Brigands and Brigadiers: The Problem of Banditry and the Military in Nineteenth-Century Greece

Before the evolution of modern standing armies of Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, the recruitment and conduct of military units usually depended on their commanders. These officers were often charged by authorities to recruit, train, maintain and command a body of men in return for a lump sum or contract for a set amount of time. Formations, from company to regiment, often became proprietary, and could be purchased, inherited, and sold. The lack of employment in the military sphere would often lead these free companies and their leaders into brigandage. The establishment of effective state bureaucracies and armed forces that could pay, supply, train and discipline troops without the use of private contractors brought about the decline of free mercenary companies in Europe by the 18th century. However, irregular units under their own commanders continued in the Balkans, and in this case Greece, continued into the 20th century. Irregular forces played the predominant role in the Greek Revolution, 1821-1830, but the subsequent flawed policy of forming a regular army, in which half were foreigners, led to both an increase of banditry and to political/military turmoil. This essay is to investigate brigandage in 19th century Greece and its relationship with the mobilization, maintenance, and demobilization of the armed forces (especially irregular bands). It will also study how the irregulars were both used in irredentist movements and pursued as bandits. This syndrome only ended with the formation of effective armed forces and gendarmerie.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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