“Brothers, inhabitants of Arcadia, the hour has come. The stage of glory and freedom has opened; all is ours, and the God of all will be with us. Do not falter in the slightest. You are fearless, descendants of our forefathers. Arm yourselves, raise your banners, and rush against the enemies of Faith and Fatherland. Within a few days we too shall arrive with 10,000 troops. Slay the Turks of Arcadia—strike first, like lions, tear them apart and send them to the depths of Hades. Do not allow the world and History to condemn you, but rather immortalize your names and dwell forever in undying glory. We wish you health and courage, united with concord and discipline. Write to us of your deeds, first for our guidance and reassurance.”
Such letters—fervent, urgent, and uncompromising—form part of a newly unveiled digital archive dedicated to Theodoros Kolokotronis, a central figure of the Greek War of Independence. The proclamation above was drafted on March 23, 1821, by Kolokotronis together with Grigorios Dikaios, calling on the people of Arcadia to rise in arms.
The “Archival Hub of Theodoros Kolokotronis,” now available online, brings together 1,145 documents dating from October 1819 to September 1833. At its core lies Kolokotronis’s correspondence—with administrative and military authorities, fellow fighters, and members of his family—offering a vivid window into both the strategic and personal dimensions of the struggle.
The initiative is a joint effort of the Michael N. Stasinopoulos Public Benefit Foundation (Viohalco) and the Public Benefit Foundation for Social and Cultural Work. The archive itself came into their possession in 2022 from the Theofanidis family, which had safeguarded the material for nearly a century. The documents were originally assembled by Ioannis Kolokotronis, the general’s second son, who had drawn on them in his own publications and memoirs.
Until now, the archive had been only partially accessible through institutions such as the General State Archives of Greece, the Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive, and the Benaki Museum. The new digital platform aims to bridge that fragmentation, with the ambition of eventually incorporating all surviving relics related to Kolokotronis.
Speaking at the project’s presentation, attended by President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, foundation president Michail Stasinopoulos issued an open call to individuals holding relevant documents to contribute copies, further enriching the collection. Through such efforts, additional materials—including Kolokotronis’s will, memoirs, and his famed address at the Pnyx in October 1838—have already been incorporated, alongside objects directly or indirectly linked to his life.
Notably, roughly one-third of the archive’s contents are being made public for the first time, offering historians, researchers, students, and the wider public fresh insight into pivotal chapters of modern Greek history. The study, cataloguing, and digitization were carried out under the supervision of Vasilis Panagiotopoulos, emeritus research director at the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation.
The next phase will see the documents published in a three-volume series. Ultimately, however, the collection will find a permanent home in a restored heritage building on Marnis Street, expected to open its doors within the next two and a half years—bringing the legacy of the “Old Man of the Morea” into a tangible public space.
