Kleanthis Triantafyllos (1850 - May 25, 1889) was a Greek satirical poet and journalist.

Biography

He was born in Apollonia,

Sifnos Sifnos () is an island municipality in the Cyclades island group in Greece. The main town, near the center, known as Apollonia (pop. 918 as of 2021), is home of the island's folklore museum and library. The town's name is thought to come from an ...

in 1850. He studied to be a teacher, like his father, and was appointed to

Andros Andros (, ) is the northernmost island of the Greece, Greek Cyclades archipelago, about southeast of Euboea, and about north of Tinos. It is nearly long, and its greatest breadth is . It is for the most part mountainous, with many fruitful and ...

. There he learned

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

and translated French poems, such as

Lamartine Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine (; 21 October 179028 February 1869) was a French author, poet, and statesman. Initially a moderate royalist, he became one of the leading critics of the July Monarchy of Louis-Philippe, aligning more w ...

's ''Despair''. He then went to

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

, where he collaborated with the publications ''Neologos'', ''Koudounatos'', ''Salpix'' and ''Diogenes''. There he also published a poetry collection anonymously. He was persecuted by the Ottoman authorities for his satiric style and fled to

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

. In 1878, together with Vlasis Gavrielidis, he founded the progressive political and satirical magazine ''Rabagas'', based on a comedy of the same name by

Victorien Sardou Victorien Sardou ( , ; 5 September 1831 – 8 November 1908) was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play. He also wrote several plays that were made into popular 19th-c ...

, which at the time had been translated by Ioannis Kambouroglou, but had been banned by the Koumoundourou government. From the name of the magazine Cleanthis Triantafyllos became known with the nickname "Rabagas". The magazine provoked reactions and led to the imprisonment of its editors. Its publication, however, continued. In 1881, he was the victim of an assassination attempt. After an eight-month break due to financial problems, in 1887 he continued the publication of ''Rabagas'' in collaboration with Roccos Choidas. Choidas published two articles that were considered insulting to the king and for this they were both imprisoned. Triantafyllos was released after six months and on May 25, 1889, he committed suicide. In the last years of his life he suffered from a serious mental disorder. Besides his work in Rabagas magazine, he translated works of

Pierre-Jean de Béranger Pierre-Jean de Béranger (; 19 August 1780 – 16 July 1857) was a prolific France, French poet and Chansonnier (singer), chansonnier (songwriter), who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity ...

References

{{reflist 19th-century Greek journalists Modern Greek poets Artists who died by suicide People from Sifnos Suicides in Greece