Greece - Hellenic Army - Early History
The idea and the need for a Regular Army, created immediately after the declaration of the Greek Revolution in 1821. Until then, the struggle conducted by irregular bodies, assembled the majority of dedicated to freedom patriots, who lacked military training and discipline and hardly could work together for the common cause. This was the main reason, that despite initial important their military successes, led the revolutionary authorities and governments to gradually Regular Army organization. In this effort of great assistance offered by Greek origin officers, serving in various European armies, and many foreign soldiers, who voluntarily came to Greece to participate in the release.
The first Greek statutory body was established by Alexander Ypsilanti on March 3, 1821, in Iasi, Moldova called "Sacred Band". In June 1821 Demetrius Ypsilanti arrived in the Peloponnese with a small group of expatriates and philhellenes and immediately began along the lines of his brother Alexander, set up in Kalamata a regular body, in order to participate in the race.
On January 9, 1822 a meeting in Epidaurus of the National Assembly, which two months later elected as president of the first Greek Government, Alexander Mavrokordatos. Mavrokordatos, considering it necessary to organize Regular Army, proposed to the Parliament Building Draft Law "On Organization of the Army." This plan was passed on April 1, 1822 and formed the basis of all subsequent military legislation. In particular, the law establishes the composition Regular Army, which would consist of heavy and light infantry, heavy and light cavalry, artillery siege and flat, and an engineering department. They referred that the first Weapons in under formation Greek Army, ie the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and Engineering.
Accordingly, in April 1822 the first Infantry Regiment was established, commanded by Italian Colonel Pietro Tarella (Tarella). The Artillery was formed from part of the two guns Colonel Boutier. But as the Government was unable to provide the necessary maintenance of the instruments, the constitution was maintained for some time maintained by spot resources and then aftodialythike. The men, after this development, joined the irregular bodies. Throughout the year 1823 reconstruction of the Regular Army was not possible for purely economic reasons. Only in July 1824, with the conclusion of a loan from England, overcome obstacles and the Government made ??the reconstitution of the regular army. Gradually, the classification volunteers formed a battalion.
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