Escaped by Sea: Greek Refugees in Odesa in the Early 1820s

Abstract

The Greek Revolution, which broke out in 1821, not only contributed to the outbreak and progression of the so-called Eastern Crisis of the 1820s, but also provoked a new wave of Greek emigration. The persecution endured by Ottoman Greeks forced them to flee and settle in the south of the Russian Empire. Many refugees from Constantinople and the Greek islands arrived in Odesa after crossing the sea. During the years of the Greek Revolution, several institutions were established to address the challenges of settlement and the provision of financial support for these displaced populations. In the initial stages, responsibility for assisting the refugees was assumed by a specially created body, the Committee for Assistance to the Constantinopolitan Greeks Arriving in Odesa. Although its existence was short-lived–lasting only about four months–its activities nonetheless fulfilled the essential task of providing financial aid to Greeks from Constantinople who had arrived in Odesa spontaneously.