Logothetis, Lykourgos |
1. Introduction
Lykourgos Logothetis is one of the most important personalities in the modern history of Samos. He was among the leaders of the 1821 War of Independence on the island and also played the leading part in the Samian Politeia (State). His real name was Georghios Paplomatas.
2. Biographical information
Lykourgos Logothetis was born at Karlovasi of Samos in 1772. He was the son of Giannis and Marouda Paplomatas. He completed his formal training on Samos and then went to Constantinople, where he continued studying and was appointed secretary at the Patriarchate. He went to the Danubian Principalities few years later, where he became the secretary of hospodar (lord) of Wallachia Constantine Ypsilantis. Alexander Soutsos made him a patriarchal office, a title he used as his surname for the rest of his life.
3. Communal disputes on Samos and Logothethis’s part
In the early 19th century, two factions competed with each other at the Greek-orthodox community of Samos: the progressive Karmanioloi and the conservative Kallikantzaroi (Goblins). The main reason of their conflict was the function and control of the local communal institutions, such as the controversial introduction of modernistic procedures. Logothetis soon joined the Carmagnoles. In 1808, he appeared to be their leader and returned to Samos. In 1808-1812, the Carmagnoles managed to prevail in the local community. Later on though, their power diminished and Logothetis was banished from the island. He returned to Samos in 1821 to participate in the War of Independence.
Logothetis, already a member of the Philiki Etairia (“Society of Friends”), led the War on Samos. His military efficiency allowed him to repel the Ottomans’ attacks, while at the same time he founded the “Military-Political Organization of Samos”, according to which the island was administered. Samos thus remained free until the end of the War. He was charged though with the failure of the revolution on Chios, mostly because of the disagreement between Ypsilantis and the local prouchontes (the notables) on that move and was therefore called to the Peloponnese in 1822 to answer. After a few months of imprisonment, Capodistria acknowledged his contribution and assigned him with the special commissionership of areas Laconia and Messenia.
Samos was not included in the 1830 London Protocol, which officially recognized the Greek State. Logothetis then returned to Samos and led the second phase of the revolution there, known as “Samian Politeia”. In 1834, Samos was not included in the Greek State but was only recognized as autonomous. Logothetis then, along with other rebels, had to leave for Greece, where he was honored with the title of the State Councilor and Senator. He died in Athens in 1850.
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