‘Megali Idea’: Greek territorial claims following the annexation of Thessaly, (1887).

Well they achieved alot of it. Always important to set high goals.

why roumeli? it is turkish name , rum(roman) – eli( country) , its mean home of romans(greeks)

I wish they’d succeeded. These borders look great, it would’ve buoyed Greece out of its’ current economic state, the Black Sea would’ve been more secure, and it would’ve saved the cultures of the Ionian and Anatolian Greeks.

Well there is the megali idea
Then there is the not so megali application.

Just some context on this, as many opinions are out there, Im aware the Turks viewed this as an “Aggressive expansionist war against the Republic of turkey which never attacked or harmed Greece/Greeks , it was teh Ottomans etc etc” First of all, to Greece, Ottomans and Republic of Turkey was always viewed on and the same, especially since our war with the Ottomans was simultaneous to the Turkish republic fight against them too, and considering the stance of the Grey Wolfs against the native anatolian greeks in Pontic regions , they were on the same level as the Ottomans. Here is the view / context from Greece.

**The Megali Idea** was not presented nor intended, as an expansionist war in the same sence as how the big power-hungry powers did it. it **was an extension of the Greek revolution of independence from the Turks** ( it never mattered if it was Ottomans, or Republic of Turkey. Just the Turkish power of anatolia) .

The successfull revolution established in 1821 (and there were MANY that failed ending in complete town wipe-outs from the turks), managed to liberate the Greek lands and Greeks of South Greece. When Venizelos came to power in the 1900s , about a century after 1821, Greece managed to continue the liberation of lands and greeks , gaining the modern day Greek borders , plus areas we since lost (North Epirus in South Albania, West Asia Minor, Thrace ).

The campaign in Thrace and Asia Minor , was a continuation of the above. It was always regarded as a continuation of liberation and unification of the lands with majority (or significant) Greek populations. These ereas were back then the Thrace, West coast of Asia Minor , and Pontic regions of North Turkey (which lost all hope of any liberation due to distance).

The West coast though was lost due to political blunders which severed the logistical supplies from allies, and strengthened the Turks. And here we are now

as of why the Greek army was so arrogant to push in Ankara , well, See if from their eyes. Their existential threat (Turks) from centuries, is now vulnerable on the brick of collapse. take their capital and majority of land and they’re done. Thats how I understand it.

Im not debating the actions taken from the Greek side. I will just say, the oppressed (eg slaves of the USA), killed many oppressors (eg slavers) to achieve their freedom. casualties are always horrendous in any war. I cannot equalize a liberation war against oppression, and an expansionist war of empires like Germans, Ottomans, French , British etc. Just my opinion

The comments are just Turks and Greek arguing

If only this was territory where Greeks actually lived, instead of Slavs, Albanians and Turks.

Thessaly was annexed in 1881.