Antonios Kriezis
Encyclopedia
Antonios Kriezis (1796–1865) was a Prime Minister of Greece from 1849 to 1854. Kriezis was descended from a well-known Arvanite
family from the island of Hydra
and was born in Troezen
in 1796. In July 1821, he served in the Greek navy
during the Greek War of Independence
and took part in the naval battles in Samos
and Spetses
. In 1825, he and Konstantinos Kanaris took part to a failed attempt to destroy the Egypt
ian navy inside the port of Alexandria
. In 1828, John Capodistria placed him in command of a navy squadron and in 1829, he captured Vonitsa
from the Ottomans
. Under King Otto
in 1836, he became Minister of Naval Affairs and later served as Prime Minister of Greece
from December 24, 1849 until May 28, 1854. He was succeeded by Konstantinos Kanaris. He died in Athens
in 1865.
Arvanites
Arvanites are a population group in Greece who traditionally speak Arvanitika, a dialect of the Albanian language. They settled in Greece during the late Middle Ages and were the dominant population element of some regions of the Peloponnese and Attica until the 19th century...
family from the island of Hydra
Hydra, Saronic Islands
Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water...
and was born in Troezen
Troezen
Troezen is a small town and a former municipality in the northeastern Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Troizinia, of which it is a municipal unit....
in 1796. In July 1821, he served in the Greek navy
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
during the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
and took part in the naval battles in Samos
Battle of Samos (1824)
The Battle of Samos was a naval battle fought on August 5/17, 1824 off the Greek island of Samos during the Greek War of Independence.The island of Samos, under its leader, Lykourgos Logothetis, had successfully rebelled against the Ottomans in 1821. The island's position however, a few miles off...
and Spetses
Spetses
Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia...
. In 1825, he and Konstantinos Kanaris took part to a failed attempt to destroy the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian navy inside the port of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. In 1828, John Capodistria placed him in command of a navy squadron and in 1829, he captured Vonitsa
Vonitsa
Vonitsa is a town in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, seat of the municipality of Aktio-Vonitsa. Population 4,081 . The town is situated in the bay overlooking the Ambracian Gulf and has a small forested peninsula, the peninsula and its narrow strait is in the northwest of...
from the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Under King Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
in 1836, he became Minister of Naval Affairs and later served as Prime Minister of Greece
Prime Minister of Greece
The Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
from December 24, 1849 until May 28, 1854. He was succeeded by Konstantinos Kanaris. He died in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 1865.
Honours
- Greek destroyer Kriezis (D-217) |Kriezis (D-217), a Gearing-classGearing class destroyerThe Gearing class was a group of 98 destroyers built for the US Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the immediately preceding Allen M. Sumner class...
destroyer, in service between 1980 and 1993, was named after him.