Konstantinos Sapountzakis
Encyclopedia
Konstantinos Sapountzakis was a Greek
Army
officer. He is notable as the first head of the Hellenic Army General Staff
and as the first commander of the Army of Epirus during the First Balkan War
.
, Crete
, then still part of the Ottoman Empire
. He came to Greece and entered the Evelpidon Military Academy, graduating as an Artillery second lieutenant. In 1867 he returned to Crete and with his father fought in the ongoing Cretan uprising
. Following the failure of the revolt, he was sent for studies abroad, in Germany, Britain and France.
Upon his return, as one of the best-educated Greek officers, he was appointed professor of military technology at the Evelpidon Academy, as well as tutor to Crown Prince Constantine
. At the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War of 1897
, with the rank of Colonel, he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff to the Crown Prince, who exercised the overall command of the Army. Badly trained and led, the Greek Army was defeated and forced to retreat. Sapountzakis was subsequently dismissed from his duties.
cabinets. With the outbreak of the First Balkan War
in October 1912, he was placed in charge of the Army of Epirus, the smaller of the two armies fielded by Greece, comprising 8,197 men and 24 guns. faced with superior Ottoman forces (some 15,000 men with 32 guns of the 23rd Regular and 23rd Reserve Divisions) as well as the strongly fortified position of Bizani
, which guarded the southern approaches to Ioannina
, its mission was entirely secondary to the main Army of Thessaly, led again by Crown Prince Constantine.
Nevertheless, the Greeks advanced and took Preveza
on 2 November 1912, and repulsed an Ottoman counteroffensive in the Battle of Pente Pigadia
in 6–12 November. Operations subsequently stalled as both sides awaited reinforcements. With the arrival of the 2nd Infantry Division, the Greeks resumed their offensive towards Ioannina on 12 December. Despite early success and the capture of Aetorrachi ridge, the Greek assault faltered against the guns of Bizani and successive Ottoman counter-offensives. The offensive was over by December 23, and operations degenerated into positional warfare. As more forces were being pulled from Macedonia
towards Epirus, Crown Prince Constantine came to assume command in Epirus in January 1913, while Sapountzakis was relegated to command a detachment comprising the 6th and 8th Infantry Divisions. From this post he participated in the final capture
of Bizani and Ioannina in early March 1913.
Following his retirement soon thereafter, Sapountzakis was appointed director of the Army Pension Fund. He died in 1931.
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....
Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
officer. He is notable as the first head of the Hellenic Army General Staff
Hellenic Army General Staff
The Hellenic Army General Staff is the general staff of the Hellenic Army, the terrestrial component of the Greek Armed Forces. It was established in 1906 as the Army Staff Service . Since 1950, the HAGS is subordinated to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff...
and as the first commander of the Army of Epirus during the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
.
Early career
The son of Vasileios Sapountzakis, he was born in RethymnoRethymno
Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno peripheral unit in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity , even though was never a competitive Minoan centre...
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, then still part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He came to Greece and entered the Evelpidon Military Academy, graduating as an Artillery second lieutenant. In 1867 he returned to Crete and with his father fought in the ongoing Cretan uprising
Cretan Revolt (1866–1869)
The Cretan Revolt of 1866–1869 or Great Cretan Revolution was a three year uprising against Ottoman rule, the third and largest in a series of Cretan revolts between the end of the Greek War of Independence in 1830 and the establishment of the independent Cretan State in 1898.-Background:The...
. Following the failure of the revolt, he was sent for studies abroad, in Germany, Britain and France.
Upon his return, as one of the best-educated Greek officers, he was appointed professor of military technology at the Evelpidon Academy, as well as tutor to Crown Prince Constantine
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
. At the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War of 1897
Greco-Turkish War (1897)
The Greco-Turkish War of 1897, also called the Thirty Days' War and known as the Black '97 in Greece, was a war fought between the Kingdom of Greece and Ottoman Empire. Its immediate cause was the question over the status of the Ottoman province of Crete, whose Greek majority long desired union...
, with the rank of Colonel, he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff to the Crown Prince, who exercised the overall command of the Army. Badly trained and led, the Greek Army was defeated and forced to retreat. Sapountzakis was subsequently dismissed from his duties.
Chief of the General Staff and Balkan Wars
In 1901 however he was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the new Army General Command, and with the establishment of the Army General Staff in 1906, he became its first head until 1909. From this position, he supervised the reorganization of the Army under the Georgios TheotokisGeorgios Theotokis
Georgios Theotokis was a Greek politician and four times Prime Minister of Greece. He represented the New Party or Neoteristikon Komma .- Biography :...
cabinets. With the outbreak of the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
in October 1912, he was placed in charge of the Army of Epirus, the smaller of the two armies fielded by Greece, comprising 8,197 men and 24 guns. faced with superior Ottoman forces (some 15,000 men with 32 guns of the 23rd Regular and 23rd Reserve Divisions) as well as the strongly fortified position of Bizani
Bizani
Bizani is a village and a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ioannina, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 municipal population was 4,241...
, which guarded the southern approaches to Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, its mission was entirely secondary to the main Army of Thessaly, led again by Crown Prince Constantine.
Nevertheless, the Greeks advanced and took Preveza
Preveza
Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epirus. An immersed tunnel, completed in 2002 which runs between Preveza and Actium, connects the town...
on 2 November 1912, and repulsed an Ottoman counteroffensive in the Battle of Pente Pigadia
Battle of Pente Pigadia
The Battle of Pente Pigadia or Battle of Beshpinar was fought during the First Balkan War between the Ottomans and the Kingdom of Greece....
in 6–12 November. Operations subsequently stalled as both sides awaited reinforcements. With the arrival of the 2nd Infantry Division, the Greeks resumed their offensive towards Ioannina on 12 December. Despite early success and the capture of Aetorrachi ridge, the Greek assault faltered against the guns of Bizani and successive Ottoman counter-offensives. The offensive was over by December 23, and operations degenerated into positional warfare. As more forces were being pulled from Macedonia
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
towards Epirus, Crown Prince Constantine came to assume command in Epirus in January 1913, while Sapountzakis was relegated to command a detachment comprising the 6th and 8th Infantry Divisions. From this post he participated in the final capture
Battle of Bizani
The Battle of Bizani took place in Epirus on March 4–6, 1913. The battle was fought between the Greek and the Ottoman forces during the last stages of the First Balkan War, and revolved around the forts of Bizani, which covered the approaches to Ioannina, the largest city in the region.At the...
of Bizani and Ioannina in early March 1913.
Following his retirement soon thereafter, Sapountzakis was appointed director of the Army Pension Fund. He died in 1931.