On the Way to Freedom

Although their presence in Venice was significant since 1200, Greeks started flowing in Venice after the Fall of Constantinople. Soon, the Greek community emerged as enslaved Hellenism's greatest educational centre.

The first Greeks settled in Trieste in the late 18th century. Merchants, brokers and insurers, the Greeks of Trieste funded the Greek Revolution and 'gave' to Filiki Eteria some of its most prominent members.

Having formed two different communities, the Greeks of Vienna were mainly into the publications business and soon dominated the Viennese society. At the same time, their contribution to the Revolution was catalytic.

The main immigration wave of Greeks to Hungary started from 1720 onwards. Having settled in many Hungarian cities, their communities made a significant charitable work and generous donations to the enslaved homeland.

The Danubian hegemonies were a common destination for the Greek Diaspora after the Fall of Constantinople. Most of them being bourgeois, Greeks benefited both the Romanian society as well as their enslaved homeland.

Shortly after the settlement of Greeks, Odessa evolved to Hellenism’s greatest cultural and trade center in the area. When Filiki Eteria was founded in 1814, the community saw the brightest moment in its history.

During the years of the Revolution, the Greek communities of Marseilles and Paris led the organization of Philhellene volunteer missions as well as the provision of ammunition to Greece. Discover their history.