Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

was killed and three were wounded. 76 Martial law was declared and five individuals
were executed. 77
Maitland felt things were out of hand and, to prevent clashes similar to Zante’s,
proclaimed martial law in all the Islands between October and the end of the year. 78
It was “the proper measure” to ensure the British policy of neutrality. 79 He defended
his policy on the grounds that, in Zante, the population demonstrated “revolutionary
behaviour”. Maitland proclaimed any future Ionian assistance to the Greek War of
Independence was paramount to an “act of rebellion”. Martial law was a measure of
protection to “prohibit … all connection between them [Ionians] and the Insurgents
[Greeks]”. 80 In addition to the imposition of martial law, the whole of the Ionian
population was disarmed, “for the peace and happiness of the barbarous,
misinformed, and bigoted population”, and severe penalties were introduced that
strengthen governmental policies. 81 Maitland criticised the “mildness with which this
76 Duffy to Hankey, 13 October 1821, CO 136/1085.
77 Martial law is not written law but arises out of necessity on the orders of the executive and based on
the justification that a state has a right to protect itself against those who would destroy it. It applies to
all persons, both civil and military, unlike military law, which comprises only the armed forces. Gupte
S. V., Martial Law: theory and practice, (New Delhi, 1979).
78 Maitland to Adam, 15 October 1821, CO 136/1085.
79 This shows the British Government’s definition of Martial Law, first implemented in 1817 at
Cuttack (India), by virtue of Regulation X of 1804, which stated: “it may be expedient … the
Governor-General in Council should declare and establish Martial Law for the safety of the British
Possessions … by the immediate punishment of persons owing allegiance to the British Government,
who may be taken in arms in open hostility to the said Government, or in the actual commission of
any overt act of rebellion against the authority of the same, or in the act of openly aiding and abetting
the enemies of the British Government within any part of the territories above specified”. Mohan P. P.,
Imaginary Rebellion and How it was Suppressed: The Punjab Rebellion of 1919 and how it was
suppressed, an account of the Punjab disorders and the workings of Martial Law, (New Delhi, 1999),
p. 468.
80 Maitland to Adam, 15 October 1821, CO 136/1085.
81 Maitland to Bathurst, 12 November 1821, CO 136/1085; Maitland to Bathurst, 21 October 1821,
CO 136/1085.
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