The Cretan rebellion of 1770

This study aims to conceptualize the first rebellion against the Ottoman authority in Crete started by Sfakiots under the leadership of Daskalogiannis and resulted with a total destruction in 1770. This study tries to discuss the political, socio-economic and religious causes triggering the rebellion which occurred as a continuation of Morean Insurrection (Orlov Revolt) coming up during Ottoman-Russian war of 1768-1774, and also scrutinize the consequences of the rebellion in order to see their influence on the island's future. In addition, this study brings up probable reasons why this rebellion has no voice in Ottoman and modern Turkish historiography although the rebellion and its leader had an outstanding importance in Greek historiography throughout the nineteenth century. In this regard, one of the basic arguments in this study is that the rebellion triggered religious/national awakening in the long run, despite its failure and not being a modern nationalist upraising. This study aims to understand the rebels' religious and political motivations as well as how Ottoman local and central administrators evaluated and reacted to them. By doing this, it aims to contribute an original case to the literature within a new point of view by effectively using archival and secondary sources. Keywords: Cretan Rebellions, Daskalogiannis, Orlov Revolt, Ottoman Empire, Sfakia.