Dimitrios Gobdelas (1780-1831): unknown pages of the biography (according to documents from the archive of the Nizhyn Greek Magistrate)

Abstract

Goal of research. Research of new documents from the archives of the Nizhyn Greek Bro therhood, related to the stay of the Greek educator, professor of the Greek Academy in Jassy, Dimitrios Gobdelas in Moscow in 1812. To publish the texts of the documents with a translation into modern Ukrainian, to find out the specifics of the activity of Dimitrios Gobdelas and his relations with the Nizhyn Greeks. Methodology. Applied general scientific methods of empirical observation, analysis and synthesis of material, as well as methods of humanitarian sciences: idiographic, hermeneutic, descriptive and biographical. In the theoretical plane of research, the methods of idealization, modeling and prognostication are used. Scientific novelty. A new historical source has been introduced into scientific publicity, which sheds light on the role of Dimitrios Gobdelas in protecting Greek merchants in Moscow in 1812. The text of the epistle of Dimitrios Gobdelas to the Nizhyn Greek Magistrate with a translation into modern Ukrainian has been published for the first time. Conclusions. In September 1812, while in Moscow, Dimitrios Gobdelas witnessed the capture of the city by French troops. At the request of the Greek merchants who remained in the city, he drew up a petition to Napoleon asking for protection and helped them obtain exit passports and protection of goods. At the request of the Greeks, Dimitrios Gobdelas undertook the costs of obtaining exit documents under their promises of reimbursement. In May 1819, while staying in Jassy, Dimitrios Gobdelas appealed to the Nizhyn Greek Magistrate with a request to take measures to recover the sum of 5,500 rubles from 49 people to compensate for the damages caused to him, referring to the promises given by the Greeks. At its session on June 18, 1819, the Nizhyn Greek Magistrate decided to refuse to consider the case due to the lack of direct evidence of the debt and the impossibility of finding the accused persons.

Keywords

• dimitriios gobdelas, greek academy, jassy, nizhyn greeks, nizhyn greek magistrate, 1812.