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First National Assembly at Epidaurus

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Memorial with the text of the Declaration of Independence, signed on 1 January 1822 at the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.

The First National Assembly of Epidaurus (Greek: Αʹ Εθνοσυνέλευση της Επιδαύρου, 1821–1822) was the first meeting of the Greek National Assembly, a national representative political gathering of the Greek revolutionaries.[1]

History

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The monument

The assembly opened in December 1821 at Piada (today Nea (New) Epidaurus). It was attended by representatives from regions involved in the revolution against Ottoman rule.[1]

The majority of the representatives were local notables and clergymen from the Peloponnese, Central Greece and the islands. In addition, a number of Phanariotes and academics attended. However, a number of prominent revolutionaries, including Alexander Ypsilantis and the most prominent military leaders were absent. Of the 59 representatives at the assembly, 20 were landowners, 13 were ship-owners, 12 were intellectuals, 4 were military leaders, 3 were archpriests, 3 were merchants.

The first document adopted by the assembly proclaimed the independence of the Greek nation from the Ottoman Empire. The first paragraph was:

" In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity.
The Greek nation, wearied by the dreadful weight of Ottoman oppression, and resolved to break its yoke, though at the price of the greatest sacrifice, proclaims today before God and man, by the organ of its lawful representatives, met in national assembly, its independence."[2]

It also passed a number of other important documents, including:

The Assembly elected a five-member executive on 15 January 1822, which was presided over by Alexandros Mavrocordatos. The executive in turn appointed the first government which had 8 ministries.

The first legislature had 33 members.

Another characteristic of the First National Assembly is the absence of any reference in the Constitution to the Filiki Eteria, although Dimitrios Ypsilantis, brother of Alexandros Ypsilantis and official representative of the Filiki Eteria, was appointed president of the legislature, a body controlled by the local notables.

List of delegates

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Medal awarded for the participation in the assembly to Anagnostis Monarchidis
Eastern Greece (included representatives from Thessaly/Macedonia)
Hydra, Spetses, Psara
Peloponnese
Western Greece
Others

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Petropulos 2015, p. 83.
  2. ^ “One hundred and thirty-fifth anniversary of Greek Independence”, Congressional Record, House. March 26, 1956, p. 5582.
  3. ^ Int'l Business Publications 2012, p. 130.
  4. ^ "The Parliament : The Political System – Constitutional History". hellenicparliament.gr. Hellenic Parliament. Retrieved August 7, 2019.

Books

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  • Petropulos, John Anthony (2015). Politics and Statecraft in the Kingdom of Greece, 1833–1843. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1400876020. OCLC 1013955004.
  • Int'l Business Publications (2012). Greece Country Study Guide: Strategic Information and Developments (Reprint ed.). Int'l Business Publications. ISBN 978-1438774473. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
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