Giannis Stathas
Encyclopedia
Giannis Stathas (1758–1812) was a Greek
armatolos
during the pre-Revolution era in Greece. He later became leader of a small fleet in the Aegean Sea
.
region in Central Greece. Gerodimos took part in the unsuccessful (for the Greeks) Orlov Revolt
. After the Russo-Turkish War
ended, Gerodimos successfully defended against the Turkish reprisals that followed.
area, declared the revolution against the Sultan. The Russian Czar
had promised them help, but they were again left to their fate.
Stathas and a group of Greek military commanders fled to the Agean sea. In 1807, Kolokotronis met with them in Skiathos
. There, Stathas and Nikotsaras were initiated to the Filiki Eteria
.
after the revolution. All 70 ships were painted black. As, at the time, they were not serving a State and no war was declared, they were considered pirates.
They took action in the Aegean sea, harassing the Turkish navy and blockading major ports in Thessalia, Macedonia and Asia Minor. During their 10 month reign, Salonica suffered from a loose blockade as the "pirates" captured most of the ships entering or leaving the port.
After 10 months, heavy winter and lack of ammunition obliged Giannis Stathas to disassemble the fleet.
in 1812.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
armatolos
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...
during the pre-Revolution era in Greece. He later became leader of a small fleet in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
.
Family background
His father was Gerodimos Stathas head of the "Stathaioi" family in the ValtosValtos Province
Valtos Province is one of the five former provinces of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece. It lies in the north-west part of the prefecture. Its capital was Amfilochia. The Acheloos River was the border of the province to Evrytania. Today the Kremasta artificial lake separates the province from Evrytania...
region in Central Greece. Gerodimos took part in the unsuccessful (for the Greeks) Orlov Revolt
Orlov Revolt
The Orlov Revolt was a precursor to the Greek War of Independence , which saw a Greek uprising in the Peloponnese at the instigation of Count Orlov, commander of the Russian Naval Forces of the Russo-Turkish War...
. After the Russo-Turkish War
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774
The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 was a decisive conflict that brought Southern Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire.-Background:...
ended, Gerodimos successfully defended against the Turkish reprisals that followed.
Revolutionary Acts
In 1804 he formed a regiment to help the Serbs that were rebelling against the Ottoman rule. After that he and some other armatoloi in the OlympusMount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
area, declared the revolution against the Sultan. The Russian Czar
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
had promised them help, but they were again left to their fate.
Stathas and a group of Greek military commanders fled to the Agean sea. In 1807, Kolokotronis met with them in Skiathos
Skiathos
Skiathos is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos.-Geography:...
. There, Stathas and Nikotsaras were initiated to the 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...
.
The Black Ships
The group built up a fleet of 70 small ships divided into 10 squadrons. Giannis Iskos was named Admiral of this fleet with Nikotsaras second in command. The fleet allegedly hailed the flag that was to become the Greek national flagFlag of Greece
The flag of Greece , officially recognized by Greece as one of its national symbols, is based on nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white...
after the revolution. All 70 ships were painted black. As, at the time, they were not serving a State and no war was declared, they were considered pirates.
They took action in the Aegean sea, harassing the Turkish navy and blockading major ports in Thessalia, Macedonia and Asia Minor. During their 10 month reign, Salonica suffered from a loose blockade as the "pirates" captured most of the ships entering or leaving the port.
After 10 months, heavy winter and lack of ammunition obliged Giannis Stathas to disassemble the fleet.
End of life
He returned to Valtos and little is known for him thereafter. He was allegedly killed in AmfilochiaAmfilochia
Amfilochia is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvassaras ....
in 1812.