Battle of Peta
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Peta or Battle of Petta was fought between the Greeks
(with Philhellenes) led by Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos
with Markos Botsaris
and the Ottomans led by Omer Vrioni on July 16, 1822 (July 4 Julian calendar
). The conflict occurred on a hillside near the village of Peta in Epirus
.
defeated the forces of Khourshid Pasha in May and June 1822, they joined Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos who landed at Missolonghi with a contingent of Greek regulars. At the same time, however, Khourshid Pasha surrendered command of the Ottoman forces in Epirus to Omer Vrioni.
when a force of 7000-8000 Ottoman troops attacked their positions. During the conflict, the Greeks and Philhellenes were betrayed by Gogos Bakolas, an old klepht
and captain of the armatoloi
. This treachery resulted in their overall defeat.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
(with Philhellenes) led by Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos
Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos
Alexandros Mavrokordatos was a Greek statesman and member of the Mavrocordatos family of Phanariotes....
with Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris was a Souliote captain and a hero of the War of Greek Independence. Markos Botsaris is among the most revered national heroes in Greece.-Early life:...
and the Ottomans led by Omer Vrioni on July 16, 1822 (July 4 Julian calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
). The conflict occurred on a hillside near the village of Peta in Epirus
Epirus (region)
Epirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë in the north to the Ambracian Gulf in the south...
.
Background
After the SouliotesSouliotes
Souliotes were a warlike community from the area of Souli, in Greece, who became famous across Greece for their resistance against the local Ottoman Pashalik of Yanina ruled by the Muslim Albanian Ali Pasha...
defeated the forces of Khourshid Pasha in May and June 1822, they joined Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos who landed at Missolonghi with a contingent of Greek regulars. At the same time, however, Khourshid Pasha surrendered command of the Ottoman forces in Epirus to Omer Vrioni.
Battle
The Greek forces were encamped at Peta in ArtaArta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
when a force of 7000-8000 Ottoman troops attacked their positions. During the conflict, the Greeks and Philhellenes were betrayed by Gogos Bakolas, an old klepht
Klepht
Klephts were self-appointed armatoloi, anti-Ottoman insurgents, and warlike mountain-folk who lived in the countryside when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire...
and captain of the armatoloi
Armatoloi
Armatoloi , were Greek Christian irregular soldiers, or militia, commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan's authority within an administrative district called an Armatoliki...
. This treachery resulted in their overall defeat.