Alexandros Schinas
Encyclopedia
Alexandros Schinas (Volos
or Serres
, 1870 - May 6, 1913, Thessaloniki
), was a Greek
anarchist
who assassinated
King George I of Greece
in Thessaloniki
in 1913.
Schinas had worked in the pantry of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City
(it closed in 1908) and a waiter remembered him as an avid reader of socialism
-related literature and spending nights in Manhattan
"making friends with radical and fervid thinkers". Schinas was against governments and especially against aristocracy
and monarchy
.
He started an anarchist school in his native town which the Greek government closed for spreading anti-government ideas. Two of the leaders of the school were sentenced to prison, but Schinas escaped without being imprisoned. The authorities also seized a number of books and pamphlet
s published by the school, which were deemed to contain anarchist doctrine and denounced the king.
On March 18, 1913, at around 5:15 PM, Schinas (who was around 40 at the time) shot King George I in the back from a distance of two paces while the king was walking in Thessaloniki
near the White Tower
. Entering below the king's shoulder blade, the bullet pierced his heart and lungs and exited through his stomach. By the time the king arrived at the hospital, he was already dead.
Schinas was taken into custody immediately, initially refusing to explain the reason for the crime, but when asked by an officer whether he had no "pity" for his country, he answered he was against governments. As Schinas remained calm for the entire event, there were suggestions that he was not "responsible for his actions". Later, Schinas declared that he killed the king because the latter refused to give him the money he asked for. The Greek government released statements claiming that Schinas was an alcoholic vagrant.
Schinas was tortured throughout the following night, being "forced to undergo examinations", but he refused to give the names of any accomplices. On May 6, he allegedly committed suicide
by jumping out of the window of the gendarmerie in Thessaloniki; but it is possible he was simply defenestrated
by the gendarmerie.
Various theories on the motives of Schinas circulated later, including that his action was directed by Bulgaria
as a form of revenge for its lost territories, Austria-Hungary
for political reasons or Germany
for dynastic reasons, however there is no evidence for any of them.
Volos
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
or Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
, 1870 - May 6, 1913, Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
), was a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
who assassinated
Propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed is a concept that refers to specific political actions meant to be exemplary to others...
King George I of Greece
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
in 1913.
Schinas had worked in the pantry of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(it closed in 1908) and a waiter remembered him as an avid reader of socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
-related literature and spending nights in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
"making friends with radical and fervid thinkers". Schinas was against governments and especially against aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
.
He started an anarchist school in his native town which the Greek government closed for spreading anti-government ideas. Two of the leaders of the school were sentenced to prison, but Schinas escaped without being imprisoned. The authorities also seized a number of books and pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
s published by the school, which were deemed to contain anarchist doctrine and denounced the king.
On March 18, 1913, at around 5:15 PM, Schinas (who was around 40 at the time) shot King George I in the back from a distance of two paces while the king was walking in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
near the White Tower
White Tower of Thessaloniki
The White Tower of Thessaloniki , is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece and a symbol of Greek sovereignty over Macedonia...
. Entering below the king's shoulder blade, the bullet pierced his heart and lungs and exited through his stomach. By the time the king arrived at the hospital, he was already dead.
Schinas was taken into custody immediately, initially refusing to explain the reason for the crime, but when asked by an officer whether he had no "pity" for his country, he answered he was against governments. As Schinas remained calm for the entire event, there were suggestions that he was not "responsible for his actions". Later, Schinas declared that he killed the king because the latter refused to give him the money he asked for. The Greek government released statements claiming that Schinas was an alcoholic vagrant.
Schinas was tortured throughout the following night, being "forced to undergo examinations", but he refused to give the names of any accomplices. On May 6, he allegedly committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by jumping out of the window of the gendarmerie in Thessaloniki; but it is possible he was simply defenestrated
Defenestration
Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window.The term "defenestration" was coined around the time of an incident in Prague Castle in the year 1618. The word comes from the Latin de- and fenestra...
by the gendarmerie.
Various theories on the motives of Schinas circulated later, including that his action was directed by Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
as a form of revenge for its lost territories, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
for political reasons or Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
for dynastic reasons, however there is no evidence for any of them.