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The rebel who turned his body into a flag staff
Dawn 1897; Crete is “simmering” by the atrocities of the Turks. The Cretians have decided to declare Union with mother Greece. The rebels barricade themselves in Prophet Elias, at Akrotiri of Chania, Crete and raise the Greek flag, which had been delivered to them by Konstantinos Kanaris, the first mate of the battleship “Hydra”, grandson of admiral Kanaris.
Further to the Turks, they also have to face the reactions of the Great Powers (Italy, France, Austria, Germany, England and Russia), who start a fierce bombardment on February 1897.
One of the cannonballs hits and throws down the staff of the Greek flag.
Rebel Spyros Kayales Kayaledakis throws himself in the inferno of the bombing and with great danger to his life, puts up the fallen staff; the flag is once again flapping in dignity. A new cannonball again throws down the staff. SpyrosKayales Kayaledakis puts it up, as he did before.
A third cannonball now shatters the staff and throws down the flag. Then, something incredible and unique happens:
Spyros Kayales Kayaledakis grabs the flag and raises it by turning his body into a staff. As soon as the admirals of the united fleet saw through their binoculars that the Greek flag was once again flapping having a... rebel as staff they ordered cease fire in perplexity.
The camp is vibrating by the cheering and the rejoicing. The national anthem is chanted on the battleship “Hydra”. Cheering and clapping is now heard coming not only from the Greek ships but also the Italian and the French ships!!!
Rear admiral Canevaro, who is in charge of the fleet of the Great Powers, writes in his memoirs: “The raising of the flag in such a heroic manner formed a moment in my life, which I shall never forget”. As the Leader of the Nation Eleftherios Venizelos, who played a pivotal role in the events of that period, later recounted in person, admiral Canevaro had told him that he was spellbound by admiration for this nice and particularly heroic act of Spyros Kayales Kayaledakis, who on that day – literally – beat European Diplomacy; not only because he caused the bombing of Akrotiri to cease immediately but also by the favorable recommendations submitted by the admirals to their governments.
The result of this was that a few months later, Crete gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, a fact which preceded the Union thereof with Greece. The first positive development was announced two days after this heroic and unique in history act of Spyros Kayales by the Proclamation of the Admirals of the United Fleet of Italy, France, Austria, Germany, England and Russia.
The municipality of Acrotiri holds an annual celebration in memory of the bombardment of 9 February 1897 and honors the hero Spyros Kayales Kayaledakis by the placement of wreathes on his statue (next to the graves of the Venizelos Family), who became the symbol of the struggle of the Cretians for Union with Greece.
http://www.kayales.gr/
The graves of Venizelos family is one of the most popular places that offer a panoramic view of Chania, only a few kilometres east of the city, on the road to Akrotiri and airport. Here are located the graves of the charismatic Greek politician, and seven times Prime Minister of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos, and his son, Sofoklis Venizelos, who was also Prime Minister of Greece from 1943 to 1952.
Nearby is located the small church of Profitis Ilias and the statue of Spyrus Kagialedakis or Kagiales, who on February 9, 1897 (Revolution of 1897), during the bombing of the revolted Cretans by the fleet of the great forces, he made his body flagstaff to raise the Greek flag that had been dropped by the bombshells of the ships.
The fatherly house of Eleftherios Venizelos in Halepa of Chania, which constituted his house for more than thirty years, from 1880 to 1910 and later for short periods from 1927 to 1935, today constitutes a Museum under the responsibility of “National Institution of Researches and Studies El. Venizelos”, in which it has been granted by the Greek state.
The collection of the Museum consists of the complete household effects of the ethnarch, which he personally selected, from works of art, part of his library, his personal objects and from the collection of objects and records of Institution, relative to the period, the action and the personality of Venizelos. Characteristic is also that all the areas of the residence have maintained their authentic form until today, the one that they had during the period that El. Benizelos lived at the house.
The Residence of Baroness Von Schwartz in Chania: The exquisitely designed residence of the Baroness Von Schwartz is one of the finest samples of the neoclassical architectural style of Chania. It was built in 1860 and from 1865 till the end of the Turkish occupation, it was a social and philanthropic centre. This magnificent residence is located in the suburb of Chalepa and has turned into a prominent cultural landmark of Chania Town. The sheer elegance of this residence immediately draws the attention of visitors. The marble steps and the porch are truly fine pieces of craftsmanship. The residence is today uninhabited but still well-preserved by the local government.
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