The Pan Maniot Union of Australia

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History

Mani remained free of conquest throughout the ages with one of the influencing factors being it's geographical location, and natural ruggedness. Out of this environment a regional civilization grew and flourished where strong traditions and customs are still upheld. The maniots were always ready to bear arms as they held their freedom in high esteem and were never seen to lay their arms down, especially throughout the duration of the Greek Struggle for independence.

In ancient times Mani formed a part of Sparta however during the Roman times it formed a federation of 18 settlements known by the name 'The Society of Lakedemon which survived until the middle of the 3rd century A.D. During the Byzantine period the population was introduced to Christianity and converted in the 6th century A.D in isolated pockets in the coastal areas and there is reference to the Mani being a diocese in the 9th century A.D although complete conversion probably did not occur for another 100 years or so. Nikon the Metaniote, a ninth century monk came to Mani to assist and support the conversion of the Maniots to Christianity.

In Chora of Outer Mani St. Nikolaos a church belonging to the Anastasiadis/eas family was built in the 10th and 11th century in memory of Nikon The Metaniote. The Marble artifacts present in the interior of the church such as the inscribed Holy Table gives more weight, coupled with existing evidence, to the already commonly accepted ideology of the Maniots Spartan ancestry.

Later the Franks found difficulties in their attempts to occupy and control the Maniots and were subsequently forced to build three castles;

1. Passava
2. Great Mani
3. Lefktrou

After Guillaume Villehardouin, Mani became part of the Empire of Emperor Paleologos. With the onset of the Turkish occupation the Maniots could not be brought to heel. At school, Dimos Stephanopoulos writes that before the Revolution, the children would be tought that a Maniot is a person free and that which keeps this firm is their constant reminder of their proud Spartan Ancestry . The Duties of a Maniot is to respect the elderly and to assist them. To love and to support those who have given them the gift of life. When one has given their word then they must resolve to fulfill their obligation to that person and/or persons as quickly as possible and the most important is to uphold freedom religiously, which was handed down from their anscestors. Even to sacrifice ones life for freedom.

Ottoman Turks under the leadership of the Sulatn Mohammed the 2nd the Conqueror entered the Peloponnese in May 1460. The Maniots fought the invading Ottoman Forces in every way to keep their freedom with success. The Ottoman Turks could not subdue the Maniots however they attempted to impose a tax on the Maniots of 4000 Grosia a year which the Maniots also refused to comply with. During the Greek revolution of 1821 against the Turks, the Maniots contributed enourmously. It was also a safe haven for guerillas looking for refuge whilst fighting the Ottoman Turks. The Philike Hetairia (Friendly society) selected Mani as the safest location to start the revolution and later circumstances proved them to be right. The Maniots were the first people to rise to the challenge and on the 17th OF MARCH 1821 led by the MAVROMIHALI CLAN, of which Petrobey was voted as leader on the 8th OF MARCH of the combined Maniot army, the Maniots raised the FLAG OF INDENPENDENCE and vowed to fight till victory or death. Wisely the Philike Hetairia also chose to store the military equipment that was to be used for the revolution within this region as there was no turkish presence and so there was no danger of the cache being uncovered. The raising of the Maniot flag of independence and the subsequent movement of Maniot troops across their border, passed Verga in outer Mani, and into the Turkish occupied regions of the Peloponnese. Attacking Kalamata on the 23rd of March 1821 secured the first victory in the war and started a series of events, one of which was the Battle at Verga, Diro and Poliarivo in 1826, which was to develop into the first Greek State. Refuge for all running from the Ottoman Turks was to be found in Mani's Mountains such as for the famous Kolokotroni Family.

Unsurprisingly, the end of the war and the formation of an independent Greece did not mark the end of the Maniot rebellion. Mavromihallis swiftly fell out with the first president of the nation, Kapodistria and, with other members of the clan, was imprisoned by him at Naflpio - and act which led to the Presidents assasination at the hands of Petrobeys brothers.

Greece remained highly unstable but was recognised as an independent kingdom in 1832, under the protection of France, Russia and Great Britain. They gave Otto, the son of Louis I of Bavaria, the throne of Greece but, as he was only seventeen years old, regents were appointed until he came of age in 1835. In 1833, the very soul of Maniot culture came under attack when it was decreed that the Maniot towers would have to be pulled down. The situation was made worse by rumours that the Greek Orthodox Church was under threat from Bavarian Catholicism, and by the arrest of Kolokotronis on charges of treason. The first attempt to enforce this decree in 1834 resulted in a detachment of Bavarian troops being surrounded, forced to surrender, stripped naked and ransomed for a derisory price ny the Maniates.The Earl of Carnarvon visited Mani in this period and reported. "the majority of the soldiers owing their lives to the contempt of their enemies, who sold them, naked and shivering,in the public market at the low price of two pence a-head". A second attempt by a larger Bavarian force resulted in heavy Bavarian losses and a forced withdrawal. A third attempt with 6,000 regular troops again failed to enforce the order and a negotiated settlement between the region of Mani and the governement resulted in the order being rescinded and the towers were left intact. Many towers were built after this time but they tended to be wider and designed to live in as well as retaining their defensive character. In 1839, the Earl of Carnarvon recorded the Maniot dissatisfaction with the new state. "Many even, in their disgust at the new civilization which had promised so much and done so little, which had destroyed political and feudal power, and which had given no compensation in the form of material prosperity for what it had taken". After another abortive military attempt to subdue the Mani government agents took a much more conciliatory approach to the Maniates and things quietened down. One of the tactics used by the government was to enrol the Maniates into the Greek Army, thus harnessing their martial inclinations to a national cause. The kings German officers were sent to Mani to enlist soldiers in a special Maniot Militia. The idea was adopted with enthusiasm, and was the start of an enduring tradition of Maniot service in the modern Greek military.

Today Mani has the largest number of Byzantine Churches in the Peloponnese after Mistra and Geraki. The Towers pose the most interesting landmark numbering around 800 in total scattered in all corners of Mani. The Towers show a glimpse into the eventfull and proud past of the people of Mani.

Costumes

Male

The military uniform of the Greek revolutionary forces basically consisted of (1) The "Fesi" which was worn on the head, and wrapped around the Fesi was the "Serveta" which was piece of material to secure the Fesi. This was also standard for the Ottoman Forces; (2) A vest, which was called a "Yeleki"; (3) The "Foustanella" which was equivalent to a kilt, which went down to the knees, and was tied at the waist by a "Zostira" which was a sash; (4) "Kaltses" which were long socks, drawn up to the waist; (5) "Tsarouhia" which was made from the unprocessed leather derived from male cows; (6) the "Flokarta" or "Kapa" which was draped over the shoulders which was lined inside and out with fur.

The Maniot Military Uniform was basically the same as the uniform mentioned above with the following exceptions.

• The Foustanella was replaced by a pair of loose wearing pants that extended to the knees called a "vraka".
• Soldiers that came from more econically fortunate backgrounds could afford to have a richly decorated "Yeleko" crossed over as indicated in the illustration below.
• Richly decorated jackets were also common amongst economically fortunate soldiers and were worn above the "Yeleko"

A common item between these two uniforms was the "Selahi" which was a leather belt used to carry and secure the soldiers weaponry.

Modern representations of the Maniot Military Uniforms Circa 1821 are shown below.

Costumes pictured above were manufactured by the workshop of Nikolaos Plakidas of Messologi.

Female

It is a festive costume of the 18th century on which you can see all the characteristics of their exclusive society. It consists of the white shirt, the woolen woven dress with the wide red strip on the "katakormi" and the striped silk belt round the waist. The head was covered by the "kefalouri".

Another Representation of the Female Maniot Costume Circa 1821 is shown below.