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Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1807)
Encyclopedia
The 1807 Ottoman Invasion of Mani was one of a series of invasions by the Ottomans to subdue the Maniots
. Mani
was the only 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.
When Antony Grigorakis gained the beydom of Mani his renowned cousin Zanet Grigorakis was raiding Ottoman territories in Laconia
after having fled from Cranae in 1803. Antony's reluctance to deal with his cousins caused the Ottomans to invaded Mani and besiege Antony in his island fort of Cranae
. The invasion force was larger than the previous one and it caused much damage to the surrounding land.
which was garrisoned by fifteen men and was eventually destroyed after three days. The Ottoman army then advanced to the plain of 'Vromopigada' where they were caught by surprise by the Maniots who they outnumbered and were routed. But the Maniot leader Éxarchos who was Zanet's nephew and Antony's father was lured to Tripoli
and hung. His mother then caused the men of Skoutari under Zanet to sack the Ottoman castle of Passavas
by trickery.
Zanet who became bey of Mani in 1784 was caught conspiring with the French
under Napoleon against the Ottomans in 1798 and was deposed and outlawed by the Ottomans. But when he received a shipment of French weapons in 1803, the Capitán-Pasha then invaded Mani and laid siege to Zanet in Cranae. After a while, Zanet slipped away from the siege during the night and retreated to inland Mani.
and Messenia
. To teach Antony a lesson the Capitán-Pasha descended upon Gytheio
with a larger force of Muslim Albanians than in 1803 and ravaged the surrounding country. He then started besieging Antony in his fort on Cranae. Like the last time he blockaded Cranae from the sea with his fleet and bombarded the fort with his artillery. But Antony and his Maniots continued to fight bravely and they managed to hold off the Ottomans long enough for them to abandon the siege.
which was the home town of the Grigorakis'. The attack was repulsed by Theodoros Grigorakis. In 1821, the rest of Greece
declared its independence
.
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 the only 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.
When Antony Grigorakis gained the beydom of Mani his renowned cousin Zanet Grigorakis was raiding Ottoman territories in Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
after having fled from Cranae in 1803. Antony's reluctance to deal with his cousins caused the Ottomans to invaded Mani and besiege Antony in his island fort of Cranae
Cranae
Cranae is an island off the coast of Gytheio connected to the land by a causeway built in 1898. According to legend, when Paris of Troy abducted Helen from Sparta they spent their first night in Cranae. When Gytheio became the major port of Sparta Cranae became a resting spot for traders...
. The invasion force was larger than the previous one and it caused much damage to the surrounding land.
Prelude
The Ottomans had tried to take over Mani in 1780. In this attempt the Ottomans laid siege to the Grigorakis tower in SkoutariSkoutari
Skoutari may refer to:*Skoutari, Laconia, a village in the southwestern part of the Laconia prefecture in the east of the Mani Peninsula...
which was garrisoned by fifteen men and was eventually destroyed after three days. The Ottoman army then advanced to the plain of 'Vromopigada' where they were caught by surprise by the Maniots who they outnumbered and were routed. But the Maniot leader Éxarchos who was Zanet's nephew and Antony's father was lured to Tripoli
Tripoli
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...
and hung. His mother then caused the men of Skoutari under Zanet to sack 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...
by trickery.
Zanet who became bey of Mani in 1784 was caught conspiring with the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
under Napoleon against the Ottomans in 1798 and was deposed and outlawed by the Ottomans. But when he received a shipment of French weapons in 1803, the Capitán-Pasha then invaded Mani and laid siege to Zanet in Cranae. After a while, Zanet slipped away from the siege during the night and retreated to inland Mani.
The Invasion
Antony's reluctance to deal with his cousin was either because he was unwilling or that he was incapable of achieving the task. His reluctance to deal with his cousin great angered the Capitán-Pasha because he was causing much damage to Ottoman lands in LaconiaLaconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
and Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
. To teach Antony a lesson the Capitán-Pasha descended upon Gytheio
Gytheio
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...
with a larger force of Muslim Albanians than in 1803 and ravaged the surrounding country. He then started besieging Antony in his fort on Cranae. Like the last time he blockaded Cranae from the sea with his fleet and bombarded the fort with his artillery. But Antony and his Maniots continued to fight bravely and they managed to hold off the Ottomans long enough for them to abandon the siege.
Aftermath
Antony continued to hold the position of bey until he resigned in favour of his son-in-law, Konstantis Zervakos who was on good terms with the Ottomans. In 1815, the Ottomans once again tried to conquer Mani by landing an army at SkoutariSkoutari
Skoutari may refer to:*Skoutari, Laconia, a village in the southwestern part of the Laconia prefecture in the east of the Mani Peninsula...
which was the home town of the Grigorakis'. The attack was repulsed by Theodoros Grigorakis. In 1821, the rest of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
declared its 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...
.