George Stravelakis: The Enslaved Greek who Became Ruler of Tunisia

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George Stravelakis, sometimes called “Halkias,” was an enslaved Greek antheral from the land of Chios who roseate to go the Prime Minister of Tunisia successful the 1860s.

By Antonis Chaldeos

Stravelakis was calved successful 1817 connected the land of Chios. During the atrocity of the Chios massacre, Georgios’s begetter was killed, portion George, on with his member Ioannis and his parent Irene, were captured and sold into slavery by the Ottomans.

Chios massacre atrocity

Tens of thousands of Greeks were killed by Ottoman troops connected the land of Chios during the Greek War of Independence successful 1822.

Greeks from neighboring islands had arrived connected Chios and encouraged the Chians to articulation their revolt. In response, Ottoman troops landed connected the land and killed thousands, adjacent trapping galore successful a religion and burning them alive.

The massacre of Christians provoked wide planetary outrage and led to expanding enactment for the Greek origin worldwide. Approximately three-quarters of the colonisation of 120,000 were killed, enslaved oregon died of disease.

George Stravelakis sold arsenic slave

Stravelakis was past taken to Smyrna and past Constantinople, wherever helium was sold arsenic a enslaved to the bey, oregon ruler, of Tunis. He converted to Islam and was fixed the sanction Mustapha.

He was past raised by the household of the section Bey and soon became the authorities treasurer (khaznadar).

Climbing to the highest bureau successful Tunisia

Stravelakis managed to ascent to the highest offices of the Tunisian authorities and was promoted to lieutenant-general of the Army, arsenic bey successful 1840 and past president of the Grand Council from 1862 to 1878.

Mustafa Khaznadar retained memories of his Greek root and supported his household successful Greece by sending them wealth and helping his nephews successful their studies.

Khaznadar was besides a large benefactor to the Greek assemblage of Tunis.

In 1864 helium donated a crippled of onshore measuring 9,905 quadrate meters (106,616 quadrate feet) to beryllium utilized arsenic a Greek Orthodox cemetery. Later, the religion of St. George was erected successful this area.

The slave-turned statesman died successful 1878 and is buried successful the mausoleum of Tourbet el Bey, successful the bosom of the Medina of Tunis.

As a designation of Khaznadar’s generous donations to his Greek compatriots, the Greek assemblage of Tunis placed an honorary inscription to his representation there.

This is an excerpt from the publication “The Greek Community successful Tunisia 16th-21st Century”, by Antonis Chaldeos. The publication is published successful French and Greek. More accusation is available here.