On March 25, 1821, the struggle of the Greeks for independence from the Turks began. After about 8 long years of many battles, Greece was able to gain its independence in 1829. Its independence would not have been possible without the help of its allies, mainly the French, Russia and Great Britain. The philhellenes, or people loving Greece, in these countries would rally support for Greece, and their revolution was a success because of their support. Greece could not have achieved independence without the help of Britain's various influential philhellenes. One of the greatest philhellenes was Lord Byron, a 19th century English poet. His book The Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, originally published around 1813, was extremely popular among the British people. It was a collection of poems about his travels around the world, particularly when he was in Greece. He wrote about virtually everything that happened during his stay and even included events from his nightlife. The British of the time were in love with the mythical and ancient times of Greece, where the gods towered over all of Greece. Lord Byron had also fallen in love with ancient mythical Greece, but he also fell in love with the modern Greeks. As Gary J. Bass says in The Freedom's Battle, "Greece would be Byron's fatal political cause and the muse of some of his best and worst poetry." His poetry contained many indications of political calls for the liberation of Greece from the Turks. He was trying to get the British and Greeks to act. “For foreign arms and aid they sigh affectionately, nor dare they face hostile rage, nor tear their sullied name from the sad page of slavery.” Englishman George Canni...... middle of paper ...... and their efforts paid off because the Greeks were able to gain their independence. Works CitedBass, Gary J. Freedom's Battle: The Origins of Humanitarian Intervention. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. Dakin, Douglas. The Greek struggle for independence, 1821-1833. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1973. Finlay, George. flight. 2 of the History of the Greek Revolution. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1861. Spyropulos, Diana. Greece: dynamic independence. Minneapolis, MN: Dillon Press Inc., 1990. Woodhouse, The Hon.CM The Greek War of Independence: Its Historical Setting. Great Britain: William Brendon and Son, Ltd., 1952. PRIMARY SOURCE Byron, George Gordon. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. 1812-8. George Canning's response to the letter sent by the Greek government. 1824. Proclamation of the King of Great Britain. 1825.