Anastasios Polyzoidis
Encyclopedia
Anastasios Polyzoidis was a Greek
politician and judicial official.
He was born in Melnik
, Ottoman empire
(nowadays in Bulgaria
), where he graduated local Greek
school. From 1818 he was studying law, history and social studies in Vienna
, Göttingen
and Berlin
. At the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence
, he interrupted his studies and returned to Greece
. After a series of adventures he reached Trieste
, and from there he passed to Missolonghi along with some philhellenes.
In Missolonghi he cooperated with Alexandros Mavrokordatos and was set in several gubernatorial positions (secretary of executive) in the Provisional Administration of Greece. He took part in the First Greek National Assembly
at Epidaurus
. There, almost on his own, he wrote the new state's constitution
and the declaration of 15 January 1822, which informed the Europe
an powers, allied in the Holy League
, that the revolution was national and not social. In 1823 he was in charge of the committee, which was sent in London
for the negotiation of a public loan. In 1827, he was elected representative in the National Convention
at Troezen
and in October of the same year, he went to Paris
, in order to continue his studies.
Returning from Paris
, Polyzoidis found himself pitted against the autocratic government of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias
, and soon passed into the opposition, editing the newspaper Apollon, printed at Hydra
. In 1832 was nominated by the Bavarian regency as president of a five-member court of Nafplio, which had to judge Theodoros Kolokotronis
, Dimitrios Plapoutas and other former leaders of the War of Independence on trumped-up charges of treason. Polyzoidis, together with fellow judge Georgios Tertsetis, knowing very well the innocence of the defendants, refused to countersign the decision of condemnation. The Minister of Justice, K. Schinas, personally intervened to force Polyzoidis to append his signature to the document "in the name of the King", to which Polysoidis replied: "I prefer my hand to be cut off rather than sign." His stance caused his imprisonment and violent maltreatment. This denial to accept royal intervention in the administration of justice was indicative of the Polyzoidis' integrity, and his portrait, together with that of Tertsetis, now hang in the Areios Pagos
supreme court.
After the coming of age of king Otto
, he was rehabilitated and nominated as vice-president of the Areios Pagos
and counsellor of state. In 1837, he was named minister of education and of internal affairs. In the former capacity, he was instrumental in the establishment of Greece's first university in Athens, while from his latter post he fought against censorship. Following the overthrow of Otto in 1862, he was appointed prefect of the joint Attica and Boeotia Prefecture
. He died in Athens
in 1873.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
politician and judicial official.
He was born in Melnik
Melnik, Bulgaria
Melnik is a town in Blagoevgrad Province, southwestern Bulgaria, in the southwestern Pirin Mountains, about 440 m above sea level. The town is an architectural reserve and 96 of its buildings are cultural monuments...
, Ottoman empire
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...
(nowadays in 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...
), where he graduated local Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
school. From 1818 he was studying law, history and social studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. At the outbreak of 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...
, he interrupted his studies and returned to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. After a series of adventures he reached Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, and from there he passed to Missolonghi along with some philhellenes.
In Missolonghi he cooperated with Alexandros Mavrokordatos and was set in several gubernatorial positions (secretary of executive) in the Provisional Administration of Greece. He took part in the First Greek National Assembly
First National Assembly at Epidaurus
The First National Assembly of Epidaurus was the first meeting of the Greek National Assembly, a national representative political gathering of the Greek revolutionaries.The assembly opened in December 1821 at Piada...
at Epidaurus
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis...
. There, almost on his own, he wrote the new state's constitution
Greek Constitution of 1822
The Greek Constitution of 1822 was a document adopted by the First National Assembly of Epidaurus on January 1, 1822. Formally it was the Provisional Regime of Greece , sometimes translated as Temporary Constitution of Greece...
and the declaration of 15 January 1822, which informed the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an powers, allied in the Holy League
Holy League
Holy League may refer to:* Holy League , AKA "League of Venice", alliance of several opponents of French hegemony in Italy, arranged by Pope Alexander VI...
, that the revolution was national and not social. In 1823 he was in charge of the committee, which was sent in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for the negotiation of a public loan. In 1827, he was elected representative in the National Convention
Third National Assembly at Troezen
The Third Greek National Assembly at Troezen was convened during the latter stages of the Greek Revolution.- Convening of the Assembly :The long-delayed Third National Assembly was initially convened in April 1826 at Piada, but cut short by the news of the Fall of Missolonghi. Attempts to arrange...
at 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....
and in October of the same year, he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, in order to continue his studies.
Returning from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Polyzoidis found himself pitted against the autocratic government of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias
Ioannis Kapodistrias
Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias |Academy of Athens]] Critical Observations about the 6th-Grade History Textbook"): "3.2.7. Σελ. 40: Δεν αναφέρεται ότι ο Καποδίστριας ήταν Κερκυραίος ευγενής." "...δύο ιστορικούς της Aκαδημίας κ.κ...
, and soon passed into the opposition, editing the newspaper Apollon, printed at 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...
. In 1832 was nominated by the Bavarian regency as president of a five-member court of Nafplio, which had to judge Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
, Dimitrios Plapoutas and other former leaders of the War of Independence on trumped-up charges of treason. Polyzoidis, together with fellow judge Georgios Tertsetis, knowing very well the innocence of the defendants, refused to countersign the decision of condemnation. The Minister of Justice, K. Schinas, personally intervened to force Polyzoidis to append his signature to the document "in the name of the King", to which Polysoidis replied: "I prefer my hand to be cut off rather than sign." His stance caused his imprisonment and violent maltreatment. This denial to accept royal intervention in the administration of justice was indicative of the Polyzoidis' integrity, and his portrait, together with that of Tertsetis, now hang in the Areios Pagos
Court of Cassation (Greece)
The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Greece for civil and criminal law. The Court of Cassation's decisions are irrevocable. If the Court of Cassation concludes that a lower court violated the law or the principles of the procedure, then it can order the rehearing of the case by the lower...
supreme court.
After the coming of age of 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...
, he was rehabilitated and nominated as vice-president of the Areios Pagos
Court of Cassation (Greece)
The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Greece for civil and criminal law. The Court of Cassation's decisions are irrevocable. If the Court of Cassation concludes that a lower court violated the law or the principles of the procedure, then it can order the rehearing of the case by the lower...
and counsellor of state. In 1837, he was named minister of education and of internal affairs. In the former capacity, he was instrumental in the establishment of Greece's first university in Athens, while from his latter post he fought against censorship. Following the overthrow of Otto in 1862, he was appointed prefect of the joint Attica and Boeotia Prefecture
Attica and Boeotia Prefecture
Attica and Boeotia Prefecture , commonly known as Atticoboeotia was a prefecture of Greece. It was first established in 1833, abolished in 1836 and reconstituted in 1845. The prefecture was split up into separate Attica and Boeotia prefectures in the 1899 reform, but this was reverted in 1909...
. 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 1873.