THE SECOND LEVANTINE SYMPOSIUM IN IZMIR Friday, 31 October – Sunday 2 November 2014
THE SECOND LEVANTINE SYMPOSIUM IN IZMIR
Took Place On Friday, 31 October
It was Hosted by The Izmir Chamber of Commerce
In their Main conference hall. This is a personal review of this event by George Galdies.
Scale model at Izmir Chamber of Commerce Museum
Event title: THE SECOND LEVANTINE SYMPOSIUM IN IZMIR
Date: Friday, 31 October – Sunday 2 November 2014 (including fringe events and tours)
Main event theme: WHO WERE THE LEVANTINES?
Research topics: Where did they live? Who are their descendants? What is their legacy?
Focus:
• European settlers in the Aegean region, the cities and towns they lived in,
• the businesses they created,
• their fascinating lifestyles and traditions,
• the different ethnic groups they encountered in the Levant,
• the unique legacies they left behind.
Special emphasis was to be placed on current research into:
• the genealogy and social history of families with origins in Genoa, Malta, Smyrna and the Aegean Islands. Event was to be supported by optional tours to old Levantine suburbs of Izmir. To Ephesus, and to Chios and Cesme.
By December 2013 it was agreed that the Second Izmir Symposium will be announced on Levantine Heritage Foundation websites.
Conference organisers in no particular order: George Vassiadis (originally, then withdrew)
Alex Baltazzi (principal moderator)
George Poulimenos
Jacques Caporal
Marie Anne Marandet
Jerome Muniglia (co-moderator)
George Galdies (international co-ordinator and LHF trustee)
planning and execution
Originally this was going to be a 2 centre conference
with venues in Izmir and in Chios.
To avoid clashing with the Istanbul conference, Izmir became the only overnight venue, with a day visit to Chios made optional.
The symposium remained focused on the Levantine communities of Izmir and an academicals’ study of Levantine roots in the Aegean Islands.
Eventually some 35 overseas participants came to the meeting from USA, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Greece, and Australia. In total over 100 people signed the register.
20 newspapers reported the event.
As per previous Izmir meeting Karavan Travel provided all logistic support whilst Izmir Chamber of Commerce provided hosting and hospitality. Both perfectly executed.
Friday, 31st October 2014Mr Akdurak reminded participants that Izmir is still a city very much open to the West, and invited foreign delegates to be its ambassadors , and promote tourism and foreign inward investment for the city.In the Chair : Alex Baltazzi, President of Karavan Travel and prolific contributor to the Levantine Heritage.com website.
15 Conference Speakers in order of appearance
Dr Marie Carmen Smyrnelis« Identités levantines dans le XIXe siècle
ottoman «
Expounded definition of “Levantine”
Alluded to ‘Greasy Levantine’, but also how “Western Traders” felt inadequate/ intimidated/annoyed having to deal through them.
Levantines were not a “coherent”, legally defined group when compared to Greeks, Armenians, Jews …
No communality of language: spoke several languages all at same time
Staunchly held on to their national identities. Several in one same family
Term “Levantine” took a different acceptance in more recent times
Joanna HyslopThe life and work of the Reverend Charles Dobson
Rev. Charles Dobson Anglican Chaplain in 1922 Smyrna: Joanna’s great grandfather
A great insight into the life of a remarkable person
She examines the evidence given by him in London courts
Her research published by Modern Greek Studies Association of Australian and New Zealand
Vivid descriptions of key events during 1922 Fire and destruction
Dobson’s heroic initiatives to save lives securing evacuation of civilians
Wallis Kidd The MacAndrews & Forbes Company as the Forbes family
He recounts how the company was started by the Forbes Was much encouraged to continue his research having met current neighbours of his family’s ‘de Hochepied Mansion’ in
Seydikoy/Gaziemir suburb of Izmir. Visits and provides up to date photo of the Forbes mansion in
Buca undergoing restoration. Invites further information on MacAndrews and Forbes, the
Forbes and the Cadoux families. Available to assist others into their researches.
Joseph MuratThe Murat Family of Bornova
Quest to find family roots in Trieste leads to
forgotten family records and archives.
Grand Father’s migration from Bornova to Vienna
Family photos and pre-WW1 family links
Telling letters between Bornova and Vienna
WW1 family dramas
Requests more information on the Murat and Great Grandmother’s HadjiKosti (Costi) families
Dr Henry FrendoLevantines of Smyrna: The Maltese Presence
Rather little known about Maltese in Izmir to now
Malta in Ottoman days and British Empire days
Arrival of Maltese and sociological insights into their community
Documentary and first-hand narrations of WW1 and effects onto the Maltese
1922 catastrophe, evacuation from Smyrna and refuge to Malta
Return of refugees to Izmir, whilst migration to UK, Australia,…
WW2 and ‘exiles’ to India, Cyprus, and beyond.
Maltese in Izmir today.
Mark Ransome – Sally ElliottTHE WALKERS OF SMYRNA
An introduction to the family and their ancestral home of Aziziye
Ancestor’s arrival to Smyrna in 1860 and family properties portfolio
Expansion of Walker industrial enterprises
“Veuve Prokopp” brewery
Walker- Issigonis and Simes families connections
Evacuation to Malta and return to Izmir
Many hitherto unseen photographs
Brian WebberThe Webber Family in Smyrna and Canada
Talk prepared in collaboration with his cousin Joyce
Medcalf
Intersections with Levantines families from pre-1914 to recent times in Canada
Several references to cousins, railroads, former properties in Paradise, Smyrna
Smyrna’s ‘comfort foods’
Joyce’s searches into family archives and revelations of roots back to 19th Century Smyrna
Lunch Break
Oh look! There’s Dr Philip Mansel !
Dr Sandra OrigoneThe relationships between Smyrna, Genoa, the Knights of St John and other Latin presences, analysing documentary
sources.
14th Century Asia Minor
Arrival of the Genoese and trade with Governorate of Aidin
Genoese, Venetians, and the Knights
Smyrna suppliers to the Knights in Rhodes, and non-patrician merchants
The Giustinianis, Reccanello, and notable Smyrna names in 14th Century
Dr Michel Balard
LES LEVANTINS DE GÊNES : de l’Ancienne à la Nouvelle Mahone de Chio
(The Levantines of Genoa: from the Old to the New Maona of Chios)
Latin presence in the Aegean 1346 to 1566 The Maonas: “New” and “Old” in Chios Trading of Maona shares between families Contracts and conventions Orientalisation process ‘Levantinasation’ through inter-communal marriages Hellenization of Latins when Genoa succumbed to French rule.
Dr Ioanna Koukounis
‘Furrowing routes of trade in the Mediterranean: The Chiots from Genoa to the Levant’
Names of Chiot commercial houses in 18th Century Smyrna
Depiction of Chiot noble families, and the Chiot-Genoese
‘economy intermarriages’
Chios’s riches
Chios as a clearing house for Anatolia’s agricultural produce and raw materials
Smyrna’s language and frangochiotika
Dr. Altug Akin“Ghosts at the Heart of the Empire”:
Levantines of Smyrna in Contemporary Novels
Ghosts from Smyrna’ a novel by Loren Edizel
“In the Heart of the Empire”; an historical novel by Spiros Gogolos
Compares the two novels, and touches non-Moslem origins of each author
Emergence of “multi-cultural” or “cosmopolitan” genres since 1980s
Defines Smyrna Quay: “ Luxury, money and hedonism”
Comparison between Athens and Smyrna
Dr Kalliopi Amygdalou‘From the Ottoman Empire to the Nation-State: Izmir’s
architectural and urban transformation.’
The rebuilding of Izmir in the 1930s
Analysis of period photos of reconstruction
Controversies and alterations in planning process
State interventionism in urban environment
Several rarely seen photos
“post-Ottoman modern condition in Izmir”
Doç. Dr.Hâle OKÇAY
İZMİR’DE LEVANTEN MİRASI:MEZARLIKLAR ÜZERİNE SOSYOLOJİK BİR YAKLAŞIM
A Levantine legacy in Izmir: A sociological approach on the cemeteries
Levantine community of Ottoman Smyrna – Catholics and Protestants
Rites and customs
Description of ‘Levantine Tombs and Graves’
Introduction of new legislation in 2005 grating official status to Christian cemeteries
Slides and comments on Christian cemeteries of Izmir and suburbs
Comparisons between Moslem and Christian cemeteries
“Christian consecrated graves: lasting reminders of past lives
View of the northern pathway, Karabaglar
[My summary from an 11 page document in Turkish]
Dr. Ahmet MEHMETEFENDİOĞLU
İZMİR LEVANTENLERİ İÇİN ÖNEMLİ BİR DÖNEM VE İSİM: BİRİNCİ DÜNYA SAVAŞINDA LEVANTENLER VE İZMİR VALİSİ RAHMİ BEY
An important name and period for the Izmir Levantines: the Levantines during the First
World War and Rahmi Bey, the Governor of Izmir
Rahmi Bey’s early life and political career.
His position in “Unity and Progress” movement; appointment as Vali of Izmir 1913
The refugees problems arising from Balkan War defeats
WW1 and his good will towards the Levantine community.
WW1 Britain, the Dardanelles, and his refusal of surrender to the British.
25 October 1918 resignation from post of Governor
Kidnapping of his son Alpaslan by rebel Cerkez [Circassian] Ethem
Exiled to Malta in 1919, emigrated to Italy, then Germany, return to Turkey in 1926, alleged implication in the 1926 Izmir terrorist attack and escape abroad and return in 1935. Died in 1947
George Poulimenos
Digital Reconstruction of the Smyrna Quay “The Quay”: iconic symbol of Smyrna
Exploration of the constituent parts of the Quays
The planning and preparation of the digital files
Talk is illustrated with many slides showing various stages of reconstructing digitally
A final panorama showing what more than 200 buildings would have actually looked before 1922
A few buildings are shown as exemplars resulting from the work
A truly forensic investigation and reconstruction; the results of which will be published in a book.
Yeni Asir 1 November 2014Dünyanın birçok ülkesindeki Levantenleri bir araya getiren 2. Uluslararası Levanten Sempozyumu, İzmir Ticaret Odası'nda (İTO) yapıldı. Sempozyum 2010'da yapılan ilki gibi yoğun ilgi gördü. Sempozyuma, aileleri eskiden İzmir'de yaşamış olan çok sayıda Levanten ile Amerika, Malta, Fransa, İngiltere, Fransa, Yunanistan gibi çeşitli ülkelerden gelen yaklaşık 40 yabancı konuk katıldı. Açılışta konuşan İTO Meclis Başkanı Rebii Akdurak, sempozyuma gösterilen ilgiden duyduğu memnuniyeti dile getirerek, "Bildiğiniz üzere, İzmir'in ekonomik tarihinde Levanten tüccarların çok önemli bir yeri var. Ama sadece ekonomik hayatımızda değil, İzmir'in sosyal hayatının gelişmesinde de Levantenlerin büyük katkısını biliyoruz. İzmir'in bugünkü kentsel kimliğinin oluşmasında, yüzlerce yıl burada yaşayan Levantenlerin rolü büyük oldu" dedi
İzmir'e yatırım çağrısıAkdurak, şöyle konuştu: "Bugün aramızda bulunan Levanten konuklarımızı bu sempozyum ile yeniden İzmir ile bağlantılarını güçlendirmeye, ekonomik, ticari ve kültürel işbirliklerini arttırmaya davet ediyorum. Sizler hem yurt dışında İzmir'in elçiliğini yapabilir, hem de İzmir'de yatırım ve ticaret ortaklıkları kurarak kentimiz ile yeniden sıkı bağlar kurabilirsiniz" ifadelerini kullandı. Dr. Marie Carmen Smyrnelis'in 19. Yüzyıl Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nda "Levanten Sosyal Kimlikler" adlı sunumuyla devam eden sempozyumda İzmir'in ticari hayatına bir dönem etkili olan Levanten ailelerle ilgili bilgi verildi.KADİR KEMALOĞLU
SOME OF THE FRINGE
EVENTS
Dr Philip Mansel’s book signing day launching his “LEVANT” published in Turkish
Multi-confessional Mass said in Latin, Italian, Turkish, English, and Greek at the Basilica Cathedral of St John Apostle & Evangelist, in
celebration of All Saints Day. Music was provided by the excellent Turkish choir of the Cathedral.
[The “New Levantines of Izmir”? ]
Mgr. Franceschini and George Galdies greeting members of the some 60 -
strong congregation
Our visitors to Chios were welcomed by the Mayor of Chios, as reported by Chios municipal news: ‘Polistischios.gr’