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’