Rigas Velestinlis was born in 1757 in a wealthy family in a central village of Thessaly named Velestino, from which the name “Velestinlis” derives. The name “Feraios” derives from the archaic form of the name of cities anterior to the ancient city of Pherae, which was located next to Velestino.
Although there are no many testimonies regarding the studies of Rigas, it is certain that he received good education at the schools of Ampelakion and Zaghora at Pilio, while for some period he worked as a teacher at Kissos village at Pilio.
The events that Rigas experienced in his adolescence in Thessaly were among the most important events of Greek pre-revolutionary history. He must have been only twelve years old when the great uprising in Greek regions begun, the Orlov Revolt. About the age of 20 he goes to Constantinople and becomes a secretary to the former voivode of Wallachia Alexander Ypsilandis. There he gets the opportunity to continue his studies, to learn foreign languages, to get to know important people and things of his time and place and to determine the course of his life. Later, he settled down in Bucharest as a clerk for the Wallachian Prince Nicolaos Mavrogenis, who appointed him in charge of the inspection of the troops of Craiova.
His term at this position begins at the same time with the beginning of the second Russo-Turkish war in 1787 that took place in the region of Moldavia-Wallachia. Following the defeat of Ottomans by Austrio-Russians and the conquering of Bucharest, he quits serving Mavrogenis and joins the Austrians. In 1790 he goes to Vienna, where he stays for about six months, working as a secretary. In this short time he manages to print two of his first books: The School of Delicate Lovers, a collection of love short stories that are actually translations of the short stories written by the French author Restif de la Bretonne and the Anthology of texts on Physics, an assemblage of French and German books extracts.
In the beginning of 1791, Rigas returns to Wallachia and stays there until 1796. The truce between Austrians and Turks in 1790 and the end of the Russo-Turkish war with the signing of the Treaty of Iasio in 1792 makes the enslaved Christian people realize that they should not pin their hopes on Austria and Russia. The French Revolution of 1789 with its manifestos have a great influence on the patriot from Thessaly, who at this time studies the French revolution constitution, translates French enlightenment authors, starts to compose the Θούριος and other revolutionary songs and designs the Μεγάλη Χάρτα της Ελλάδος.
From 1796 on, he starts to publish in Vienna the maps of Constantinople, Wallachia, Moldavia, part of Transylvania and Greece and his patriotic songs Θούριος and Πατριωτικός Ύμνος. “Θούριος is a cry of revolt" as noted by Linos Politis, “expressed in poetry meter; however a cry that reveals a great zeal and a burning desire”. It is not by chance that Θούριος was the anthem of revolted Greeks later.
In parallel to his publishing activities Rigas prepares for leaving Vienna for final. The personality of Napoleon and the wind of change brought to monarchic Europe had formed a climate of revolutionary uprising to all the enslaved peoples of Europe. Rigas tries to ensure the assistance of Napoleon in his plans for revolt. He addresses a letter to the great commander to ask his assistance in conquering the independence of his country.
The last phase of the preparation of Rigas is connected to two revolt works, which he published in 1797 in a large number of copies: 1) The Επαναστατικό Μανιφέστο, a four-pages text printed in 3.000 copies and starting with the slogan “Freedom – Equality – Brotherhood” and comprises the Declaration, a passionate patriotic text, the Νέα πολιτική Διοίκηση των κατοίκων της Ρούμελης, της Μικράς Ασίας, των Μεσογείων Νήσων και της Βλαχομπογδανίας, which comprises the “Rights of Humans and Citizens”, the main “Constitution” and the “Annex”. 2) The Στρατιωτικόν Εγκόλπιον, a collection of military rules originating from a German war manual and accompanied by a revolt preface of democratic catechesis.
These two revolt editions were sent to Trieste to the friend of Rigas, Adonis Koronios, for him to receive them and distribute it back home. Rigas himself sent a letter to his friend to inform him about sending the printouts, but unfortunately, his friend being absent, the letter was received by Koronios partner, Dimitrios Economou, who reported them to the Austrian police.
Rigas was arrested when he reached Trieste on December 1st, 1797. On the night of December 30th, when he was about to be transferred to Vienna he attempted to commit suicide by wounding himself. Thus, he managed to postpone his transfer to Vienna for a small time and despite his efforts to be set free through the French Consulate in Trieste; he was finally transferred to Vienna and was handed over to the Turks on May 10th, 1798 along with his companions. After a short time of imprisonment and terrible torture on June 24th, 1798 he and his companions were killed and their bodies were thrown in Danube. Turkish authorities spread the rumour that the eight prisoners escaped. |