Between Greek Thessaloníki and Ottoman Istanbul, 1912–1923 catalogues this apparent disappearance. According to this register, very
few Dönme became Greek citizens. The electoral register lists only four
Kapancı as eligible voters. Mehmet Kapancı, described as a 59 -year-old
banker (fifteen years younger than in his family tree), appears, as does
Namık Kapancı, a 50 -year-old banker, who had served on the board of
the joint Feyziye Terakki Commerce School,^9 Firuz Kapancı, a 30 -year-
old secretary (listed ten years later by the Mixed Commission for the Ex-
change of the Greek and Turkish Populations as a commission agent), and
the 44 -year-old textile merchant, son of Ahmet Kapancı, Mehmet.^10 The
appearance of these men provides evidence that leading Kapancı Dönme
remained under Greek rule and some acquired Greek citizenship. They
would not leave the city until forced to do so, and many would try to
remain even when it was no longer legally possible.
It is surprising, however, that while the thorough register includes
several Kapancı, it does not contain a single person with a Karakaş sur-
name: Balcı, Dilber / Dilberzade, İpek / İpekçi, Karakaş / Karakaşzade,
Kibar / Kibarogˇlu, Mısırlı, or Şamlı. Several explanations for this fact are
possible. One is that Karakaş Dönme left the city for Izmir and Istanbul.
A second is that because they did not acquire Greek citizenship, none
were eligible to vote. Most who remained may have chosen Albanian
or Serbian citizenship. A third is that none wished to be registered to
vote. The latter reason is supported by a 1915 Austrian commercial sur-
vey, which indicates that leading Karakaş families, including the İpekçi,
Karakaş, Kibar, and Şamlı, continued to do business in the city.^11
Some Kapancı also stuck it out as long as possible. In 1915 , Ahmet
Kapancı’s son Mehmet is listed as a founding member and vice president
of the Thessaloníki Landowners’ Association.^12 Although he managed to
remain in the city as an Albanian or Serbian citizen, his citizenship status,
and thus his ability to own land in Thessaloníki, would be debated in the
Greek press after 1923.^13 Following his uncle Mehmet Kapancı’s passing,
he initially retained one-third ownership of the Château Mon Bonheur.^14
Yet other family members—and by extension, all Dönme—had an espe-
cially difficult time holding on to their property. While signing over power
of attorney to her home at 87 Basilissis Olgas (the former Hamidiye Bou-
levard), Nefise, wife of Ahmet Kapancı and mother of Mehmet, registered
a complaint to the Mixed Commission about the Filikia Café, which had
been damaged in the fire of 1917. It cost her great expense repairing it,
particularly its doors and windows. Although she had a license to run it,