.gif)
Sacred Band (1821)
Encyclopedia
The Sacred Band was a battalion
founded by Alexander Ypsilantis at the beginning of the Greek War of Independence
, in February 1821 in Wallachia
, now part of Romania
.
, and composed of young Greek volunteers who rallied to Ypsilantis' call for revolutionary struggle. It was the first organized military unit of the revolution, with troops bearing a common outfit and equipment, plus a fair level of military discipline. The volunteers were mostly students coming from the Greek populations of the Black Sea
, and the first core of the battalion had 500 people (later reaching up to 2,000). G. Kantakouzinos was the first commander of the Sacred Band, with Athanasios Tsakalov
(one of the founders of the Filiki Eteria
) as the second in command.
forces in the Wallachia, notably:
Its largest engagement was the Battle of Drăgăşani
on June 19, 1821, where it was destroyed almost to a man.
Despite its failure, it did inspire the uprising in mainland Greece in March 1821, when the Greek Independence War began.
), motto of the Roman emperor
and founder of the Byzantine Empire
Constantine the Great, who is also portrayed in the flag with his mother Helena of Constantinople
in the fashion of Greek Orthodox iconography.
On the inverse of the flag, it featured the inscription ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΑΚΤΗΣ ΜΟΥ ΑΝΑΓΕΝΝΩΜΑΙ (From my ashes I am reborn) accompanied by an image of a Phoenix
, the mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes.
The three colors of the flag respectively symbolized:
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
founded by Alexander Ypsilantis at the beginning of 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...
, in February 1821 in Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
, now part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
Origin and structure
It was named after the Sacred Band of ThebesSacred Band of Thebes
The Sacred Band of Thebes was a troop of picked soldiers, consisting of 150 male couples which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC. It was organised by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and played a crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra...
, and composed of young Greek volunteers who rallied to Ypsilantis' call for revolutionary struggle. It was the first organized military unit of the revolution, with troops bearing a common outfit and equipment, plus a fair level of military discipline. The volunteers were mostly students coming from the Greek populations of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, and the first core of the battalion had 500 people (later reaching up to 2,000). G. Kantakouzinos was the first commander of the Sacred Band, with Athanasios Tsakalov
Athanasios Tsakalov
Athanasios Tsakalov was a member of the Filiki Eteria , a Greek patriotic organization against Ottoman rule.Tsakalov was an Epirote born in Ioannina, in the Epirus province of Greece. In young age he left Greece to be with his father in Russia...
(one of the founders of 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...
) as the second in command.
Battles fought
The unit participated in various battles fought against the OttomanOttoman 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...
forces in the Wallachia, notably:
- GalaţiGalatiGalați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
- SlatinaSlatinaSlatina refers to a number of geographical objects in Europe:In Albania:* another name for Slatine and for SllatinaIn Antarctica* Slatina Peak...
- SculeniSculeniSculeni is a commune in Ungheni district, Moldova. It is composed of four villages: Sculeni, Blindeşti, Floreni and Gherman.It is also a border checkpoint to Romania.-Notable people from Sculeni:* Andrei Eşanu, historian* Eliezer Zusia Portugal, rabbi...
- SecuSECUSecu or SECU may refer to:* Secu - a commune in Dolj County, Romania* SECU - Stora Enso Cargo Unit, a type of shipping container* The ICAO airport code for Mariscal Lamar Airport in Cuenca, Ecuador...
Its largest engagement was the Battle of Drăgăşani
Battle of Dragashani
The Battle of Dragashani was fought on June 19, 1821 in Drăgăşani, Wallachia, between the Ottoman forces of Sultan Mahmud II and the Greek Filiki Etaireia insurgents...
on June 19, 1821, where it was destroyed almost to a man.
Despite its failure, it did inspire the uprising in mainland Greece in March 1821, when the Greek Independence War began.
Flag
The flag of the battalion held the Greek inscription ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ ΝΙΚΑ (In this sign, you will conquerIn hoc signo vinces
In hoc signo vinces is a Latin rendering of the Greek phrase "" en touto nika, and means "in this sign you will conquer"....
), motto of the Roman emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
and founder of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Constantine the Great, who is also portrayed in the flag with his mother Helena of Constantinople
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
in the fashion of Greek Orthodox iconography.
On the inverse of the flag, it featured the inscription ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΑΚΤΗΣ ΜΟΥ ΑΝΑΓΕΝΝΩΜΑΙ (From my ashes I am reborn) accompanied by an image of a Phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
, the mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes.
The three colors of the flag respectively symbolized:
- Red for PatriotismPatriotismPatriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
- White for BrotherhoodFraternityA fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
- Black for SacrificeSacrificeSacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...