Τόμας Γκόρντον:
ένας από τους πρώτους Ευρωπαίους εθελοντές
που ήλθαν στην Ελλάδα κατά την Επανάσταση του 1821
‘‘Ανθρωπιά και καθήκον μάς ζητουν να τρέξουμε
στους χριστιανούς αδελφούς μας,
σε βοήθεια των γενναίων Ελλήνων για να χύσουμε το αίμα μας
και να δώσουμε τη ζωή μας για την ιερή αυτή υπόθεση“.
(Κείμενο δημοσιευμένο από καθηγητές, λογίους και φοιτητές στη Γερμανία)
Ένα ξεχωριστό κεφάλαιο στην Επανάσταση του 1821 είναι αναμφίβολα αφιερωμένο στους Φιλέλληνες και την προσφορά τους στον Αγώνα για την ανεξαρτησία. Η φυγή πολλών Ελλήνων λογίων στη Δύση μετά την Άλωση, έφερε τον αρχαίο ελληνικό πολιτισμό στο προσκήνιο. Από την αγάπη αυτή προς την αρχαία Ελλάδα αναπήδησε ο πρώτος φιλελληνισμός των νεότερων χρόνων, που διαδόθηκε με τα κείμενα των περιηγητών στον ελλαδικό χώρο. Η ακμή του ρομαντισμού αύξησε τις περιηγήσεις στην Ελλάδα (Σατομπριάν, Πουκεβίλ, λόρδος Βύρωνας κ.ά.). Την ίδια περίπου εποχή εμφανίστηκαν στην Ευρώπη τα πρώτα λογοτεχνικά φιλελληνικά έργα, τα οποία πολλαπλασιάστηκαν μετά την κήρυξη της Επανάστασης του 1821 και τις επιτυχίες των Ελλήνων. Ο φιλελληνισμός συνετέλεσε, οικονομικά και πολιτικά, στην επιτυχή κατάληξη της Επανάστασης και ταυτόχρονα βοήθησε στη διάσωση των λιμοκτονούντων αμάχων. Ένας από τους φιλέλληνες που παρέμειναν στην Ελλάδα και μετά την απελευθέρωση ευρίσκεται μεταξύ των μελών της Φιλεκπαιδευτικής Εταιρείας. Πρόκειται για τον Τόμας Γκόρντον.
Ο Thomas Gordon, αντιστράτηγος, συνταγματάρχης, μεγαλοκτηματίας και περιηγητης, ήταν Σκωτσέζος. Γεννήθηκε στο Κερνές του Αμπέρντηνσιρ το 1788. Σπούδασε στο Κολλέγιο του Ήτον και στο Μπρέιζνοους. Υπηρέτησε στο Σύνταγμα Ιππικού του βρετανικού στρατου ως δραγώνος. Όταν κληρονόμησε μεγάλη περιουσία παραιτήθηκε από τον στρατό και άρχισε να ταξιδεύει. Τον Αύγουστο του 1810 φιλοξενήθηκε από τον Αλή Πασά στα Γιάννενα. Το διάστημα 1810-1812 ταξίδεψε στην Αθήνα, την Κωνσταντινούπολη, τη Θεσσαλονίκη, την Περσία κ.α. Το 1813 διετέλεσε λοχαγός του ρωσικού στρατου. Στις αρχές του 1814 επέστρεψε στη Σκωτία και τον επόμενο χρόνο επισκέφθηκε το Βουκουρέστι, όπου γνώρισε τους αδελφούς Υψηλάντη.
Το 1821 με δικά του χρήματα εξόπλισε πλοίο στη Μασσαλία και μετέφερε στην Ελλάδα φιλέλληνες και Έλληνες αγωνιστές. Ήταν ο πρώτος από τους Άγγλους φιλέλληνες που μπήκε στις τάξεις των ελληνικών δυνάμεων. Έλαβε ενεργό μέρος στην πολιορκία της Τριπολιτσάς. Μετά την άλωσή της διαμαρτυρήθηκε έντονα για τη σφαγή αυτή. Επέστρεψε στη Σκωτία, εντάχθηκε στην ελληνική επιτροπή του Λονδίνου (που σχηματίστηκε στις 3 Μαρτίου 1823) και συνέβαλε με χρήματα και στρατιωτικές προμήθειες. Το 1826 οι Έλληνες βουλευτές στο Λονδίνο τον έπεισαν να επιστρέψει στην Ελλάδα για να βοηθήσει στην επιβολή στρατιωτικής πειθαρχίας και την ενότητα των παρατάξεων. Έφθασε στο Ναύπλιο τον Μάιο του 1826 και διαπίστωσε ότι οι διαφορές ανάμεσα στους Έλληνες είχαν σβήσει ακόμη και την εχθρότητα προς τους Τουρκους. Είχε μαζί του 14.000 βρετανικές λίρες, το τελευταίο χρηματικό ποσό από το δεύτερο δάνειο, για το οποίο διατηρούσε τον απόλυτο διαχειριστικό έλεγχο. Η αποστολή που του είχε ανατεθεί ήταν να συνεργαστεί με τον Φαβιέρο για τον σχηματισμό τακτικού στρατου και να προετοιμάσει την άφιξη του λόρδου Κόχραν. Ο Μακρυγιάννης του ζήτησε να αναλάβει την αρχηγία του στρατου, αλλά ο Γκόρντον του εξήγησε πως η ελληνική κυβέρνηση δεν θα δεχόταν κάτι τέτοιο, επειδή οι σχέσεις της μαζί του δεν ήταν αρμονικές. Τελικά, με τη μεσολάβηση του Μακρυγιάννη προς τον πρόεδρο της Διοικητικής Επιτροπής Ανδρέα Ζαΐμη, έγινε δεκτό να αναλάβει την αρχηγία ο Γκόρντον. Έλαβε μέρος στις εχθροπραξίες του 1827 στην Καστέλλα του Πειραιά, καλύπτοντας τη δαπάνη συγκρότησης των εκστρατευτικών σωμάτων. Με το κύριο σώμα του στρατου, μετά την καθυστέρηση λόγω θυελλωδών ανέμων, πέτυχε την κατάληψη του λόφου της Καστέλλας, χωρίς όμως να επιτύχει την προέλασή του προς την Ακρόπολη.
Ο Γκόρντον επανήλθε στην Ελλάδα το 1828. Από το 1828 έως το 1831, διενήργησε ανασκαφές στον ναό της Ήρας κοντά στο Άργος. Έλαβε μέρος στην αλυσίδα των γεγονότων που οδήγησαν στη δολοφονία του πρώτου κυβερνήτη της Ελλάδας Ιωάννη Καποδίστρια. Τον Ιανουάριο του 1831 ο Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης με τη γολέτα του Γκόρντον κατέφυγε στη βρετανική Ζάκυνθο. Αμέσως μετά τα γεγονότα αυτά, ο Γκόρντον επέστρεψε στη Σκωτία, όπου το 1833 τελείωσε το βιβλίο του «ΙστορίατηςΕλληνικήςΕπανάστασης». Η «Ιστορία» του στρατηγού Γκόρντον χαρακτηρίζεται ως ένα από τα εγκυρότερα και σοβαρότερα έργα για την ελληνική επανάσταση διαθέτοντας σημαντικό σε έκταση υλικό και παρέχοντας ολοκληρωμένη, μετριοπαθή και αντικειμενική εικόνα, λόγω και της συμμετοχής του ιδίου στα γεγονότα. Το βιβλίο του έτυχε εξαρχής γενικής αποδοχής και επηρέασε καταλυτικά ιστορικούς, όπως είναι οι Σπυρίδων Τρικούπης και Τζορτζ Φίνλεϊ.
Μετά την εγκαθίδρυση της μοναρχίας στην Ελλάδα ο Γκόρντον επέστρεψε και πάλι στην Ελλάδα το 1833 και εντάχθηκε στον ελληνικό στρατό. Αργότερα διορίστηκε πρόεδρος του Στρατοδικείου. Λόγω της κακής του υγείας παραιτήθηκε τον Φεβρουάριο του 1839 και επέστρεψε στη Σκωτία. Πραγματοποίησε μια σύντομη επίσκεψη στην Ελλάδα το 1840, οπότε και έμαθε για τη Φιλεκπαιδευτική Εταιρεία και αποφάσισε να γίνει μέλος της. Απεβίωσε στο Κερνές στις 20 Απριλίου 1841.
You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation however I find this matter to
be really one thing which I believe I would by no means understand.
It kind of feels too complex and very huge for me.
I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the hang of it!
I like this blog very much, Its a real nice post to read and get information.!
I like this site very much, Its a very nice billet to read and get information. Euro travel
Excellent post. I will be experiencing a few of these issues as well..
After exploring a few of the articles on your blog, I seriously appreciate your way of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and tell me what you think.
Yüksek bahislerle futbol bahislerinde her zaman büyük kazançlar elde ediyorum, bu harika!
Great to know I’m not the only one!
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who has been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this matter here on your blog.
Bu bahis sitesinin sunduğu deneme bonusu ile risksiz bahis yaparak büyük ödüller kazandım!
Crash oyunları arasında en iyisi Aviator, deneme bonusu ile oynayarak hiç risk almadan büyük kazançlar sağlıyorum!
Casino’nun sunduğu promosyonlar futbol bahislerinde daha fazla kazanma şansı sunuyor!
Bahislerimi artırarak Bonanza’dan devasa kazançlar elde ettim!
Deneme bonusu ile Aviator’da yüksek oranları yakalamak ve büyük ödüller kazanmak çok heyecanlı!
Günlük promosyonlarla kazanç şansım sürekli artıyor.
Casino’nun sunduğu canlı bahis fırsatları futbol maçlarında ekstra heyecan ve kazanç sağlıyor.
Casino’nun sunduğu slot turnuvaları ile ekstra kazançlar elde etmek çok kolay ve eğlenceli.
Futbol bahislerinde stratejik oynayarak her zaman kazançlı çıkıyorum!
Casino’nun sunduğu bahis promosyonları her zaman ekstra kazanç fırsatları yaratıyor!
Her gün casino’da oynadığım slot oyunları ile kazançlarım artıyor, bu site harika!
Casino’nun sunduğu promosyonlar sayesinde bahislerimde her zaman daha fazla şansım oluyor.
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and also the rest of the site is very good.
Excellent article! We are linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing.
I seriously love your website.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you build this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own blog and would like to learn where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Cheers!
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
bookmarked!!, I like your web site!
You’re so interesting! I don’t think I’ve truly read anything like that before. So wonderful to discover somebody with a few genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with some originality.
I truly love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my own personal website and would like to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thank you!
Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.
I love looking through a post that will make men and women think. Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment.
Your style is unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.
You have made some good points there. I looked on the net for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Hi! I just want to give you a big thumbs up for the great information you’ve got here on this post. I am coming back to your blog for more soon.
Hi, I do think this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to come back once again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
This excellent website truly has all of the information I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you need to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t speak about such topics. To the next! Kind regards!
Hi! I simply would like to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
Excellent article! We will be linking to this great content on our website. Keep up the great writing.
Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it.
I really like it when folks come together and share opinions. Great site, continue the good work.
Spot on with this write-up, I seriously feel this amazing site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the info!
I really like reading an article that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written.
After exploring a handful of the blog posts on your website, I seriously like your way of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and tell me how you feel.
Deneme bonusu kullanarak ilk kazancımı hiç para yatırmadan elde ettim!
Your style is so unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this web site.
Deneme bonusu sayesinde oyunlara risksiz başlamanın keyfini çıkarıyorum!
Casino’nun sunduğu slot oyunlarıyla her an jackpot kazanabilirsiniz!
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful article. Many thanks for supplying this info.
When I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service? Cheers.
Bahis siteleri deneme bonusu ile oyunlara sıfır yatırımla başlamak çok kazançlı!
That is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read article!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up plus the rest of the website is also really good.
Bahis sitelerinde deneme bonusu ile oyunlara sıfır yatırımla başlamak çok kolay ve kazançlı!
Great site you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Can I simply say what a comfort to find a person that actually understands what they are talking about over the internet. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you are not more popular since you most certainly possess the gift.
After I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be an easy method you are able to remove me from that service? Appreciate it.
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to produce a top notch article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
After looking into a handful of the blog posts on your web site, I honestly like your way of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website too and let me know your opinion.
Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I am going to send this article to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a very good read. I appreciate you for sharing!
Excellent post. I definitely love this site. Stick with it!
Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful post. Thank you for providing these details.
After looking over a number of the blog articles on your blog, I honestly like your way of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website too and let me know how you feel.
May I just say what a comfort to discover somebody that truly knows what they’re discussing online. You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people should read this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you surely have the gift.
Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it.
I was able to find good advice from your blog posts.
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes which will make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this web site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the info.
This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me. Thank you!
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody having the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely feel this web site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the advice.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written!
I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written.
After exploring a few of the blog posts on your web page, I seriously like your technique of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website too and let me know your opinion.
This is a topic that is close to my heart… Many thanks! Where are your contact details though?
I need to to thank you for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every bit of it. I have got you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…
There is definately a great deal to find out about this issue. I like all of the points you made.
I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!