, the first currency of the modern Greek State The most important task facing the governor of Greece was to forge a modern state and, with it, a civil society. Kapodistrias worked long hours — from 5 am until 10 pm daily. Upon his arrival, Kapodistrias launched a major reform and modernisation programme that covered all areas. Kapodistrias distrusted the men who led the war of independence, believing them all to be self-interested, petty men, whose only concern was power for themselves. He saw himself as the champion of the common people, long oppressed by the Ottomans, but also believed that the Greek people were not ready for democracy. He said that, to give the Greeks democracy at present would be like giving a boy a razor; the boy did not need the razor and could easily kill himself, as he did not know to use it properly. Kapodistrias argued that the Greek people initially needed an enlightened autocracy, to lift the nation out of the backwardness and poverty caused by the Ottomans. Once a generation or two had passed, with the Greeks educated and owning private property, democracy could then be established. Kapodistrias's role model was Emperor Alexander I of Russia who, Kapodistrias argued, had been gradually moving Russia towards Western European norms but died before finishing this work. Kapodistrias often expressed his feelings towards the other Greek leaders in harsh language. At one point, he said he would crush the revolutionary leaders: "Il faut éteindre les brandons de la revolution". The Greek politician
Spyridon Trikoupis wrote: "He [Kapodistrias] called the
primates, Turks masquerading under Christian names; the military chiefs, brigands; the Phanariots, vessels of Satan; and the intellectuals, fools. Only the peasants and the artisans did he consider worthy of his love and protection, and he openly declared that his administration was conducted solely for their benefit". Trikoúpis described Kapodistrias as
átolmos (cautious), a man who liked to move methodically and carefully with as little risk as possible, which led him to micro-manage the government by attempting to be the "minister of everything" as Kapodistrias only trusted himself to govern properly. Kapodistrias alienated many in the Greek elite with his haughty, high-handed manner together with his open contempt for the Greek elites, but he attracted support from several of the captains, such as
Theodoros Kolokotronis and
Yannis Makriyannis who provided the necessary military force to back up Kapodistrias's decisions. Kapodistrias, an elegant, urbane diplomat, educated in Padua and accustomed to the polite society of Europe, formed an unlikely but deep friendship with Kolokotronis, a man of peasant origins and a former
klepht (bandit). Kolokotronis described Kapodistrias as the only man capable of being president, as he was not tied to any of the Greek factions. He admired Kapodistrias for his concern for the common people, who had suffered so much in the war, and liked Kapodistrias's interest in getting things done, regardless of legal niceties. As Greece had no means of raising taxes, money was always in short supply. Kapodistrias was constantly writing letters to his friend, the Swiss banker
Jean-Gabriel Eynard, asking for yet another loan. As a former Russian foreign minister, Kapodistrias was well connected to the European elite and he attempted to use his connections to secure loans for the new Greek state and to achieve the most favorable borders for Greece, which were being debated by Russian, French, and British diplomats. Kapodistrias re-established military unity, ending fractures, and re-organised the military, establishing
regular Army corps in the war against the Ottomans, taking advantage also of the
Russo-Turkish War (1828–29). The new Hellenic Army was then able to reconquer much territory lost to the Ottoman army during the civil wars. The
Battle of Petra, in September 1829, ended military operations and secured Greek dominion in
Central Greece. He supported also two unfortunate naval expeditions,
to Chios and to Crete, but the Great powers decided that these islands were not to be included within the borders of the new state. He adopted the Byzantine
Hexabiblos of
Armenopoulos as an interim civil code, he founded the
Panellinion, as an advisory body, and a Senate, the first
Hellenic Military Academy, hospitals, orphanages and schools for the children, introduced new agricultural techniques, while he showed interest for the establishment of the first national museums and libraries. In 1830 he granted
legal equality to Jews in the new state; being one of the first European states to do so. Interested in urban planning for the destroyed Greek cities after the war, he assigned
Stamatis Voulgaris to present a new urban plan for the cities of
Patras,
Argos, such as the Prónoia quarter in
Nafplio as settlement for war refugees. He introduced also the first modern
quarantine system in Greece, which brought epidemics like
typhoid fever,
cholera, and
dysentery under control for the first time since the start of the War of Independence; negotiated with the Great Powers and the Ottoman Empire the borders and the degree of independence of the Greek state and signed the peace treaty that ended the War of Independence with the Ottomans; introduced the
phoenix, the first modern Greek currency; organised local administration; and, in an effort to raise the living standards of the population, introduced the cultivation of the
potato into Greece. According to legend, although Kapodistrias ordered that potatoes be handed out to anyone interested, the population was reluctant at first to take advantage of the offer. The legend continues, that he then ordered that the whole shipment of potatoes be unloaded on public display on the docks of Nafplion, and placed it under guard to make the people believe that they were valuable. Soon, people would gather to look at the guarded potatoes and some started to steal them. The guards had been ordered in advance to turn a blind eye to such behaviour, and soon the potatoes had all been "stolen" and Kapodistrias's plan to introduce them to Greece had succeeded. Furthermore, as part of his programme, he tried to undermine the authority of the traditional clans or dynasties which he considered the useless legacy of a bygone and obsolete era. However, he underestimated the political and military strength of the
capetanei (καπεταναίοι – commanders) who had led the revolt against the Ottoman Turks in 1821, and who had expected a leadership role in the post-revolution Government. When a dispute between the
capetanei of
Laconia and the appointed governor of the province escalated into an armed conflict, he called in Russian troops to restore order, because much of the army was controlled by
capetanei who were part of the rebellion. == Opposition and the Battle of Poros ==