The Greek Revolution of 1821 was a hard-fought struggle for independence against the Ottoman Empire, and its heroes are etched into the national identity of Greece.
These individuals, from humble farmers to seasoned military leaders, rose up to challenge centuries of foreign rule. Figures like Theodoros Kolokotronis, a brilliant military strategist, and Laskarina Bouboulina, a formidable naval commander, led the charge, inspiring their countrymen with their bravery and determination. Others, like Konstantinos Kanaris, renowned for his daring fireship attacks, became symbols of unwavering patriotism. The revolution’s heroes weren’t just warriors; they were also poets, politicians, and ordinary citizens who sacrificed everything for the dream of a free Greece.
Theodoros Kolokotronis
(Ramavouni Messinias 1770 – Athens 1843)
Kolokotronis is probably the most important leading figure of the Greek War for Independence. His name has been related with all the major phases of the struggle in Peloponnese. He commenced his military activities on 1805, when he participated in the missions of the Russian fleet during the Russian-Turkish war. He later served in the greek military put together by the British and was honoured with the rank of Major for his performance against the French. In 1818 he was initiated to the Filiki Eteria and passionately begun preparations for the cause for independence in Peloponnese.
During the commencement of the revolution, Kolokotronis’s military genius became apparent. Kolokotronis’s successive military victories, such as the the fall of Kalamata (March 23rd 1821), the submission of Tripolitsa (September 23rd 1821), or those in Valtetsi, Vervena, and Doliana, firmly established his superior military status.
Nevertheless, his rising status also disturbed a portion of the regional landlords. On July 26th 1822, his historical victory at Dervenakia, which lead to the decimation of Dramali’s military force, once again sealed the excellent military skills of the “Old Man of Moria”, as he came to be known.
Despite these successes he became a victim of the climaxing internal conflict between the military and the government. During armed conflicts both him and his son Panos were captured and held prisoners at Nafplion. When Ibrahim arrived with his forces at Peloponnese, the government pardoned Kolokotronis, and he
joined forces with Petrobei Mavromichali in order to prevent the Turks from seizing back Peloponnese. Kolokotronis continued playing an active role in the military and political landscapes of the time until the end of the revolution. He was a firm supporter of Kapodistrias and endorsed the election of king Otto. His disagreement with the political decisions of the regency lead to his prosecution and trial for high-treason. He was sentenced to death, but aſter king Otto came of age, he was again pardoned and received the rank of General and Counsellor of the State.
During the last years of his life, Kolokotronis dictated his memoirs to Gergios Tertsetis, which were later published at 1851. Kolokotronis’s memoirs constitute one the most valuable primary sources of information about the greek revolution.
Ioannis Makrigiannis
(Avoriti Doridas 1797 –Athens 1864)
Makrigiannis, whose real name was Ioannis Triantafilou, was a greek fighter, militant, and political figure during and aſter the foundation of the Independent Greek State. In 1820 he was initiated to the Filiki Eteria and since then he dedicated himself to its cause taking part in many battles. During the civil war, he took the governmentalist side and later invaded Peloponnese, where he remained in order to prepare defences against Ibrahim.
His involvement with the greek revolution ended with his participation in the Piraeus ventures/mission in 1827. Following this, Makrigiannis was appointed the role of “General Leader of Sparta” by governor Kapodistrias; his distaste for this role pushed him to start authoring his memoirs in 1829. Despite his positive regards for the arrival of king Otto, he soon became dissatisfied and turned to agriculture. Nevertheless, in 1837, as a civil counselor, he convinced the civil council of Athens to submit the request for a Constitution to king Otto. This act lead to the dismantling of the civil council and to him being placed under house arrest.
The palace, declared him as the main conspirator behind the September 3rd rebellion.
In march 1853, the military court found guilty of treason and sentenced him to death.
Nevertheless, he was released aſter the mediation of Dimitris Kallergis and following the departure of Otto, he was assigned the rank of Lieutenant General.
Makrigiannis died in April 27th 1864. His memoirs constitute a legacy of great authenticity, which the greek poet Kostis Palamas has described as an “incomparable for its genre, masterpiece of an illiterate, yet robust and autonomous mind”.
Laskarina Bouboulina
(Constantinople 1776 – Spetses 1825)
Bouboulina is one of the few influential female figures who decisively contributed to the Greek Cause for Independence. In 1788 she was married to Dimitri Giannouza and later, in 1801, she was remarried to the wealthy shipowner from Spetses, Dimitri Boubouli. Aſter Bouboulis’s death, she expanded his fortune and built a ship with 18 cannons by the name of Agamemnon. She offered Agamemnon along with monetary support and another 3 ships to the greek cause for independence. She actively took part in many military missions such as the Siege of Nafplio, and was among the first to invade Tripolitsa.
During the civil war, she sided with the militia and Kolokotronis. She was murdered in her paternal home at Spetses, during a severe family conflict. Aſter her death, the Greek State honoured her struggles by appointing her the rank of vice admiral. Since the first year of the revolution her name and reputation extended far beyond the land of Greece inspiring many artists to depict her deeds.
Konstantinos Kanaris
(Psara~1790 – Athens 1877)
Kanaris was a greek fighter and politician and among the most courageous figures of the Greek War for Independence. Aſter the declaration of the revolution, he abandoned his post at commercial ships and joined the fleet of Psara, specialising in pyrotechnics.
During the night between June 6th and 7th he burned down the turkish flagship at Chios Island. Τhe British historian of the revolution, Thomas Gordon, reports that Kanaris’s act was one of the most important military achievements in recorded history.
On October 1822, in Tenedos, Kanaris received great admiration when he managed to destroy a Turkish frigate. Many more military missions would follow at Samos and Mytilini, with the climax being his fight against the Egyptian fleet at the port of Alexandria. Aſter the revolution, Kapodistrias honoured his heroic contribution to the Greek War for Independence by appointing him chief of the firefighting fleet. Aſter the assassination of governor Kapodistrias, Kanaris chose to retire to Siros until he returned to the public scene with the rank of admiral during the reign of Otto. Aſter the revolution of September 3rd 1843, he was put in charge of the Ministry of Naval affairs and during three periods of crisis became prime minister of Greece.
Kanaris died on September 2nd 1877, while he was serving as prime minister of Greece.
Georgios Karaiskakis
(Mavromati Karditsas 1780 – Faliro Attikis 1827)
Karaiskakis was a greek military commander and leader of the Greek War for Independence. He was born in 1782 in the monastery of Saint George near the village of Mavromati in Karditsa. His father was the armatolos of the Valtos district, Dimitris Iskos or Karaiskos, and his mother was the nun, Zoe Dimiski. At the age of 15, he run away in thievery, but later joined the military forces of Ali Pasa, who recognised his superior military skills.
In January 1821, aſter the commencement of the revolution, he raised the flag of the revolution at the villages within the region of Tzoumerka. He quarrelled with Alexandros Mavrokordatos over the leadership of the military missions in Sterea Ellada, but, despite their differences, he supported him during the first siege of Mesologi by dispatching part of his forces to defend the city. During the civil war, when Mavrokordatos accused him of working with the Turks, Karaiskakis retired from activity. Nevertheless, he resurfaced during the second siege of the Messologi on May 1825 and contributed in defending the city by attacking the Ottoman forces.
In 1826, he was appointed Commander in Chief of Sterea Ellada and organised the military camp of Elefsina in order to aid Athens in their defences against the Turkish siege. Nevertheless, as his second objective, he planned to re-ignite the spirit of the revolution in Roumeli. He came out victorious against the Turks in Domvraina, Distomo, and Arahova. In 1827, he went to Elefsina in order to aid Athens against another siege from the Turks. He disagreed with Thomas Cochrane and Richard Church regarding the tactic against the Ottoman empire. He was injured in a skirmish at Neo Faliro and died during his nameday on April 23, 1827.
Papaflessas
(Poliani Messinias 1786 – Maniaki Messinias 1825)
Papaflessas, whose real name was Grigorios Dikaios-Flessas, lead a monastic life in several monasteries of the Pelopponese until the Turkish conflict made him seek passage to Zakynthos and from there to Constantinople. In 1819, he became Archbishop and soon aſter was initiated to the Filiki Eteria. As an Archbishop he travelled to Moldovlachia spreading the hope for liberation to the populations.
In 1820 he arrived at Peloponnese as a herald of Dimitrios Ypsilantis and began preparations for the revolution. On the January 26th-29th, 1821, he summoned the provosts and chieſtains at Vostitsa and later departed for Mani, where he worked with Kolokotronis, Nikitaras, Perraivos, Anagnostaras, and others.
He excelled at arousing the masses, raise excitement and igniting the flame for rebellion inside them. During Ibrahim’s invasion, he took 1500 men and ambushed him at Maniaki but, despite his efforts, as the enemies outnumbered them, Papaflessas was in the fight.
Ioannis Kapodistrias
(Kerkira 1776 – Nafplio 1831)
Count Ioannis Kapodistrias was a greek diplomat and politician. In 1821, aſter the commencement of the Greek revolution, he resigned from his position as minister of External Affairs due to his disagreement with Tsar Alexander of Russia who firmly stood against any rebellions in Europe. In 1822, following his resignation he moved to Geneva in Switzerland, where he remained until 1827, aiding in many way the rebelled nation and becoming a highly regarded contributor to the creation of the Swiss federation.
In 1827, he was elected the first governor of the Independent Greek Nation. During the transitional period while Greece was under the protection of the Grand Forces he contributed with his personal fortune for the development of the newly funded Greek state.
As a governor he initiated important reformations and layed down new legislative frameworks for the greek state. As agriculture constituted the central pillar of the Greek economy he took the decisive action to introduce the cultivation of potatoes. In addition to this, he reformed the military and defined its administrative structure while also succeeding in expanding the state’s border and establishing the independence ofthe greeks.
On the morning of the 27th of September of 1831, Ioannis Kopodistrias was assassinated by the Mavromichali brothers outside of the church of Saint Spyridon in Nafplion.