The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-03
PRINCES ISLANDS

Vie AoHo~iuE puilGtln CCHCtTuink tAir
Princes islands, in the Sea of Mar
mora, where the warning factions of
Russia have been asked to send dele
gates for IA conference at which 1t
liz hoped the internal dissensions in
the vast Slav dominions can be com
posed:
ut would seem that the peace con-
ference in Paris may have had the
Princes islands In mind as we'll as
their geographical location when
they were named as the place or
meeting on February IS for the war
ring factions in Russia. There are
nine isiands--enough for each group
OF delegates to have an island to
themselves should such course OF
segregation prove expedient.
The islands lie from ten to fif-
teen miles southeast OF Constantine
pie, near the Asiatic shore. Four of
them are inhabited, and the largest
of the group, Prinkipo falso called
Pityusa, meaning rich in pines"D,
has population OF more than 10 eco,
Turks and Greeks being about equal
in number.
The islands in modern times have
been popular AS summer resorts.
owing to the saluhrity of their eli
mate and their proximity to the
Turkish capital.
Few islands have a history more
poignant with tragedy, with high
hopes and shattered dreams, with dia-
bolical Vaccinations of empire
wreckers and makers than these few
square miles of earth washed by tho
waters of the Marmora- Their very
name Is significant of their past. for
In the days OF the Byzantine empire
they were the retreats, either forced
or voluntary. of princes and prin-
cesses who had fallen into disfavor
at the nearby court
Each island of the group could
tell its own story of famous exiles.
None is more pathetic. however, than
that of Prot as the prison of the de-
posed emperor Romanus ". called
Diogenes. The life of this ruler reads
like one OF the fictitious romances of
Cleopatra's days. He was a distin-
gufshed young Soldier. descended
from a Cappadotian' family. Having
been implicated in IA conspiracy to
depose his sovereign, Constantine TX.
he was condemned to be executed for
treason. While being led to his
death. according to one account, he
caught the eye of the empress re-
gent. Eudocia Macrembo litissa, who
instantly fell in love with him,
granted him pardon, and shortly
thereafter married him. After his
coronation as emperor he led three
successful expeditions against the
Seljuk Turks, but his fourth cam
paign, against Alp Arslan. was n
disastrous failure.
Compelled To pay a large ransom
for his release, Romanus returned
home. to be defeated at the hands Of
pretender to the throne. Blinded.
he spent his few remaining days OF
abjecs misery. Imprisoned in a monas-
terry on the highest point Of PROT.
''On the island of Antigone the
great patriarch Me,hodius spent
seven years of his life imprisoned
with two brigands
''On Prinkipo. which is now dotted
with fine residences ana gardens. the
traveller is shown the ruins of a con-
vent in which eleven centuries ago
the remarkable woman. Empress
Irene I. was imprisoned for time. !
A poor but beautiful orphan of
Athens. Irene married Emperor Leo
~ and soon become the true ruler |
OF the byzantine empire. Upon the |
death OF her husband she assumed !.
the reins OF government for her ten. !
year-old son. Constantine VI. For !
n decade her reign WAS distinguished !
by tirmness and wisdom. Then be- |
gan the conflict with her ambitious |
son, which terminated in the greatest |
blot upon her career. the capture of
the fleeing youth, his return to Con-
where by his mothers
orders his eyes were gouged out 1t
would seem that the ancients hadl
good cause to interpret an eclipse Of |
the sun. which took place about this 4
time, as a sign of heavens horror at I
such a deed. i
Another famous prisoner Of Prin-
kipo was Zoe, the wife OF three en-
III, Michael w
and Constantine TX
"One of the most populous of the
islands is Haiku (also spelled Chal-
citts and khalki), where there Ia a
naval college and theological cof- t
leg A Greek commercial school
occupies the site of an ancient mon
astery. At the entrance to the school
ID the tombstone OF Cir Edward Bar
ton. English ambassador to Turkey
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
''On the island of Plate the peace
delegates Will find a castle, built after
the model of Windsor castle. II Is
now falling into decay Once ii was
the summer residence OF Sir Henry
Bulwer (the famous author Of the
Clayton Buiwer treatey OF American 4
when he was British ans I
at Constantinople. Upon his
the one-time British am
bassador at Washington sold the
ISLAND to the khedive of Egypt, whose
family still owned 1t at the outbreak
Of the world war"
We guess the junkers In both Ger
many and the United States are con-