.gif)
Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1780)
Encyclopedia
The 1780 Ottoman Invasion of Mani was one of a series of invasions by the Ottomans to subdue the Maniots
. Mani
was one region of Greece
that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of Maniots. The Maniots caused damage to the Ottomans by allying with the Venetians
whenever there was a war between Venice and the Ottomans and they also were pirates.
After the failed Orlov Revolt
of 1770 in which the Maniots took part, Turko-Albanians ravaged the Peloponnese
and kept the Maniots cooped up inside Mani. The Turks also tried to keep the Maniots quiet by placing a bey
who was a Maniot to govern them. In 1780 the Ottoman bey of the Peloponnese, Hassán Ghazi, saw his chance to invaded Mani and subjugate them once and for all.
With a large force of Turko-Albanians he penetrated into Mani and laid siege to the tower of the powerful Grigorakos of Ayeranos and Skoutari. The Grigorakos' tower held out for three days before being destroyed. The Ottomans then fought a battle against the Maniot army and lost and were forced to withdraw from Mani. The Maniots then sacked the Ottoman castle of Passavas
on Easter Sunday.
of 1770 was a disaster for Mani
. The Maniots
were bottled up inside Mani and were forced to pay a tribute of 15,00 groshes to the Ottomans
. The Ottomans also appointed a Maniot bey to govern of the Maniots. The Ottomans sent parties of Turko-Albanians troops to raid Mani. The Maniots still caused some trouble for the Ottomans with their ships.
The Ottoman pasha
of the Peloponnese
, Hatzi Osman thought it was his chance to take over Mani once and for all and to impress the sultan
. He gathered and large and seasoned group of Turko-Albanians soldiers to accompany him in his invasion of Mani. When the Maniots heard of the Ottoman preparations they gathered their army under the command Éxarchos Grigorakis and his nephew Tzanetos Grigorakos who were from the powerful clan of Ayeranos and Skoutari in the mountains above Parasyros
and waited for the Ottomans to arrive.
, Ghazi sent his second in command Ali Bey with 10,000 men he advanced to Kastania
to deal with the klephts Konstantinos Kolokotronis and Panagiotaros Venetsanakis.. The town was defended by 400 men, women and children who held out for twelve days before trying to break out. The Ottomans however found out and slaughtered the defenders, of whom only 100 escaped.
The Ottomans then headed to Skoutari only to find it abandoned except for the Grigorakos' tower in the centre of the town which was garrisoned by fifteen men under the command of Yanis Katsanos. The Ottomans laid siege to the tower, but were repulsed for the first three days by the small force. On the third night Ghazi, frustrated by not having captured the tower, had it undermined. Once the mine was completed, he loaded it with gun powder, which he ignited, killing all the men in the tower.
The Ottoman army then proceeded to the plain between Parasyros and Skoutari which was called 'Agio Pigada' which means 'Holy Wells' because of the monastery on the hill above the plain being surrounded by wells. The Maniot army advance to Parasyros and sent three brothers as envoys to Ghazi. They demanded that Ghazi and his men retreat or they would face to fight the Maniot army. Seeing that his army outnumbered than the Maniot army, he responded by beheading the Maniots' envoys and sending their heads to the Maniots on silver plates.
The infuriated Maniot army charged down the hill, and before the Ottomans had a chance to prepare the Maniots were upon them. The ended in a rout with the Ottoman army suffering heavy casualties. The rest of the Ottoman army including Ghazi retreated. The Maniots had nowhere to bury so many corpses so they threw them down the wells. The plain later got the name 'Vromopigada' which means 'Dirty Wells'.
, Ghazi's capitol, but once Éxarchos arrived, Ghazi had him seized and hung. When Éxarchos' mother heard the news she was enfuriated. On Easter Sunday when everyone in Skoutari was at church she started calling the men women for not avenging her son's death. So the men of Skoutari under the command of Zanet dressed up as priests went to the Ottoman castle of Passavas and asked the commander if they could come in and bless the castle. The commander agreed and once all the men were inside they took out their hidden weapons and slaughtered everyone inside the walls. None of the Ottomans made it out alive. After the massacre, Passavas was abandoned and never inhabited again. The Ottomans then tried to destroy Zanet in 1803 and 1807. The Ottomans tried to subdue Mani again in 1815 by capturing Skoutari but the men of Skoutari beat back the attack and in 1821 the rest of Greece declared their independence from the Ottomans.
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
. Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
was one region of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of Maniots. The Maniots caused damage to the Ottomans by allying with the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
whenever there was a war between Venice and the Ottomans and they also were pirates.
After the failed 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...
of 1770 in which the Maniots took part, Turko-Albanians ravaged the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
and kept the Maniots cooped up inside Mani. The Turks also tried to keep the Maniots quiet by placing a bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
who was a Maniot to govern them. In 1780 the Ottoman bey of the Peloponnese, Hassán Ghazi, saw his chance to invaded Mani and subjugate them once and for all.
With a large force of Turko-Albanians he penetrated into Mani and laid siege to the tower of the powerful Grigorakos of Ayeranos and Skoutari. The Grigorakos' tower held out for three days before being destroyed. The Ottomans then fought a battle against the Maniot army and lost and were forced to withdraw from Mani. The Maniots then sacked the Ottoman castle of Passavas
Passavas
Passavas or Las is situated on the Mani Peninsula. In ancient times Las was a Spartan possession and in 218 BC the citizens of the city fought and routed and group of Philip V of Macedon's army. Las became part of the Union of Free Laconians in 195 BC when it separated from Sparta. The Spartans...
on Easter Sunday.
Prelude
The failed Orlov RevoltOrlov 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...
of 1770 was a disaster for Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
. The Maniots
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
were bottled up inside Mani and were forced to pay a tribute of 15,00 groshes to the Ottomans
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. The Ottomans also appointed a Maniot bey to govern of the Maniots. The Ottomans sent parties of Turko-Albanians troops to raid Mani. The Maniots still caused some trouble for the Ottomans with their ships.
The Ottoman pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
of the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, Hatzi Osman thought it was his chance to take over Mani once and for all and to impress the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
. He gathered and large and seasoned group of Turko-Albanians soldiers to accompany him in his invasion of Mani. When the Maniots heard of the Ottoman preparations they gathered their army under the command Éxarchos Grigorakis and his nephew Tzanetos Grigorakos who were from the powerful clan of Ayeranos and Skoutari in the mountains above Parasyros
Parasyros
Parasyros is a town in Mani, Laconia, Greece. Paraasyros is part of the community of Skoutari within the municipal unit of Gytheio. Parasyros is located SE of Areopoli, N of Gerolimenas and S of Gythio...
and waited for the Ottomans to arrive.
Invasion
When the Ottoman fleet arrived at GytheioGytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
, Ghazi sent his second in command Ali Bey with 10,000 men he advanced to Kastania
Siege of Kastania
The Siege of Kastania was fought in 1770 between the Maniots and the klephts under Kostantinos Kolokotronis and Panagiotaros Venetsakis and the Ottoman Empire under Ali Bey.-Prelude:...
to deal with the klephts Konstantinos Kolokotronis and Panagiotaros Venetsanakis.. The town was defended by 400 men, women and children who held out for twelve days before trying to break out. The Ottomans however found out and slaughtered the defenders, of whom only 100 escaped.
The Ottomans then headed to Skoutari only to find it abandoned except for the Grigorakos' tower in the centre of the town which was garrisoned by fifteen men under the command of Yanis Katsanos. The Ottomans laid siege to the tower, but were repulsed for the first three days by the small force. On the third night Ghazi, frustrated by not having captured the tower, had it undermined. Once the mine was completed, he loaded it with gun powder, which he ignited, killing all the men in the tower.
The Ottoman army then proceeded to the plain between Parasyros and Skoutari which was called 'Agio Pigada' which means 'Holy Wells' because of the monastery on the hill above the plain being surrounded by wells. The Maniot army advance to Parasyros and sent three brothers as envoys to Ghazi. They demanded that Ghazi and his men retreat or they would face to fight the Maniot army. Seeing that his army outnumbered than the Maniot army, he responded by beheading the Maniots' envoys and sending their heads to the Maniots on silver plates.
The infuriated Maniot army charged down the hill, and before the Ottomans had a chance to prepare the Maniots were upon them. The ended in a rout with the Ottoman army suffering heavy casualties. The rest of the Ottoman army including Ghazi retreated. The Maniots had nowhere to bury so many corpses so they threw them down the wells. The plain later got the name 'Vromopigada' which means 'Dirty Wells'.
Aftermath
Ghazi sent an envoy to Éxarchos saying that he wanted to negotiate. The men met in TripoliTripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, Ghazi's capitol, but once Éxarchos arrived, Ghazi had him seized and hung. When Éxarchos' mother heard the news she was enfuriated. On Easter Sunday when everyone in Skoutari was at church she started calling the men women for not avenging her son's death. So the men of Skoutari under the command of Zanet dressed up as priests went to the Ottoman castle of Passavas and asked the commander if they could come in and bless the castle. The commander agreed and once all the men were inside they took out their hidden weapons and slaughtered everyone inside the walls. None of the Ottomans made it out alive. After the massacre, Passavas was abandoned and never inhabited again. The Ottomans then tried to destroy Zanet in 1803 and 1807. The Ottomans tried to subdue Mani again in 1815 by capturing Skoutari but the men of Skoutari beat back the attack and in 1821 the rest of Greece declared their independence from the Ottomans.
Sources
- Peter Greenhalgh and Edward Eliopoulos. Deep into Mani: Journey to the Southern Tip of Greece. ISBN 0-571-13524-2
- Philip Ramp. Mani.
- Γιάννη Χ. Πουμελιώτη. Ηρωίδες της Λακωνίας και της Μάνης Όλης (1453-1944). ΙSBN 960-87030-1-8