November 11th ,1912. Samos Union with Hellas_Liberation of Kastoria city.

Hello Steemians !

Today you'll read about a part of Hellenic history that has to do with the unite of Samos island with mother Hellas(Greece) and the liberation of Kastoria city .

HISTORY-ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ

image is from a newspaper of the era showing Sofoulis in the side and Logothetis in the right side

• We go back in 1834 . Back then, the 3 super powers of the era, England-France-Russia proceeded to an agreement with Sultan of the Ottoman Epmpire as Hellas wasn't all free after the revolution of 1821. In this agreement Samos island (located in Eastern and central Aegean Sea) would have a Hegemon as a commander but under the "protection" of the 3 Super Forces. The Hegemon would be apointed by the Sultan ,with limited privileges and subordination status for the people.
  This decision wasn't accepted by the leaders of the island and the people , who were fighting for many decades in order Samos to be free and unite with Hellas. Thus 60 of them with 4000 of the inhabitants left Samos and migrate as refugees to free regions of Hellas like Evia (ΕΥΒΟΙΑ) .
  Until 1912, 18 Hegemones took the goverment of Samos. All these years Samians were asking or their rights and wanted to unite with motherland.
  Just before the start of Balkan war in 1912 , Hegemon in Samos was Andreas Kopases who's governing wasn't applying the priveleges for the Samians and brought Turkish army in the island with the excuse that they 'll act as safety keepers(UN of the era - old trick as you can see). This act of his , made him a trator for Samians and thus he was murdered on March 9th, 1912 in Vathi city , by Stavros Kazantzis(Baretis)(born in Balaftsa village of Macedonia).
  
  *Stavros Baretis

Next Hegemon was Vegleres and in the meantime more Turkish army is coming to Samos which is not obeying Hegemon's commands and acts on his own ,oppressing the Samians.

September 7th, 1912
The circumstances were very bad for the people of the island and this fact made Themistocles Sofoulis

to take the decision to disembark in the island along with a group of armed Samians on September 7th. Deisemarkation took place in Marathokampos coastal village. This action gave great hopes and courage to the inhabitants of Karlovasi city and hundreds of armed men volunteered to take part too.
On the same day , a demonstration took place in Karlovasi and after the spech of Themistocles Sofoulis and Emmanuel Vliamos a resolution for Samos unites with Hellas is a fact.
The first fights between the Samian rebels and the Turkish army(with artillery) are taking place in Paleokastro village in Bairaktares location and the battle that lasted the whole day with many dead and wounded took this name.
After the intervention of England's consul Loui Mark, there was a truce from 13 to 18 September.
In Paleokastro and Mesokampos villages , the Turkish are burning everything to the ground. The inhabitants are leaving their properties in terror in all the around villages and are heading to Vathi city for more safety.
In the truce it was agreed that the Turkish army could leave the island unharmed and Sofoules offered Samian boats to transport them with the flag of the Hegemony.

September 19th, 1912

Sofoulis, proclaims the revolutionary goverment as the only official on the island.

October 5th, 1912
Hellas(Greece), Serbia and Bulgaria , declare the war against Turkey.

November 10th, 1912
Sofulis agrees with Prime minister Venizelos , the union of Samos island with mother Hellas and returns to Samos.

November 11th, 1912

Hegemon is informed to leave the island and at 2am Sfoulis anounces foficial the union to the people. Celebrations are taking place all over the island.

• Also on November 11th , 1912 , the Hellenic city of Kastoria in Macedonia region was liberated by the Hellenic army after 5 centuries of occupation. A part from from a cavlry regiment of the Hellenic army led it by Ioannis Artes (had also liberated Florina on NOvember 7th)was ordered along with Macedonomachos Filolaos Piheon to take control of the city of Kastoria.
  The city was surounded by 25.000 men of Hellenic army and Artes gave the message to Metropolitan of the city to deliver it to the Turkish comander Mehmet in order to surrender the city within one hour from the time he took the message.
  Artes , was informed that the Turkish comander and army had left the city before the Metropolitan delivers him the message.
  Filolaos Piheon was the first to entered the city first with some cavalry men and headed to Metropolitan in order to anounce the liberation of Kastoria !
  
  source
  Hellenic Army followed and entered the city too after him.

info site
info site2
images are from wikipedia exept the 1st one

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the day!