Evangelos Zappas | |
|---|---|
 An 1860 portrait of Zappas | |
| Native name | Ευάγγελος Ζάππας |
| Nickname(s) | Evangelis (Ευαγγέλης) |
| Born | 23 August 1800 Labovo, Pashalik of Yanina, Ottoman Empire[1] (present-day Albania) |
| Died | 19 June 1865 (aged 64) Broșteni, United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (present-day Romania) |
| Buried |
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| Allegiance | First Hellenic Republic |
| Service | Hellenic Army |
| Known for |
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| Battles / wars | |
| Relations | Konstantinos Zappas (cousin) |
| Other work |
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Evangelos or Evangelis Zappas (23 August 1800 – 19 June 1865; Greek: Ευάγγελος or Ευαγγέλης Ζάππας; Romanian: Evanghelie Zappa) was a Greek patriot, philanthropist and businessman who spent most of his life in Romania.[2][3] He is recognized today as one of the founders of the modern Olympic Games, which were held in 1859, 1870, 1875, and 1888 and preceded the Olympic Games that came under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee.[1][4] These Games, known at the time simply as Olympics (Greek: Ολύμπια), came before the founding of the International Olympic Committee itself. The legacy of Zappas, as well as the legacy of his cousin Konstantinos, was also used to fund the Olympic Games of 1896.[5]
During his youth, Zappas joined the Greek War of Independence (1821–1832), achieving the rank of Major and fighting in several significant battles. Following Greek independence, he moved to Wallachia where he had a successful career as a businessman, becoming one of the richest men of that time in Eastern Europe. Aside from being the only major sponsor of the Olympic revival at that time, Zappas's philanthropy also included contributions toward the foundation of several Greek institutions and schools as well as sports and exhibition facilities.
- ^ a b Decker 2005, p. 273: "E. Zappas, a Greek born in Albania (Ottoman Empire) but living in Romania, founded modern Olympic Games that were held in 1859, 1870, 1875 and 1888."
- ^ Golden 2009, p. 129; Trager 1979, p. 654.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Young103was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Young 1991, p. 108: "Zappas the real founder of the modern Games was aging and ailing, ready to pass the torch to a successor."
- ^ "Zappeion Culture and Exhibition Center". 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2010.