Theotokis
Encyclopedia
Theotokis is a Greek family name.
The Theotokis family are an old landowning family in Corfu
Island, Greece
, several members of which have been prominent politicians. They originally hailed from Constantinople
, whence they fled following its fall to the Ottomans
, eventually settling in Corfu. The painter El Greco
(Domenico Theotokopoulos) was descended from a branch of the same family that fled to Crete
. The Corfiote branch was ennobled by the Republic of Venice
and was entered in the Libro d'Oro
; they used to be commonly referred to as Counts (Cónte), but their titles lapsed when the Ionian islands
became part of the Kingdom of Greece
, which did not recognise noble titles. As the family prospered, nicknames were devised to distinguish between the various male-line Theotokis: the Calocardári, the Sclebúni, the Statháchi, the Sammárco, the Andrucélli, and the D'Aviázzo. The latter developed a tradition of public service and were further nicknamed the Politikoí (Politicians).
Notable members include:
The family currently operate an organic olive farm, dairy and winery in Corfu.
The Theotokis family are an old landowning family in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
Island, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, several members of which have been prominent politicians. They originally hailed from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, whence they fled following its fall to the Ottomans
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
, eventually settling in Corfu. The painter El Greco
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
(Domenico Theotokopoulos) was descended from a branch of the same family that fled to Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. The Corfiote branch was ennobled by the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and was entered in the Libro d'Oro
Libro d'Oro
The Libro d'Oro , once the formal directory of nobles in the Republic of Venice, is now a respected, privately-published directory of the nobility of Italy ....
; they used to be commonly referred to as Counts (Cónte), but their titles lapsed when the Ionian islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
became part of the Kingdom of Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
, which did not recognise noble titles. As the family prospered, nicknames were devised to distinguish between the various male-line Theotokis: the Calocardári, the Sclebúni, the Statháchi, the Sammárco, the Andrucélli, and the D'Aviázzo. The latter developed a tradition of public service and were further nicknamed the Politikoí (Politicians).
Notable members include:
- Nikephoros TheotokisNikephoros TheotokisNikephoros Theotokis or Nikiforos Theotokis was a Greek scholar and theologian, who became an archbishop in the southern provinces of the Russian Empire...
(1731-1800), Greek theologian and educator, Archbishop of Cherson and AstrakhanAstrakhanAstrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:... - Georgios TheotokisGeorgios TheotokisGeorgios Theotokis was a Greek politician and four times Prime Minister of Greece. He represented the New Party or Neoteristikon Komma .- Biography :...
(1844–1916), Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe 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... - Nikolaos Theotokis (1878-1922), son to the above, politician, executed after the Trial of the SixTrial of the SixThe Trial of the Six or the Execution of the Six was the trial for treason, in late 1922, of the officials held responsible for the Greek military defeat in Asia Minor...
- Ioannis TheotokisIoannis TheotokisIoannis Theotokis was a Greek politician. He was born in Athens 1880, he was the son of Georgios Theotokis.He was elected a member of the Hellenic Parliament seven times and served as Minister for Agriculture three times, before being shortly Prime Minister of a caretaker government in 1950. He...
(1880-1961), commonly referred to as "John", brother to the above, politician - Zaïra Ralli, née Theotoki, , sister to the above, wife of Prime Minister Ioannis RallisIoannis RallisIoannis Rallis was the third and last collaborationist prime minister of Greece during the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II, holding office from 7 April 1943 to 12 October 1944, succeeding Konstantinos Logothetopoulos in the Nazi-controlled Greek puppet government in Athens.- Early...
, mother of Prime Minister Georgios Rallis - Spyridon Theotokis (1908-1980), son of JohnIoannis TheotokisIoannis Theotokis was a Greek politician. He was born in Athens 1880, he was the son of Georgios Theotokis.He was elected a member of the Hellenic Parliament seven times and served as Minister for Agriculture three times, before being shortly Prime Minister of a caretaker government in 1950. He...
, politician - Georges Theotokis , son of JohnIoannis TheotokisIoannis Theotokis was a Greek politician. He was born in Athens 1880, he was the son of Georgios Theotokis.He was elected a member of the Hellenic Parliament seven times and served as Minister for Agriculture three times, before being shortly Prime Minister of a caretaker government in 1950. He...
The family currently operate an organic olive farm, dairy and winery in Corfu.