Ioannis Kolettis

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Ioannis Kolettis
Ἰωάννης Κωλέττης
o.s.)
Monarch	Otto
Preceded by	Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Succeeded by	Josef Ludwig von Armansperg
Personal details
Born	1773 or 1774 French Party
Domestic partner(s)	Maria Palaska Marquise de Pouizeron
Children	Maria Xanthi Koletti
Alma mater	University of Pisa
Occupation	Physician Revolutionary Politician
Awards	Order of the Redeemer
Military service
Allegiance	First Hellenic Republic Kingdom of Greece
Branch/service	Hellenic Army
Battles/wars	Greek War of Independence Greek Civil Wars

Ioannis Kolettis (Greek: Ἰωάννης Κωλέττης; died 17 September 1847)^[2] was a Greek politician who played a significant role in Greek affairs from the Greek War of Independence through the early years of the Greek Kingdom, including as Minister to France and serving twice as Prime Minister. Kolettis is credited with conceiving the Byzantine restorationist and irredentist Megali Idea or "Great Idea" which became the core of Greek foreign policy until the early 20th century.

Early life

Kolettis was an Aromanian, with a strong Greek ethnic identity.^[3] He was born in Syrrako, Epirus and played a leading role in the political life of the Greek state in the 1830s and 1840s. Kolettis studied medicine in Pisa, Italy and was influenced by the Carbonari movement and started planning his return to Epirus in order to participate in Greece's independence struggles.

In 1813, he settled at Ioannina, where he served as a doctor and after gaining standing he was recruited as the personal doctor of Ali Pasa's son, Muhtar Pasha. He remained in Ioannina till March 1821, when he entered Filiki Eteria and left for Syrrako, together with chieftain Raggos, in order to spread the revolution into Central Greece (Rumeli), but his efforts quickly failed because of the rapid reaction of the Ottoman army. Kolettis was the leader of the pro-French party and based his power on his relations with the leaders of Central Greece but also on his ability to eliminate his adversaries by acting behind the scenes.

Greek War of Independence

In the

Until

• 
  Ioannis Kolettis by Adam Friedel
• 
  Ioannis Kolettis by Dominique Papety
• 
  The grave of Ioannis Kolettis in the First Cemetery of Athens. Immediately to the right is the grave of Kitsos Tzavelas.

References