Chapter 47: The Fanar

Three days later, the Tatoi Palace was full of distinguished guests. The well-dressed gentlemen gathered in twos and threes to discuss the establishment of the Greek General Company.

When the time came, Nina led everyone into the conference room.

Constantine, who was carefully dressed, walked to the conference room.

This was the first time that Constantine publicly faced the upper class of Greece. Before this, Constantine had always avoided close contact with the Greek political and business class.

When everyone saw Constantine coming in, they bowed and saluted until Constantine signaled everyone to sit down. After Constantine sat in the main seat, everyone sat down on both sides of the long conference table.

"Everyone came to attend the meeting this time, according to the proposal of Duke Constantine, to discuss the Greek Congo General Company," Nina, as the host of this meeting, took the lead in speaking and explaining.

"Excuse me, what is the business scope of this Greek Congo General Company? If we invest, how can the interests be guaranteed?"

Alexandros asked.

Alexandros was born into a famous Greek family, the Mavrokozatos family, and was a Phanariot.

Strictly speaking, they were actually the real Greek nobles.

The current Greek royal family is an outsider.

The so-called Phanariots mainly refer to the remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire living in Constantinople.

In 1453, Mehmed II captured Constantinople. After looting and massacre, the remaining residents of Constantinople were settled in the Phanariot district, so they were called Phanariots.

Before Greece became independent from the Ottoman Empire, the Phanariots played an important role in the Ottoman Empire.

For example, the position of translator or ambassador to a foreign country was generally held by the Phanariots.

First, the Sultan and his officials were unwilling to learn the language of pagans.

Second, these well-educated Romans at that time were indeed indispensable and good helpers.

The culture of the Ottoman Turks was very backward, because they were descendants of the Turks, nomadic tribes, and later came from Central Asia to Asia Minor, gradually rose, established their own country, and converted to Islam.

The most obvious feature of cultural backwardness is that the Ottomans did not have their own writing.

The government documents of the Ottoman Turks and the preaching of missionaries were all in Arabic, and the Ottoman Turks themselves spoke Turkic.

People who have seen Arabic will have a very deep impression of Arabic.

Arabic is difficult to pronounce, not easy to write, not suitable for spoken Turkish, and very difficult to learn.

These Fanars are similar to the Han ministers after the Qing Dynasty entered the Pass. The Sultan also needs cultural talents to help him rule the country.

Because the Ottomans conquered Constantinople and destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire, Muhammad II regarded himself as the emperor of Rome and called himself the Caesar of Rome.

The universal patriarch of the Orthodox Church has since been controlled by the Ottomans and has become a management tool for them to rule Christian areas.

These Phanarists gradually rose to prominence under the rule of the Ottomans.

For example, the Ottoman financial industry was controlled by them before the independence of Greece in the early 19th century.

Or they paid for the Pasha (the title of a Turkish official) to buy an official position in exchange for a lucrative tax farming contract and a lucrative job as a tax farmer (collecting taxes).

Even later, the important granaries of the Ottoman Empire and the governors of the provinces of Romania were handed over to these Phanarists.

As some Phanarists participated in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, the angry Ottoman authorities massacred the Greek settlements in Constantinople, and the Phanarists lost the trust of the government.

And Alexandros came from a large family among the Phanarists, the Mavrokozatos family.

A member of the family was one of the important leaders in the Greek War of Independence, and later served as prime minister of the independent Kingdom of Greece (1821-1862, during Otto's reign) for many times.

Of course, in 1821, the Greeks launched a war of independence, which was supported by only some of the Phanar people, and a considerable number of Phanar people were loyal to the Sultan.

After Greece successfully gained independence, some Phanar people, especially the wealthy families among them, came to live in Greece.

Therefore, in the future Greek politicians, some surnames can always be seen appearing repeatedly on the political stage.

The Ottoman Sultan promoted some people from the original middle and lower-level Phanar people to replace the original Phanar family.

"The Greek Congo General Company has only one goal. Whatever Greece needs, the Greek Congo General Company will bring it from Congo. Most of the goods we imported from big countries before, such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, ivory, and sugar, can be directly obtained from the land of Congo by the Greek Congo General Company," Nina responded calmly and generously.

"All these goods had to be imported before, causing a large amount of precious metals to flow out of Greece every year. Now we can operate these goods ourselves. Thank God, thank Duke Constantine," Costerbru took the opportunity to interrupt and flatter.

No one hates the outflow of gold and silver more than bankers.

"Your Highness, can we overseas Greeks buy shares?" a man stood up and said.

"Who is this gentleman?"

"Angesis Styachi, you can just call me Angelis," Angelis replied respectfully.

"Do you traitors also have the dignity to buy shares?"

Before Constantine could answer, someone shouted angrily.

Alexandros was furious. These shameless guys who betrayed the country and the nation also wanted to reap benefits, which really made him feel angry.

Angisis was one of the Fanarites who were later promoted by the Sultan, and some people in Greece did not like them.

These people had served in the Ottoman court for a long time or were engaged in business, and naturally accumulated a lot of wealth.

This time I heard about the Greek Congo Corporation and hurried from Constantinople to Athens.

"Your Majesty the Duke, I hope you can treat us Greeks abroad fairly"

Angel Hisili's face turned red and she defended herself to Constantine.

"Facing God, I asked myself, if I were a Russian, let me be born in Russia (Russia is also an Orthodox country)."

"But those of us who were born in Turkey, if we fled, we would have to explain to God why we betrayed our emperor?"

"If our escape leads to new crimes of massacre of Christians, our conscience will be condemned."

"Those MSLs who have long been dissatisfied with us (referring to the Fanar people still living in Constantinople) will use the topic to claim that all Christians cannot be trusted."

Angelis expressed her grievances in an emotional voice, her voice trembling with a cry, she took a deep breath, calmed down her emotions, and continued:

"Even we humble slaves who have subjugated our country hope to serve our country and nation."

"Just like the Duke of Wellington (the famous British general who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo), he made important contributions to Britain and was praised by his own people."

"But if Wellington had been in our position, if he had served a non-Christian people who were suspicious of Christians, he could have endured everything, faced all the misunderstandings and attacks, and he would still have achieved what he has now His achievements?"