THE ’IMMORTAL ALLATINI’

Ancestors and relatives

of Noemie Allatini-Bloch

(1860-1928)

Written on the occasion of

Mr. Dassault’s visit

in the city of his ancestors

Compiled by Dr E. Hekimoglou, with the bibliographical support ofDr P. Hagouel and Mr Al. Gregoriou

June 2012

A global family

Only one thing is impossible for the rich history of Thessaloniki: to

write it without referring to the “immortal Francos”: Allatini,

Morpurgo and Fernandez. These families, as well as the Modianos

and the Misrachis, created commercial networks all over Europe and

accumulated wealth because of their extraordinary entrepreneurial

abilities. Moreover, they deployed part of their wealth in charitable

activities in favour of the paupers of Thessaloniki and devoted much

of their time to develop the cultural and educational standards of the

local Jewish Community. Due to intermarriages they formed one

extended family, with hundreds of descendants which, in a period of

three generations, spread all over Europe.

This extended family is an integral part of the history of

Thessaloniki and Thessalonians are proud to link themselves with its

members. But, in fact, Allatini is not a local offspring; it is a global

European family, with ancient roots in Italy, Germany and France.

For a whole century, Thessaloniki served as a pole of attraction

which gathered all these powers, organized them and returned them

to Western Europe, where they originally came from.

From Italy to Thessaloniki

The oldest known ancestor of the Allatini family was a physician,

who lived in Ferrara, Italy, in the 16th century. One of his sons was

a scholar, famous in his time for the religious books he published.

His name was Rabbi Azriel Perahia Bonajuto Allatini. Rabbi Allatini

who, among other activities, practiced medicine in Ferrara, lived in

the first half of the 17th century. Two of his brothers, Vital Haim

and Yehiel, practiced medicine in Spoleto. The former was also an

author of published medical and religious studies. They had a fourth

brother, Moise Allatini, who practiced medicine in Livorno. It is

almost certain that Moise was the ancestor of the Allatini family of

Thessaloniki.

The Francos

During the 18th century, Jewish merchants from Livorno enjoyed

diplomatic protection provided by France and Sicily and established

branches of their companies in Thessaloniki. The diplomatic status

of these Livornese protected them from the unstable fiscal environ-

ment of the Ottoman Empire. The local Jewish merchants were sub-

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jects of the Sultan and paid heavy taxes, while the Livornese mer-

chants enjoyed diplomatic protection by the French, the Sicilian and

the Dutch consulates, and were exempted from the heavy taxation.

Therefore, they made profitable business arrangements by importing

industrial goods from Italy and exporting local agricultural products.

Many of them, known as “Francos” became rich and formed the

higher class of the local society. They were interested in buying the

local agricultural production, facing the hard competition of the

French merchants.

The Fernandez and the Allatini were among the famous “Franco”

families in Thessaloniki. A neighbourhood located near the port,

which even in our days is called “Frankon” [i.e. erroneously “Of the

Franks”, in Greek], was the place Francos built their houses, shops

and warehouses.

Lazaro

Francos included a descendant of Moise Allatini, named Lazaro son

of Moise (this Moise was a grand-son of the Livornese doctor men-

tioned above). Lazaro was born in Livorno in 1776 and studied med-

icine in Florence. Moise and Lazaro established their company in

Thessaloniki, when the latter was at a young age, perhaps in 1800. By

1802, after his father death, Lazaro took control of the family busi-

ness.

Lazaro and Anna Morpurgo

In Thessaloniki Lazaro enjoyed the diplomatic protection of Austria

and became a prosperous businessman. He participated in the

Modiano commercial company, which exported local grain. Before

1809, he married Anna Morpurgo, daughter of David and sister of

Moise Morpurgo. Anna was born in Thessaloniki in 1783.

In 1809 Anna and Lazaro’s first son, Moise, was born. Their second

son was David Darius, born in Thessaloniki on April 12, 1820. They

also had a third son, Salomon (1825-1892), and four daughters:

Rachelle (1817-1867), Bienvenuta (1818-?), Myriam (1824-1894) and

Rosa (d. 1879).

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The Hirsch Hospital was erected thanks to the efforts of Moise Misrachi, grandson

of Lazaro Allatini. (Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki)

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ALLATINI FAMILY TREE

The 7 children of Lazaro Allatini (1776-1834)

& Anna Morpurgo (1783-1867)

and their descendants

FIRST CHILD

Moise ALLATIN (Thessaloniki 1809 – Thessaloniki 20/9/1882) +

Rosa MORTERA (Livorno 1819 – Thessaloniki 1892)

[Α.1] Lazaro ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 11/4/1839 – London 7/4/1918) + Εmma Carolina FORTI .

[Α.1.1] Valentine ALLATINI (Marseille 1869 – un.d.) + MANNHEIMER

[Α.1.1.1] Auguste MANNHEIMER.

[Α.1.1.2] Roby MANNHEIMER.

[Α.1.2] Alice Amelie Geneviève ALLATINI (Marseille 1870 - Marseille 1953) + David MILHAUD (Aix-en-Provence 11/10/1861 - un.d.). [Married in London, 20/7/1891].

[Α.1.2.1] Rosine MILHAUD.

[Α.1.2.2] Marcelle MILHAUD.

[Α.1.2.3] Renné MILHAUD.

[Α.1.3] Julia (Juliet) ALLATINI (London 19/12/1871–Rome un.d.) + Giulio FRIEDMAN (un.d.-1929) [Married in London, 29/4/1902) .

[Α.1.4] Moise (Maurice) ALLATINI (London 9/8/1875 - Thessaloniki 23/3/1904) + Sophia BLOCH (1880-1977) (see F.3.2) [Married in Paris on 29/7/1901].

[Α.1.4.1] Emma ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 10/6/1902 - Vaugneray 9/8/1949).

[Α.1.4.2] Anne ALLATINI. (Thessaloniki 9/7/1903 - France 1993).

[Α.1.5] Georges ALLATINI . (London 1880 - un.d.). + Nora Meyer-Cohn (Berlin) [Married in Berlin, on April 3, 1910]

[Α.2] Emile ALLATINI . (Thessaloniki , Jan. 1843 - Paris 1/12/1901) + Mathilde ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 14/7/1854 – Paris 1917) [See [D.4]).

[Α.3] Hugo ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1850 – un.d.) + Beatrice ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1856 – Marseille 1880) (see[ D.3]).

[Α.3.1] Berthe ALLATINI + Guido FRIEDMANN (1877-1939). [Married in London, 1904].

[Α.3.1.1] Max FRIEDMANN (1905-1965).. He lined in USA.

[Α.3.1.2] Paola FRIEDMANN + HIRSCH. She lived in Venezuela.

[Α.3.2] Marguerite ALLATINI (1877- Sylvanés, 1902) + Arthur Valabregue.

[Α.4] Charles (Carlo) ALLATINΙ (Thessaloniki 1851 - Rome 14/5/1910) + Ida FERNANDEZ ..

[Α.4.1] Giselle ALLATINΙ + QUITTNER

[Α.4.2] Hélène ALLATINΙ (Died in 1964) + Jules PERQUEL

[Α.4.2.1] Suzanne PERQUEL (1902 - Paris 1990) + Jean SPIRA.

[Α.4.2.2] Jacqueline (Mesnil) PERQUEL (Paris 23/4/1909 - Paris 19/4/1987) + André AMAR (Thessaloniki 10/2/1908 - Paris 10/4/1990). [Married in Paris, 1930]

[Α.4.2.3] Hélène PERQUEL, resident of Paris.

[Α.4.3] Nina Bianca Allatini + Dennis Larking [Married in London, July 8th 1925]

[Α.5] Annete ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 29/7/1853 or 19/7/1847 - Paris 6/2/1935 + Edward ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 29/11/1847 - Paris 21/4/1913) (see [D.2])

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[Α.6] Robert ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1856 - London August 1904) + Bronislava (Bronia) RAPPAPORT VON PORADA (Vienna 1869 - London 1963) .

[Α.6.1] Rose (Laure) ALLATINI (Vienna 1890 - Hastings 1980) + Cyril Meir SCOTT (Oxton 27/9/1879 - Eastbourne 31/12/1970). [Married in London, May 11th, 1921]

[A.6.1.1] Vivian Mary SCOTT (1923- un.d.)

[A.6.1.2] Desmond SCOTT (1926) + Corinne LANGSTON.

[A.6.1.2.1] Amanta Cecilia (Toronto, 18/5/1963)

[A.6.1.2.2] Dominic Daniel (Toronto, 15/6/1966).

[A.6.2] Unidentified son, perhaps named David ALLATINI [b. 10/3/1893]

[A.6.3] Flora ALLATINI (London 1895 - London 3/2/1941) + Mathew Talbot Baines (died before his wife) [Married in London on June 14th, 1917]

[A.6.2.1] Sonia Talbot Baines

[A.6.2.2] Babette Talbot Baines

SECOND CHILD

Rachelle ALLATIN (Thessaloniki 20/12/1817 - Thessaloniki 19/12/1867) +

Moise MORPURGO.

[B.1] David MORPURGO. (Livorno un.d. - Thessaloniki 3/7/1888).

[Β.1.1] Moise MORPURGO (Thessaloniki 1860 - Thessaloniki 1939) + Fanny Ouziel (un.d.- Milan 1940).

[B.1.1.1] George-David MORPURGO (d. 1971) + Alice

[B.1.1.1.1] Fabio MORPURGO + Lizeta

[B.1.1.1.2] Claudio MORPURGO + Marina

THIRD CHILD

Bienvenuta ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1818 - Thessaloniki un.d.) +

Salomon FERNANDEZ (Istanbul 1811- Istanbul 3/1/1894)

[C.1] Gustave FERNANDEZ (Thessaloniki 12/3/1854 – after 1922) + Pauline ALLATINI (Marseille 8/9/1865 - Aix-en-Provence 10/3/1949) (see [D6]).

[C.1.1] Emile FERNANDEZ.

[C.1.2] Eva FERNANDEZ.

[C.1.3] Yolande FERNANDEZ.

[C.2] Isaac FERNANDEZ (un.d. - after 1910) + Emilie Simha LUΜBROSO [Married in Marseille on 2/2/1879].

[C.3] Lazaro FERNANDEZ.

[C.4] Corine FERNANDEZ + BΑΥΟΝΝΑΤ.

[C.4.1] Rita BAYONNAT + Jules REINACH.

[C.5] Ida FERNANDEZ (see [Α.4] Charles (Carlo) ALLATINI)

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FOURTH CHILD

Darius David ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 12/41820 - Marseille 19/4/1887 ) +

Hanna Armine Moise (Annina) FERNANDEZ (Thessaloniki 1829 - Marseille 10/12/1897).

[D.1] Alfred ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 2/6/1849 - Thessaloniki 17/10/1901) + Adèle Sarah ALLATINI (1860-1938) (see [F.4]) [Married in Marseille on 12/8/1877].

[D.1.1] Anna Berthe ALLATINI (Marseille 8/9/1880 - Aix-en-Provence 29/1/1968) + Joseph (Jules) GALULA (Marseille 24/4/1874 - 1922) [Married in Marseille on

26/6/1901].

[D.1.1.1] Sophie Rachel GALULA (Marseille 9/5/1902 – Marseille 13/5/1951) + Jean BRUNSCHWIG [Married in Marseille on 19/1/1924].

[D.1.1.2] Roger Mardochée GALULA (Marseille 22/1/1904-1998) + Janine DREYFUSS [Married in Marseille on 18/9/1948].

[D.1.1.3] Adèle GALULA (1907-1997) + Carlos FERNANDEZ.

[D.1.2] Emma ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 13/6/1886 - Auschwitz 20/5/1944) + Felix VALENSI (1896-1950).

[D.1.2.1] Eliane VALENSI (Marseille 10/5/1919 - Jerusalem 11/5/2006) + Max AMADO.

[D.2] Edward ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 29/11/1847 - Paris 21/4/1913) + Annette ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 29/7/1853 or 19/7/1847 - Paris 6/2/1935) (see [Α.5])

[D.2.1] Darius David ALLATINI (London 27/4/1872 - Paris 30/6/1920 ).

[D.2.2] Rosine ALLATINI (London 28/12/1874 – Marseille after 1942) + Paul Gaston DAVID-MOYSE (Marseille 18/8/1864 - Aix-en-Provence 12/2/1935) [Marriage in

Marseille on 14/4/1897].

[D.2.2.1] Andrée DAVID-MOYSE. .

[D.2.2.2] Fanny-Hélène DAVID-MOYSE (Marseille 24/4/1899 - un.d.).

[D.2.2.3] Edward Maurice DAVID-MOYSE (Aix-en-Provence 23/6/1900 - un.d.) + Huquette CHEVALIER [Married on 28/1/1956).

[D.2.3] Béatrice Aime (Amy) ALLATINI (East Sussex 4/8/1881 - Paris 1913) + Edward Alfred BERNHEIM (Strasburg 14/6/1871 – 1913) [Married in Marseille, 3/6/1903]

[D.2.3.1] Yvonne BERNHEIM (un.d. - 1933) + VERNIERE.

[D.2.3.2] Paulette BERNHEIM + BOIVIN.

[D.2.3.3] Germaine BERNHEIM (Paris 28/8/1909 - un.d.) + VAUCRESSON.

[D.2.3.4] Gabriel BERNHEIM + VAUCRESSON.

[D.2.4] Eric Moise ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 15/6/1886 - Auschwitz 25/12/1943 ) + Helene HIRSCH-KAHN (7/12/1887 - Auschwitz 25/12/1943) .

[D.2.4.1] Jocelyn Tiziana ALLATINI (Paris 17/2/1918 – Cleveland, Ohio, 1947).

[D.2.4.2] Ariel Aimond Alvise ALLATINI (Paris 1921).

[D.2.4.3] Donatella ALLATINI (Paris 30/9/1926).

[D.2.4.4] Tiziana ALLATINI (Paris 24/11/1927).

[D.3] Beatrice ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1856 – Marseille 1880) + Hugo ALLATINI (see [A.3])

[D.4] Mathilde ALLATINI ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 14/7/1854 – Paris 1917) + Emile ALLATINI (see [A.2])

[D.5] Noemie ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 10/6/1860 – Neilly-sur-Seine 15/9/1928) + Adolphe BLOCH (Strasburg 19/8/1843 –after 1913) [Married in Marseille on 9/6/1878].

[D.5.1] Jules André Albert BLOCH (Paris 17/3/1879 – 26/9/1926)

[D.5.2] Darius Paul BLOCH (pseudonyme DASSAULT) (Paris 18/1/1882 – Paris 30/5/1969).

[D.5.3] Marcel BLOCH (since 1949 : DASSAULT) (Paris 22/1/1892 - Neuilly-sur-Seine 17/4/1986) + Madeleine MINCKES (1901 – 12/7/1992).

[D.5.3.1] Serge DASSAULT (Paris 4/4/1925) + Nicole RAFFEL.

[D.5.3.1.1] Olivier (1951)

[D.5.3.1.2] Laurent (1953)

[D.5.3.1.3] Thierry (1962)

[D.5.3.1.4] Marie Helene (1969) + Benoit Habert

[D.5.3.2] Claude DASSAULT (1920-2011)

[D.5.4] René BLOCH (France 31/12/1887 - Auschwitz 1942)

[D.6] Pauline ALLATINI + Gustave FERNANDEZ) (see [C.1])

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[D.7] Sophie ALLATINI (Marseille 7/4/1868 -Aix-en-Provence 1943) + Gad-Gabriel MILHAUD (Aix-en-Provence 1/9/1853 - Aix-en-Provence 1942) [Married in Marseille on

30/8/1887].

[D.7.1] Darius MILHAUD (Marseille 4/9/1892 - Geneve 22/6/1974) + Madeleine MILHAUD (Paris 22/3/1902 - un.d.) [Married in Marseille on 2/3/1925].

FIFTH CHILD

Myriam (Mimica) ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1824 - Thessaloniki 10/1/1894) +

Abraham Moise MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1820 - Thessaloniki 7/12/1892)

[E.1] Esther MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1849 - Thessaloniki 19/6/1914) + Joseph FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (un.d. - 29/7/1875)

[E.1.1] Dino FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki 9/8/1867 – Meina, Italy 23/9/1943) + Blanche (Bianca) DE MEYER (un.d. - Paris 1931).

[E.1.1.1] Pierre FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki 14/9/1891 – Meina, Italy 23/9/1943) + Liliana SCIALOM (Thessaloniki 26/6/1907 - Meina Italy 22/9/1943).

[E.1.1.1.1] Jean (Thessaloniki 20/2/1926 - Meina, Italy 23/9/1943)

[E.1.1.1.2] Robert (Thessaloniki 8/1/1930 - Meina, Italy 23/9/1943)

[E.1.1.1.2] Blanchette (Thessaloniki 5/7/1931 - Meina, Italy 23/9/1943).

[E.1.1.2] Aline FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki 1892 - Thessaloniki 1965) + Spyros ALIBERTIS (Athens 1886 - Thessaloniki 1964) [Married in Athens, 1914].

[E.1.1.3] Nina FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki un.d. - Paris after 1965) + P. DERVIEUX DE VAREY.

[E.1.2] Nelly FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki un.d. - before 1940) + Elia TORRES.

[E.1.2.1] Raoul TORRES (Thessaloniki 2/9/1895 – Meina Italy 22/9/1943) + Valerie NAHOUM (Thessaloniki 27/3/1894 - Meina Italy 22/9/1943).

[E.1.2.2] Eti TORRES (Thessaloniki un.d. - Paris un.d.) + (un. name) CICOUREL.

[E.1.3] Sylvia FERNANDEZ-DIAZ + Enrico (Henri) MISRACHI (See [Ε.4] )

[E.2] Moise MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1853 - un.d.) + Helène OREFICE.

[E.2.1] Hubert MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 3/4/1878 - un.d.).

[E.2.2] Annete MISRACHI (Thessaloniki un.d. - Paris un.d.) + MODIANO.

[E.2.2.1] (unknown name) MODIANO (Thessaloniki un.d. - Paris un.d.) + JOFFET

[E.2.2.1.1] Pierre JOFFET (Paris 1930 – St. Germain-en-Laye 1999).

[E.2.2.2] René MODIANO (Thessaloniki 1910 - Paris 2001).

[E.3] Lazaro MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1855 – 1920) + Valentine FERNANDEZ . [Married inThessaloniki on 5/10/1887] .

[E.3.1] Georges MISRACHI (Thessaloniki un.d. - Paris un.d.).

[E.4] Enrico (Henri) MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1850 - Paris 1933) + Sylvia FERNANDEZ-DIAZ (Thessaloniki 3/3/1870 - Milan 28/4/1954) (see [E.1.3]).

[E.4.1] Renzo MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1900 - Milan 1969) + Emma LUZZATI

[E.4.1.1] Sylvia MISRACHI (Milan 1900 - Milan 2002).

[E.4.1.2] Unidentified MISRACHI.

[E.4.1.3] Lucianna MISRACHI (Milan 1932 - Torino 1961).

[E.4.2] Lodovico MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1892 – 1944) + Emma YARACH.

[E.4.2.1] (Unknown name) MISRACHI.

[E.4.2.2] Georgina MISRACHI (Milan 1927 - Milan 1999).

[E.4.2.3] Federico MISRACHI (Milan 1929 - Milan 1996).

[E.4.3] Alice MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 6/4/1899 - Paris 24/12/1945) + Marc TIANO

[E.4.3.1] Sol Sylvia (Nina) TIANO (Lozanne 30/11/1912 - Paris 5/7/1998) + Albert AMAR.

[E.4.3.1.1] Michele , resident of Paris

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[E.4.3.1.2] Didier , resident of Paris

[E.4.3.2] Suzane (Mariane Rose) TIANO (Lozanne 27/4/1915 - Sorens 18/11/1970) + Jules de TOLEDO.

[E.4.3.2.1] Bertrand.

[E.5] Albert MISRACHI (Thessaloniki 1864 + Paris 1940) + Lucie FERNANDEZ (un.d. - Auschwitz 1943).

[E.5.1] René MISRACHI (1904 - Paris 1992).

[E.5.2] Paul MISRACHI (Istanbul 21/1/1908 - Paris 29/10/1998).

[E.5.3] Denise MISRACHI (1904 - Paris 1992) + Pierre CORBORAND.

SIXTH CHILD

Salomon ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1825 - Marseille 10/8/1892) +

Sophie MORO (un.d. - 1876)

[F.1] Frederic ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1853 – Thessaloniki 1865) .

[F.2] Guido ALLATINI (Thessaloniki 1862 - Marseille 1920) + Alice LUMBROSO (1860 - Marseille 12/1896) [Married in Marseille, 12/4/1883].

[F.2.1] Olga ALLATINI (un.d. - Geneve 1959) + Robert FRAENCKEL (Elbeuf 18/11/1880 - Caudebec-les-Elbeuf 17/11/1946).

[F.2.1.1] Alice ALLATINI (Elbeuf 14/2/1908 - Elbeuf 14/2/1908).

[F.2.2] André ALLATINI (un.d. - Marseille 1950).

[F.2.2.1] Guido ALLATINI.

[F.2.3] Dora ALLATINI + (un.d.) SPIRA

[F.3] Anna ALLATINI (Livorno 1/8/1857 - un.d.) + Achilles BLOCH (Strasburg 31/10/1847 - Paris 1927) [Married in Marseille on 20/8/1876].

[F.3.1] Gilda BLOCH + (un.d.) SCHWAB

[F.3.2] Sophie BLOCH + Moise Maurice ALLATINI (see [Α.1.4])

[F.4] Adèle Sarah ALLATINI + Alfredo ALLATINI (see [D.1])

SEVENTH CHILD

Rosa (Mosa) ALLATINI (un.d. - Thessaloniki 12/3/1879) +

Moise FERNANDEZ.

[Ζ.1] Elise FERNANDEZ (Thessaloniki 4/8/1840 - Paris 18/6/1910) + Nissim de CAMONDO (Istanbul 10/9/1830 - Paris 27/1/1889) [Married in Istanbul on 20/2/1855].

[Ζ.1.1] Moise CAMONDO (Istanbul 26/2/1860 - Paris 14/11/1935) + Irène CAHEN D’ ANVERS (Bougiva 20/9/1872 - Paris 25/11/1963) [Married in Paris on 14/10/1891

– Devorced on 8/1/1902].

[Ζ.1.1.1] Nissim CAMONDO (Boulogne Villancourt 23/7/1892 – 5/9/1917)

[Ζ.1.1.2] Beatrice CAMONDO (Paris 9/7/1894 – Auschwitz 4/1/1945) + Leon REINACH (Paris 24/5/1893 – Auschwitz 12/5/1944) [Married in Paris on

10/3/1919 – divorced on 26/10/1942].

[Ζ.1.1.2.1] Fanny (Paris 26/7/1920- Auschwitz 31/12/1943)

[Ζ.1.1.2.2] Bertrand (Paris 1/7/1923-Birkenau 15/4/1944).

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The Morpurgo family

As early as 1732 a David Morpurgo appears in the official reports of

the Venetian Consulate in Thessaloniki, as a leading personality of

the Jewish community of the city and a protégée of France. He

exported tobacco, and later cotton and wool to Ancona or Venice,

even in the mid-18th century. Perhaps he was the grand father or

even the father of Anna’s father. There is no doubt that Anna

Morpurgo was a member of a rich family. Her father, David, was a

protégée of Spain. Their ancestors came from Marburg, Hesse; in

15th century they took shelter in Friuli, an area of north-eastern

Italy, because of the anti-Jewish persecution in Hesse. Based in

Friuli, the Morpurgo established a branch of their company in

Thessaloniki in the early 18th century and for a long time they

enjoyed French and Dutch diplomatic protection for their com-

merce. They bought the wool from the Jewish merchants of the city

and exported it to Italy and France. They became dominant in the

market because they did not hesitate to pay higher prices than their

competitors and by the middle of the 18th century they had accu-

mulated enough capital to be envied by all the members of the

French community in Thessaloniki.

Rachelle, Darius’ elder sister, was also married to a member of the

Morpurgo family, namely Moise Morpurgo, who was perhaps the

brother of her mother. Her grandson was Moise Morpurgo Jr.

(1860-1939), who was to serve as CEO of the Société Anonyme

Industrielle et Commerciale, the main company of the Allatini family.

Fratelli Allatini

Lazaro, David Darius’ father, a prosperous and respectable

Thessalonian, died in 1834. His elder son, Moise, who had studied

medicine at Pisa and Florence University, succeeded him in the lead-

ership the family business.

As Edgar Morin writes:

[Moise Allatini] "was a man who reached maturity in Italy at a time

when 18th-century Enlightenment had been absorbed by the cultured

bourgeoisie, when the ideas responsible for the French Revolution were

fermenting among the students, when the ancient regime had been sup-

planted by the Napoleonic Empire (...) His father’s death in 1834

brought him to Thessaloniki to run the family business (...) [he] brought

the industrial revolution in Thessaloniki when he set up the Allatini

mills, and later a brickworks, a brewery and a tobacco factory. At the

same time he opened the doors to the cultural revolution...”.

Moise, son of Lazaro Allatini, became a legend of Thessaloniki’s

modern history, not only for his entrepreneurial achievements, but

also for his social activities. The modern school system and charita-

ble organizations in Thessaloniki were closely linked to Moise

Allatini and Fratelli Allatini, as the family business was known.

Fratelli Allatini (Moise, David-Darius and their younger brother

Salomon, with their brothers-in-law) formed branches in European

commercial centres and built a commercial network in a continental

scale.

Marseille

The Allatini were grain exporters and ship-owners. Working in co-

operation with the Modiano, by the 1830s they already possessed a

good place in the grain market of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Marseille had always been a very important commercial port in the

�10

East. In the 1830s many changes occurred, which permitted a closer

relation between the merchants of Thessaloniki and those of

Marseille. As E. Salvador, an old historian, comments:

Jusqu’en 1835, Marseille pouvait encore être regardée comme l’unique

métropole des échelles; nous avons vu qu’aucun négociant ne pouvait s’y

établir sans l’autorisation de sa Chambre de commerce. Des motifs pui-

sés dans de justes principes de centralisation, du droit de gens, d’égalité

et de liberté commerciales, des changements survenus dans l’état politique

de la Porte, tout c’est réuni pour renverser, en 1835, ce régime excep-

tionnel et sans exemple à notre époque ; la plupart des dispositions

anciennes sont tombées peu a peu en désuétude; il n’a plus été nécessai-

re d’obtenir une autorisation et de fournir un cautionnement pour entre-

prendre le commerce des échelles.

These changes pushed Allatini to establish a branch of their compa-

ny in Marseille. This branch flourished for many years following its

establishment. Even in the early 20th century, Allatini of Marseille

was a prosperous company with activities in the Far East. The rep-

resentative of the company was a member of the family, Achilles

Bloch, who will come up again in our story.

David Darius in Marseille

By the age of twenty, in 1840, David Darius had become active in the

family business.

After taking care of the London branch for some years, Darius

David was sent by his family to Marseille in 1849, as the director of

the local branch of the family business, under the firm of “Allatini

Marseille”.

The Marseillaise

Many other members of the family lived in Marseille. It seems that a

whole branch of the Allatini was transplanted in this city. During the

period 1865-1899, 7 births, 6 marriages and 4 funerals of Allatini

family members took place in Marseille, let alone in other French

cities. For comparison’s sake, only 3 Allatini births took place in

London at the same period. David Darius Allatini was the head of

the Marseille branch of the family.

Dr Moise Allatini: The condition of the Jews in

Salonika (1856)1

The Israelites of Salonika are, for the most part, of Spanish descent; they left

the land of their birth in the year 1492, the victims of the cruel edict, which pro-

claimed their expulsion, in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Most of them

retired to the East; a small number of them settled at Salonika.

Sultan Bajazit, the son of Mehemet, who was reigning at this time, promised

them full freedom of worship. Moreover, Jewish families had already taken up

their abode at Salonika, in consequence of the security which they enjoyed.

The surest proof of their Spanish descent is the general use of the Spanish lan-

guage amongst them, which is spoken with an accent peculiar to the Jews, and very

much corrupted, as no study is bestowed upon it. Their mode of writing it is still

more corrupt, so that it affords them little assistance in commercial affairs. The

1 “By means of Mr. Filek, an attaché to the consular agency at Salonika, whose acquaintance I

had made during the voyage to Greece, I addressed a series of questions to Dr. Allatini, of

Salonika, who, in the most friendly manner, furnished me with the following statement in reply. In

compliance with his request, I insert a translation of this communication, which was written in the

Italian language”. (P. Beaton, The Jews in the East, vol. 1, London 1859, 188-201). Beaton visited

Thessaloniki in 1856.

Jewish youth are not accustomed to any kind of study; the most that the boys

learn is Hebrew, but it also is acquired with a very bad accent, and in such an

antiquated way, that most of them learn little else than the mechanical reading

of the daily prayers. They only learn as much arithmetic as is indispensably nec-

essary for the management of their affairs. It is an extremely rare case for a Jew

to think of reading a book, unless he be an aspirant to the office of Rabbi.

It is all the more to be regretted, that the instruction of the Jewish youth is con-

fined within such narrow limits, not only here, but throughout the whole of the

East, inasmuch as the Jews themselves make no effort to master the Turkish lan-

guage. Thus, they are never in a position to enter into direct communication with

the great mass of the population, and are always regarded, in the land of their

birth, as a race that is merely tolerated and despised. Scarcely has the young

Israelite passed from childhood to youth, than he rushes into the whirlpool of pub-

lic life. Most of them devote themselves to commerce. Very few of them are

mechanics, and the few, that have learned trades, are very bad workmen. Many

lounge about idly in the streets, trusting to accident for support, and thus soon

lapse into a state of mendicity. When the Jew is endowed with more than ordi-

nary intelligence, he soon contrives, notwithstanding the defects in his early train-

ing, to acquire wealth here by his activity in business.

It is a singular circumstance among the trading classes in the East, no matter to

what religion they may belong, that fortunes are never transmitted to families by

inheritance. The cause of this deplorable state of things is to be found in the

small amount of security which is enjoyed under the Turkish law, and in the

despotic government. Individual families are plundered by the great; and commu-

nities by the pashas. Repeated outbreaks of pestilence, and frequent fires, aug-

ment the misery of the poor inhabitants. Always when ready to put forth their

energies again, they are visited by some fresh disaster.

The charter of the Gül Hane has tended in some measure to ameliorate this

deplorable state of affairs; already efforts are made in some Jewish families to

secure their property to their future heirs. Still, these cases are so very exception-

al, that the majority, who belong to the necessitous classes, live in the same mis-

erable condition as before.

Another circumstance, and perhaps the principal cause why the Levantine Jews

are never able to make any certain provision for their children, is to be found in

the fact that their children marry at a very early age. Young lads marry at 17 or

18, girls at 13 or 14 years of age. In this way, families are very numerous, and

one can easily conceive in what a miserable condition a man often is at his thirti-

eth year, who must not only support his own family, some 10 or 12 in number,

but receive into his house his sons who are already married, but not yet in a posi-

tion to provide for their wives and children. Oppressed by such heavy cares, the

Jewish merchant never enters into any new enterprise, or embarks on a journey;

he labors merely for the daily sum, that suffices for the wants of his numerous

family.

The women are unaccustomed to any kind of intercourse with society, and to

every species of labor. Married young, they are too soon overburdened with

�11

The old house of Allatini family in Francos area, pictured in a very rare postcard (Vassilis Mavromatis collection, Athens;

published by E Hekimoglou). This postcard is the only surviving document which dates the house: ERECTUM A FUNDA-

MENTIS ANNO MDCCCLXII [1862]. In the place of the "magnifico giardino" the Banque de Salonique sprung up in

1905. Both buildings survive. In the ottoman archives the street was named "Laten" even before 1862, an indication that

this had been the original place of the family.

domestic cares, worn out, often prematurely old and sick. Of late years, women

of the poorer class may be seen employed in weaving silk.

The laws of the Turkish Empire secure to its Jewish subjects the possession of

immovable property, and it may be said with certainty, that every Jewish family

is the proprietor of their own house. Yet their dwellings are so crowded together,

that their health suffers in consequence, and they have always suffered most dur-

ing the prevalence of any epidemic.

There are no husbandmen or gardeners amongst them; the reason of this may be,

that the Israelites always feel the necessity of living close together, and of not being

dispersed over the country.

A solitary village in our province contains the remains of a synagogue and of a

Jewish burying ground, though for years no Jew has been resident in this village.

A chronicle relates that the Jews, terrified by the great oppression to which they

were subjected, gradually removed to Salonika. A few years ago, a Jew, who pos-

sessed landed property, was not in a position to superintend or to manage it. We

hope that it will now be otherwise, but we regard the practice of agriculture by

Jews, as difficult, if not impossible.

The Israelites of Salonika use the Spanish ritual in their devotions; they have

twenty-seven synagogues, the largest of which bears the name of Talmud Tora.

But it must be observed, that there are still two synagogues, which use the Italian

and German rituals, and, judging by the date of their erection, these are the old-

est.

There are no Karaites, or other sects, but many Krypto Hebrews, followers of

Sabatai Zewi; they are named Mimim in the land of “Mamini”, because they

are professedly attached to Mohammedanism. They form a peculiar caste, and are

equally distinct from the Jews and the Turks. They practice openly the rites of

Islamism; still, they themselves confess that they form a peculiar sect. The

Government does not recognize them as such, and treats them as Mussulmans,

and admits them to the enjoyment of the same rights.

This sect again is divided into three different communities, which mutually hate

and despise one another, in a manner which it is difficult to account for.

They only intermarry with one another, and each sect with its own members; they

never contract marriages with real Mohammedans. The misery of early mar-

riages, to which we have already alluded, is most clearly perceptible among them;

the race is visibly dying out; scrofula, rickets, and all kinds of hereditary diseases

are prevalent amongst them.

Two of these sects are distinguished by their names; they call themselves

Cavaglieros and Cognos, probably after their founders. It is known that one of

�12

The Yeni Djami, 1902. Designed by the architect V. Poselli, built by the Donme.

�13

these two sects continues to read the Jewish books, but professes great respect for

the book of Zoar.

I cannot say much about the peculiar customs of the Minim, because they strict-

ly conceal their religious mysteries, and, from fear that they may be surprised into

the disclosure of any of them, they abstain from wine to such an extent, that they

never drink water from a vessel, when they suspect that it may possibly have con-

tained some spirituous liquor. They never answer any question regarding their cir-

cumstances or forms of worship. It is asserted that a Min, who, some years ago,

had betrayed one of their secrets, was put to death by his sect.

Besides the Jews, who are Turkish subjects, there are many from other lands, who

have placed themselves under the protection of their different consuls. The greater

number of these foreign Jews is known here by the name of Franks. They differ

little in their manners and customs from those born in the country, and only a

few families send their children to France or Italy to be educated. There are tutors

in some families, but such cases are extremely rare.

All the leading members of the community have a vote in the election of the

Rabbis. The oldest and most learned Rabbi, who has given proofs of his religious

knowledge, is usually elected. A preference is usually shown for those, whose fore-

fathers were Rabbis of distinction. When several, from their knowledge and

influence, have an equal claim, four or five Head Rabbis are often chosen, the

oldest of whom has the preeminence, while the duties of the office are transferred

to the one best qualified. The community asks and receives in the name of the

eldest, through the Head Rabbi at Constantinople, the right of investiture from

the Turkish Porte, in virtue of which the newly elected Rabbi is recognized as

spiritual head of the Israelites at Salonika.

His jurisdiction only extends to the Jews of this city and to the communities of

Seres Beolila [Bitola] and Donau [?] Scopia, and, more recently, Larissa,

Tricala, and Janina, have been included in it. The authority of the Head Rabbi

is very extensive; he has the right to pronounce sentence of punishment on both

the soul and the body, if he has given previous intimation to the authorities, who

carry it into execution. The Head Rabbi receives no fees from the community; his

position, therefore, is not very splendid, so that he cannot support the external

dignity of his office. He has no particular voice in the government of the com-

munity, but, in compensation, he presides over it and over all the rabbinical courts

of justice, and all difficult and intricate questions must be submitted to him.

There are four Rabbinical courts:—

-One for watching over and protecting the interests of widows and orphans.

-One for deciding differences in civil and commercial affairs.

-One for the management of immovable property; this institution is perfectly use-

less, as the authorities alone draw up the title-deeds, and in cases of dispute the

decisions of the Rabbis have no effect.

-Lastly, one for religious questions and matters of conscience.

Besides these four institutions, there are others of less importance, which attend

to the ordinances of religion; disputes between husband and wife; the inspection

Talmud Torah Hagadol synagogue, originally established in 1520.

�14

of meat exposed for sale, &c.

Besides these ecclesiastical courts, there is another, composed of five presidents,

who are chosen annually, and who transact all kinds of business with the

Government, and give counsel on local and general affairs, under the presidency

of the Head Rabbi.

There is no book of taxes kept by the Government of the community. The one

which is submitted to the Turkish Government is not correct, as the Jews, from

their dread of oppression, always conceal their numbers. It cannot therefore be

stated with certainty whether there are more or less than 3,500 families, with

16,000 Jewish subjects of Turkey, in Salonika. They have hitherto been looked

upon by the Ottoman Government as merely a mass of men from whom a cer-

tain tax had to be raised, and for the payment of which the Israelitish commu-

nity was held responsible.

Every three years, a committee of four or five men is chosen, whose duty it is to

regulate the taxes to be levied on the members of the Jewish community, accord-

ing to their means. If the tax is too high for the means of a family, the com-

plainant must confirm this by an oath; such a case, however, rarely occurs.

The community levies a tax chiefly on articles of consumption, as meat, wine, and

other comestibles; it derives also certain fees from marriages, births, deaths, and

legacies. While it takes advantage of these, it tries to levy direct taxes on indi-

viduals as little as possible, and the collection of these is always very unpopular.

The poll-tax was formerly levied by the Government, which, in return, paid for

the support of the Rabbis, of the different office-bearers, and of the poor and

sick. This regulation was a very good one, inasmuch as the office-bearers and

employees of the community were more independent of it, and treated with greater

respect. Still there resulted an immense expenditure, from want of order, and ill-

kept books, which could neither be checked nor punished. Since the alteration in

the system of expenditure and the abolition of the former regulation, certain indi-

viduals represent the mass on which the taxes are leviable.

There is a fixed tax on immovable property; every proprietor, whether he be a

Greek, a Turk, or a Jew, escapes as a landed proprietor, while the Jewish com-

munity is responsible to the Government, for the present, and for all future time.

This responsibility rests upon a previous liability, which amounted to 50,000

francs. When the system of taxes was changed, the community tried to get this

ancient liability examined afresh, and thus to ameliorate their own condition; but

this attempt met with little favor, and the community now owes a sum of

100,000 francs to some private individuals.

The feeling of benevolence is active enough. A great deal is done for the sick and

the poor, but yet, even in this, there is a great want of system. The distribution

of alms is very unjust, and idleness often meets with a larger amount of support

than real helpless poverty.

With regard to learned men at Salonika, without alluding to those of past

celebrity, I must mention in terms of laudation Rabbi Ascher Covo, who is now

[still] alive. He is a man of irreproachable character, and his biblical and tal-

Sabri Pasha Street (now Venizelos Streeet) in a photograph dated 1900; published by Prof. Enepekidis. The photograph

was taken looking northwards from a point near the Jewish Museum’s building.

mudical knowledge is at once profound and extensive. He is surrounded with

prudent and learned men, is anxious to introduce new regulations consistent with

the requirements of the community, and is supported in his endeavours by anoth-

er worthy Rabbi, Mr. Abraham Gattegno, who holds the office of president, in

the court for widows and orphans.

There is not a single man who cultivates literature or poetry, and it is matter of

regret that we possess neither historical works nor chronicles. It is affirmed that

there are many documents, as well as manuscripts, scattered about, from which

more minute information might be derived; but I have never seen any of them.

After this statement of the circumstances of the Jews at Salonika, it only

remains for me to answer a few of your questions:—

Whether the Jews alone have fallen into such moral degradation, and what dif-

ference is perceptible between them and the Turkish and Greek communities?

What are the causes that have brought about and still keep them in their pres-

ent deplorable condition?

What steps are necessary to effect an improvement?

In general, the Turk has not advanced with the spirit of the times more than the

Jew. I speak here of the whole nation, and not of isolated individuals; so that,

so far as concerns moral progress, there is no perceptible difference between them.

A short time ago, the Greek raja was in the same deplorable condition; but the

Greek revolution had a beneficial effect on the Christians of the Turkish

Empire. The proximity of Greece is of the grea test advantage to the young men

desi rous of learning, who are sent there for their education. The Gree ks, scat-

tered over the whole of Europe, have found a central point of union, and sup-

port their brethren, who are subject to the Turkish Government. They send money

for the erection of schools; they encourage and aid their co-religionists, and, with-

in twenty years, can point to splendid results. The Greeks, born in this country,

travel, acquire knowledge in foreign lands, and then introduce improvements at

home, erect schools, and thus make progress in civilization. In point of intellect,

the Greek is superior both to the Jew and the Turk.

The chief cause of the miserable condition of the Jews is to be found in the hos-

tile spirit of the prevalent religion, and the hatred of the Government. There has

been a change in this feeling of late years. The recent regulations have been con-

ceived in a generous and liberal spirit; still, there will be great negligence in car-

rying them into execution, as events already prove. The Jew stands isolated and

unsupported; his existence is confined to the circle of his own family; he does not

feel the necessity of learning anything, while, if he remains ignorant, he is sur-

rounded on all sides with difficulties which discourage him.

Besides these causes, I find that the Jews, chiefly Franks, who find their way here,

possess only a superficial civilization. They propagate among the masses the belief,

that schools, instruction, reforms, are a desecration of religion, and thus there has

arisen, if not a feeling of hatred against western improvements, at least a feeling

of distrust, and a great amount of indifference. The improved circumstances of

the Jews of Salonika within a recent date, as well as their extensive business,

have induced the necessity of imparting a higher education to the young men.

Although the parents are very indifferent about the education of their children,

and very parsimonious in meeting the necessary expense, the advantages of an

improved education are already evident. The children are far in advance of their

parents in the transaction of business, and in their knowledge of religion. They

shew that men may cast aside superstitious customs without becoming atheists.

They are treated with consideration, and even the Rabbis are not unkindly dis-

posed to them.

The line of demarcation, which formerly separated the native from the foreign

Jews, has grown less clearly defined of late years, and though the foreign Jews are

not obliged to contribute to the expenses of the community, they have themselves

set aside a sum for the relief of the poor.

The Head Rabbi of Constantinople, encouraged by the presence of Baron

Rothschild, published rules for schools, and improvements for the metropolis and

the provinces. Constantinople has already a French Israelitish school, which owes

its existence to Mr. Albert Cohen, and meets all the requirements of that great

city.

The Imperial Hat Humayoun has bestowed equal civil rights on all religious

�15

sects, and good results are already evident. The desire for schools is becoming per-

ceptible, the system of instruction in Hebrew has been much improved, and the

youth will soon be instructed in the Turkish as well as the French language.

Other cities in the empire will, I hope, not remain behind; and thus we may

indulge the expectation that we have made a great step in advance.

Still, it is necessary to strengthen and encourage the desire of knowledge which

has been thus fortunately excited. What a splendid example has been presented

by the families Montefiore and Rothschild; what activity and self-denial by Mr.

Albert Cohen and you, in furnishing your contribution in the name of Madam

Herz Lämel! How anxious Mr. Phillipson was to stir up the Jews to benevolent

undertakings for the benefit of the holy city by means of his journal! It is not the

fault of the unfortunate Israelites of the East, as we have here shown, that they

have fallen so low. To enable them to work their way out of their present miser-

able state of degradation, they require material and moral support, so that this

depressed race may no longer be heard saying; “We cannot, because we have not

the means.” I do not mean that they must be assisted with alms; moral support

is much more necessary; contributions for the general good, instead of benefits con-

ferred on particular individuals.

It were desirable, also, that travelers of talent and energy should direct their

attention to us—examine into our circumstances—encourage the Rabbis, and

give an impulse to the population.

In reply to your questions, I have described the sufferings of my brethren, and

pointed out the sources from which assistance may flow to them. Perhaps you may

succeed some day in bringing about a reform among our co-religionists. I author-

ize and request you to publish my report in the journals, or in any other way

which you may deem most suitable for attaining the object which you have in view.

1857: The mill in Thessaloniki

The Allatinis’ profitable commercial relations with France, through

their Marseille branch, gave them the opportunity to attract invest-

ments in Thessaloniki. In France, Darblay Company possessed a

number of flour mills, which worked with the so-called “Darblay

system”. In the mid-19th century this company established mills

abroad, especially in places where it bought grain from, including

Thessaloniki.

Alain Plesis gives some information about Darblay and their joint

venture with Allatini in Thessaloniki:

“A partir de 1857 tout d’abord, Darblay père, fils et Béranger consti-

tuent avec les dirigeants de la maison Allatini et Modiano, de

Salonique, une société en nom collectif appelée Darblay jeune, Allatini

et Cie : cette société a pour « but d’améliorer et de développer en Turquie

l’industrie meunière » et pour objet immédiat « l’établissement et

l’exposition à Salonique d’un moulin à farine, mû par la vapeur, devant

renfermer 12 paires de meules », et destiné à fonctionner selon « le sys-

tème Darblay ». Le capital de 500.000 F, qui sera augmenté si néces-

saire de 200.000 F, est fourni à raison de 325.000 F par le groupe

Darblay, et de 175.000 F par les associés de Salonique, qui compren-

dront dans cette somme le firman du gouvernement ottomane autorisent

la construction du moulin et le terrain nécessaire à sa construction. Mais

les associés ne disposent pas de pouvoir égaux : il est bien précise que

Darblay jeune aura toujours le dernier mot …»

The three brothers, Moise, Darius and Salomon, “Fratelli Allatini”

participated in this company, on behalf of the family.

David Darius marriage

A year before settling in France, David Darius married Hanna

Armine (Annina) Moise Fernandez. Hanna was born in Thessaloniki

in 1829. The Fernandez were also a Franco family from Livorno,

�16

who were commercially active in Thessaloniki by 1730. They became

rich merchants exporting coal, grain and salt. They were also well

known tax farmers. In the Ottoman Empire tax farming was an

entrepreneurial activity which supported export commerce.

Darius sister Bienvenuta was married to a relative of Hanna, named

Salomon Fernandez (1811-1894). The ties between the Allatini and

the Fernanez families became even closer in the next generation; one

of Darius’ nephews, Carlo, son of Moise Allatini (1851-1910), was

set to marry to the daughter of Salomon Fernandez and Bienvenuta

Allatini, Ida Fernandez.

The children of David Darius and Armine

Allatini

David Darius Allatini and Armine Fernandez had five children. (a)

Edward, who was born in Thessaloniki in 1847; (b) Alfred, who was

born in Thessaloniki in 1849; (c) Beatrice, who was born in 1856; (d)

Noémie, who was born in Thessaloniki in 1860; (e) Sophie, who was

born in Marseille in 1868.

A decree for David Darius Allatini

In 1866 an official decree was issued by the French Government, by

which permission was given to David Darius Allatini and his family

to continue residing in Marseille and enjoy civil rights.

Although there are indications that David Darius Allatini’s family

lived in France since 1849, there are also indications that they had

lived for some time in Thessaloniki, where some of their children

were born.

Marriages

With the exception of Noemie, Darius and Armine married off all

their children to the children of Moise and Salomon, Darius’ broth-

ers. (1) Beatrice married her cousin Hugo. They were both born in

Thessaloniki. The couple settled in London, on Holland Park

Avenue. Beatrice died at a young age, leaving her husband with two

baby daughters. (2) Mathilde, the second daughter of Darius, mar-

ried Emile, son of Moise, a civil engineer. They were both born in

Thessaloniki and lived in Paris; there is no record of offspring. (3)

Edward, son of Darius, married Annete, daughter of Moise. They

were both born in Thessaloniki and they made their home on

Holland Park Avenue, London, where Edward ran a branch of the

family company dealing with tobacco commerce. The couple had

�17

Villa Allatini. It was built in 1888 as the summer residence of the Allatini family.

four children. (4) Alfred, son of Darius, married Adele-Sarah, daugh-

ter of Salomon. The couple set up house in Thessaloniki, where

Alfred ran the family’s mill; they had two daughters.

Noémie gets married

On September 17, 1878, at the age of 18,

Noémie, the third child of David Darius

and Armine Allatini got married to

Adolph Bloch, a 33 year old doctor from

Strasbourg, resident of Paris, son of the

banker Luis Bloch.

Adolph Bloch was a distinguished scholar,

who published a number of medical and

scientific studies in international maga-

zines.

The wedding took place in Marseille. The

bride’s parents were present and signed

the marriage certificate. According to the

same document, the groom’s parents were not alive.

Another Bloch relative married to Allatini

There was another member of the Allatini family who was married

to a Bloch. She was Darius niece, Anna Allatini, the daughter of

Salomon, who at the age of 19 became the wife of Achilles Bloch of

Strasbourg. The marriage took place in Marseille on August 20, 1876,

i.e. two years before Noémie’s wedding in the same city. Achilles

Bloch was the brother of Dr Adolph Bloch, Noémie’s husband.

Hence, the two cousins, Noémie and Anna from Thessaloniki, mar-

ried two brothers from Strasbourg and lived in Marseille.

Alliance Israélite Universelle, 1862

The Bulletin of Alliance Israélite Universelle, published in 1862,

includes a list of subscriptions collected in Thessaloniki, for the pur-

poses of Alliance. The Allatini brothers and their brothers-in-law,

Salomon Fernandez and Abraham Misrachi, topped the list. In

Marseille, Alfred and Edward Allatini were also mentioned in the

same Bulletin, as the only members of the local committee. In

Mouriès, France, the representative of Alliance was their cousin,

David Milhaud.

Allatini established the local branch of Alliance

Israélite Universelle

Aron Rodrigue wrote that “Now here the work of Alliance Israélite

Universelle was more successful than in Salonika. It was supported

and facilitated by the presence in the city of a significant group of

Francos (…). By the nineteenth century families as the Allatini,

Fernandez and Modiano were some of the most successful entre-

preneurs in Salonika. In touch with developments in Western

Europe, intermediaries for and partners of Jewish economic inter-

ests there, they were the first to realize the significance of the grow-

ing economic presence in the Ottoman Levant of modern European

capitalism. The Anglo-Ottoman trade convention of 1838 opened

local markets to finished manufactured products of the rapidly

industrializing West. Port cities in the Eastern Mediterranean grew

�18

The bust of Moise Allatini.

(Allatini S.A. Archive).

�19

quickly in this period, which also saw the increased use of steamboat

after the Crimean War. The ability to speak French, the lingua fran-

ca of trade and commerce, became an increasingly desirable skill.

And the Francos spearheaded efforts to teach through Western-style

education. Franco notables, such as the bankers and industrialists

Moise Allatini and Salomon Fernandez [note: Moise’s and Darius’s

brother in law], working closely with the modernizer Judah Nehama,

opened new schools in Salonika even before the arrival of the

Alliance Israélite Universelle. The Kupat Hesed Olam (Mutual Welfare

Fund), a society that taxed Jewish merchants on the transactions in

order to reform community institutions, was founded in 1853 under

the sponsorship of Moise Allatini. In 1856 this body brought a

young rabbi from Strasbourg to reform the central educational insti-

tution in Salonika, the great Talmud Torah, and to give evening class-

es in foreign languages and arithmetic; this effort lasted for five years

and ended in failure, because of rabbinical opposition. Still the seeds

of change had been planted”.

The reason Allatini wanted to reform the educational system is clear-

ly illustrated in the narrative of a British missioner, who visited

Thessaloniki in 1836: “Where shall I find words to express our feel-

ings on visiting the great school of Jews? As we draw near the street

where it is, the distant muttering, growling, and screaming which

proceed from its black walls, beat upon our ears. We arrived. It was

a square building, with a yard in the centre; in fact it was a Turkish

han, with two stories high. The children were arranged in circles

around their monitors or teachers, below in the yard, in the various

nooks and corners of the building; and upstairs they were again seat-

ed, mostly in the corridor, but some in other rooms. To give an accu-

rate description of it, would be equally difficult and unedifying.

Think of one thousand children arranged in different classes, and

some twenty teachers, beating upon benches and tables, where there

were any such, and both teachers and scholars screaming and roar-

ing out according to their several abilities, the syllables, words, or

sentences, which composed their respective tasks (…) some travelers

have called it a high school, probably because the Talmud is studied

in some of the classes upstairs. But they are entirely mistaken (…).

The teachers were beating and caning the boys (…)”.

“The Francos established an Italian school in 1862”, according to

Rodrigue, “and in 1874 an Alliance school opened in Thessaloniki”.

By 1912 Alliance’s graduates counted among their ranks the majori-

ty of the principal Jewish merchants and financiers in Thessaloniki.

Allatini, Misrachi, Morpurgo and Fernandez were members of the

Alliance Committee at Thessaloniki.

Allatini College (Alliance), Aristotelous Square. (Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki)

1878: A factory for the sick in Thessaloniki

Allatini were proprietors of a silk factory, located in an area in the

suburbs of Thessaloniki, which nowadays is called Pylaia. As in 1878

Thessaloniki was stricken by ty phus, Allatini disposed the factory to

the ill people, in order to keep them away from the local population

and stop the spreading of the disease. This is only one of dozens of

acts of charity, characteristic of the members of the family.

The family of Adolph Bloch and Noémie Allatini

in Marseille

In 1879 Adolph and Noémie had their first child, Jules André Albert.

The next year Noémie lost her sister Beatrice; she was married to her

cousin Hugo Allatini, Darius’ nephew. She died in Marseille at the

age of 24, while giving birth. In 1882 Adolph and Noémie had their

second child, Darius Paul, who was to become a general of the

French army. In 1886 they had their third child, René. The following

year Darius died in Marseille, at the age of 66. Four years later,

Adolph and Noémie had their third son, Marcel, for whom more

details will follow. In 1897 Noémie lost her mother, Armine, who

died at the age of 68, like her husband.

Noémie lived until 1928. She passed away in Neilly-sur-Seine at the

age of 68, like her mother and father.

Suppliers of the British Campaign in Egypt

The British campaign in Egypt in 1882 fought to restore the posi-

tion of Egypt’s rightful ruler, the Khedive. Allatini Brothers were the

�20

A list of the share-holders of Société Anonyme.

(Allatini S.A. Archive; published by E Kaplitzoglou).

suppliers of the British Army in firewood, hay and barley. Both the

branches of London and Thessaloniki were involved. The head of

the London office was Lazaro Allatini (1839-1918), who wired to the

Thessaloniki branch “to buy 200 tons of hay at 8 l. per ton cost

freight and insurance to an Egyptian port in the Mediterranean, if

the shipment can be made in six weeks (…) We have also instructed

them to buy 750 tons firewood, at 9 s. per ton, free on board, in small

ports in the neighborhood of Salonika, provided the goods can be

shipped within five weeks (…) Our Salonika firm has wired that they

could find mules for delivery within two months, of height from 4

feet to 4 feet nine, able to carry 336 lbs. (…) respecting barley and

flour, we refer you to what we have already stated to you…”. [Extract

from a letter from Allatini Brothers, Crown Court, Old Broad Street,

London, to Director of Army Contracts, dated 29th July 1882]. Since

1883, the address of Allatini Brothers was Ladenhall-chambers, St.

Mary axe.

The Allatini had bought from the Ottoman state the rights to pos-

sess and exploit the forests on Mount Olympus, so they had ade-

quate quantities of firewood at their disposal, even for the needs of

a campaign. By selling large quantities of Macedonian goods to the

British Army and using their own commercial fleet, Allatini Brothers

made large profits during the British Campaign in Egypt. These

profits were properly invested in the following years.

The brickworks factory in Thessaloniki (1882)

In 1882 the Allatini brothers expanded their business in tile and brick

production establishing a factory of the kind. The city was expand-

ing and these goods were in great demand. Until 1882 tiles and bricks

were hand-made and there was no factory for this kind of produc-

tion. In 1883 a fire in Kari Pazar, a central business district destroyed

a number of shops and houses, favoring a high turnover for the new

factory.

By 1888, the construction business in Thessaloniki became very

active, as the British Consul stated in his yearly report. “All new

buildings consist largely of perforated bricks, manufactured here,

and which are of a very good quality”. Many buildings and works

sprung up at the western and eastern ends of the city.

In 1890 a destructive fire burned the city. “A strong northerly wind

fanned the flames, which spread in all directions, and completely baf-

fled all efforts of the various insurance and municipal fire brigades.

The quarter attacked was mainly inhabited by Jewish families, and the

firemen felt compelled to abandon the pumps in order to secure the

safety of their own families and of their own effects as far as possi-

ble”. The fire burnt down a part of the most densely populated part

of the town and increased very much the demand for bricks. Many

more fires took place in the following years; apart from the local con-

sumption, the Allatini factory exported a great deal of its produc-

tion; by 1910 1.9 million tiles and 933,000 bricks were exported, i.e.

30 per cent of the annual production.

Insurance

The area bounded by Athens to the west and Smyrna (Izmir) or

Alexandria to the east was an important one for the large insurers of

the late nineteenth century. British insurance companies increased

their market share thanks to their close relations with the Allatini

family. Since the last quarter of the nineteenth century, prosperous

members of the family became agents of insurance companies. In

1882 the Northern of London authorized some Fernandez and

�21

Misrachi as its agents in Thessaloniki. A little later the North British

and Mercantile authorized Moise D. Morpurgo the well-known phi-

lanthropist. The North British underwrote the risks of the Société

Anonyme Ottomane Industrielle, i.e. the Allatini-owned flour mill

and brickworks, which were the biggest factories in Thessaloniki.

1882 Allatini Han

In 1882 Allatini Brothers erected a commercial building in

Thessaloniki, which was known as the ’Allatini Han’. The plot was

almost 550 sq. m. and the building was registered as “multi-storey”

one, for office and commercial use. It was the first modern com-

mercial building in Thessaloniki. The Allatini Han was located in the

Francos’ area, between the family house and the central road of the

city (nowadays called Egnatia Street).

The mill in Thessaloniki

The following year Allatini Brothers bought Darblay’s and Modiano’s

shares in the mill of Thessaloniki, the largest factory in the area. The

1890 official pamphlet (“salname”) of the vilayet (district) of

Thessaloniki reads as follows: “There are 27 factories and about 500

mills, which produce flour in our vilayet. The most important flour

mill in Thessaloniki is that owned by Allatini, with 250 workers.

Because this seven-floor factory is powered by electricity, it may

work even at night. This factory exports most of its products out of

our vilayet”.

One of David-Darius sons, Alfred, became after his studies in Italy

the director of the mill. He was respected for his philanthropic activ-

ities and was decorated by both the Ottoman and the Greek gov-

ernment.

In August 1898, a disaster occurred. The newspaper Les Temps (Paris),

August 16th 1898, reads as follows:

Les moulins de la maison Allatini frères, de Salonique, le plus grand

établissement de ce genre dans tout l’Orient, a été la proie des flammes.

Ce grand établissement, situé sur la côte orientale du golfe de Salonique,

à droite de l’entrée de la rade, et qui pendant près de quarante ans a ali-

menté les provinces environnantes, produisant tous les jours 80,000

ocques de farine, a été détruit complètement en trois heures. Il est impos-

sible d’estimer en ce moment les pertes matérielles. Le tiers seul des mar-

chandises entreposées a été sauvé. La somme totale pour laquelle les com-

pagnies d’assurances sont intéressées atteint 117,000 livres turques. Les

marchandises en dépôt consistaient en 250,000 kilogrammes de blé et

8,000 sacs de farine.

The erection of a new factory in the same plot was finished by the

summer of 1900. On September 19, 1900 the inauguration ceremo-

�22

The Allatini mill

ny of the new factory took place. According to the accounting books

of the company (1904) the value of the plot and the mill was esti-

mated at 6,5 million gold francs, while the cost of the reconstruction

amounted to 4,1 million.

Favorable conditions for the mill

Since 1887, the ever-increasing competition of American and Indian

grain made it impossible to export the local harvests, “owing, on the

one hand, to the low prices of the market, and, on the other hand,

to the tariffs of Salonika railway, which are still enormously high, in

spite of the recent reduction” (quoted by a British report). Local

grain was consumed in The- ssaloniki, a condition very favorable for

the mill of Allatini.

Banque de Salonique

Banque de Salonique was founded in 1888, as an Ottoman capital

shared company, with a capital of 2 million francs. The shareholders

were the banking office of Allatini Brothers, the Comptoir National

d’Escompte de Paris, the Banque des Pays Autrichiens and the

Banque de Pays Hongrois. Two successive increases of capital took

place in 1908 and 1910, with the participation of French and

Austrian banks and the Ottoman Bank respectively. The headquar-

ters of the bank, originally in Thessaloniki, were transferred in

Constantinople. The director general was a member of the Allatini

family, of the Misrachi branch.

The premises of Banque de Salonique in Thessaloniki were erected

in the garden of the family’s house, in the Francos area.

Besides their participation in Banque de Salonique, the Allatini

brothers kept their separate banking office in Thesaloniki, to facili-

tate the transactions of their companies.

Marcel Ferdinand Dassault

In the meantime, Marcel Ferdinand, son of Adolph and Noémie,

was born in Paris on January 22, 1892. He married Madeleine

Minckers and they had Serge, who was born in Paris in 1925. Marcel

was well known as an aircraft inventor and industrialist. During WW

II he was deported to Buchenwald. He changed his original surname

to Dassault, which was the pseudonym of one of his brothers,

General Darius Paul, in the French Resistance.

The “Londoners”Since 1860s, besides exporting Macedonian grain and tobacco to

England, the Allatini also imported grain from Ukraine into the

London market. By the 1870s, an extensive branch of the family,

shaped by intermarriages between Lazaro’s and Darius’s families,

appeared in London. The new couples made their homes at 18, 35

and 85, Holland Park Avenue.

The emblematic figure of this extended family was Lazaro. Married

to the offspring of an Italian family, named Emma Carolina Forti,

Lazaro developed strong connections with Italy, due to commercial

links as well as to charities for Italian philanthropic activities in

England. In 1893 he was elected President of the Italian Chamber in

London and in 1901 he was appointed Consul-General of Italy.

The other members of the family’s branch in London were Hugo

(Darius’s son-in-law) and Robert, both Lazaro’s brothers, as well as

�23

Edward, Lazaro’s nephew and son-in-law. From an entrepreneurial

point of view, these men were well known for their achievements in

tobacco trade and mine exploitation.

Like their relatives in Thessaloniki, the Allatini of London honored

themselves with various acts of charity. For example, they made

donations for the relief of the sufferers of the earthquakes in Chios

(1881), for homeless boys in London (1888), the victims of an explo-

sion in Antwerp (1889), the victims of the great fire in Thessaloniki

(1890), the relief of the sufferers by the fire at St. John’s,

Newfoundland (1892), the relief of the sufferers of the earthquakes

in Greece (1894), the Metropolitan Hospital (1895), the Seaside

Convalescent Hospital, Sussex (1896), the Italian Hospital in London

(1902), the relief of the sufferers of the earthquakes in Italy (1906)

e.tc.

The Commercial Company of Salonica

The Commercial Company of Salonica was founded in London in

1895, as a British joint stock company. The company exported

Macedonian tobacco to the London market. Lazaro Allatini, son of

Moise, was the chairman of the board of directors.

The Commercial Company of Salonica was involved in commercial

relations with “Fratelli Allatini in Salonika”. Both companies partic-

ipated in a third one, called “Salonika Cigarette Company”, through

which they paid advances to the growers and bought the Macedonian

tobacco crop. In 1906, Edward Allatini, son of Darius, participated

in the board of directors of the company; other directors were

Alfred Misrachi (an ancestor of Myriam Allatini), maître Emmanuel

Salem, Allatini’s famous lawyer in Constantinople, Charles (Carlo),

son of Moise Allatini, Isaac Fernandez, (son of Bienvenuta Allatini),

Moise Morpurgo (grand-son of Rachelle Allatini), Georges Allatini,

son of Lazaro and later Eric Allatini (son of Edward and grandson

of Darius) and Saul Amar, the banker.

African and Macedonian mines

By 1895 Allatini Brothers, represented by Robert, son of Moise, who

ran the office in London, were famous in that city not only as tobac-

co exporters, but also as the largest shareholders of the Eastern

Investment Company, a mining operation specialized in South

African mines.

In the vicinity of Thessaloniki, Allatini Brothers operated three

mines: an ore mine in Stratoni, Chalkidiki; a magnesite mine, in

Gerakini, Chalkidiki; and chrome mines, in areas nowadays belong-

ing to FYROM. In the 1920s, ownership of the later was transferred

to another company, the Allatini Mines.

Société Anonyme Industrielle & Commerciale de

Salonique

In 1900 none of the founders of the mother company “Allatini

Brothers”, i.e. Moise, Darius and Salomon, was alive anymore. That

year, their sons founded the Société Anonyme Industrielle &

Commerciale de Salonique. The largest shareholder was the mother

company, “Allatini Brothers”, which held three quarters of the

shares, the rest was owned by various female members of the fami-

ly. The assets of the Société Anonyme were 34 million francs in

1905, including the assets of the mill and the brickworks factory.

�24

Société Anonyme Ottoman d’Agriculture et

d’Amélioration Salonique

In 1906 Allatini Brothers founded another company Société

Immobilière, which dealt with the real estate owned by the family.

This firm was re-organized in 1907 under the title of Société

Anonyme Ottoman d’Agriculture et d’Amélioration Salonique. The

company had a capital of 2.3 million francs and owned large plots of

land at the eastern end of Thessaloniki, many of which were confis-

cated by the Greek state in the Mid-war period.

1911

The visitor of the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki may find only a

few points of interest for the “immortal Allatini”, who glorified their

city. By 1911 all the members of the Allatini family who resided in

Thessaloniki were Italian subjects. Because of the Ottoman-Italian

war which broke out in that year all remaining Allatini were obliged

to leave Thessaloniki. In fact, only few of them still resided in their

homeland. With the exception of M. Morpurgo, transactions per-

formed before 1911 were signed by proxies, not Allatini themselves,

an indication that the members of the family had moved abroad. In

1911, Allatini (and Modiano) were hastily expelled and a consequent

suspension of payments occurred in Thessaloniki. Their lawyer,

maitre Salem, a powerful statesman in Constantinople, visited Rome

for the purpose of securing Italian financial help for the bankers

Allatini and Modiano and called on the minister of foreign affairs

Julliani. As the newspapers wrote, Salem was accompanied by some

members of the Allatini family. Actually, as a report of a Greek bank

clarifies, the outstanding debts of the Allatini were not owed to local

merchants; they consisted of guarantees given by the Marseille

branch of Allatini on transactions carried out by Modiano Bank in

France. The situation of Modiano Bank was really serious and the

local market was put through it. Allatini Brothers, on its part, recov-

ered after some weeks. With the intervention of the Italian Prime

Minister, Giovanni Giolitti, the necessary credit was given to the

company by the Banca d’ Italia. The securities of the Allatini-owned

companies stood as a guarantee for the Modianos’ real estate prop-

erty. The crisis was overcome. As soon as May 1912, the firm spon-

sored the journey of a local Greek music band (“Orpheus”) from the

small town of Prosotsani to Drama, to give a concert.

Books written by Allatini family membersSome of the oldest known texts written by members of the Allatini fam-

ily during the 19th century were due to the restless mind of Moise

Allatini (1809-1882). The earliest text referred to the condition of the

Jews in Salonika (1856), and was published in 1859 by P. Beaton, The Jews

in the East, vol. 1, London 1859, pp. 188-201. The second text was enti-

tled “Delle misure sanitarie in Salonicco contro il cholera-morbus del

1865”, published in 1866. The third text was a short report on the con-

dition of the Jews in Iran (discovered and published by David

Yeroushalmi, The Jews of Iran in the nineteenth century, Brill 2009, pp. 38-39).

It was written in ca. 1876, in Moise’s capacity as president of AUI in

Thessaloniki. The fourth text was a 30-page pamphlet, under the title “A

sketch of the state of primary education among the Jews of the East,

and especially among the Jews of Salonica: addressed to the Anglo-

Jewish Association”, published by Wertheimer, Lea & Co., London

1875.

Dr. Adolphe Bloch, husband of Noemie Allatini, a well-known and

respected physician, was the next member of the family who bequeathed

�25

us a number of valuable studies. He published many papers, i.e. “De la

contusion du rein d’après l’examen comparé de quarante observations »

(1872), « L’eau froide: ses propriétés et son emploi principalement dans

l’état nerveux » (1880), « Sur la physiologie pathologique du nervosisme

(1891) », « Analyse de la suggestion médicale (1898), “Nature et traite-

ment de la maladie improprement dénommée agoraphobie” (1902) e.tc.

In 1888 he was the first to use antipyrin with excellent results in a case

of spasmodic rhinitis (hay fever); (see the publication in The Medical

News, Volume 52, 1888).

In the early 20th century, two members of the family won fame for

their books, Eric and his cousin Rose. Eric Allatini, son of Edward

and grand-son of Darius, was born in Thessaloniki in 1886 and died

in Auschwitz. He married Helen Hirch-Kahn (1887-1943). His first

book was “Savoie! La guerre des cimes”, published in 1917; his sec-

ond one was “Contes de mon père le Jars”, published in 1919 ; his

third one was “Sur talons rouges: contes”, published in 1929. His

books were illustrated by Gerda Wegéner, a famous Danish illustra-

tor and painter. Eric Allatini was also the production manager of the

film “Le vertige” (1927), a classic masterpiece of the French cinema,

directed by Marcel L’Herbier.

Rose Allatini was born in Vienna in 1890, but she lived in London.

She was the daughter of Robert Allatini (Thessaloniki 1856- London

1927), who had an excellent reputation in London as a tobacco trad-

er as well as a collector of ancient Greek coins. In 1915 Rose pub-

lished a novel titled “Payment” and two years later the novel “Root

and branch”. She became famous in 1918 (under the ’nom de plume’

A. T. Fitzroy) with the novel “Happy Ever After”, a book character-

ized as “pernicious”, because it exploited two “difficult” matters:

homosexualism and objection to military service of any kind. In the

atmosphere of WW I, the publishers were charged under Defense

Regulations and heavy fines were imposed upon them. Rose wrote

also “Requiem” (1919), “When I was a Queen in Babylon” (1921),

“Water’s meet” (1935), “Oracle” (1937) e.tc. As a total, she wrote 38

novels, some of them concerned with reincarnation. In 1921 she

married Cyril Meir Scott and had two children. She died in 1980, at

the age of 90. Her husband was also a writer and a composer; he

wrote 34 books. Some of them were “Philosophy of Modernism”,

“An Outline of Modern Occultism”, ’’The Art of Making a Perfect

Husband’’, ’’The Poems of a Musician’’. As a composer, Scott com-

pleted around four hundred works.

Another writer in the Allatini family was Gisèle Allatini-Quitner,

daughter of Charles Allatini and Ida Fernandez. She published a

number of books in Paris before and after WW II. One of her first

writings was the roman “Fleur de grace” (1933), followed by “The

lure and romance of Lugano” (1937) and “Rêves de gloire : Prague,

la ville d’or” (1938). The first one was commented by Les Temps in

a rather flattering mood : « Voici un roman qui, tout en restant roma-

nesque et en nous passionnant par les péripéties de la plus poignan-

te aventure, est cependant un pittoresque livre de voyages ».

Another member of the family who became famous for reasons not

related to business or charity was Darius Milhaud, a music compos-

er (Marseille 1892-Geneve 1974). He was a grandson of Lazaro and

son of Alice-Amelie Allatini and David Milhaud. He composed “Le

Boeuf sur le toit” (fantaisie, 1919), “Les Malheyra d’Orphée” (opera,

1925), “Esther de Carpentras” (1925), e.tc. He married his cousin,

Madeleine Milhaud, in 1925.

�26

Epilogue

Thessaloniki’s incorporation to the Greek state (1912-13) changed dramat-

ically the economic and social context of the city. Ten successive years of

general and local wars deteriorated the financial conditions of the local

economy; the fire of 1917 destroyed the Jewish middle class; Furthermore,

the population exchange between Turkey and Greece changed in an unex-

pected manner the demographic proportions of the city. The Jewish com-

munity remained numerous, but for the first time since 1492, it was not the

majority in Thessaloniki. On the contrary, many Jews gradually left

Thessaloniki, because of the hard economic conditions, seeking for jobs in

France, Palestine, USA and elsewhere.

Since 1911, the name Allatini survived as a landmark and as a place-name.

Even if they do not know Allatinis’ history in details, five generations of

Thessalonians retain the memory of that family. One of the Allatini fami-

ly dwelling-houses, in the eastern part of the city, survives as a public build-

ing. It is the famous Villa Allatini, the residence of Sultan Abdul Hamid

(1909-1912), which housed the University of Thessaloniki in its first year

(1925/26) and since 1978 houses the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. The

premises of Banque de Salonique are still in commercial use. One of the

oldest houses of the family, to the north of the bank, survives in part,

although abandoned. The huge plot of the old mill is a stake for construc-

tion interests. Although not always visible, a battle against oblivion occurs.

Although German occupation destroyed valuable archive sources, a part of

the Société Anonyme Industrielle & Commerciale archive survives in the

old mill. A retired employee of the owing company still works voluntarily

on them. This is the real source of information for the past and a real hope

to improve our knowledge for the family in the future. Year by year our

knowledge for the past becomes clearer. Τhere is no local history without

a reference to Allatini family anymore.

�27

PRIMARY SOURCES

Diplomatic and Consular Reports. Turkey, Report for the Year 1910 on the

Trade of the Consular District of Salonika, London 1911.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports. Report from the Select Committee on

Commissariat and Transport Services (Egyptian Campaign), London 1884.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Turkey No. 15 (1877), Further

Correspondence respecting the Affairs of Turkey, London 1877.

Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Commercial No. 6 (1883). Reports from

Her Majesty’s Consuls on the Manufactures, Commerce, &c. of their consular

districts, Part I, London 1883.

Reports from H. M. Diplomatic and Consular Officers Abroad on Trade and

Finance, London 1888.

Foreign Office 1892 Annual Series. O 1144 Diplomatic and Consular Reports

on Trade and Finance. Africa. Report for the Year 1891-92, London 1892.

Reports from H. M. Diplomatic and Consular Officers Abroad on Trade and

Finance, London 1898.

Report on the Commercial and Industrial Situation of Greece for the Year

1919, London 1920.

The Times [of London]

Newspaper “Faros tis Makedonias”, 1875-1899

[http://invenio.lib.auth.gr/?ln=el]

Newspaper “Makedonia” [www.nlg.gr]

Les Temps [http://gallica.bnf.fr]

Bibliothèque nationale de France [www.bnf.fr]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Al. Gregoriou, “Allatini’s Thessaloniki (1776-1911)”, Thessaloniki. Series of

the Historical Centre of Thessaloniki, 7 (2008) [In Greek]

E. Hekimoglou, The History of Entrepreneurship in Thessaloniki, The

Ottoman Period, vol. IIa, Thessaloniki 2004 [In Greek].

Aron Rodriguez, “The Ottoman Balkan”, in Reeva Spector et al. (ed.), The

Jews in the Middle East and North Africa in Modern Times, New York 2003.

P. T. Davenport-Hines (ed.), The Speculators and Patriots. Essays in

Bussiness Biography, Totowa 1986.

E. Roupa & E. Hekimoglou, The History of Entrepreneurship in Thessaloniki.

The Modern Period 1900-1940, vol. III , Thessaloniki 2004 [In Greek].

E. Kaplitzoglou, “Allatini Archive”, Thessalonikeon Polis 5 (2001) [In Greek]

I. Megas – D. Takas, Corporate Securities 1870-1940, Thessaloniki 2000.

Ch. Papastathis & E. Hekimoglou, The Great Fire of Thessaloniki, 1917,

Thessaloniki 2010.

E. Hekimoglou, The Modiano Affair. A Banking Crash in Thessaloniki, 1911,

Thessaloniki 1991 [In Greek].

A. Dangas, Recherches sur l’histoire sociale de la Grèce du Nord : Le

Mouvement des ouvriers du Tabac, 1918-1928, Thessaloniki 2005.

Georges Jessula, « Darius Milhaud, compositeur de musique (Marseille, 4

septembre 1892 - Genève, 21 juin 1974) », Les Belles lettres | Archives Juives

2003/1 - Vol. 36, pp. 140 à 144.

�28

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