The 25-year-old Ioannis Kapodistrias arrived in Kefalonia for the first time on April 27, 1801. As a delegate of the renowned “Septinsular Republic” supported by the Russo-Turkish alliance, he, along with the Zakynthian Nikolaos Sigouros, came to organize the local government. It was also the first time that the Corfiot politician got involved in politics.
Despite the fact that at that time the island had only 50,000 inhabitants who made their living from agriculture, livestock, trade, and shipping, the scene they encountered was one of chaos and turmoil among various factions on the island. Anarchy was everywhere. Weapons, intimidation, livestock theft, and piracy were rampant. The island was “divided in two.” The residents of Argostoli and Lixouri were at odds over where the island's authorities should be established, and tensions between the two cities had persisted for almost fifty years. According to the significant historical notes of Markos Theotokis, when the Imperial Commissioners arrived in Kefalonia, they found it “...in a state of complete turmoil.”
The young Kapodistrias, calm from the first moment, delivered his first political speech, explaining the method he wanted to apply, asking for the help of all the residents regardless, to succeed. He urged the citizens “to feel the greatness of their fortune.” “The establishment of the independent Septinsular Republic, despite its shortcomings, had to be secured at all costs. If the impression was given to foreigners that Greeks could not cooperate without the imposition of foreign powers, things would be difficult.”
Kapodistrias quickly observed that the existing garrison on the island was inadequate in the event of an “assault on the city” and for maintaining peace. His request was heard. He asked for reinforcement with more than 100 elite soldiers, as well as many munitions. He also immediately summoned the faction leaders to understand the causes of the anarchy prevailing on the island and to see who was causing the unrest. After days, it was revealed that all the turmoil stemmed from one person, the aristocrat Efstathios Metaxas, who not only denied the accusations but also threatened to overthrow the local government. Then the committee that Kapodistrias had organized for the unrest informed him that he had to leave the island within 48 hours, and if he did not comply, he would be declared an exile and his property would be confiscated. The problem for Kapodistrias grew as Metaxas turned the peasant movement supporting him against the local government. Panic gripped the city, writes Markos Theotokis again.
Then Kapodistrias decided to speak personally with the man who had incited the residents to take up arms. As he said, he wanted to see with his own eyes what was happening and did not trust anyone else to go in his place. His determination and courage were such that he went at two in the morning among armed peasants. “He sets off in the dark of night with a follower.” As noted, they conversed for four hours.
Historian Nikolaos G. Moschonas speaks of Kapodistrias' decisive actions. Returning from this daring operation, after putting himself in great danger, Kapodistrias proposed the establishment of a committee to resolve the differences and remove the armed men from the city. “The Peace Committee” was formed by the noblemen Stefanos Fokas, Nikolis Fokas, Dimitrios Piniatoros, and Nikolaos Anninos. The Committee issued an order on May 5 reiterating the previous decisions, demanding general disarmament, and establishing the functioning of the State. After the order was published and Efstathios Metaxas left the island and sought refuge in Zakynthos, the Committee toured the streets holding olive branches, assuring citizens that peace had been made and urging them to respect it. Kapodistrias constantly told the residents that it was a crime not to accept unity.
The young Kapodistrias succeeded in his first difficult mission. After managing to establish local authorities and a garrison capable of controlling the clashes, he left for Corfu. Upon departure, he handed over “a pacified island, governed by the State, with weakened opponents, a new hospital, and a surplus of 12,000 groschen in the public treasury, of which 8,000 bolstered the General Fund,” as noted in the historical work of M. Theotokis, of unique value for the history of the Ionian Islands, “Ioannis Kapodistrias in Cephalonia and its Insurrections in the Years 1800, 1801, 1802.”
Kapodistrias' second mission to Kefalonia was not long in coming. The Tsar’s representative in the Ionian Islands judged that Kapodistrias was the only suitable person as Extraordinary Prefect to maintain peace, install the Russian garrison, disarm the Cephalonian National Guard responsible for many disturbances, and prepare for the assumption of duties by Count Iakovos Merkatis, appointed as the ruler's representative. Furthermore, Kapodistrias' reputation, as noted by historian researcher Georgios Sklavounos, was well known. A patriot devoted to self-sacrifice, an excellent diplomat, visionary, capable of inspiring and enjoying the people's love. Thus, on September 22, 1802, he arrived with the Russian Guard and stayed until October of the same year. As a diplomat of the Guard, in the service of the Tsar, he had realized that the only hope for saving the subjugated nation was Orthodox Russia and not the other Protestant and Catholic powers.
Professor Gerasimos D. Pangratis notes: “Kapodistrias’ dual involvement in the political affairs of Kefalonia was the decisive step in his transition from a doctor to a politician and from readings and theoretical discussions to political practice. This development was contributed to by his conciliatory nature, his willingness to compromise, but also his firmness and taking difficult decisions when required. He would later acknowledge himself that in Kefalonia he was born as a political man.”
Kapodistrias, through persistent efforts, managed to restore peace to the island and have the new constitution accepted. According to G. B. Nikolaou, Associate Professor at the University of Ioannina, Kapodistrias succeeded because he handled the matter with a spirit of conciliation and decisiveness, demonstrating his political abilities. Moreover, he believed in the people of Kefalonia and in the bright future of the island. In his report to the government of the Ionian State on October 20, 1802, he wrote: “If the government, with its authority and the imposing military force that supports it, strictly adheres to the law of strict impartiality, if some of the leaders of the movements, the powerful and the landlords, are removed from the island in appropriate ways and others are isolated so that they appear to the people stripped of all power and sidelined, if public opinion is satisfied with compensation for those who have suffered damages and with the exemplary punishment of the instigators of the uprisings and disturbances, whose impunity so far has made them more audacious and provocative, if finally there is proper management of public wealth that serves the common interest, then I can assure you that Cephalonia, more than the other islands, will become a state with national dignity, will prosper economically because it will become the most productive island and will produce distinguished men in administration, trade, arts, sciences, and literature.”
These early missions in Kefalonia seem to have remained vivid in his memory. Markos Theotokis notes that in June 1807, during the siege of Lefkada, the Greek diplomat who changed the course of history said the following to Cephalonian ship captains: “…I began my political career among you in Cephalonia and I feel that I am a Cephalonian…”
*Ευχαριστούμε την ιστορικό κ. Χάιδω Μπάρκουλα για την πολύτιμη βοήθεια της
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