Messolonghi.^[3]. The journey began with a tour of Europe, with stops in Darmstadt, Germany, Zurich, Bern and Geneva in Switzerland, and Genoa in Italy. There, the two men met representatives of the local Philhellenic committees. Stanhope was also a member of the Philhellenic Committee of London, and was assigned (along with Lord Byron and Lazaros Kountouriotis) commissioner to manage the money of the first loan to Greece.

During his stay in Messolonghi, Bellier wrote a book titled “Einige Worte über Griechenland”, which describes the daily life and living conditions of Greek and Philhellene fighters.^[4].

In mid-1823 he returned briefly to England. On January 11, 1824 he followed the distinguished Philhellene Alexander Kolbe ^[5] (;-1860) and travelled with him again to Messolonghi ^[6]. There he fought with him in the campaign against Omer Vryonis in the plain of Ligovitsa^[7].

During his second stay in Messolonghi, Bellier de Launoy married a Greek woman^[8] and lived there until the Exodus.

His wife was the sister of Altana Inglesi, who was the wife of the prominent Swiss Philhellene and publisher of the ‘’Hellenic Chronicles’’, John Jacob Meyer^[9].

During the last siege of the city, Bellier de Launoy fought to defend it. In the end, he participated in the Exodus of Messolonghi and fell fighting heroically on April 10, 1826.^[10].

SHP honours the memory of Wilhelm Bellier de Launoy, a heroic Philhellene, who fought for the Independence of Greece, finally sacrificing his own life.

 

References

^[1] Περιοδικό “Εβδομάς”, Αθήνα, Έτος Α’(1884), τόμος Α’ αρ. 1. (χωρίς ημερ.) ως και αρ. 27, 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 1884, εκδ. Κορίννη, Αθήνα, 1884, σελ.8.
^[2] Bellier de Launoy, Wilhelm, “Einige Worte über Griechenland“, εκδ. Maurer, Μόναχο, 1823.
^[3] St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still Be Free. The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008, σελ.159.
^[4] Bellier de Launoy, Wilhelm, “Einige Worte über Griechenland“, εκδ. Maurer, Μόναχο, 1823. Millingen, Julius, “Memoirs of the Affairs of Greece”, εκδ. John Rodwell, Λονδίνο, 1831.
^[5] Βλ. στο ίδιο, σελ. 160-161.
^[6] Τράιμπερ, Ερρίκος, “Αναμνήσεις από την Ελλάδα 1822-1828”, επιμ. δρ. Χρήστος Ν. Αποστολίδης, ιδ. εκδ., Αθήνα, 1960, σελ.59.
^[7] Περιοδικό “Εβδομάς”, Αθήνα, Έτος Α’(1884), τόμος Α’ αρ. 1. (χωρίς ημερ.) ως και αρ. 27, 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 1884, εκδ. Κορίννη, Αθήνα, 1884, σελ.59.
^[8] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[9] Ευαγγελάτος, Χρήστος, ‘’Οι Φιλέλληνες’’, ιδ. έκδ., Μεσολόγγι, 1937.
^[10] Βλ. στο ίδιο.

 

Bibliography – Sources

• Περιοδικό “Εβδομάς”, Αθήνα, Έτος Α’(1884), τόμος Α’ αρ. 1. (χωρίς ημερ.) ως και αρ. 27, 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 1884, εκδ. Κορίννη, Αθήνα, 1884.
• St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still Be Free. The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008.
• Bellier de Launoy, Wilhelm, “Einige Worte über Griechenland“, εκδ. Maurer, Μόναχο, 1823.
• Millingen, Julius, “Memoirs of the Affairs of Greece”, εκδ. John Rodwell, Λονδίνο, 1831.
• Τράιμπερ, Ερρίκος, “Αναμνήσεις από την Ελλάδα 1822-1828”, επιμ. δρ. Χρήστος Ν. Αποστολίδης, ιδ. εκδ., Αθήνα, 1960.
• Ευαγγελάτος, Χρήστος, ‘’Οι Φιλέλληνες’’, ιδ. έκδ., Μεσολόγγι, 1937.

 

 

Auguste-Théodore Garnot was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Corps of Engineers in France, creator and first commander of the Fortification and Architecture Corps (i.e. the Corps of Engineers) of the Greek Army in Greece.

He was born on June 29, 1796, in Brest, Brittany, France. His father was named François and he worked as a Commissioner in the French Navy. His mother’s name was Jeanne Claudine Laugée.

Auguste-Théodore Garnot studied at the famous Polytechnic School in Paris.

In October 1827, while Kapodistrias was still in Paris, he asked his friend, and a French Ministry of War official, Count Nicolas Loverdos, to help him send a team of technical experts from France to Greece for the reconstruction of the cities, the creation of a road network and the restoration of ancient monuments. Kapodistrias also requested the deployment of a small number of French officers, who would be used as military advisers.

Kapodistrias’s request was accepted and at the suggestion of the French Minister of War, a team of engineers was sent to Greece. It included Stamatis Voulgaris, who was originally from the Ionian Islands, and the graduates of the Polytechnic School of Paris, Auguste-Théodore Garnot and the geographer Jean-Pierre-Eugéne-Félic Péytier. A little later Jean-Henri Pauzié-Banne, first commander of the Central War School in Nafplio (Military School of Cadets) followed. It is indeed true that training in the field of architecture was at an infantile level in Greece at that time.

Auguste-Théodore Garnot arrived in Greece in mid-1828, following Stamatis Voulgaris, a French Army officer, former classmate and personal friend of Kapodistrias, who had already arrived in January. The first project undertaken by the then Captain Garnot, together with Voulgaris, was the design of the city of Tripoli. They also began to design together the city of Corinth, but Garnot continued on his own. Bulgaris dealt with the cities of Nafplio and Patras. Kapodistrias instructed Garnot to get involved in the planning of Patras, according to specific instructions that we find today in the Archives of Kapodistrias in Corfu.

In addition, Kapodistrias entrusted Garnot with the formation of the Corps of Engineers, within the Central School of War, which was named Corps of Fortification and Architecture Officers, according to the corresponding French standards. The Corps was instituted on July 28, 1829, with decrees nos. 13559 and 13958, published in the General Gazette on August 17, 1828. According to Maro Kardamitsi-Adami and her research in the Archives of Kapodistrias in Corfu, these decrees were originally drafted in French by Garnot himself. Garnot was later promoted to lieutenant colonel and became the first commander of the Corps, assisted by another French officer. The new Corps was expected to consist of 20 members, 12 of whom would be officers: one Major, four Captains, three Lieutenants, three second Lieutenants and eight project supervisors.

Garnot initially managed to find six persons to staff the Corps (decree no. 13560), five of whom were Greeks who had studied engineering in Europe: Emmanuel Manitakis and Emmanuel Kallergis, who had studied in France. Theodoros Vallianos with studies in Russia, the Swiss De Vaud, and Dimitrios Stavridis with studies in Austria. Some of them were private individuals who were assigned to the ranks of officers at the time of the award. Governor Kapodistrias also appointed Stefanos Isaias, who studied in Italy. These officers were placed in various fortresses of the Peloponnese.

Their mission, under the supervision and guidance of Garnot, was to prepare reports and plans for the construction, maintenance or improvement of fortifications, military and civil buildings, road construction, as well as the supervision of various building projects. The plans drawn up by the officers, were checked for their conformity and endorsed by the head of the Corps, Auguste-Théodore Garnot. Then they were submitted to the Governor for approval. It was a reputable body, the members of which received high salaries.

From this Engineer Corps of the Central War School graduated the first architects – engineers of Greece, who then, for about half a century, worked hard for the urban modernization of the country. The first officer was Lieutenant Spyridon Trikoupis, who was admitted to the school on February 4, 1829 and graduated on August 18, 1832. For a long time one could study architecture in Greece, only at the Central School of War, as the Polytechnic University and the Academy of Arts had not yet been established.

This informal situation, that is, the execution of urban civil works by the military, ceased to exist officially in 1878, when a Civil Engineers Corps was created, which joined the Public Works Service of the Ministry of Interior. Therefore, until that year, the term engineer covered the specialty of both military and civil architect-engineer. The level of training of engineers at the Central School of War was so high that Telemachos Vlassopoulos, the first to introduce the term “civil engineer” into the Greek language, in a 1859 article presenting the military schools of France, did not hesitate to state that studies provided in Greece were higher than those of the “École centrale des arts et manufactures” of Paris. Moreover, almost all the graduate engineers of the Central School of War, were following post-graduate studies in France.

In 1830 Theodoros Vallianos replaced Colonel Garnot who returned to France. A little later, the commandment was taken over by Count de Schaumbourg, who remained commander of the Corps even after the death of Kapodistrias.

The French influence exerted by the French officers of the Corps of Engineers in the School of Engineering of the Military School of Cadets, was important and timeless. Undoubtedly, the first city plans drawn up by Garnot and Voulgaris, as well as the plans of other engineers who came to strengthen the Expeditionary Corps of General Maison, contributed in this direction. Audoy and Peytier, for example, decisively influenced Greek engineers and laid the foundations of modern urban planning. The work performed by Greek and French engineers, under the supervision of Garnot, was unique for the whole Peloponnese and Aegina. In fact, as it is well known, the Governor wanted to use the French engineers also for the reconstruction of Central Greece.

Auguste-Théodore Garnot continued his career in France and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died on March 10, 1869 in Bordeaux, at the age of 73.

He was awarded the medal of the Knight of the Legion of Honor in France on April 10, 1832 and the Officer of the Legion of Honor on April 22, 1847. He was also awarded the medal of the Knight of St. Louis on October 30, 1829. In Greece he was awarded the medal of the Knight of Golden Cross of the Order of the Redeemer on May 2, 1836.

 

SOURCES- BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Annuaire de l’État militaire de France pour l’année 1847, publié par le ministère de la guerre, Paris, Veuve Levrault, 1847.
• Assimacopoulou Fotini – Konstantinos Chatzis – Georgia Mavrogonatou, «Implanter les “Ponts et Chaussées” européens en Grèce – Le rôle des ingénieurs du corps du génie, 1830-1880», Quaderns d’Història de l’Enginyeria, τ. 10 (2009), σσ. 331-350.
• Kardamitsi-Adami Maro, «Les études des architectes grecs en France: modèles, approches, influences», ανακοίνωση σε συμπόσιο του Fondation hellénique de Paris, διαθέσιμη στην ιστοσελίδα http://dev.fh.digital-in.paris/ [πρόσβαση 21 Ιουνίου 2020].
• Malesis Dimitris, “Military policy and infrastructure: the role of the Engineer Corps in the nineteenth century Greece”, The Historical Review/La Revue Historique, no 16, σσ. 235-248, 2020.
• Voulgaris Stamatis, Souvenirs de Stamati Bulgari, Chef de bataillon au Corps Royal d’État-major, en retraite, Paris, A. Pihan de la Forest, 1835.
• Βλασσόπουλος Τηλέμαχος, «Περί των στρατιωτικών σχολείων εν Γαλλία», Απόμαχος – Στρατιωτικόν περιοδικόν σύγγραμμα, 30 Μαρτίου 1859, σσ. 663-676.
• Βυζάντιος Χρήστος, Ιστορία των κατά την Ελλην. Επανάστασιν εκστρατειών και μαχών και των μετά ταύτα συμβάντων, ων συμμετέσχεν ο Τακτικός Στρατός, από του 1821 μέχρι του 1833, χ.ε., Αθήνα 1901.
• ΓΑΚ Κερκύρας, Αρχείο Ι. Καποδίστρια, Φάκελος 118 και 214.
• Γενική Εφημερίς, αρ. φ. 56, 17 Αυγούστου 1828 και αρ. φ. 58, 24 Αυγούστου 1828.
• Γεροζήσης Αθ. Τριαντάφυλλος, Το Σώμα των αξιωματικών και η θέση του στη σύγχρονη ελληνική κοινωνία, 1821-1975, τόμ. Α΄, Αθήνα, Δωδώνη, 1996.
• Ηλεκτρονική βάση απονεμηθέντων παρασήμων της Λεγεώνας της Τιμής http://wwwcoulture.gouv.fr/documentation/leonore/leonore.htm, Dossier LΗ1079/34.
• Θεμελή-Κατηφόρη Δέσποινα, Το γαλλικό ενδιαφέρον για την Ελλάδα στην περίοδο του Καποδίστρια, 1828-1831, Αθήνα, Επικαιρότητα, 1985.
• Ιστορία της οργανώσεως του Ελληνικού Στρατού, 1821-1954, Αθήνα, ΓΕΣ, 1955.
• Καστάνης Ανδρέας, Η Στρατιωτική Σχολή των Ευελπίδων κατά τα πρώτα χρόνια της λειτουργίας της, 1828-1834, Αθήνα, Ελληνικά Γράμματα, 2000.
• Μάρω Καρδαμίτση-Αδάμη, «Οι πρώτοι Έλληνες μηχανικοί, καινούργια στοιχεία για το Σώμα των Οχυρωματοποιών και τους έξι μηχανικούς που το επάνδρωσαν», Τεχνικά Χρονικά, Τόμος 8΄, τεύχος 4, Αθήνα, 1988, σσ. 63-89.
• Παπαγεωργίου Στέφανος, Η στρατιωτική πολιτική του Καποδίστρια – Δομή, οργάνωση και λειτουργία του Στρατού Ξηράς της Καποδιστριακής περιόδου, Αθήνα, Εστία, 1986.

 

Camille Alphonse Trézel was a French General born in Paris on January 5, 1780. His father was Pierre Jean Baptiste Antoine Auguste Trézel and his mother was Magdeleine Victoire Payen.

Trézel was the son of a merchant. However, he left the trade business to start a career in the military in 1801, and in fact in the special branch of engineer geographers. In 1803 he was already a second lieutenant. In 1804 he served in the Netherlands and the following year he was named assistant engineer-geographer. In 1806 he took part in the campaign in Poland, and in 1807-1808 he participated, with the rank of lieutenant, in the mission of the General and Ambassador of France, Gardane, to Persia. He returned to France in 1809 and followed General Guilleminot to Illyria as his aide de camp. In 1810 he was promoted to Captain and took part in the war in Catalonia. In 1811 he served in Germany. In 1812 he was sent to Russia and fought in various battles. He returned to France and became Major in 1813. After his successful participation in the battle of Mayence, he was promoted to Colonel. He was then appointed Chief of the Staff of General Vandamme and he was wounded at the Battle of Fleurus in 1815. He was named Brigadier General on July 5, 1815, but the Bourbon regime did not recognize his rank. Finally, in 1820 – 1823 he took part in the Spanish Civil War, where he distinguished himself. Trézel arrived in Greece in 1828, and was appointed deputy commander of the Staff of General Maison’s expeditionary corps in Morea.

As it is well known, General Maison had submitted a proposal to Governor Kapodistrias for the organization of the Greek Regular Army, under the responsibility of the French officers of his Corps and at the expense of the French government. Thus, Colonel Camille Alphonse Trézel, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Greek Regular Troops. Trézel was promoted by Kapodistrias to a General and took up his new duties by decree on July 22, 1829. At that time, the Greek Regular Army counted 2,688 men.

According to the decree published in the General Gazette, General Trézel was also in charge of the duties of Inspector General of the Regular Corps. His mission was to monitor the progress of the organizational work, to propose transfers, promotions, moral rewards and commemorations, to send reports or requests to the Governor, to process orders on behalf of the Governor, to communicate and to cooperate with the French headquarters, to submit the proposed amendments to the administration, etc. For all these efforts, Trézel was informing the French government, which was financing the Greek army.

Immediately after taking office, Trézel selected brilliant officers from General Maison’s army to build his staff. One of them was Pellion, who was appointed Chief of the Staff, Saint Martin, who took over the management of the ammunition and the funds sent from France to cover the operational needs of the Army, Auguste Guérrin, who took over the duties of the Military assistant quartermaster of the Greek Regular Army, and Sauquet, who served as a Military quartermaster.

General Trézel reorganized the Regular Corps which now included the following units:

a. four Infantry Battalions, each consisting of six companies,
b. an Artillery Battalion, consisting of four Artillery companies and a field Artillery company,
c. a Cavalry Corps, consisting of four squadrons (two of lancers and two of riflemen),
d. a Technical Corps (Fortification and Architecture),
e. the Central War School,
f. the arsenal.

Trézel enforced French regulations in all military sectors, as well as the French Army financial management system. Saint Martin even set up a school, in which Greek officers learned the French rules of military administration and logistics. At the same time, Trézel commissioned Lieutenant Pourchet to command the arsenal. In addition, and since French criminal law had been applied to the Greek Army from the beginning, a permanent Military Court was established in December 1828, which continued to apply the French Military Penal Code. Naturally, Trézel introduced entirely French regulations into training. The training took place in a camp in Megara, lasted 40 days for each soldier and was based mainly on the provisions of the French Campaign Regulations. Trézel himself oversaw the manoeuvres of the Regular Army and Corps (Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry).

Trézel intervened also on the subject of the uniform of the Regular Army, and introduced through another order a uniform which was entirely identical to that of the French Army.

Thus, thanks to Trézel’s efforts, “the Greek Regular Army was in no way different from the French…”, as Christos Byzantios characteristically writes. According to Themeli – Katifori, at that time more than 150 French officers were serving in the Greek military corps which had been organized in line with French standards.

In addition, in October 1829, on the personal initiative of Trézel, a compulsory conscription system was imposed in all the provinces of the new Greek state. Until then, recruitment was carried out on a voluntary basis. But Trézel had identified the need to cultivate a climate of trust between the Regular Army and the government, and stressed in all directions that being a small state, Greece would require a strong national army to acquire significant deterrence power.

Following another proposal by Trézel, the religious oath for the military was introduced. Trézel saw it as a means of restoring military order and discipline. As P. Spyropoulos points out, he believed that in this way, due to the deep religious devotion of the Greeks, the soldiers would consciously abstain from any violation of norms and and deviations.

Trézel was the General Director of the Regular Corps and Inspector General, and he also chaired the examination committee of the Central Military School (Military School of Cadets in Nafplio), which had just been formed by another French officer, Henri Pauzié. Thus, the examinations of the first cadets took place in October 1829, before him and in the presence of the consular agent of France. The first graduates, in whom Kapodistrias himself wore the epaulettes, accompanied by General Trézel, were only eight and they all joined the Artillery.

In addition to the above, General Trézel was also responsible for evaluating the candidate-officers who wished to join the Regular Army through their service in the Corps of Attachés This Corps was established by decree in the same year and month, with the main purpose of attracting the sons of the captains who refused to send their children to the War School. The Attachés bore the rank, the uniform and received the salary of the non-commissioned officers of the Regular Corps. They were trained within the Regular Corps and, after being evaluated by a committee chaired by Trézel, they joined the Army as Second Lieutenants, just like the cadets of the War School. The Corps of Attachés, however, was not successful and eventually over time the institution was abolished.

Unfortunately, General Trézel’s significant efforts to reorganize the Army in all areas ended in 1830, due to the change of the political climate in France and the enthronement of Louis Philippe. The new French government stopped granting 100,000 francs per month, which covered the expenses of the Greek Army, and recalled the majority of French officers serving in Greece. General Trézel himself, according to an article in the General Gazette, was then appointed Chief of Staff of the Morea Expeditionary Corps, and in August 1830, on the orders of the Corps Commander, Schneider, he resigned from his post of Director-General of the Regular Corps. He was replaced at the command of the Regular Corps by the French General Gérard.

Trézel then returned to France in 1831 and later left for Africa as Chief of Staff of Duke De Rovigo. He fought in the Algerian campaign and distinguished himself in all the battles in which he participated until 1835, with the exception of the Battle of Makta. In fact, he was injured in some of them. He returned to France, but in 1836 he was recalled to Algeria, where this time he was seriously injured, and left for France again.

He became a lieutenant General on November 11, 1837 and was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff of the Ministry of War on 15 May 1839. On July 21, 1846 he was elected to the French Parliament as Pair de France and on May 9, 1847 he became Minister of War, a position he held until February 24, 1848. With the revolution in France the same year, he was retired. Finally, in 1853 he was called up for military service as a Count Commander of the Count of Paris, a position he held until 1856. He died on April 11, 1860.

During his career, Trézel was awarded the medal of the Legion of Honour on February 12, 1813, and the medal of the senior officer of the Legion of Honor on January 13, 1837.

He was also honoured with the Order of the Sun. In Greece he was honoured with the medal of the Order of Grand Officer of the Order of the Redeemer. He was also the author of memoirs related to his war missions. His efforts in Greece undoubtedly had a great impact on the establishment of the Greek Regular Army, as they introduced the French military education and training system, the French way of thinking and the French military spirit that was maintained for many years and influenced the military tradition in Greece.

 

SOURCES-BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Biographie Universelle, Ancienne et Moderne, Tome 42, Paris, C. Desplaces, χ.η.
• Correspondance du Comte Capodistrias, Président de la Grèce, Pupliée par E. A. Bétant, Tome 3, Genève-Paris, 1839.
• Norman Tobias, The International Military Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Academic International Press, 1992.
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