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

periods when Greek historiography was examined in a nationalist light. 9 Like Greek
historiography, the history of the Ionian Islands was written from a nationalist angle
as a struggle by the Septinsula for union with Greece, presenting groups such as the
Risospasti in a favourable light while opponents of union were presented in a
negative way. 10 These historians also viewed Ionian society as ethnically and
religiously homogenous and, consequently, neglected an examination of the various
minority ethnic and religious groups that also inhabited the Islands, thus neglecting
questions of power, authority and race/ethnicity. More importantly, neither made
connections to or comparisons between British and Ionian administrative,
constitutional, or social problems.
While the works of Idromenos, Hiotis, and Verykios presented a bias which has
influenced many contemporary Greek historians, there are recent works which have
enabled a wider consideration of Greek and Ionian history. Antonis Liakos has
offered a trans-European representation of Ionian/Greek nationalism by analysing
the links between Ionian and Greek politicians and their Italian counterparts. 11 A
number of articles based on conferences and seminars on the Ionian Islands, which
take place every few years, have enriched Septinsula history by offering fresh
9 Kitroeff has criticised Greek historiography as “inherently imbued with the spirit of nationalism and
patriotism”, Kitroeff A., ‘Continuity and Change in Contemporary Greek Historiography’, European
History Quarterly, 19, (1989), p. 275; Belia E., “Η ideologia tis Eptanisiakis istoriographias tou 19ou
eona” [The ideology of Ionian historiography in the Nineteenth Century], Praktika Pemptou
Panioniou Synedriou [Proceedings of the 5 th Pan-Ionian Conference], (Athens, 1986), pp. 265-285.
10 Hiotis P., I Istoria tou Ioniou Kratous, [History of the Ionian State], pp. 387, 413, 588; Verykios S.,
I Istoria ton Inomenon Kraton ton Ionion Nison, [The History of the United States of the Ionian
Islands], pp. 406-429; Idromenos A., Politiki Istoria tis Eptanisou, [Political History of the
Septinsula], pp. 130-146
11 Liakos A., I Italiki Enopiisi ke i Megali Idea [Italian Unification and the Great Idea], (Athens,
1985).
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