Extensive Definition
Klephts (Greek
κλέφτης, pl. κλέφτες - kleftis, kleftes, which originally meant
just "thieves"), were bandits and warlike mountain folk
who lived in the Greek countryside
when Greece
was a part of the Ottoman
Empire. Due to the development of Turkish-Greek relations,
though the word still means literally "thieves", it assumed a
positive meaning for Greeks of that era.
Klephts under Ottoman rule were generally men who
were fleeing vendettas
or taxes, debts and reprisals from Ottoman
officials. They raided travellers and isolated settlements and
lived in the rugged mountains and back country. Most klephtic bands
participated in some form in the
Greek War of Independence.
Origins
After the fall of Constantinople
in 1453 and
then Mistra
in the Despotate of the Morea, the majority
of the plains of Greece fell entirely into the hands of the
Ottoman
Empire. The only territories that did not fall under Ottoman
rule were the mountain ranges (populated by Greeks and inaccessible
by Ottoman Turks), as well as a handful of islands and coastal
possessions under the control of Venice.
This situation lasted until at least 1821 (although there
were some parts of Greece that still remained in Ottoman hands
until the 20th
century) and this period of time in Greece is known as the
Τουρκοκρατία or "Turkocracy."
Ottoman conquests were divided up into pashaluks (provinces); in the
case of the lands that form modern Greece, these were Morea and Roumelia, which
were further sub-divided into feudal chifliks (Turkish
çiftlik (farm), Greek
τσιφλίκι). Any surviving Greek troops, whether regular Byzantine
forces, local militia,
or mercenaries had
either to join the Ottoman army as janissaries, serve in the
private army of a local Ottoman notable, or fend for themselves.
Many Greeks wishing to preserve their Greek identity, Orthodox
Christian religion, and independence chose the difficult but
liberated life of a bandit. These bandit groups soon found their
ranks swelled with impoverished and/or adventurous peasants,
societal outcasts, and escaped criminals.
"Wild" klephts and "tame" klephts
Klephts can be likened to the legendary Robin Hood, living in isolation and seeking freedom. It would be incorrect to think of the klephts in quite the same terms as modern urban gangsters such as Al Capone. The klephts had more in common with the early Mafia of the Sicilian Vespers, or other outlaws like Pancho Villa and Rob Roy and mixed the politics of national liberation with quests for personal revenge, enhancement of clan status, and personal profiteering, although their main cause was often merely survival in the barren mountains of Greece and Albania.Many klephts would spend part of their lives in
service to Ottoman landowners, some of whom were Turkish colonists
and others native Greeks who had either kept their position after
the Turks invaded, or were from Phanariot
families who received grants of land from the sultan. Klephts who worked in
this capacity were referred to as "tame klephts" while those who
were independent were known as "wild klephts."
Famous klephts
Klephtico
The famous Greek dish Klephtico (or Kleftiko) slow cooked lamb (or other meat) can be translated as 'stolen meat'. The Klephts, not having flocks of their own, would steal lambs or goats and cook the meat in a sealed pit to avoid the smoke being seen.References
See also
klepht in German: Kleften
klepht in Modern Greek (1453-): Κλέφτες
klepht in Spanish: Kleftes
klepht in French: Klephte
klepht in Dutch: Kleften