A military tunic worn by the English soldier and friend of the Romantic poets Edward John Trelawny during the Greek War of Independence, comes for sale at Sworders later this month. Together with the tunic are items of embroidered Greek costume plus Trelawny’s, nickel bridle mounts and sword hilt.
23 March 2023
An adventurer, biographer and novelist, Trelawny was best known for his friendship with Shelley and Lord Byron who he met when travelling in Switzerland. Influenced by the poets’ views on the political situation in Greece, Trelawny travelled to Greece with Lord Byron to join the fight for Greek Independence. Whilst Byron remained on the Ionian Islands to mediate the political situation between London and Greece, in 1823 Trelawny set off as agent to Lord Byron to meet the Greek leaders and eventually joined chieftain Odysseas Androutsos fighting in Eastern Greece. During this time Trelawney commanded a troop of 25 Albanian soldiers and engaged in several battles with the Turks and married Odysseas’s half-sister, Tarsitsa.
A 19th century Military dress uniform Tunic (£400-600)
When Byron died in 1824, Trelawny is reputed to have arranged for the return of his body to England. He wrote a memoir of his time in Greece, ‘Adventures of a Younger Son’.
Originally left by Trelawny with his uncle Sir Christopher Hawkins (1761-1841) at Bignor Park in Trewithen, Cornwall, the tunic and other relics have been kept by his descendants. For many years they were on public display in the Shelley Rooms, Bournemouth and in 2008 were exhibited by the Oxford Press for the publication of William St Clair’s book on the role of the Philhellenes in the Greek War of Independence.
A 19th century Military dress uniform Tunic (£400-600)
They come for sale as part of the Homes & Interiors (with militaria) sale at Sworders on March 28 with an estimate of £400 - £600.
To find out more about this collection contact our Homes and Interiors department - homesandinteriors@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778
Or browse the full catalogue for the 28 March sale here
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