Dimitrios Panourgias
Encyclopedia
Dimitrios Panourgias (1754-1834), a Greek
military commander during the Greek War of Independence
, was born Dimitrios Xiros in the village of Dremissa, Phocis
.
of Adroutsos Veroussis in 1790 and for a short time became commander of the Salona
armatolic district with the support of Ali Pasha
, but quicly abandoned his position and turned himself into a Klepht
. In 1816, however he rejoined Ali Pasha and was once more appointed as Armatolos in the Salona district. It was there where he became member of Filiki Eteria
.
in Salona and later collaborated with Athanasios Diakos
and Dyovouniotis in order to hult Omer Vryonis
from advancing further into Roumeli
. Panourgias with his band was to defend the hills of Chalkomata, near Thermopylae
, but was seriously wounded during the fights and had to withdraw.
He participated in January, 1822 to the 1st National Assembly at Epidauros as Salona representative and was the most important negotiator during the surrender of Acrocorinth
to the Greek forces in 1822. He retired from military operations some months later, after he handed the leadership of his militia band to his son, Nakos Panourgias.
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....
military commander during the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
, was born Dimitrios Xiros in the village of Dremissa, Phocis
Phocis
Phocis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gulf of Corinth...
.
Early life
His parents originated from the village Aghios Georgios in Phocis, although he was born in Dremissa. His family name was Xiros (Ξηρός), but the priest who baptised him thought he was a girl and named him Panorea (Πανωραία), meaning very beautiful, and by that name he was by then being called.Klephtis and Armatolos
Panourgias entered the ArmatolikiArmatoloi
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...
of Adroutsos Veroussis in 1790 and for a short time became commander of the Salona
Amfissa
Amfissa is a town and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the regional unit of Phocis...
armatolic district with the support of Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
, but quicly abandoned his position and turned himself into a 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...
. In 1816, however he rejoined Ali Pasha and was once more appointed as Armatolos in the Salona district. It was there where he became member of Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria
thumb|right|200px|The flag of the Filiki Eteria.Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends was a secret 19th century organization, whose purpose was to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece and to establish an independent Greek state. Society members were mainly young Phanariot Greeks from Russia and local...
.
Greek War of Independence
On March 24, 1821 he started the RevolutionGreek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in Salona and later collaborated with Athanasios Diakos
Athanasios Diakos
Athanasios Diakos , a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence and a national hero, was born Athanasios Nikolaos Massavetas in the village of Ano Mousounitsa, Phocis.-Early life:...
and Dyovouniotis in order to hult Omer Vryonis
Omer Vryonis
Omer Vrioni was a leading Ottoman figure in the Greek War of Independence.-Early life:Omer Vrioni was an Albanian from the village of Vrioni near Berat, with a distinguished record in the battles in Egypt against Napoleon. When Ali Pasha revolted against the Porte, Omer was his treasurer...
from advancing further into Roumeli
Central Greece
Continental Greece or Central Greece , colloquially known as Roúmeli , is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the administrative regions of Central Greece, Attica, and part of West Greece...
. Panourgias with his band was to defend the hills of Chalkomata, near Thermopylae
Thermopylae
Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. "Hot gates" is also "the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades"....
, but was seriously wounded during the fights and had to withdraw.
He participated in January, 1822 to the 1st National Assembly at Epidauros as Salona representative and was the most important negotiator during the surrender of Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth
Acrocorinth , "Upper Corinth", the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. "It is the most impressive of the acropoleis of mainland Greece," in the estimation of George Forrest. Acrocorinth was continuously occupied from archaic times to...
to the Greek forces in 1822. He retired from military operations some months later, after he handed the leadership of his militia band to his son, Nakos Panourgias.