The 1821 Revolution on Crete

On 15 April 1821, having gathered at the Church of the Virgin Mary Thymiani at Sphakia, armed locals and representatives from other areas on Crete decided to declare revolution on the island. The date of their first victory on 14^th June is considered as marking the official outbreak of the revolution. On 23^rd June, information reaching the island about the revolution in mainland Greece and the hanging of Patriarch Gregory V in Constantinople led the Ottomans in Megalo Kastro to exact revenge on the Christians in the town. Laymen and members of the clergy in their dozens fell victim to this violent outbreak, which went down in history as the "megalos arbentes" (the great massacre).

Over the ensuing months the revolution spread to almost every province on the island, but intervention by the Egyptian army put the revolutionaries in a difficult position, and the struggle died away in the spring of 1824, as many were forced to make their submission. Nevertheless, several of them left to play their part in revolutionary activity in mainland Greece. And though the rebellion was rekindled on the island over the ensuing years, it failed to lead to the desired aim. The "Protocol of Independence" left Crete outside the boundaries of the newly-born Greek State, and the Cretans were forced to bring their struggle to an end.