Principality of Samos (Greece, 1832-1912)

Last modified: 2004-03-27 by ivan sache
Keywords: samos | cross (white) | cross (red) | triangle (white) | triangle (red) |
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• History of the Principality
• Description of the flag
• Alternative flag report
• Standard of the Prince

See also:

• Greece
• Greece: Historical outline
• Greece: Struggle for independence (1821-1829)
• Greece: Struggle for the independence on the islands (1821-1829)

Other sites of interest:

• Vathi historical website

History of the Principality

The Greeks rebells controlled Samos during the independence war, but it was returned to the Ottoman Empire in 1830, with special conditions. The Principality of Samos was created in December 1832, under Ottoman sovereigniy. The principate lived in peace until 1908, when the islanders revolted against Turkey. The prince Andrew Kopasis followed an anti-Greek policy, and he was murdered on 22 May 1912. His successor, Gregory Vegleris, was pro-Greek.
Turkey withdrew its army from the island when the war against Italy begun (May 1912) and the Greek islanders, led by Temistocles Sophulis, revolted again (September). Vegleris escaped and on the 24 November 1912 the island was incorporated to Greece.
In 1925 there was a conflict and there was some discussion about the proclamation of the independence for the island, but nothing happened.

Jaume Ollé, 26 September 1996

Quoting the Vathi website:

Themistocles Sofoules is one of the most eminent personalities of Samos, during the last twelve-year period of the principality. (...) In September 1912, Samos revolted under his leadership and on 11 November 1912 the island's national assembly declared its union with "the free Greek kingdom".
The union was formally established in March, 1913. For two years, until 1914, the Temporary Government of Samos ruled the island, having Themistocles Sofoules as president. From that moment on, Samos became an integral part of the Greek state."

Jan Mertens, 2 January 2004

Description of the flag

The flag of the Principality of Samos was adopted in 1834. It is very similar to the flag of the Dominican Republic: white cross, with the upper quarters in red and the lower quarters in blue.
The flag was officially in use between 1834 and 24 November 1912.

Source: Hellenic flags. Insignia-Emblems. [kok97]

Jaume Ollé, 8 October 1996

Standard of the Prince

Sources differ about this flag: