Marinos Charbouris

Engineer (1729 – 1781)

A giant of engineering, Marinos Charbouris, also known as Charvouris, was born in Argostoli of Cephallenia which was under the rule of the Venetian Republic. He studied mathematics in Bolognia and engineering in Bonn. In 1761 he joined the army of Maria Theresa , ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy, and subsequently the army of Catherine the Great as an engineer.

However, Charbouris is not known for his studies nor for his services in any army. He is known as the man to have moved the heaviest object in history at the time; a 2.000 ton monolith over a distance of 20 kilometers using a system of advanced engineering and mechanics.

Around 1770, Catherine the Great wanted to erect a statue of Peter the Great at the centre of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Other engineers suggested using smaller rocks to assemble a large one, a plan that would fail because the rocks would not sustain the statue itself. Charvouris was informed of a massive monolith lying in Finland and went to study it himself. After informing the empress of the monolith, fellow engineers mocked Charbouris for believing it was an impossible feat. Charbouris managed to persuade the empress and in 1770 he set out to achieve the impossible.

Around the rock in Finland, Charbouris assembled a workforce of 400 workers and created a small village. He created 12 enormous cranes which were used to lift the boulder and place it unto a mattress of grass. The boulder was passed on a series of grills which would be used to transport it. To achieve the transportation, Charbouris used two large beams adjacent to each other like rails with bronze spheres on top. Over these male grips were placed the female grips – two other beams without spheres. The boulder was placed on top of this contraption so that when the workers pulled, the spheres underneath would slide the massive rock. Carts full of tools were transported along with the boulder while a drummer stood atop of it to give the men the rhythm of movement. Every now and then the boulder would stop moving and more beams would be placed in front so as to continue the transportation.

In order to turn the boulder left or right to he right direction Charbouris came up with another engineering feat. He created two round impellers which one on top of the other with bronze spheres in the middle, similarly to the beams he used. Simultaneously, Charbouris created a dock which functioned as a swimming pool, being able to pump water in and out so that the boulder wouldn’t sink.

The boulder arrived successfully in St. Petersburgh where Charbouris and his men were greeted with applause and cheers from the people. Scrulptor Étienne Maurice Falconet would work on the boulder to erect the statue of Peter the Great. Charbouris greatest feat as he himself claimed was that all of his 400 men returned alive and safe. For his work Catherine the Great appointed him Lieutenant-Colonel of the Russian school of officers. In 1779 he returned to Cefalonia where he drained large areas of land using state-of-the-art engineering to cultivate cotton, sugar canes and indigo to great success. Charbouris’s monumental work remains an astonishing engineering feat to this day.

Bibliography

1. Mortoglou. ”An Essay … of 2.000 tons”. Rizospastis. Web. 11 Sep. 2016.
2. Tasios, Theodosis. ”Three Modern Greek Mechanic Heralds”. Archaiologia. Web. 11 Sep. 2016.
3. TCGDSDA. Βράχος 2000 Τόνων Ταξιδεύει 20 χλμ. part 1/2. Youtube. December 10, 2009. Web. September 11, 2016.
4. TCGDSDA. Βράχος 2000 Τόνων Ταξιδεύει 20 χλμ. part 2/2. Youtube. December 10, 2009. Web. September 11, 2016.

 

 

Georgios Karaiskakis

Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1780 – 1827)

Karaiskakis is one of the most renowned figures of the Greek War of Independence. He was known by the nickname “son of the nun” and was originally a klepht serving in Ali Pasha’s courtyard in Ioannina. With the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Karaiskakis partook actively in the war as General of the Army in Central Greece, becoming Lieutenant General and ultimately Field Marshal.

Karaiskakis’ operations for the liberation of Greece began in 1820 when he fought together with Ali Pasha against the Turkish forces in Ioannina. One year later he hoisted the flag in Tzoumerca thus spreading the message of the revolution in the neighbouring villages. In 1822 he became captain of the Agrapha. He and his men occupied the lands of Agrinion where they gave a fierce battle against the Turkish forces who sought to descend to Central Greece. The following 2 years he got involved in the Civil War.

In 1825 he fought in Agrapha with an army of 3000 men and in 126 he was appointed General of the Army in Central Greece. He led his army, this time consisting of 680 men in the Siege of Acropolis where he fought with the utmost bravery together with Nikolaos Kriezotis, Ioannis Gouras, Charles Fabvier and Ioannis Makriyannis. In the same year he fought victoriously in the Battle of Arachova and reclaimed the surrounding lands. From the 2000 Turkish soldiers only 300 survived. He then built a pyramid out of the 1500 skulls of Turkish and Albanians he had killed. By 1827 Karaiskakis had liberated all of Central Greece excluding Messolonghi, Vonitsa and Naupaktos.

His unfortunate death in 1827 proved to be detrimental for the war. The Greeks lost the Battle of Analatos and their base in Acropolis. Karaiskakis death was lamented by all Greeks, notably by Theodoros Kolokotronis who, upon being informed of his death, he “sat down and cried like a woman”. Karaiskakis was a genuine patriot described as an intuitive military genius, a valuable asset to the Greek War of Independence who, in spite of having no education at all possessed extraordinary leadership skills. Thanks to him and his army of brave men, the Greek flag waved proudly above the villages of Central Greece once more after nearly 400 years.

Bibliography

1. “Karaiskakis, Georgios”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens: 1946. Print.
2. ”Γ. Καραϊσκάκης: ”Ρώτησα τον μπούτσον μου και μου είπε να μη σε προσκυνήσω””. mixanitouxronou.gr. 25 Mar. 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.

Cosmas of Aetolia

Teacher of the Greek Nation (1714 – 1779)

One of the greatest spiritual figures of the 18^th century and the greatest Teacher of the Greek nation during the Turkish rule. He was born approximately 100 years before the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in Aetolia and became a monk in Mount Athos after studying theology and philosophy close to monks. There he delved into the spiritual teachings of Christianity and completed his studies next to prominent Teachers of the Greek nation, namely Eugenios Vulgaris. From that point onward, Cosmas walked the lands of his subjugated country in an effort to combat illiteracy and imbue his people with freedom to rise against the Turks.

His work can be summarized as following: He travelled to villages and preached with great passion. His preaches had either religious or ethnic theme. He spoke the language of the people, which was simple but also powerful, inspiring and patriotic. He preached about love, solidarity, against speculation, the rich, the merchants and mainly against islamization. Huge crowds of Greeks and even Turks gathered in awe to listen to his words.

He founded churches and 247 Greek schools in 30 municipalities that he passed from in just 16 years. Cosmas had said that “It is better to have schools in your country rather than rivers and fountains, because rivers water the body, schools water the soul”. He encouraged the Greeks to study the Greek language and to baptize their children. For this reason he founded 4000 baptismal fonts. In addition, he freed 1500 Christian midwives from the harems of the Pasha.

Cosmas was more than a teacher and revolutionary. He was a prophet and a thaumaturgist. He prophesized events about the future of the Greek race, most of which occurred and are still occurring today. He predicted the automobiles, the telephone and the airplane. It is believed that Cosmas cured the deaf and the paralyzed, according to descriptions in his two books Teachings and Prophecies.

A poor and humble monk, Cosmas managed with his own efforts to plant the seeds of liberty in the souls of the Greeks. His preaches caused the hatred of the Jewish and the Turks, who arrested him and subsequently hanged him in public view. His body was then thrown into a river and was found and buried by a monk in Kolikontasi, where every year he is celebrated as a saint after his canonization by the Orthodox Church on the day of his death. His tremendous impact on his fellow Greeks renders him a prodrome of the Greek War of Independence.

Bibliography

1. ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΟΣΜΑΣ Ο ΑΙΤΩΛΟΣ. Agrino.org. August 21, 2016. Web.
2. Father Maxim Varvaris. Ο ΒΙΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ  ΚΑΙ ΙΣΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΤΩΛΟΥ. Agioskosmas.gr. August 21, 2016. Web.
3. “Kosmas o Aetolos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens: 1946. Print.

Anthimos Gazis

Philosopher, Teacher of the Greek Nation, Scientist, Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1758 – 1828)

Anthimos Gazis was an intellectual, high rank member of the Philiki Hetaereia (Society of Friends) and one of the key representatives of the Enlightenment in Greece. Born to a poor family, Gazis worked as a teacher and studied theology until he moved to Constantinople where he became archimandrite.

In 1797 he was sent to a Greek community in Vienna. There, he began indulging on philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences. His spiritual development marked the beginning of his life-long struggle to awake the Greeks and to stimulate the Europeans. He started publishing works of the Ancient Greeks in a form that was understandable to the people and translated them to foreign languages. His most notable works were Geographic Map of Greece with old and new names, Geographic Map of Europe in Greek, Syntagmatium Chronologicum, Hellenic Library and Greek Lexicon, one of the most valuable books during the Enlightenment. In 1811 he published the magazine Hermes o Logios, the first Greek magazine in Vienna and the most read Greek magazine of the diaspora. Gazis was amongst those who believed that the Greek nation could not rise against the conqueror if it was not educated.

Gazis returned to Greece where he was initiated in the Society of Friends. He travelled throughout Greece to disseminate the message of the coming of the war of Independence and initiate as many heroes as he could to the society. Anthimos acted as the intermediate between the government and the freedom fighters of Pylion. He played a pivotal role during the uprising in Pylion but the operation was discontinued because of the Turkish forces. Nevertheless, its importance in inspiring the subjugated Greeks was acknowledged. When in 1823 Gazis’ revolutionary movement failed again he retired to Skyros, where he got involved with the organizing of Greek schools.

After his country gained its independence he served as a member of the Supreme Court. He died in Syros in 1828 in poverty but in bliss as he had lived to see his country’s freedom. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, lamenting for the loss a passionate patriot and a wise humanist who dedicated his life to the spiritual growth of the Greeks.

Bibliography

1. “Gazes, Anthimos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
2. Philistor, John. Σύντομος Βιογραφία του Άνθιμου Γαζή. Istorikathemata.com. August 1, 2016. web.

Nikolaos Stournaris

Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1775 – 1826)

The fact that Greece was made into an independent state, free from the Turkish yoke is owed to a handful of rayahs who rose against the Turkish conqueror with freedom inscribed in their hearts. Such a rayah was Nikolaos Stournaris, a Hero of the Greek War of Independence from Akarnania of Steraia Hellada. He descended from the wealthy Stournaris family.

He was initiated in the Philiki Hetaireia (Society of Friends) and was head of a military force. In July, 1821 he declared the war of Independence in Porta, Preveda and Kalabaka and soon got control of the regions. Stournaris, who led a small army of Greeks, lost the battle of Porta. This resulted in his men abandoning him and forcing him to comply with the enemy to protect the regions from destruction. In the following years he continued fighting in Peloponnesus against Ibrahim’s troops and fought in the Battle of Vurgareli in Epirus against Omer Vrioni. Moreover, he took an active role in several battles in Thessaly together with George Karaiskakis and Philhellenes volunteers. He was distinguished in the battles of Peta and Analaton.

In 1823 he settled to Messolonghi where he undertook the leadership of the city’s military forces. During the 3^nd siege of Messolonghi in 1826, Stournaras, together with Demetrios Makris, Notis Botsaris, Kitsos Tzavelas, Razikotzikas and Alexander Mavrokordatos led the last remaining Greeks in the sortie of Messolonghi. 13.000 Greeks were sacrificed during the exodus, among them hundreds of women and children, Philhellenes and Nikolaos Stournaris in the name of freedom. On that day, everyone died besieged, but free in their souls.

Bibliography

1. “Stournaris, Nikolaos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.

Markos Botsaris

Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1788 – 1823)

Markos Botsaris is one of the most glorious heroes of the Greek War of Independence. He descended from the Botsaris family, which originated from Souli of Epirus in the 15^th century and was one of the founding members of the community. It was a family of heroes with some of its important members being George Botsaris, Kitsos Botsaris, Notis Botsaris, Rosa Botsaris and Tusias Botsaris. All of them fought bravely in the Greek War of Independence and many other subsequent wars in Greek history. Markos was the leader of the Souliotes.

Markos served in the beginning the French army. Afterwards, with his uncle Notis, he returned to Souli and raised its citizens to fight against the Ottoman yoke. In 1820, when the Turks occupied the Souli fortresses, he provided provisions and fended off all the Turkish forces from Souli in numerous victorious battles. His actions were decisive for the start of the Greek War of Revolution. After 22 months of constant battles, the fighters of Souli ran out of provisions making the fight unable to continue, forcing its citizens to abandon their homeland. Markos and his uncle settled in Roumeli where they continued their struggle. They took part in several battles, most notably in Mesologgi, for which Markos was ranked a sergeant.

Numerous are the heroic deeds of Markos Botsaris: In Kumtzades he destroyed a large army of Ottoman Turks, in Pente Pigadia he clashed with a force of 5000 Turks along with his few Souliote brothers, he conquered the Reniasa fortress without any casualties, defeated 2000 Turks in Vargiades and in Dramesi, battled against Hasan Pasha in Arta and his army of 1000 Turks, participated in the siege of Arta and in many more battles including in Lelova, Olitsika and Bogortsa.

On August 9, 1823 Markos Botsaris led 350 Souliotes in Karpenisi to battle against Mustae Pasha and his army. During the battle, Markos Botsaris received a fatal shot which cost him his life. His body was transported to Mesologgi where it was buried with the highest honours. His death caused grief all over Europe but also amazement. Renowned painters such as Delacroix, Deveria, Dereuville and Marsiglio immortalized him in their paintings, sculptor David D’Angers built a sculpture in his memory while in France a central avenue in Paris was named after him. According to Victor Hugo, Botsaris was the “Leonidas of modern Greece”; Francois Pouqueville in his magnum opus makes a special note on Markos Botsaris focusing on his virtuous character and his tireless efforts in the war while Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet dedicated a special ode to him.

Evidence suggests that Markos Botsaris and Lord Byron communicated with each other by mail. When Lord Byron first came to Greece, Mesologgi, he was welcomed enthusiastically by the Greek fighters. Wearing his traditional Souliote uniform, Byron approached Markos’ tomb and swore in his sacred memory that he would fight to the death for Greece’s freedom. He fulfilled his promise after he passed away in Mesologgi, encouraging all of the Philhellenes around Europe to do the same.

Bibliography

1. “Botsaris, Markos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens: 1946. Print.
2. Kossyvakis, Gregoris Nicephorus.”ΜΑΡΚΟΣ ΜΠΟΤΣΑΡΗΣ-ΕΝΑΣ ΙΔΑΝΙΚΟΣ ΗΡΩΑΣ”. Kossivakis.org. 19 July, 2016.

Panourgias

Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1759 – 1834)

The family Panourgias had many noteworthy members who fought in the Greek War of Independence. The most notable one was Demetrius Xeros or simply Panourgias. At a young age he was involved in a conflict with the Turks due to an accident and was sentenced to death. Luckily he was rescued by a Turkish authority who hired him in his service. After his master’s death, Panourgias became a klepht and worked together with Odysseus Androutsos and Lambros Katsonis.

In 1821 just before the start of the Greek War of Independence, Panourgias was among the first members initiated into the Philiki Hetaereia (Society of Friends). His first actions were the liberation of Amfissa, together with Isaiah of Salona. His next move was to stop Omer Vrioni’s procession to Southern Greece in Thermopylae. There, he fought together with Athanasios Diakos and Dyovuniotis in a battle reminiscent to that of Leonidas and his allies. Panourgias later participated in more battles, namely the battle of Alamana, the battle of Gorgopotamos, the battle of Gravia and the battle of Chalcomata.

Having reached an old age, Panourgias retired and was replaced by his son. However, when he found out that Dramalis’ army of 30.000 men was marching toward Peloponnesus, he picked up his weapons and got out of retirement. Together with his team he destroyed all the food supplies so that Dramalis’ forces were weakened. This ultimately led to their destructive defeat in the Battle of Dervenakia.

Panourgias was distinguished among his fellow freedom fighters for his intuition and bravery. After the war, Panourgias retired and got involved in politics next to Ioannis Kapodistrias. He enjoyed his free nation for which he had struggled years and lived enough to see his wish come true.

Bibliography

1. “Panourgias”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.

Theodoros Kolokotronis

General, Prime Minister of Greece, Leader of the Greek War of Independence (1770 – 1843)

The polemic ethnarch of Greece, captain of the klepths and one of the purest figures of the Greek War of Independence. Theodoros Kolokotronis descended from the Kolokotronis family, 11 generations of which had fought against the Turkish yoke and more than 80 members of it had been killed by the Turks.

When he becomes 15 years old, Kolokotronis joins the Armatoles, a militia employed by the Turks to battle against the klephts, groups of Greek mercenaries that lived in the mountains. At the age of 16, Kolokotronis had already earned the title of Captain of the klephts as well as the nickname “Old Man of Moria”. In 1806 he moves to Zakynthos. His time there was to be an important part of his life; he becomes acquainted with the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers and writers by listening to them from important scholars since he himself was illiterate. In addition, he takes lessons on war and strategy by Richard Church which proved to be crucial in his career later on.

In 1818 he is initiated in the Society of Friends (Philiki Hetaireia) and in 1821, under the order of Alexander Hypsilantis he travels to Moria where he achieves two goals: First to reconcile the Maniates and second to light the fire of the revolution in all of the eparchies. In the beginning, Kolokotronis is alone, completely abandoned by his fellow men. He eventually gathers a significant number of warriors and leads them against the Turkish forces in the victorious battles of Valtetsi (April 1821) and the Battle of the Trenches (August 1821). Kolokotronis’ plan is to rid Peloponnesus of the Turkish forces, reclaim their castles and establish a free zone. He sees ahead, he sees wisely. With his hand he points directly to the enemy; he is not afraid of them. He takes over Tripolitsa, the main fortress of the Turks in Peloponnesus with an army of 10.000 men, having suffered only 100 casualties against an army of 10.000 Turks and proceeds in a massacre where all of the Turkish and Jewish population is decimated.

Kolokotronis’ next move is to stop Dramali Pasha’s procession to Peloponnesus. He holds his position in the castle of Argos and occupies all of the water supplies in the area. This strategy combined with the severe drought during that time of the year proved to be detrimental for Dramalis’ army. Nevertheless, with an army of 36.000 warriors Dramalis had taken his victory for granted and had notified the High Porte that he had defeated the Greeks in Dervenakia some days earlier. Kolokotronis gathers an army of 8000 men together with Demetrios Hypsilantis, Papaflessas, Plaputas and Nikitaras Stamatelopoulos and in July 1822 he exterminates Dramalis’ forces in the battle of Dervenakia. It was one of the most glorious battles in the chronicles of the Greek War of Independence and it was attributed to Kolokotronis’ military genius.

Following his protagonistic role in numerous victorious battles, Kolokotronis finds himself in the midst of a civil war incited by the British forces. He is imprisoned in Hydra until in 1825 when he is called to confront Ibrahim’s forces who roam the lands of Peloponnesus. Kolokotronis returns with a small number of klephts but this time he is unable to successfully fend off the Egyptian forces from the lands of Moria. For the first time, he is forced to betray his principles and sign a treaty by which the British forces would assist Greece in the war.

With the assassination of Kapodistrias and the coming of Otto as King of Greece, Kolokotronis is accused for treason and imprisoned for the second time until Otto reaches adulthood and takes control of the administration of Greece. From the first day of his adulthood, Otto frees Kolokotronis and appoints him as member of the Council of State.

Theodoros Kolokotronis was the brain of the war of Independence, the animating spirit of the Greek nation. Ioannis Kapodistrias had characterized him as “Odysseus of the race”. He was a deeply religious man, a virtuous leader who believed ardently in the freedom of the Greek nation, placing his ideas and principles above all. He taught the Greeks to love each other and to fight against the common enemy. He forgave all of his enemies who had done harm to him or his family because he wanted the Greeks to be united. He was illiterate for most of his life but he was a gifted strategist and an autodidact. Three words could characterize his spirit: prudence, providence and wisdom. His immense bravery and admirable dedication to the war of Independence has made his name a synonym to the heroic and virtuous leader in the Greek language. On October 8^th 1838 Kolokotronis leaves his last spiritual consignment to the new generation. He delivers a powerful speech in Pnyka addressing the youths of the Gymnasium of Athens commemorating their forefathers and prompting the children to rebuild the world that they liberated with religion, solidarity and freedom. He begins his speech as: “My children…”

Bibliography

1. Diogeneios Leschi. Διογένειος Λέσχη 17-4-2015 Κώστας Μπαρμπής. Youtube. 19 Apr. 2015. 28 Apr. 2015.
2. “Kolokotronis, Theodoros”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens. 1946. Print.

3. Η αριστοτεχνική παγίδα του Θεόδωρου Κολοκοτρώνη στα Δερβενάκια και η τρομερή καταστροφή του Δράμαλη. H σημασία της μεγαλύτερης νίκης των επαναστατημένων Ελλήνων το 1821. Το νέο βιβλίο του ιστορικού Ν.Γιαννόπουλου. mixanitouxronou.gr. Web. Retreived on April 30, 2016.

Laskarina Bouboulina

Captain, Heroine of the Greek War of Independence (1771 – 1825)

Along with Manto Mavrogenous, Bouboulina was one of the leading female figures of the Greek War of Independence.

Born in a prison in Constantinople, she went on to marry twice; captain Stavrianos Pinotzis and later ship owner Demetrios Bouboulis, both of whom died fighting against Turkish and Algerian pirates, respectively. Having amassed a great fortune, Bouboulina sought to enter the Greek War of Independence and fight for her country.

Having aided the Russians in the war against the Turks, she fled to Constantinople where she managed to save her fortune. From there on she joined the Society of Friends (Philiki Hetaereia), becoming the only woman to do so, and allocated her entire fortune for the causes of the war. She provided funds for both naval and infantry forces necessary for the liberation of Greek lands and cities.

Her biggest contribution to the war was in the naval forces. Bouboulina built 3 ships, among them the first and largest Greek warship called ”Agamemnon”, named after the Homeric king Agamemnon who led the Greeks against the Trojans. During the first two years of the war she had already spent her entire fortune on building naval armies for the liberation of Nafplion and Tripolis. In 1821 she was the captain of the strongest naval army in Greece, leading many Greek islands, such as Spetses, Hydra and Psara, to an uprising against the Turkish yoke. Leading an army of 8 warships, she fought alongside Andreas Miaoulis in the Battle of Nauplia against the Ottoman Fleet which resulted in the successful siege of the gulf. She continued her fight in decisive battles in Monemvasia, Pylos and Argos.

Having fought alongside Theodoros Kolokotronis himself, Bouboulina stands as an admirable figure of the Greek War of Independence because of her courage and outstanding contribution to the victory of the war. What also distinguished Bouboulina was her code of honor for respecting even the enemy. It is said that during the siege of Tripolitsa in 1821, Bouboulina kept an old promise she had made to a Turkish sultan woman and saved the lives of women and children in a Turkish harem from slaughter.

Bibliography

1. ”Bouboulina, Laskarina”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens. 1946. Print.

Alexander Hypsilantis

Prince, Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1792 – 1828)

Alexander Hypsilantis, brother of Demetrios Hypsilantis descended from a royal Phanariot family that ruled Wallachia during the Ottoman yoke. He served as a senior officer in the Imperial Russian Army in the Napoleonic wars, was prince of the Danubian Principalities and was one of the leading members of the Society of Friends (Philiki Hetaereia), a secret organization founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias and the Tsakalov brothers in an attempt to liberate Greece from the Turkish yoke.

Alexander’s decision to abandon his life as a prince, a life that many would envy, to devote all his life and fortunes to the sacred war of Greek Independence and freedom made him a holy figure in modern Greek history.

His first actions in the Greek War of Independence are traced back to when he first joined the Society of Friends at the age of 25, when he was appointed de-facto leader of the organization. He quit from the Russian Imperial Army in which he had served and excelled as a sergeant and in February 1821 he crossed the river Pruth in Wallachia and raised the banner of Greek revolt against the Ottoman Empire. He was accompanied by an army of 500 young volunteers that comprised the “Hieros Lochos” (Sacred Band). The battle took place in Dragatsani and resulted in the defeat of the Greek army. The plan, originally conceived by Ioannis Kapodistrias was to start the war in Wallachia in order to lure the Russians into the war against the Ottomans and have them as allies of the Greeks. Unfortunately the plan had failed. More than 200 warriors fell heroically in the name of freedom. The battle was only the beginning of the Greek War of Independence.

After the unsuccessful attack, Alexander fled to Austria where he was arrested and imprisoned. One year after he was released, having lost his arm, impoverished and forgotten, he died in the streets of Vienna happily and peacefully after having learned a few days earlier that Ioannis Kapodistrias had become Governor of Greece and that his nation was once again free after nearly 400 years of slavery.

Bibliography

1. Boutatos, Christos. “Ἀλέξανδρος Ὑψηλάντης Ἕνας ἐθνικὸς ἥρωας ἀπὸ μιὰ οἰκογένεια ἐθνικῶν ἡρώων”. February 18, 2014. Web. April 7, 2016.
2. “Hpsilantis, Alexandros”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens. 1946. Print.