Haiti: The First Country to Recognize Greece’s Independence

Greece Declares Independence from Ottomans in 1822

On January 15, 1822, Haiti located over 9,000 km (5,592 miles) away from Greece, was the first country in the world to recognize Greek independence from the Ottomans. Haiti’s revolution inspired those under the yoke of oppression around the world, including the Greeks, to rise up themselves.

After nearly 400 years of brutal occupation, Greece officially declared independence from the Ottomans in 1822, although the fighting had begun a year before. The Greeks, largely without financial and military resources due to so many years under Ottoman rule, looked to foreign states for support in their fight for freedom.

Adamantios Korais asked for Haiti’s support

Inspired by the courageous uprising of the Haitian people, who were also fighting a much wealthier, well-equipped French force, Adamantios Korais, a Greek academic and a significant political figure at the time, asked for Haiti’s support. In a letter to then-President of Haiti Jean Pierre Boyer, Korais expressed his admiration for the tenacity and bravery of the former slaves who successfully defeated the French. He also asked for financial and military support from the island nation.

Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer wrote to the new nation

However, Haiti, left in economic ruin by the massive debt repayments owed to France, could not provide very much financial help to the Greek revolutionaries. Boyer expressed his regret that he could not help the Greeks financially, yet he was still determined to support the fight and stand in solidarity with Greece.

Recognizing that Greeks under the Ottomans were in a similar position to Haitians before the revolution, Boyer wrote to Korais: “We, like the Hellenes, were for a long time subjected to a dishonorable slavery and

Marie-Madeleine “Joute” Lachenais was influential as Boyer’s mistress at the time

finally, with our own chains, broke the head of tyranny.” The Haitian President also expressed to Korais that the ancient Greek ideals of freedom and democracy were a great source of inspiration to the Haitians.

Boyer then sent Greece a massive shipment of 25 tons of Haitian coffee, one of the most sought-after and expensive commodities during the period, to be sold. The profits could then be used to purchase

25 Tons of Haitian Coffee Beans were gifted

much-needed weapons for the Greeks, who Boyer called “the descendants of Leonidas.”

With Boyer’s letter and support, sent just a few days after Greece formally declared its independence, Haiti became the first country in the world to recognize Greece’s fight against Ottoman occupation.

Greece has never forgotten Haiti’s support during the country’s fight for freedom. When a disastrous earthquake hit the Caribbean nation in

Greece Reaffirms Commitment To Haiti At The UN Security Council

2012, and again in 2021, Greece was one of the first countries to send help. In its announcement at the time, Greece stressed the country’s particular ties with Haiti, the first nation in the world to recognize Greece’s independence in 1822. “With this symbolic move, Greece today stands by the tried and tested Haitian people and does not forget that Haiti was the first country in the world to recognize Greece’s independence in 1822,” the announcement read.

Credit to Greekreporter.com for the story.