I

llllllllllll

K0L0K0TR0NES

KLEPHT
AND

WARRIOR

"3/-5&3

"Adventures are

to the

adventurous.'

Beaconsfield.

THE ADVENTURE
Illustrated.

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Adventures of a Younger Son. By E. J. Trelawny. With an Introduction by Edward

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THEODORE KOLOKOTRONES.

(SSSS

KOLOKOTRONES. THE KLEPHT AND THE

WARRIOR. SIXTY YEARS OF PERIL AND DARING. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK

WITH
NOTES.

INTRODUCTION AND
BY
MRS.

AUTHOR

OF

EDMONDS, "GREEK LAYS,"

ETC., ETC.

"RHIGAS PHERAIOS,"

WITH A PREFACE BY
MONSIEUR J. GENNADIUS, GREEK ENVOY TO THE COURT OF ST. JAMES'S
ILLUSTRATED

LONDON:

T.

FISHER UNWIN,

PATERNOSTER SQUARE. MDCCCXCII

h
<G

^^

<C.^

GENERAL

PEEFAGE.
The Greek
text of the autobiography of which a

talented and muse-inspired lady has given, in the

following pages, an abridged English version, may be considered as one of the most noteworthy

contributions to

modern Greek

literature.

It is

remarkable as a specimen of the terse and graphic idiom which prevails with the illiterate portion of
the Greek people;
it

is

valuable as an historical

document hero and

and

it

is

characteristic both of the

of his amanuensis,

who wrote
own

it

under
a

his dictation.

Kolokotrones

gives,

in

his

narrative,

pretty faithful picture of himself; and to that picture some additional touches will be attempted
later on.

But a few words may here be

prefixed
actually
of

with

George Tertzetis, wrote and published these memoirs.

Tertzetis

regard to

who

was a native

of Zante, a

man

much

talent, of considerable culture,

and gifted with a peculiar grace and sweetness of diction. He was a poet and an orator and, though himself possessed of a classical education, he was one of the
;

most

uncompromising

and,

as

far

as

his

own

vi

PREFACE.

writings are concerned, one of the most successful " demotic school" in apostles of the so-called modern Greek literature the school namely of
;

those

who aimed

at

preserving, in the written

tongue, the
or epuration.

spoken
*

vernacular,

unchanged and
all

unimproved, and who were opposed to

progress

" demotic * The chief service rendered by the advocates of the tongue consisted in the proof they afforded of the futility of endeavouring to tie down to the thraldom of a restrained and unserviceable idiom the awakening conscience and the daily increasing requirement of a people able to fall back upon an immortal language in order to supply such requirements. Few words need here be wasted on the essayists and philosophers of the kind of the late Lord Strangford,

"

who

assert, that

are either sufficiently naive to imagine, or ill-disposed an entire nation have somehow conspired, at

enough

to

much

per-

sonal inconvenience and loss of precious time, to make use of an unnatural and stilted idiom in order to vindicate a patrimony, of which, apparently, only such should be deemed the rightful heirs as choose

pronounce Greek in a manner which is as arbitrary as it is ludicrous. To quote Lord Strangford is to prosecute a post mortem research of an uninviting description. But many accept and to this day repeat and as his remains in his delusions as dogmas of an infallible faith " literature have been mummified into a two-volume Selection," it will be no fault of ours if his diatribes be shown to constitute but
to
;

a sorry epitaph on his erudition "It must be owned that this word [Hellene, Hellenic] does not read " The quite comfortably and easily." "The nation is simply mad." " an extraordiGreeks, one and all, write in an artificial language," nary lingo ... to which they are sacrificing their own satisfactory " This factitious vernacular bow-wow." language is the symbol of " with much Hellenism," which, rattening and house-burning," is forced down the throats of " the Eomaic-speaking Byzantine agricul:

turists of Thessaly. ... It [their education] teaches nothing of any kind except a barbarous and factitious literary jargon, made up out of the grammar and the words of a dead language, from which it is a point of honour to divorce the idiom of the true spoken language and this jargon is taken up and inculcated everywhere as the symbol of Hellenism and the uniting bond of the race. ... If I were a rich man I would set a premium on the head of any Greek in the kingdom who could be shown to have lived to the age of fifty without ever
;

speaking a word of book-Greek,

just as

you give a blue coat

PBEFACE.

vii

For many years Tertzetis was the librarian of the Greek Parliament (which, under King Otho, was still composed of two Chambers), and in that
capacity he

came

into close contact and intimate home

as a reward of

and brass buttons

merit.'
,

to the virtuous labourer at

It is to be feared that but

selves of this tempting offer.

few Greeks would have availed themKolokotrones himself, at an age even

fifty, appears so lost to a sense of the fitness of " book-Greek " the moment he finds himself conthings as to use fronted with the necessity of giving expression to any idea rising above the limited vocabulary of his " vernacular bow-wow." As for Tertzetis, he, in common with the rest of the now all but extinct

more mature than

adequate expression, in the demotic idiom, to the subjects he had to treat, used at every step whole " phrases from book-Greek," and persuaded himself he was writing in the vernacular by simply dropping terminal i>'s and by maiming
vernacularists, failing to give

Lord Strangford might have endangered his pecuniary resources had he offered his prize of a blue coat and brass buttons to such Dorsetshire rustics as would not use the English of the Times even to the day of their death; but in Greece his proffered munificence would have remained untouched. Those who for their own egotistical enjoyment advocate the continuance of a picturesque barbarity in language, remind one forcibly of that sickly school in art, who, little caring whether the people of Venice needed St. Mark's as a useful
harmless words.
place of worship, lamented and protested against the restoration of its contorted pavement, the upheavals of which, they boldly affirmed, had thus been originally fashioned, in order to represent the waves of

The Greek people were guided in the progressive the Adriatic development of their language by practical and urgent needs. The movement which has made, within the last century, such rapid and giant strides, was not the result of scholastic pedantry or it was not of political fanaticism it was not imposed or forced mechanical. It was the result of the spread of education and of the that it gradual re-civilization of the country. It is a remarkable fact The culture of the Greek language preceded political emancipation. and the study of Greek literature have undoubtedly had, at all times and places, and still have, as an immediate result, the awakening of a sense of individual dignity and of national freedom. But that is one of the primary reasons why the study of Greek is advocated the world over as an indispensable adjunct to a liberal education. Such an influence be esteemed, by some, a regrettable drawback ; but
!

may

Lord Strangford's reprinted

diatribes will not help to cure

it.

viii

PREFACE.

relations with all the great survivors of the War of Independence. On the 25th of March (6th

April)

each year, the anniversary of Greek Independence, coinciding as it does with the
of

festival of the

Annunciation, was celebrated in the Chamber by an oration which Tertzetis delivered, never failing to move his audience to enthusiasm

and tears. It was on one of these occasions that he announced the forthcoming publication of the reminiscences of Kolokotrones, and related how
he had succeeded in persuading the old warrior that he owed it to his country to leave a written
record of his sufferings and of his deeds of valour in her cause. He had repeatedly begged him to do so, but Kolokotrones refused, pretexting his He could read, in a fashion; inability to write.

but in the way of writing he could not do more than scratch his signature. At last one day
Tertzetis said to "

him
will

General, you

remain

like a

musical instru-

ment, which brings forth sounds men listen to and enjoy, but which does not itself comprehend the
value of
.its

own

voice.

If

you do not yourself

record your deeds, they will hereafter appear as the play of chance, not as the works of your own wisdom and conscience. Deeds of heroism

and acts of devotion are befitting a Greek; but

they must be recorded in writing, as of old. You hesitate lest you should do injustice to others.

Speak the truth, as you know it to be concerned lest you fall into errors; you

be not
will not

PREFACE.

ix

lead the world astray; truth will herself appear foremost. And if your memory fail you as to
details,

who

will

put

it

down

to

you

as a sin?

You

object you are illiterate; you and to spare. Speech is literature.

know enough

will write; for there lived

many

Speak, and I a brave man before

Agamemnon and Achilles, who, having chanced no chronicler, now lie- forgotten, unpraised and
unmourned.
not trust the record of your own deeds to others than yourself; but fear the adventurer in literature as you have shunned him in " other walks.
scrutinized me," Tertzetis goes on to say, "with his glance, now wild, now soft and caressing,
"

Do

He

and then he said to me, Come to-morrow.' Come early/ he again cried out to me from the window as I was leaving.' So the dictation began in the summer of 1836, and a part of these reminiscences was privately
'

'

'

printed in 1846, three years after the death of Kolokotrones. The printing was continued in 1850, but the whole was not published till 1852.
Tertzetis noted

down

these memoirs,

not

in

shorthand, with which he was unacquainted, but by writing as fast as he could follow Kolokotroijes,
did not precisely dictate, but narrated his He was already bowed tale as he usually talked.

who

down, more by the terrible hardships which he had and endured, than with years. Besides, his idiom mode of expression was peculiar, and, as Tertzetis
of his voice, relates, often a gesture, the intonation

PEEFACE.
countenance, indicated

or the expression of his

and explained more than his rugged sentences. The original manuscript must therefore have been of a very fragmentary description and Tertzetis adds that he marked with dots many gaps which he had intended to request Koloko;

trones to supplement,

The

fidelity

had he been spared to do so. with which Tertzetis accomplished

his self-imposed task cannot be disputed. On the contrary, the style used is only too faithful a re-

presentation of the idiom of Greek mountaineers of the times to which the narrative relates. It is

an idiom as peculiar as the English of the Scottish highlanders, with a large admixture of barbarisms,

and with many abbreviations and the suppression of such explanatory words or sentences as may be
suggested by the context, or may be easily understood by one conversant with the habits of thought

and

of the speaker, but ordinary reader to halt and

life

which compel the

consider at

every Moreover, Kolokotrones was addressing his remarks to one already familiar with the general course of the events of which he was
sentence.
offering rather his

own

version, than a connected

to a

and systematic recital. For all these reasons, even Greek the perusal and thorough comprehension of this remarkable book is no smooth reading.
It requires, in

any

case,

some acquaintance with the

general outlines of the history of the Greek War The courage, therefore, with of Independence. which Mrs. Edmonds has undertaken to grapple

PBEFACE.
with
difficulties,

xi

in

many

cases hopeless,

is

as

admirable as the apparent shortcomings and hiatuses of the English version are conceivable and

almost inevitable.

The narrative begins with the birth of Kolokotrones in 1770, and ends in 1836, when he was
The first question living peaceably at Athens. which will present itself to one who has read it
through
doubt.
is

to

historical value.

what extent does it possess an Of its sincerity there can be no

it

Kolokotrones dictated

when many
It

of

those concerned were

still living.
;

was not aditself

dressed to the outer world

while in Greece

everything relating to the

is

War

of

Independence

eagerly scanned and jealously criticised. Nevertheless, while supplementary statements or rectifications of unimportant incidents may have been offered, no material contradiction has appeared

with respect to Kolokotrones' narrative of his

dividual action in the war.

in-

It cannot, of course,
is

be maintained that
impartial.

He was
;

absolutely an active participant in the

his

narrative

events of that time

he was mixed up, however

involuntarily, in the intestine troubles 'and strifes

which considerably reduced and almost crushed the great object of the Greek uprising. But on
the whole his account of these events
is

dispas-

and sionate, fairly impartial, and singularly sober unpretentious. In fact Kolokotrones' countrymen esteem his deeds and the glorious part he took
in the liberation of the country far higher than

xii

PREFACE.
;

he himself appears to appraise them

and the

verdict of history will confirm their appreciation. As regards their literary merit, these reminis-

cences can lay claim to no sort of artistic finish.

There

is

no trace of scholarly

ability or of careful

the contrary, the style, as already stated, is rugged in the extreme, indicative not of the affected ruggedness of the professional philocomposition.
sopher, wearying and repellant in its too manifest effort, but of the unconcerned directness and un-

On

conscious force of a natural rhetoric.

sense

In one
to the

we have here the modern counterpart

narratives of
relate the

Homer and
tale,

Herodotus.

All three

same

each in the particular manner

Kolokotrones, however, had this advantage over his predecessors in the narration of this ever-recurring strife that before consigning to
:

of his age and Asia.

the secular struggle between Greece

writing the deeds he relates, he engraved them on the page of history w ith the point of his sword.
T

His story

may

well be said to have been written

T

not with ink, but with the blood w hich flowed in torrents for the freedom of Greece.

He* was born and destined to this holy work. His family, which dates three centuries back, first
appears in history as a living protest against foreign domination. They waged war against the

Turk from

their native crags and fastnesses, bequeathing from father to son the choice between blessing and curse, to continue or abandon the

sacred tradition.

Each succeeding generation

is

PBEFACE.

Xlll

decimated in holocausts of martyrs; but it persists the firm belief and inextinguishable hope of ultimate triumph.* The abortive revolt of the Morea, in which his, father, Constantine Kolokotrones, had taken a lead-\ ing part, had just been suppressed, when on April 3rd, the Easter Monday of 1770, Theodore was
in

born f under a tree on the hills of Eama, in Messenia,

*

How

nation,

how imbued

deeply rooted this belief was in the traditions of the entire Kolokotrones was with the conviction that the

Turkish dominion, however powerful, was insecure, incomplete, and transitory, and that the nation, as a whole, had never been reconciled to it, and never recognized it, is conclusively shown by the following anecdote, which is given in his reminiscences, but which Kolokotrones
himself related on another occasion in the following more detailed manner. In 1823, after the fall of Nauplia, three English warships anchored in the bay, and the commander of the squadron, whose

name

is given as Hamilton, after congratulating Kolokotrones on his victory of Dervenakia and the capture of Nauplia, urged upon him the opportuneness of appealing to the English Government, so that, through

its

to the Sultan.

mediation, Greece might be constituted into a principality, vassal Kolokotrones replied that the Greeks had never re;

cognized the Suzerainty of the Sultan

and on the English com-

mander expressing his surprise at this assertion, he added: "The Turk has come upon us as a rapacious marauder; he has put to death some of us and has made slaves of others; but when our king fell in battle he had made no treaty with the Turks, but left a will bidding His garrison his garrison carry on the war and free the nation. has never given up the struggle, and our two fortresses have never capitulated." Hamilton again asked who were the garrison and which the fortresses and Kolokotrones replied " The garrison of our king
;
:

are the so-called Klephts, and the two fortresses are Mama and Suli." f Tertzetis points to certain parallel incidents in the lives of Washington, Napoleon, and Kolokotrones, all three having been

contemporaries, great strategists, and leaders of nations. Kolokotrones was in his fifteenth year when Washington signed the treaty of peace with England and in his thirtieth when Napoleon was pro;

claimed Emperor, whose junior he was by one year. The mothers of both were driven by war to mountain refuges in their pregnancy but Napoleon died an exile in his fifty-second year, while Kolokotrones
;

attained the age of seventy after seeing his country

free.

xiv

PBEFACE.

where his clan had sought a refuge. The child of a struggle for freedom, he was reared up amidst the mountain songs of the Klephts and within echo
of the wailings of the bondsmen of the plains.* His father having been, some years later, seized and put to death by the Turks, he was sent by
# It would have required a good-sized volume one that might well have figured in this series to set forth with adequate detail who the Klephts were, what their origin, their organization, the

how

and religious motives of their desperate mode of life, and the Porte entered into compacts and alliances with them at times, the more effectually to hunt them down at others. The interesting introduction in the following pages, offers some elucidation
patriotic

tion,

of the subject. But those who are desirous for more ample informacan find no better guide than the unrivalled historial retrospect with which C. Fauriel has prefaced his classic work, "Les Chants

Paris, 1824." Although inaccurate on some points of minor importance, it remains the best monograph on the subject and in perusing it, the reader may fancy himself carried back to the heroic times of ancient Greece. No doubt the Klephts degenerated in later years into bands of marauders and brigands. When the great chiefs, who served only Faith and Freedom, had disappeared, it was but natural that their following, having been persecuted into the conviction that the governing caste were their
:

Populaires de la Grece Moderne

all

natural foes, should continue to regard a life of government as the only one worth leading.

armed opposition to The poisonous seed

of secular slavery and misrule cannot be eradicated in a generation. Yet, whatever brigandage may have existed in Greece and it was never a more rampant evil there than in other and more favoured
countries, both of the old world and of the new it existed mostly as the outcome of incursions from over the frontier, for which the government of the country could not well have been held answerable.

The Klephts of old may have been guilty of acts of cruelty theirs was a life and death struggle, bequeathed from father to son. But their sense of chivalry can compare favourably with that of the much;

vaunted knights of the West. They certainly never proved themselves capable not even towards their Mussulman foes of such acts as those of the later Crusaders, who, starting with the avowed object of freeing the tomb of Christ, ended by enthroning the harlots of their camps on the holy altar of Saint Sophia, by way of mockery
of the Virgin of the u Schismatics," and who, for many centuries afterwards, infested and victimised the Levant as depredators and adventurers.

PREFACE.
his mother,

xv

now an orphan

load of

wood

and

salt.

On

of twelve, to sell a in Tripolitza, and bring back flour his way thither he was waylaid and

beaten by a Turk the usual reminder to a Christian that he was but a giaour and a slave. Kolokotrones managed to sell his firewood, but he brought back neither flour nor salt, but a sword, vowing

vengeance to the tyrant. Who but his own stout heart would then have hoped that forty years later, on the memorable 22nd September, 1821, he

was destined to enter Tripolitza as a conqueror Yet he seemed marked out by Providence to work out such a revenge. His whole life was
!

typical of the sufferings, the struggles, and the resurrection of Greece. The influence, the ? of the name of the Kolokotrones was sol prestige

dreaded by the Turks, that the extirpation of the" entire clan was ordered by the Porte in 1804.
Theodore's brothers, cousins, and and one hundred and fifty of their folrelatives, lowers, were butchered in the struggle that ensued. But he remained undaunted; and after compelling the Turks to recognize him, at the age
Thirty- six of
of sixteen, as chief of the Armatoles of Megalopolis, he found himself again the object of a per-

He fidious conspiracy, intending to entrap him. was thus forced to take refuge in Zante in 1805.
Once
in
safety, his
first

care

was

to organize

amongst the Greek refugees in the Ionian Islands a memorial addressed to the Emperor of Kussia,
entreating

him

to intervene in favour of Greece.

la

xvi

PEEFACE.

answer was received, but the Eussian Governor of. the Islands urged Kolokotrones to recruit a Greek corps for service against Bonaparte. " What
" was the reply. wrong has Bonaparte done to us? "If you want men to fight for the freedom of Greece, I bind myself to muster a body of ten thousand." For his inextinguishable hopes made him cling and even from afar to his beloved mountains oft and again he would ascend with his young
;

No

son the castle

hill of
tell

Morea, he would
be
free.

Zante, and, pointing to the the boy that those were the

fastnesses of their forefathers,

which must again

The English occupation

opened up
prospect.
for

of the Ionian Islands

Kolokotrones a

new and

brilliant

that far-sighted sagacity which guided all his resolves, he seized the opportunity to lend brilliant services to the British Govern-

With

ment during the

It

siege of Santa

Maura, and his

bravery was rewarded with the grade of major.

was then he acquired

tactical

knowledge and

experienced the advantages of regular warfare.

It

was then he became acquainted with, and

-conceived a devoted friendship for, General Sir Bichard Church. It was there, in the Ionian
Islands, that
laid the first

Lord Guilford and General Church

germ

of English philhellenism, the

one by the revival of learning in Greece, the other by his resolute endeavours for the liberty of Greece.
It

was a long and dreary waiting.

But

at last

PREFACE.

xyii

the day, which fourteen generations of Greeks had longed and prayed for, dawned with the spring of the proclamation of Alexander Ypsi" When lantis resounded throughout all Greece. " when it reached my ears," said Kolokotrones, I heard the war-trumpet of the Fatherland calls
1821,
'

when

you,' I fancied that

the trumpet blast. I grasped the hilt

I inscribed in

heaven and earth re-echoed I donned on my fez gallantly, of my sword with fervour, and
heart with letters of
"
!

my

fire

the

immortal name of Alexander Ypsilantis The long-expected hour had now arrived, and of " Fear the result he never doubted for an instant. " God has pledged His not," he was wont to say;

word
once

for

the liberty of Greece, and

He

will not

retract."

He

declared,

"We

have been baptized

holy ointment; we shall again be baptized in blood for the freedom of the Father" land! The faith and piety of this rough and hardened warrior was that of an ascetic. In 1803,

with

ruined and passing by a Convent of the Virgin, he halted there devastated during the last revolt, and prayed fervently, making a vow to rebuild the Blessed shrine in its grandeur, if but the
pristine

Virgin inspired

him how

to free the country.

The

second year of the war, after his heroic successes, he returned to the sacred spot and fulfilled his
vow.
again, after his great victory his troops Valtetzi, it being a Friday, he ordered to fast that day and offer up a thanksgiving prayer to God.

And

at

xviii

PEEFACE.
qualities alone endeared

But not these

his

him

to

he exercised a magic prestige of his name, his ardent patriotism, his consummate knowledge of the country, were powerful agencies in his favour. Above all, he was a born soldier and a great The troops which he led to battle strategist. were composed for the most part of raw recruits, badly armed, and inferior, always in numbers and

men, over

whom

influ-

ence^

The

often in physique, to the splendid armies which the Turks poured into the Morea from Asia and

Egypt. Yet he gained one victory after another never a more glorious one than over the dreaded force of Dram-Ali, whom he outwitted and outmanoeuvred.

He was
and

full

of resource, especially

in times of crisis

reverses.

most

characteristic is the feat

Memorable and by which pretend-

ing, in the

midst of a precipitate retreat, to have suddenly routed the Turks, he set up a cry of exultation, and he deceived his own men, whom he
thus rallied and actually converted from fugitives On another occasion, during the into pursuers.
siege of Tripolitza, one of his officers drew his attention to a body of Turkish troops lurking in

the distance.

Kolokotrones looked around uncon-

cerned, and replied that they were only birds of prey who must have just feasted on the body of

Hadji-Koulele

(a

dreaded Turkish commander

who

had been
digest

killed),
!

and they were now resting to

him

In

fact,

he was the Odysseus of the Greek

War

PBEFACE.
of Independence,* and he named " the old man of the

xix

was

befittingly nick(O' Tepwv rod

Morea"

Mcopea), not on account of his age, which was not great at that date, but owing to his unrivalled

experience, his unerring judgment, and his inIn common with manyexhaustible resource.

great
like

men, he was extremely all good Klephts, an adept

superstitious, and,

bones of sheep.
dreams, so

He
so,

in divining by the believed in the portents of

much

measures in

that he often took military accordance with the inferences he

drew from his dreams. Yet he was full of dry humour, and many of his sayings remain fresh in the minds of men in Greece. It is related of him that, when suffering from an abscess on the back, he asked his men how it looked. One told him it was no bigger than a pea another, that it was the size of a cherry while a third assured him
; ;

it

Strange," remarked Kolokotrones; "the distance is but from my head " And to my back, yefc I cannot learn the truth

was

as large as an egg.

"

the Bavarian Eegency committed the fatal blunder of condemning Kolokotrones to death on a trumped-up charge of treason, on the sentence being commuted to twenty years' imprisonment, the decree was read to him. "I shall cheat the
again,

when

Eegency," he said;
*

"for I shall not live the

si

me fit, avee des troni sortant de chez lui, il (Comte Capo d'Istria) le portrait du fourbe Ulysse, passages l'Homere qu'il savait par cceur, " Ne le trouvez vous (tfory ae bien
'

Une

fois

que je rencontrai a Argos,

je

ne

me

trompe, Koloko-

et

me

dit:

pas

resemblant?^

Saint Vincent, " Expedition Scientifique de Mor^e."

Pans, W6b).

xx

PBEFACE.
years.-"

Being himself a humorist, he knew well how to frustrate attempts at scorn. At Tripolitza, on a Sunday, a lampoon directed against him was found nailed to the door of the church, where a large crowd soon gathered. Kolokotrones
twenty
it

going into mass, took down the placard and put in his pocket; but at the conclusion of the
it
T

service he compelled the priest to read to the congregation, whom he then asked

aloud

w hether

he had merited the insult. He was greeted with cheers, and returned to his house amid an ovation. He was inexhaustible also in fables, by means of which he would convey much of his caustic and pregnant criticism. For he loved to examine the philosophical aspect of things, and he used to say that philosophy is observation. His rhetoric, rude and unadorned as it was, had great persuasive His strategy would not have availed powers.
against Dram-Ali's campaign. It was by haranguing his soldiers that he encouraged them

alone

to hold fast to their entrenchments

the onslaughts of the enemy. the establishment of peace and order, the rising generation were to be exhorted and urged to
imitation of the deeds of their fathers, George Gennadius called upon Kolokotrones to address

and despise And when, after

the young students of Athens. The scene was one never to be forgotten, when, on the feast of the Asomati in 1838, the grizzly old General stood up on the Pnyx and related to those, who were

now

fortunate

enough to

be educated as free

PBEFACE.
citizens,

xxi

by what sacrifices the Fatherland had been redeemed and liberated. The voice of Greek liberty then re-echoed on those sacred rocks for
the

time since the days of Demosthenes. The whole assembly was filled with enthusiasm, and
first

was moved to tears when he told them, in conclusion, that he had but one regret, that he had always prayed to fall sword in hand in battle, but he was now condemned to end his days on his couch. His own want of education made him even more
eager that the rising generation should receive enlightenment. He often attended the lectures
in the University

and the Gymnasia, sitting himself on the benches by the side of the scholars, It was his so as to excite pride in their studies.

wont

pace up and down the room while his son prepared his lessons and on one occasion,
to
;

stopping short,

he asked him suddenly

"
:

Kolinos,

which do you take to be the great house of the " The the nation?" king's palace/' answered
boy.
of the

He had

"No," said he; "it in him the innate

Greek
for

is the University." love and admiration

He, however, knew well how to discern times and seasons. On the
learning.

eve of the Kevolution, while at Zante, he attended as usual the lectures of the Master, Nicolas at Kalyva; and, being filled with enthusiasm
the mention of a free Fatherland, he snatched the b'ook from Kalyva's hands, and, tearing it up, " This he said, you should now teach them," "how to make cartridges with the paper."

xxii

PEEFACE.

His whole mind and soul was indeed that of a soldier. His very appearance announced him as such. He was rather short in stature, of a thin, wiry frame, sunburnt and weather-beaten to a degree that he might well have been mistaken for
stentorian voice, and an irresistibly piercing glance, to which his hooked nose lent the aspect of an eagle; and
of colour.*

man

He had

with the

long hair, traditional to the Palikar, floating about him, he looked, as Pechio says, like one of those splendid rocks which project

from the iEgean. Dressed in the Greek fustanella, he wore during the whole of the war, not a fez, but a helmet,
declaring that his
old.

mind was with the Greeks

of

while, prior to the war, he served under British rule in the Ionian Islands, he would never

And

consent to hang a tassel to the

testifying
literal

hilt of his

thereby

his

strict

obedience

to

sword, the

interpretation

of

Ehigas' immortal wara

life

song, f

Though hardened by
by

cruel wrongs, the terrors of slavery, in the midst of which

of

* Kolokotrones was of so dark a complexion that when, in 1804, the Turkish authorities sent word to the primates of Messenia that they must deliver up his head or they would forfeit theirs, they sent in the

head of a gipsy, declaring

j-

it

was

Kolokotrones'.
xaOij,
gtcciQi.

KdXKia yid rrjv irarpida Kavkvag va *H va Kptnaoy cpovvra yia %kvov <tto
life

" Better to lose one's

tassel to one's sword."

Fatherland, than hang a foreign This referred to the many Greeks who at that time, fleeing from Turkish oppression, served as mercenaries in European armies.
for the

PBEFACE.

xxiii

he saw the light of day, by the untold horrors of a barbarous war of rapine and extermination, he had a child-like meekness and tenderness yet of heart. So that when the death of Karaiskakis

was announced to him he wept and wailed long and bitterly, repeating himself the dirges said to
the brave slain in battle.

He was
fact

he

of a truly Spartan simplicity, and in took pride in the extreme poverty in

which, in spite of his hundred victories, he had lived, and in which he was destined to end his

He glorified in his achievements, and the days. liberation of Greece was his recompense. Speaking in the Assembly at Nauplia in 1832, he said
:

commander-in-chief of the Peloponnesus I have led many thousands of men, I have conducted

"As

many campaigns and have

but I confess in
all

fought many battles conscience that during the

;

whole duration of the struggle I did not spend The a single obole of my own for I had none.
;

people fed me, and supplied

they required;
all

my

troops with all sword supplied the rest, for

my

the horses and arms

we needed we took from

the Turks."
his small savings he at last built himself a house in Athens, and there he retired to pass the last of his life in a room, about the

With

respects,

days only furniture of which consisted in the couch on which he lay. To those who called to pay their "You see this room," he said; "it has
are
bare, the

no ornaments, the walls

windows

xxiv

PEEFACE.

Such is Greece as we have enungarnished. trusted her to you, of the younger generation. In 1821 we cleared the ground, we brought together the stones and the mortar, we built the
walls and covered

them

in with a roof.

It is for

you now to deck the naked walls, to bring in the furniture, to hang. the mirrors and light the lamps. This your advancement and enlightenment will do; and the blessings of your fellow-

men

earn for you a place of rest in the abodes of the just."

will

He
ing
;

appeared to have felt his own end approachand daily he took leave of his friends and
bidding

compeers,
his

them pardon

him

that

he

might depart in peace.

old

He was

reconciled with

comrade, Peter Mavromichalis, and he

actually sailed to

Hydra and

Spetzae to

make

his

peace Lopponent,

with the aged Lazarus Countouriotis, his old with Mexis and others. On the very

eve of his death, which occurred on the morning of February 4, 1843, he was present at the
court ball, and there bid King Otto farewell. Many of those who will read these pages may
well say of

him

" D'autres ont eu plus d'influence

Sur
Lui,

mon
5

esprit et

a montre une

mes idees, ame heroique

C'est encore a lui

que je dois

le plus." *

* These lines are from Victor Cousin's sublime dedication of his " " translation of Plato's Lysis to Count Sanctorre de Santa Eosa, the Italian patriot and great philhellene, who fell at Sphacteria on May 9, 1825, for the independence of Greece.

PBEFACE.

XXV

For such, indeed, was the heroic generation

the

of

men who

fought for the

Nowhere on earth, and at was the issue between wrong and justice, darkness and light, tyranny and freedom, placed before the world more clearly, than when, in 1821, the Greeks
rose up against their oppressors, in a struggle all but Not alone the power of the great Turkish hopeless.

freedom of Greece. no time in history,

unbroken and dreaded; but the Cabinets of Europe were, one and all, opposed to the liberation of Greece at that time. Yet they braved all, and with their trust in God, with unshaken faith in the justice of their cause, a whole
still

Empire was

people marched to what then appeared certain

destruction.
forth

At Messolonghi, when they

issued

amid the drizzle of the night, feeling their desolation and their doom, they said to one another " " The Almighty Himself weeps for us to-night But they went on, sword in hand, to fall for their
:
!

country, "

greeting her with Arise, thou dearest mother

the
"
!

gladsome

cry:

as they fell they saw around them the old heroes of Greece, arrayed in their panoplies, bathed
in the light of their immortal glory, rise up from their tombs to receive into their ranks those who

And

had died
more.

to

make the name

of Greece live once

J.

G.

London, October, 1891.

CONTENTS.
TAGE
(1)

Preface
Introductory

(2)

and

Historical

Sketch

of

the
1

Klephts
(3)

Autobiography of Theodore Kolokotrones

Kolokotrones, the Klepht and the Warrior

...

81

(4)

...

83

LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.

(1)

Theodore Kolokotrones

INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE KLEPHTS.

GENERAL
and
"
"

survey of the Klephts, both in regard to their origin, and

also in relation to their historical
political
is

influence,

almost

demanded
Autobiography

before the following of Theodore Kolokotrones, one

of their most famous captains, can be duly appreciated. Although the far larger portion of this " " refers to a period when KolokoAutobiography trones was no longer a leader of Klephts, but a

leader of armies, this latter portion cannot be rightly understood except in connection with the

former. At the very outset mind that in any historical

it

must be borne
and

in

consideration of the

Greek Klephts, however

nature, the bodies of

brief

men

cursory its so called ought not to

be confounded with ordinary bands of brigands and robbers, but should be critically dissociated

from them.

Historians have not always clearly defined this difference, and the political import of the events in which the Klephts played so
2

INTBODUCTION.

prominent a part has thus in a great measure been Some continental writers, however, overlooked. and especially the modern Greek historians, have
been careful to discriminate in this matter by

employing the word \y<rTal to describe the brigands pure and simple whose object is plunder alone,

and who

live

whilst they

solely for the purpose of robbery, reserve the name of Kktyrai as a

distinguishing

mark whereby

to designate the free

mountaineers who carried

on

an open warfare

against the oppressors of their nation, and who, by their unsubdued state upon the hills, justified

the assertion occasionally made that Greece was Thus viewed, the at no time wholly conquered.

unconquered and when his life is closely studied through Greece, the medium of a few examples which will be given
Klepht
truly
typifies

a free

and

presently

in

his

independent haughtiness, the

austerity of his morals, his undying enthusiasm for liberty, his fidelity to his religion, and in his in-

veterate

and

uncompromising

hatred

for

the

Ottoman rule, the real value of such an assertion and its full significance will be readily seen.
It
is

not the intention here to assume that

hills which the free Klepht made his were altogether unpeopled until after the home taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.

those

Discontented or turbulent
different

men

fled' thither

at

epochs,

for

a time at least, to escape

of

from the trammels

whilst

a despotic

government,

some

possibly,

who were persecuted on

INTRODUCTION.
religious

sought and found there a welcome refuge. Such has been the opinion of competent writers on the subject. The Klephts,
grounds,

however,

who

are

now

to be considered did not

fall

make

their appearance until after the

of the
of

Western Empire, and through the fanaticism

the Turks, these mountaineers her declared and open enemies increased from year to year, until Olympus, Pindus, Pelion, and Agrapha were

peopled by them. In the first years of this occupation the defiant attitude which the Klephts assumed towards the

Ottoman Government was greatly encouraged by the Venetians, who held some of the maritime
Through the open as well ports in their vicinity. as the covert aid thus derived, they quickly became
a terror and a scourge both to the Sultan and his Turkish subjects alike. In point of fact the warlike

education which these denizens of the heights

in the countries extending from

Cape Maleas received during the Frankish occupation,

Olympus

to

became the heritage of a race of men who never bowed their necks to the Ottoman yoke. As often as Venice took up arms against Turkey she asked for their assistance, and when she made peace with that power, many of them remained in her
service with the hope that

another opportunity
at

would soon
foe
;

arise

for

striking

their

common

number probably the greater to renew the returned to their rugged hills Their old struggle with more vigour than before.
whilst others

INTBODUCTION.

strength at* length became so recognized a fact in the Peloponnesus, and throughout Macedonia,
Epirus, Thessaly, and Akarnania, that the whole of the hill country was .practically resigned to

them, and was commonly spoken of as /e\e<Tothe abodes of the Klephts. The attractions Xcbpia
of such a

when

dangers and hardships, viewed in comparison with the humiliations

life,

whatever

its

and degradations to which those who followed kind were peaceful occupations of whatever
exposed, can easily be imagined. The restlessness of youth, its natural dislike to restraints of any

more powerful motives (which, however, were at no

sort,

and

its

love of adventure, without any

time wanting), furnished a never-failing supply of the most vigorous and the bravest of the sons of

Greece to
It

fill

the ranks of the mountain armies.

without any exaggeration be affirmed, that the flower of Greek manhood, which had been

may

formerly seized upon by the child tax to furnish material for the Janissary Corps, was, after the abandonment of that levy, to be found arrayed in

arms upon the heights.

The
minded

feeling of

young
all

repulsion which every healthyGreek must have experienced

towards

and

his political surroundings, is forcibly pathetically described in the opening lines of

one of the popular songs " Mother, to the Turk I will I cannot be a slave that can I not endure.
;

take

my gun and will henceforth be a Klepht I will dwell with the wild beasts on the hills and the
;

INTRODUCTION.

high rocks. The snows shall be my coverlet and the stones shall be my bed in the stronghold of the Klephts. I go, but weep not, my mother,
bless

me

rather,

and pray that

may

kill

many

Turks."

In this way was the Klephtic force on the highlands of Turkey maintained, a force which professed open warfare, and which gloried in the name of Klepht, for that name carried no dishonour with it, and thus became every year

more formidable
declared

to the
in

enemy

Ottoman Government. A her midst which entered into

no treaties with her, and which, from the fortified position which it held seemed to be almost invincible,
it

was

still

more dangerous

to the safety

of the Turkish

was an internal
foe.

Empire from the one fact that it enemy ever ready to assist a foreign
this

In

view

of

danger

which

was

ever

present, imitation

and always threatening, the Porte, in of the Venetian Eepublic which at different times had enrolled as many Greeks, and to enter her especially Klephts, as were willing
service,

and having found by long experience that the abodes of the Klephts were not to be reduced either by arms or by subtlety, offered them terms, which in their details contained no token of subthe forms of a jection, but assumed rather
tributary sovereignty.

This measure was introduced between the years the 1534 and 1537, during the reign of Souleiman

mTUODTJCTlON.

Magnificent, through the instrumentality of his Grand Vizier Ibrahim. This man, afterwards
to

become

so noted,

Christian sailor

was the son of an obscure of Parga, and had been taken

from his parents among other children of the inhabitants of that island, in order to be brought up and enrolled in the army of the Janissaries.

On

account of his great ability he rose by quick steps until he reached the post of Chief Vizier.
to the Christians,
his promotion

He had always been well disposed

and was a far-seeing man.

Upon

to the high office of Vizier he issued a firman which divided Greece into fifteen districts, at the

head of which there was appointed a Christian man an Armatolos in fact with the title of of arms Captain, whose duty it was to keep order and to repress outrages in the roads and passes under This regulation remained intact his jurisdiction.
until the reign of

Amurath, who,

in 1627, in order

to

weaken the increasing power of these Armatoli, abrogated the employment of them, and destroying all their forts on the defiles and passes, filled up
the Armatolik posts with Ottomans. The Armatoli, in revenge for thus being driven out, gathered themselves together and attacked
entered upon what they considered to be their lawful inheritance, despoiling the disthose

who had

and slaying the Turks who had been put into " On this their places. account," says the Greek
tricts,

historian Sathas,

"they

first

received the

name

of

Klephts, from

Kki-n-Teiv

to steal or rob

by which

INTRODUCTION.

name they were

outside world."

ever afterwards

known

to the

In vain did the governors of

these districts use every means to quell those excesses, but at length finding that the attempts

they used increased rather than abated them, and that the employment of force was of no avail in
checking the exploits of their opponents, another firman was issued, which reinstated the Christians
as the guardians of the roads.

Besides keeping the passes free from robbers they were now required to collect the taxes on flocks, and received as
before the
signifying

name

of Armatoli, which name, merely

originally

armed men, was

employed by

arrangement the possession of the hills was virtually ceded to the Klephts for the payment of a small tribute, on condition

the Venetians.

By

this

of their being formed into a kind of militia for

defence against Albanian brigands. This was a wise and politic measure on the part of the Porte, and the proffered posts were accepted

by large bodies of Klephts who were enrolled Armatoli. One of the most important rules
be
observed
in
this

as

to

enrolment

was, that
exclusively

the
of

Armatoli

were

to

be composed

Greeks, and that neither Turk nor Mussulman should be admitted to serve. The fertile plains of Thessaly, which the ruling pashas had been hitherto unable to protect from devastating hordes, were the first to feel the benefit of the institution,
as their

husbandmen were now

able to

till

their

lands in safety, and those districts at once became

INTRODUCTION.
In a short time, therefore, the Continental Greece experienced the

more prosperous.
whole
of

advantages arising from the different cantonments of Armatoli. A great number, however, of those

Klephts who had taken up their abodes, and whose haunts were, in the more inaccessible heights,

and haughtily refused to make any compact with Turkey, and, rejecting every kind of compromise, remained as before in a state of defiant
utterly
hostility.

In the organization of the Armatoli the chief

held by the captain, whose title was hereditary, dependent, however, upon a diploma obtained from the pasha of the district,
military
of his band received the name of which word is derived from the Greek pallikars, verb 7ra\\ofMai^ I bound or leap and pallikar, at

command was

whilst the

men

representing a vigorous youth, came at last to denote a brave warrior in the flower of his age.
first

composed of men schooled in temperance and inured to every hardship and privation, whose strong healthy bodies enshrined spirits as lofty and unbending as those of their
All these bands were
leaders.

were the Such, described, briefly Armatoli. Their wild brothers on the heights disdaining all acknowledgment of the authority

either of bey or pasha, also governed their several districts, either singly or as a confederacy, with a

form of republican administration and with due regard to the maintenance of order and justice

among themselves.

WTBODUCTION.

These two bodies of Armatoli and Klephts were, however, never fixed or stationary. Their numbers were continually changing, and causes were constantly arising which impelled either the Armatoli to become Klephts, or the Klephts to take up the
Armatolik (^circumscription of Armatoli). Those who were the most celebrated among the Klephts,

and whose prowess was an unmitigated source of terror to the authorities, were frequently on that very account invited to become Armatoli, great inducements being held out in order to win them
other side, frequently threw up their posts, and fleeing to the heights became in their turn Klephts, so often as
;

over

whilst

the

Armatoli, on

the

the petty vexations and annoyances customarily received from the pasha of the district, made their
position
tasteful.

in

the

Armatolik wearisome and

dis-

of

Thus it will be seen in the lives of many the most renowned leaders, that the change

from Armatolos to Klepht, or from Klepht to Armatolos, occurred several times during their
careers.

principal stations of the Klephts were upon those ranges of hills in iEtolia, which separate

The

Thessaly from Macedonia, and on the mountains called Agrapha, but the most renowned of all their
the strongholds was on the far-famed Olympus, the popular abode of the old gods. In one of
ballads this

mountain

is

represented as boasting

ancient claims for reverence, asserting its " not I the ever-enduring, pre-eminence thus
of
its
:

Am

10

INTBODUCTION.
?

the world-celebrated Olympus

have forty treesixty-two fountains, and fountain bears a flag, and every waving every
I

crowned heights, and

bough a Klepht." There was no

difference

in

the costume of

Armatoli or Klephts except that the latter had a rather significant addition in a cord which was

wound

several times around their waists,

and tied

in front, the use of

which appendage was to bind their Turkish captives. The dress of both was handsome and picturesque, and in prosperous times
carried with
it

an appearance of wealth, in glittering weapons and ornaments taken from the Turks. The pallihars were almost as richly dressed as their cap-

and the amount of embroidery on their leggings and jackets, being

tains, the fustanella, or

white

kilt,

the distinguishing features.

Eows

of silver buttons

on their vests were much esteemed, and form the " Two subject of remark in several folk songs.
rows of
silver

buttons

Niko-Tsaras.

mentioned as worn by Thus accoutered, with the fame of

are

"

their exploits preceding

them

in song

it

can well

be understood

by the simple from their heights to mingle in the church In the homely language used commonly festivals.
to distinguish the Armatoli from the Klephts, the

how they were admired and followed peasant class when they came down

former were
Kki^rai
;

denominated tame

Klephts,

vpepoi,

and the

latter wild Klephts,

ayplot Kkfynu,

The wild Klepht

or Klepht proper

was

necessi-

tated to plunder as a

means

of subsistence,

and

INTEODVCTION.

occasionally, in default of his natural enemies, the Turks, he was inclined to pillage those of his own

countrymen who were obnoxious

principal
of those

to

him.
his

The
dis-

who

fell

victims to

crimination in this respect were the proesti, or the Cogia primates of the different districts Bachis of the Turks, who were responsible for

the taxes which they often farmed out. This office could be purchased from the pasha of the
district,

and unhappily the desire

for self-advance-

or unprincipled men to league with the pashas in every act of oppression.

ment

often caused

weak

class, whom the Klephts had no scruple about despoiling, were the wealthy prelates, and and their monasteries, especially the monks

The second

for

the monks, from a fear of incurring the anger of the governing pashas, were indisposed to render them any assistance in times of need,

very often from the same motive gave information which led to their being captured

and

and

slain.

Eegarding death in the battle-field when in arms against the Turks as the greatest of all blessings, whilst they recoiled in horror from being captured,

and

falling alive into the

was

their

custom

at all

hands of their enemies, it festivals and rejoicings in

their strongholds, to drink to the

When

this

welcome

shot

"good bullet." had prevented the

dreaded possibility of being made a captive, there was still another wish only second to the first,

which

their

comrades were enjoined to perform as a

12

INTBODUCTION.

sacred and friendly duty after death, namely, to cut off the head of the fallen warrior, and carry it with

them from the

field so

that

it

might not

fall

into

the possession of the Turks. In religion the Klephts were strictly orthodox, and Kolokotrones himself is a good example of
the form of piety that was characteristic of them, although few were inspired with so fervent a
veneration as that which was natural to his strong spirit. They went down to the festivals glittering
in

arms and ornaments, crossing themselves, and kissing the priest's hand they were liberal in
their offerings to the saints, and, fully assured that Heaven was on their side, invoked God to

consecrate their arms.

bless,

"

Bless,

Lord

Christ,

Master, our good swords."

If the Klepht robbed the

his

monks, he abstained in

utmost needs from touching the vessels of the sanctuary. He was so temperate in wine that
a drunken Klepht or Pallikar was

almost

un-

known, and would have been regarded with the greatest contempt. Far more chaste than the legendary knights of chivalry, the honour of a

woman

Turkish as well as Greek

was

safe in the
hills.

keeping of these fierce sons of the

The

daughter of a wealthy functionary of the church or of a primate might be carried off for the sake
of ransom,
respect.

but she was invariably treated with rescued two alone Captain Taskas
girls

thousand
off in

whom

the Albanians had carried

related
of Androutsos

the Morea.

It is

INTBODUCTION.
that

18

learning from a maiden who had been captured that she was betrothed, he took her

the

immediately without waiting for any ransom to house of her future father-in-law. The

exceptional notoriety in this respect of the courageous and otherwise much honoured Captain Zacharias of the Morea is supposed eventually

have cost him his life. Both Klephts and Armatoli married young, and from all derivable accounts appear to have ever been both faithful and affectionate husbands.
to

A
first

retrospective and historical glance at the indications of revolt emanating from these

mountaineers, with mention of the several chiefs who inaugurated them, leading up to the time

when the
and
the

inveterate persecutions of the Porte,

Pasha of Juannina hastened on the Eevolution, is here necessary, as it will make

manifest that attempted risings were initiated by them, although generally with the most lamentable
results long before 1821,

and

it

will also serve as

Autobiography," showing corollary to the what kind of men were those who were perpetually

"

held before the eyes of all Klephts as examples for them to follow, in the heroic songs with which

they solaced themselves in their leisure hours. These songs to which Kolokotrones himself alludes

were inspired by the Autobiography long series of wars carried on in the heart of the mountains, and narrate in the most vivid and often
in
this

"

"

most poetical language the

their glorious deaths of

14

INTRODUCTION.

on the field, or their heroic martyrdoms if they were made captives, and in this long succession of short ballads may be found the whole history of their struggles. The popular poet was in many cases one of their own class, and this added a double stimulus towards fortifying the courage and
chiefs

accentuating the stern resistance of both Klephts and Armatoli, as often as the latter were in revolt.

Many

of the chiefs

whose careers

will

be briefly

narrated were the contemporaries of Kolokotrones, and a few were personally known to him. If any
portion of the details as recounted appears somewhat repellent, it must be remembered that only

by a knowledge of those
and
it

facts

can the attitude and

justified,

conduct of the revolted Klephts he fully

will also serve to

out of

every

rising

show that the crushing by barbarous means only

was

inspired fresh motives for successive attempts. Mani, the southernmost part of the Morea,

by

configuration, and the sterility of its soil, alike qualified to be the natural home of brigandits

age,
little

and

people, hardy and warlike, and but disposed to industrial pursuits, was the
its

most suitable material possible out of which to make Klephts and pirates. With these proclivities, only a slight stimulus was required at any time to set them in motion, and such incentives to activity were never wanting after the

Ottoman conquest.
probable alleges that the
that

the

seems, therefore, highly statement is correct which

first

It

Klephts

appeared

in

the

INTRODUCTION.

15

Peloponnesus. Of what class of men other than Klephts could those large bodies of troops which were perpetually aiding the Venetians in their wars with Turkey be composed? For besides
being a service which was ever acceptable to their feelings as Greeks, Venice was a country which

them a ready refuge from Turkish persecutions so long as those countries were in open warfare.
afforded

As

early as 1479 there

is

mention made of one

Klados who, having been in the service of the Venetians during her conflict with the Ottoman power, after peace was made between the two
countries,

transferred

himself

and

his

band to

Mani, and carried on nesus as a leader of Klephts.

It
is

the struggle in the Peloponlater

almost

century

before
this

there

occurs

any notable

example

of

irregular

kind of warfare against Turkey, when Theodore Vonas Grivas of Vonitsa and Loris, who had

been enrolled as an Armatolos by the Venetians,

in revolt against the arbitrary rule of the Venetian democracy. Although he raised his

rose

up

banner
instance

in

Akarnania

and Epirus

in

the

first

not against Turkey, but against Venice, the Turks in a very short time became the chief

objects of his

and falling suddenly upon Vonitsa and Loris, he and his followers in one found in night killed all the Turks who were This outbreak was quite sufthose two places.
attack,
ficient

to fire

the discontent of

all

the other

16

INTRODUCTION.

who were living in Epirus, and was followed by a descent into Arta and Juannina under Poulios Drakos and " Captain Malamas,"
Armatoli
the latter of
the subject of one of the earliest songs of the Klephts or Armatoli which are extant. Being thus threatened by so sudden
is

whom

and unexpected a danger, the Turks of Thessaly and Macedonia flew to arms to help Juannina, in

which they had the assistance of the Pasha of Naupraktos, and at the head of several thousand men they went to Akarnania. Grivas encountered the Turkish force at Achelous, but he was completely defeated, and was obliged to take to flight.

He took
as

refuge

among the hills, grievously wounded

for

one of his brothers, bidding him to come to his aid with all possible Suffering in body and anxious in mind he speed.
awaited the arrival of this brother from hour to
hour, until at last the

he was, and sent

news came

to

him

that the

insurgents had again been routed, and were dispersed, and that his brother had fallen in the
battle whilst fighting valiantly.

Upon

the receipt

of this sad information

Theodore Grivas hastened

to secure his

own safety by fleeing from the dangers

him, and effected his escape before the arrival of the enemy who was He, with a few diligently searching for him.

immediately surrounding

faithful followers,

reached Ithaca, where he died

in

very shortly afterwards

consequence

of

his

wounds. In 1684 a large proportion of the Corfiotes and

INTRODUCTION.

1?

other inhabitants of the Seven Islands, enlisted under the banners of the brave Morosini when he sailed from Venice upon an expedition to Dalmatia, and about this time a daring exploit is recorded by

which three Armatoli who were being conveyed to Venice for punishment, not only escaped the fate which awaited them there, but were also instrumental in saving the lives of their captors. These men were Angelos Vlachos from Juannina,

Panos Meitanos from Akarnania, and Metros Chortopoulos from Agrapha. These Armatoli had

been inculpated by anticipation, and were treated as open rebels apparently before they had even
meditated becoming such. In consequence of this suspicion they had been surrounded by a body of Turks that had been sent against them into
Akarnania, which

had very narrowly escaped time being captured. There was peace at this between Venice and Turkey, and as the result of
itself

this,

these

three

Armatoli
the
shores

after

the

above

event,

being

on

of

Vonitsa,

were

and betrayed into the hands of the former power, were seized, thrown into chains, and put on board
a galley which was to convey

them

to Venice.

On

their voyage thither, an Algerine piratical vessel to appeared in sight and called upon the Venetians

surrender.

Upon

their refusal they were

sum-

marily

attacked,

and

an

engagement

ensued,

which was carried vigour on both The Armatoli who were lying sides for some time. manacled and fettered below heard the tumult
on with much
3

18

INTRODVCTIOM

without understanding the cause. Inquiring of one of the sailors what it meant, and receiving his explanation of the occurrence, the three entreated
to go to the captain, and pray him to remove the chains of his prisoners who offered themselves willingly to fight on the part of the Venetians. The commander of the galley, who had just seen

him

that victory was on the side of the Algerines, thought he could do no wrong by granting their request now that his own destruction was imminent,

and knowing the prowess of the men he ordered

their chains to be struck
off.

The moment they

were

freed, they sprang to their feet with wild shouts of joy, and seizing their arms they began

to fire at the very moment when the corsairs were about to take possession of the galley. Their

impetuous attack was so contagious that the Venetians followed it up with the same ardour, and in a very short space of time the Algerines themselves were
entirely

overcome

those

who were

not slain being taken prisoners, and their vessel thus becoming the prize of the Venetians, the

commander fastened
sailed

it

astern his

own

boat,

and

on to Venice highly elated.

He

did not

forget

upon

his arrival there to extol highly the

bravery of the Armatoli who had rendered him such signal service, nor did his government neglect
to reward them, for lands

and position were

at

once assured to them in perpetuity. This occurrence gives ;fche occasion of one of the earliest of
the
historical

folk-songs,

in

which

the

white

INTMODVCTION.

19

banner with the red

is

stars upon it, which the revolted Armatoli were about to raise in Akar-

thus alluded to in the opening lines, after the usually figurative language of the popular
nania,

poetry of Epirus

" Is yonder snow upon the

hills

It is Angelos, it is Meitanes,

or are those sails outspread ? with white flags and stars of red."

Between the years 1689 and 1694 the Armatoli

rose

up

in

districts

arms again, drove the Turks out of the which they considered as their own, and

asked the aid of the Venetians in their projected revolt. The Venetians promised to lend them
their assistance (but no help came from them), and in consequence of their failing to do so, large

numbers of Armatoli deserted from the

service of

the Venetians, when many Slavs, who were attracted by the hope of Turkish spoils, joined the

The perpetual danger to Turkey insurgent body. which accrued from the Venetians, in conjunction with the Greek Armatoli and Klephts, determined
the Ottoman Government to create a Prince of Mani for the purpose of keeping both these
inimical forces in check.

For seven years a once

languishing in the This man, Gerakares

notorious

pirate

had been

junction
raise

prisons of Constantinople. the Liberian, usually called Liberakes, from the to of both names, the Porte resolved

from his
full

dungeon to the

government of

Mani, with

powers of action. The revolted Armatoli had placed themselves

20

INTRODUCTION.

under the leadership of Meitanes, who had united with two other chiefs Spathogianni and Loudorekas.

force
loss,

The new Prince of Mani led a powerful against them but was repulsed with great

and being driven back was pursued as far as Karpenesi. Thence he issued the most menacing circulars to the inhabitants of those parts, and
those of Salona, threatening with condign punishment all who should in any way aid the insurgents, but at the same time offering
especially to

an amnesty and remission of taxes, with other The favours to them, if they would submit.

answer to these

offers

was

sufficiently daring or

insolerft, for, despising

his promises, they stated

equally both his threats and that it was not their

intention to pay any taxes. In consequence of this, Liberakes a second time led out a large force
in order to punish

them, which force was met by Kourmas and Bishop Philotheos at the head of all the Armatoli, who were also joined by the
of

inhabitants

the surrounding districts. Liberakes was again repulsed, and forced to retreat

Bishop Philotheos nowever, was badly wounded in the battle, and died in consequence; but not before he was
enabled to give this dying request to his brother Demetrius who succeeded him in the command
:

a second time to Karpenesi.

when the Greek thing accomplished, dig them up and

Hide

"

my

bones, and

revolt
inter

is

them

with

all

due

solemnity in the

church of our native

place*"

WTBODUCTION,

21

No permanent
successes

beyond
a
evil

advantage came from these the barbarous satisfaction of

of the heads of the slain

cutting

off

number

Turks
learnt

an
to

practice which the Klephts had

down
amply

from the Turks, and unhappily followed much later times, This action was
retaliated

Prince of Mani who and burnt a great number of villages in ravaged reprisal, and thus obliged the wretched inhabitants

by the

to flee to the hills,

Demetrius Charitopoulos, the brother of Bishop Philotheos, who took the command, as above
narrated, died eventually at Zante, whither he was obliged to flee, and in his will, made shortly
before
his

death,
in

circumstances

he narrates many interesting connection with the bishop.

After some preliminary observations upon his most Christian parents, he tells us that his elder

brother had been

named

Philip in his baptism,

but took the

a

name

of Philotheos

when he became

Being deeply imbued with a longing desire to emancipate his countrymen, it was not long after he was raised to the episcopate, before he exchanged the spiritual staff for the sword militant, and having joined himself with the The Armatoli captains, " killed many Turks."

monk.

chief,

Kourmas, was

of the Prince of Mani,

slain during his hot pursuit he was hoping to

whom

take prisoner on the occasion of his second retreat to Karpenesi, and the bishop himself badly

wounded

in

the shoulder, died,

it

is

seen,

in

22

INTBODUCTION.

consequence, a few days afterwards. Demetrius took care that the bishop's bones should not be
desecrated.

He

concealed them, he says, "in a

sack deposited in a cave which is known only to myself and my brother Georgios." He enjoins " this brother, to bury his own bones temporarily, without any expense, clothed only in my breeches

and black
fit

shirt, to

be disinterred

when God

thinks

to free our country, along with this bishop

and then to be reburied in the church of his

is

birthplace

but not whilst the nation

enslaved"

promises that his own blessing and that of " will follow good Bishop Philotheos upon this
being
fulfilled,

He

whilst the curses of both will

infringes
it,

fall

upon any one who

"I swore

to

it

because," he adds, myself on the gospel when the

blessed Philotheos lay a-dying." To Georgios was also entrusted the silver cross
of the bishop,

once to the same

which he was enjoined to take at village, and to present it to the

"
offices,
fall

church to be used in the sacred it be kept (as men are liable to

lest, if

under some great necessity

sold."

it

into error), might come to be

After leaving some money to free slaves, and to build a hospital, Captain Demetrius concludes his will by having " nothing more to say." At the beginning of the eighteenth century

there was a rapid increase in the numbers of the Klephts, and a corresponding diminution of the

Armatoli, and for this result the Porte was largely With the suspicion which is commgn. responsible.

INTBODUCTION.

23

to all despotisms, the Ottoman Government after a time began to regard the effectiveness of the Armatoli with apprehension, and jealous of their

increasing power, devised a fresh plan, and instituted a new office, with the view of checking
their

growth and ultimately crushing them.

it

For

created inspectors of roads, who were called Derven-agas, and Mussulman Albanians
this purpose

were appointed to fill these posts. Mussulman Albanians were of course the natural enemies of
the Christian Greeks, and the secret object for employing them was that dissensions would be
sure to arise between them, whereby the strength of the Armatoli would be gradually weakened.

That which was hoped for, and reckoned upon, This measure was effectual in took place. useful destroying the independence of a brave and
on the body, and by a series of cruel hostilities Armatoli were part of the Derven-agas, the the gorges frequently driven into rebellion, whilst of the high hills became densely populated with
Klephts.

Although
initiatory

for

two centuries there

rising,

attempts at a

the

first

had been most

about decidedly planned revolt was inaugurated the year 1750, by the Armatoli Chrestos Meliones, raised the two Tsekouras, and Ylachamatas, who and standard in the districts of Parnassus
their

Doris.

How many

were concerned
been
ascertained,

in

this
it

inis

surrection has not

but

conjectured that

considerable. the number was

24

INTBODUCTION,

usual religious enthusiasm accompanied the movement, and the Virgin was invoked to descend

The
and

fight

with them.
disunion

On

account of that

which

was

prominent feature among the leaders in every rising, the chiefs above named soon separated, each taking his force in a different direction, by

which
After

course

Chrestos

necessarily weakened. Meliones led his men off to iEtolia.

each

was

departure, Lambros Tsekouras and Vlachamatas had a brief flash of success together,
this
for

meeting with a detachment of Turks on a road between two places of some importance, they attacked and completely routed it. Elated with
this victory, they directed their

march towards

Salona and encamped for the night below the rocks of Agia Euthemia, which lay on their way,

when
fell

a considerable body of Turks unexpectedly

upon them.

Their position was most

dis-

advantageous; nevertheless they fought courageously and killed some numbers of the enemy,
although
retreat.

they were eventually compelled to In this conflict one of their principal captains fell, whilst Vlachamatas and another chief were severely wounded. Lambros Tsekouras

was enabled to carry off these two disabled men in safety to Krissaros, an islet in the bay of St. Konstantine, after which, being joined by his
brother Metros with twenty-five Armatoli from Parnassus, they both ravaged the whole country round. The Bey of Salona naturally desired to

INTBODVCTION.
rid

25

troublesome, and sent repeated invitations to the two brothers to submit,

himself

of

foes

so

promising them both riches and honours if they would do so. After very many solicitations they went down to Salona together, to confer with the bey on the subject. The place of meeting that

was agreed upon was an olive- crushing factory on the plain of Salona. Lambros stationed his
Armatoli outside, and entered the building with only four of his men, and was received by the
bey; but in a moment he found himself surrounded by a large body of armed Turks. His brother

Metros, sword in hand, rushed out by the door; but Lambros and his followers, transported with
rage,

threw

themselves

intending
struggle,

assassins.

savagely on to their After a short, but fierce

Lambros, seeing that two of his companions had fallen, and that terribly wounded as he was, all further resistance was vain, leapt from a window, but was met on his descent by
a shower of bullets from a body of Turks who were concealed beneath, and fell. His comrades were able to obtain possession of the still
it away breathing body of their chief, and bore to his stronghold on Parnassus, where he expired in great agony, rejoicing, notwithstanding, that he had been brought to die on his beloved mountain. After his death, Vlachamatas having recovered from his wounds, took the leadership in con-

their strongjunction with another chief, and from on the hold on Parnassus made frequent descents

26

INTBODUCTION.

neighbouring Turkish districts. In one of these inroads they were completely crushed, after a
violent conflict,

by a large body of Turks,

of

falling,

however,

on

heaps

their

slain

enemies.

Vlachamatas, fleeing to a chapel in the monastery called Jerusalem in that district, was eventually
betrayed and put to death in a barbarous manner,

when
was
a

his
also

body and that of his fellow chief, who slain in the battle, were impaled on
leading
to

cross-road

Salona.

After

their

deaths, Metros Tsekouras again joined himself to Chrestos ; their reunion and the meeting between

them being thus described among the songs which " The sun rose record the deeds of Meliones:
on the mountains' topmost peaks, when down beneath a fir-tree, by a fountain cool and fresh, Metros made him a halting-place with Chrestos Meliones, and the two captains
high upon the
hills,

formed again a bond of

faithful union."

Thus reunited, these two Klephts went shortly afterwards to Arta, and carried off a Kadi and two Agas. This daring deed made a great sensation, and the Sultan issued a firman ordering them to be pursued, and directed that the Aga of Akarnania should produce the head of Meliones without further delay. The Aga, however, being
well aware of the desperate character of the man as a fighter, did not care to have anything to do

with him, but preferred to kill him by subtlety. Through the offer of a good bribe, he procured one Souleiman, who bad formerly been a friend of

INTBODUCTION,

27

Meliones, to go and assassinate him. Souleiman reached the quarters of Meliones at night and was
received in a friendly manner, which touched him with such a feeling of remorse, that in the morn-

ing he told Meliones the purpose for which he had come; whereupon the two men arranged themselves for combat, and firing simultaneously,
their shots took effect at the

same time and they

both

Metros Tsekouras, the last of the chiefs concerned in that useless rising, still
fell

dead.

continued fighting in Akarnania but his exploits, it is said, excited the envy of the inhabitants, for
;

time by some of them for a bribe of two thousand grosia from the Turks, " which is thus recorded Captain Metros could I not have told thee Captain Tsekouras

he was assassinated

after a

thou come hither to a place which was strange to thee ? The Beys and the
so?

Why

didst

Mavromati have killed thee by treachery for two thousand grosia. All the Klephts bewail Thy mother thee; all Galazeidi mourns thee. is weeping for thee, and thy friends all droop
with grief."

The year 1770

scale.

follows as the

most conspicuous

era of revolts on a larger but equally disastrous

time large bands of Albanians began to overrun Continental Greece, directing Many their course towards the Peloponnesus. instead of Armatoli of renown at this juncture,

At

this

robber hordes, opposing themselves to these savage were content to enter into treaties with them in

28

INTRODUCTION.

order to remain in their several Armatoliks; but

their

example was rejected as quite unworthy of being followed by Chrestos Grivas, one of their number, and as soon as he heard that the
Albanians had entered Akarnania he raised the
siege of Vrachork, which he was prosecuting, and The flew to bar if possible their further progress.

Albanians, under the leadership of Souleiman, had united with bodies coming from Vrachoria

with their

chief,

Achmet, and

all

moved towards

Angelo Kastro.

Grivas finding himself unable to

intercept their march thither, immediately drew back to St. Elias, outside Angelo Kastro. He

posted his brother Tsegios with hold a place called Kangaverka,

fifty

men

to

and Captain Georgios Lachores was directed to keep the bridge of Angelo Kastro and the adjoining wood, whilst
Chrestos Grivas himself at St. Elias

made ready

to receive the expected onslaught.

The Turco-Albanians marched forward in two bodies the one which was commanded by Souleiman

Bey throwing itself upon Tsegios and Lachores, whilst Achmet opposed the other force under him to Grivas at Angelo Kastro. For three
hours Tsegios and Lachores fought bravely, but at last Tsegios fell, and then Lachores, seeing
that
it

was of no

avail for

him

to attempt carrying

on the

conflict alone, cut

away the

made all possible haste to mander Grivas, who as yet had not engaged with
the forces led by Achmet.

bridge, and unite with his com-

desperate contest

INTBODUCTION.
ensued, and whilst the issue was
still

29

doubtful,

came up with the Lachores had declined to meet

Souleiman

troops which at the bridge.

Despairing of the possibility of achieving any success they determined to cut their way through
the

enemy sword

in hand, to

which

in

any great

crisis

the Armatoli and Klephts often resorted, and sometimes with signal advantage. This rush
spread a sudden panic amongst the troops of the Turkish commanders, but the arrival of another band of

giourousi

as

it

was

called,

at

first

Albanians at this juncture completely changed the

aspect of affairs. The heroic band was completely surrounded in a very short space of time, but they undauntedly

fought on with a determination to sell their lives Grivas and Lachores fell among heaps of dearly. slain, and three hundred of the flower of the Armatoli

lay dead after the battle of Angelo Kastro. Only six escaped from the field, led by one Mavo-

demos, and they also were afterwards taken and killed. By the commands of Achmet, the bodies of the Armatoli were not to be buried, and the
heads of their leaders placed on three spears were erected as trophies on the cross-roads near the where place where they had fought. The spot
these devoted chiefs were slain
is still

called

"

The

Ashes of the Grivas." Kussia now shows herself

as

the

undoubted

of encourager, if not the promoter or instigator, the rising that followed in the year of 1770 upon

30

INTBODUCTION.

a larger scale, and upon more general grounds. Among the prominent leaders in this revolt was
old Vlachothanases,
for

nearly half a

who had been an Armatolos century, and who is especially

worthy of mention as the adopted father of Androutsos, for famous beyond all the Klephts or Armatoli stands the name of the renowned Androutsos of whom we will now speak. Every Greek remembers him with mingled feelings of
admiration and respect as one

who through

the

whole of his

life

combated

for the

independence

of his country at a time when that country was not awakened to a knowledge of her real strength.

He was

a native of Livadia, and is said to have been descended from a long ancestry of Klephts or Armatoli. He attracted the notice of old

Vlachothanases whilst he was yet a youth, when the courage and other virtues which he showed so
the heart of the aged chieftain, took him under his command and cherished
early,

won

who him

as his own son. Vlachothanases, however, being now seventy years of age, after having served
forty years as

an Armatolos, wished to

retire

from

the service, therefore Androutsos, who had proved himself to be a good soldier, asked a blessing

But adopted father and left him. Vlachothanases was not allowed to be inactive
from
his

or to rest in his old age.

Several Armatoli

who had

long served under him, and with him, begged him to resume his former life, and he yielded to Before long these very same their solicitations.

INTRODUCTION.
Armatoli,

31

having dissensions among themselves, separated, and then the venerable chief hastened to enroll himself with his much-loved Androutsos, who had now under him many Armatoli of good
Androutsos at once launched report in arms. out into a fierce struggle with the Ottoman
power. In the first engagement with the Turks the Armatoli were unsuccessful, for to their body,

which numbered only sixty men, the Turkish Pasha opposed a force of many thousands. Being
surrounded in a monastery, whither they had retired, they managed to defend themselves against their
besiegers for twelve days, but at last cannon being brought against them, they threw open the gates,

and issuing out sword in hand cut their way through the Turks and escaped. The folk-song, which narrates this exploit, states that two thousand Turks were killed during the time of their
defence and in the
sortie,

Androutsos

some

but only five pallikars. time after this event was

promised the Armatoliks of Livadia and Salona, and whilst he was under this expectation he
ceased carrying on any hostilities. Selim Bey, the Derven-aga of Salona, deceived him in this
matter, for after great delay Androutsos discovered that John Levkadites, a wealthy and influential Turk, had been nominated in his stead. Incensed

and deception, he again declared war, called upon all the Armatoli to gather round
at

this

to with him, which the greater part responded eagerness ; the Armatoli, it was said, becoming day

32

INTRODUCTION.

by day more and more encouraged by the numbers which flocked to the standard of Androutsos, as the Turks were dispirited by the same spectacle.
Selim Bey at length summoned a large force to

march against Androutsos, but the Armatoli, as usual in their methods of warfare, avoided meeting
the

Bey

in a pitched battle, contenting themselves

conflicts.

with skirmishes and a course of irregular

One

day, however, thirty of

them came up with

who had at that time only about two hundred men with him, and they resolved to venSelim Bey,
ture a hand-to-hand engagement.

As Androutsos

was absent, Vlachothanases, being the oldest and the most experienced chief among the little force, took the command. For a long while victory
inclined neither to one side nor to the other, but

the Armatoli at last making a sudden rush with drawn swords, the Turks began to retreat, and at the same

on the field at the head of twenty Armatoli, the Turks found themselves between two opposite bands of
arriving

moment Androutsos,

combatants, in consequence of which only one half of them were able to seek safety by flight.

The Armatoli hotly pursued, when the Turks, seeing no other way open to them, shut themup in a deserted little church which they came up to on the road. For three days and three nights the Derven-aga, Selim Bey, remained there with the remnant of his men, whilst the ArmaAt toli were closely besieging this little church. length, wearied out and exhausted, the Turks
selves

INTBODUCTION.
surrendered.

88

The haughty Selim Bey,

man

who had always been proud now bowed himself down to

other Armatoli called

of his good descent,

the very earth, and

kissing the hands and feet of Androutsos and the

seeching them

to spare his

upon them for pity, belife, and offering an

seized
all

enormous ransom.
their prisoners,

The Armatoli, suddenly

at

with a generous impulse,

once released

and altogether declined receiving

the proffered price for their redemption. " He bows down his head," says the folk-song, " bending

and kisses his hand. I am Selim Bey, the renowned Bey, yet grant me now my life, and
to his feet
'

I will send to thee

my
me.'
;

mother,
'

who

will

pay thee
;

much money

for

I care not for florins

I care not for grosia I am the renowned Androutsos, and I will release thee go to thine house " was the answer. go back to thine own people/

Old Vlachothanases was still longing to cease from this life of warfare, and he again strove to detach himself from it that he might go to his but it was native place and die in peace
;

Androutsos this time who, appreciating the value of the veteran both in counsel and in war, besought him not to leave his comrades. As he listened
persuasions of one whom he loved, the heart of the old man was suddenly stirred to its very depths, and overcome with out strong ^emotion, he seized his gun, calling " for to war he was that he would die fighting,
to the

warm

so

much

born, and in war he

had grown
4

old."

84

INTBODUCTION.
Their
first

attacks after this occurrence were

district

made

and their and slaughter. Androutsos went to Naupaktos solely to meet Mouchtar Pasha, to whom he bore an intense hatred on account of his adopted son having been killed in a brutal manner by the Pasha some time Mouchtar Pasha had put himself at previously. the head of a large force, and when the encounter took place, it was maintained on both sides for a considerable time with obstinacy and vigour.
in the

of Malandrinon,
fire

course was one marked out by

Old Vlachothanases went raging about, sword in hand, to find Mouchtar, in order that he might himself engage with him in single combat, whilst
his

long white beard floated in the breeze, and

a

made him

conspicuous

figure.

As

he

was

thus ardently seeking his foe, two bullets struck him one wounding him in the right hand, and
the other striking him in the neck. The Armatoli rushed forward to defend him, followed by the noble John Xikiliotes, also an Armatolos, who fell almost

immediately under a shower of bullets, whilst Vlachothanases himself, as he was turning round
towards him, received a bullet in his head. Summoning all the strength into his voice which he
could command, he was just able to articulate " Comrades, secure my head, and take my blessing," when he expired, falling upon the body of
Xikiliotes.

Seeing the old chieftain prostrate on the ground, Androutsos, with a body of Armatoli, rushed to protect the body, whilst at the same

UF0J2i*

ffif

LAMBROS KATZONES.

INTRODUCTION.

85

time the Turks made every effort to get possession of it. Many on both sides fell over the corpses
for

which they were contending

preserve

them

the one party to from the desecration they so much

dreaded, the other longing for the triumph of obtaining the blanched head of the agedArmatolos.

None

the Armatoli against unequal numbers being determined to possess themselves of the heads of their two comrades, or die in the
left

the

field

attempt. The centre of the army of Mouchtar was at this juncture on the point of taking to flight, when the

Aga

of Naupaktos brought a large reinforcement No longer were the Armatoli able to to its aid.

was brought into the field, and they were forced to abandon the bodies of their two dead comrades, and retreat. The head of the old Armatolos was borne away in triumph amid acclamations of joy, and treated
stand,

when

this additional force

with every mark of indignity. At this point in the life of Androutsos

it is

the necessary to speak of Lambros Katzones, with Klepht of the Seas, as he may be called, whom Androutsos now connected himself. A

native of Livadeia, in Bceotia, and born in 1752, Katzones was also concerned in the disastrous in 1770, upon the rising of the Peloponnesus in failure of which he entered a Greek regiment
well in the Kussian service, and acquitted himself
their expedition against Persia.

In

1788

(the

expenses

being

furnished

by

36

INTRODUCTION.

Greeks) he fitted out and armed a small fleet, with which he carried on a piratical war on the coasts of Syria, doing fearful damage to the

Turkish possessions. The Porte, alarmed at the ravages which he committed, sent out a large

squadron in pursuit of him, which Lambros met outside Karpathos with his own six ships and two

The transport vessels which he had captured. French consul at Ehodes seems to have derived

much

pleasure in witnessing the destruction of the Turkish vessels which ensued, as he congratulated Lambros upon his victory, telling him that he was

a worthy descendant of Themistocles. This event was communicated to the Eussian Government, when his ships were enrolled as the fleet of the Eussian Empress, and were entitled to carry the Eussian flag, whilst he himself was to be conAfter this encouragesidered a Eussian officer. ment, Lambros, triumphantly hoisting the Eussian and scoured the Archipelago even He now received one of those to the Hellespont.
flag, sailed forth

letters

so

characteristic

of the

Porte

in

those

times

which

came

to

him

from

the
1 '

Sultan

through his
letter

dragoman, Stephen Mavrogenes, and which addressed him as "Most brave hero. This
complimented him upon his valiant deeds, and offered him an amnesty, and the government of any island which he might choose, free of taxes,

and with a present besides of two hundred gold pieces, if he would leave the service of Eussia. This letter was not answered in writing, but

INTBODUCTION.

87

by an expedition in search of the enemy's fleet, which Lambros encountered between Mykonos and Syra, and completely
replied to

was

defeated.

Shortly afterwards, hearing

vessels

that

six
sail,

Algerine and drove

It

had gone

to Hydra, he set

was that he was joined by Androutsos at the head of some five to seven hundred Armatoli. This
transformation of mountaineers into seamen

to Nauplia. at this epoch, in the beginning of 1790,

them thence

may
The

seem

strange,
is

but

it

was

not

unusual.

considered by some writers to be alluded to in one of the folk songs which record the deeds of Androutsos, where " the mother of

occurrence

Androutsos
glad,
for

mother of Androutsos is her sons are all Armatoli, and great

rejoices, the

captains."

The Algerine

vessels sent out

in

by the Porte were

battle,

afterwards engaged, and

an obstinate
his

where the enemy

lost

heavily,

Katzones

was

wounded
were

in

the head,
whilst

and two of

vessels
of the

captured,

a great number

In the Klephts under Androutsos were killed. enfollowing year Lambros and Androutsos

deavoured to systematize a regular rising in Mani, but the Maniotes rightly observed that enthusiasm alone was useless, and that money was wanted. Russia promised some aid both in money and
but gave none and in the year succeeding of this the usual termination to all coalitions
soldiers,
;

Greeks with Eussia

arrived;

peace

was made

38

WTBODUCflOtf.

between Kussia and Turkey, and Katzones was told that he must desist from any further operations against the Turks. Lambros and Androutsos

however thought that they could carry on the war on their own account, and after several minor engagements, met the combined French and
Tainaros, where they came to close quarters, when the French sailors opened fire from their ship, to which Androutsos and his

Turkish ships

off

Armatoli responded with so thick and dense a volley that many French officers were killed, and upon
this they retired.

the third day afterwards the Capitan bey effected a landing, which was not opposed by Katzones, who left him to be settled

On

with by Androutsos and his Pallikars, and after the Turks were all disembarked, Androutsos and
his Pallikars discharging their

guns suddenly,

fell

upon them impetuously sword in hand, and routed them with great slaughter, four thousand of them
being slain twelve of their boats were captured, and out of the whole force about a hundred only
;

were able to save themselves on the three boats which remained. Upon this crushing defeat the Capitan sent to the Bey of Mani, and commanded him to secure and deliver up Katzones immediately
either dead or
force to be
alive.

The Bey ordered

for the

a large

purpose of effecting his capture, but at the same time sent a monk to Katzones with private information concerning the
intended expedition. Katzones was able to save both himself and his sailors in consequence of this

made ready

INTBODUCTION.

39

warning, and eventually re-entered the service of Eussia, where he died in 1804 at the age of fiftytwo.

was less fortunate. For forty days and nights he was pursued by a force of six thousand men. As they fled through that
valiant Androutsos

The

country they often turned and skirmished, and so great was the skill of their leader that in
difficult

these encounters there were fifteen hundred of the

enemy

slain,

and although

his

own numbers were

reduced to ninety-six, yet that remnant of the five hundred Armatoli which he had brought to

Katzones was

at

last carried over in safety.

foreign consul is reported to have likened this passage to the celebrated march of the ten

thousand in Xenophon.

Androutsos himself con-

templated going to Eussia, but disregarding some friendly warnings, he trusted himself on Venetian
territory,

when he was immediately

seized by the

Government, and transported in the first ship at hand to Constantinople. Upon his arrival there he expected to be immediately beheaded after the manner of so many
other Klephts, who deserved no severer treatment himby the Porte for their acts against her than self. Instead of which he was thrown into the
filthy

bagnio

the convict prison.

Eepeated

offers

advancement were continually held out to him if he would abjure Christianity, and take office under the Sultan, but they were always indignantly
of
refused.

40

INTRODUCTION.

In the year 1798 the Ambassador of the French Eepublic at Constantinople made a special request to the Porte to restore Androutsos to liberty.
could as well ask for three millions," was the answer, " as to require me to set Androutsos free." So the redoubtable chief, whose noble
figure

"You

and

fine face,

as

well as his skill in

all

had been the theme of many a song, languished for the mountain air of his native hills during several years, until he at last succumbed to the plague. There is no authentic

manly

exercises,

picture of Androutsos,

who

is
;

always described as

being exceptionally handsome his moustaches are represented to have been of so great a length that
it

custom whilst fighting to tie them at the back of his head. It was these moustaches which

was

his

gave him the fierce aspect ascribed to him, but it is nevertheless said that he was naturally
of

calm

temperament
a

and

gentle-hearted.

Possibly for

long time the mountaineers who adored him might have been ignorant of his fate

" The mother of Androutsos is sung, sorrowing, the mother of Androutsos weeps she often turns to the hills and upbraids them. 0, ye

when they

'

wild mountains of Agrapha, what have you done " with my dear son, the Captain Androutsos ?
'

The personal bravery and

influence of Androutsos

was contagious, and three men who had been his proto-pallikars carried on a strife for a short time after Androutsos was lost to them, which could have no x>ther than a tragic termination.

INTMObVcTlOtf.

41

were the two brothers Georgios and Joannes Karaples, and Alexis Eomanes, more

These

men

commonly
tery

called Alexis the

as a

Monk.

The

latter

had lived several years

of the

monk

in the

monas-

some annoyances from

Prophet Elias, but upon receiving a Turk, he had fled and

joined himself to the Armatoli.

The above chiefs having gathered others around them directed their course to Chrysos, where they were met by the Governor of Salona with a large force. Those of the Armatoli who at that juncture
found themselves near the monastery above mentioned, shut themselves up in it and were there laid
siege to. Firing
for

was kept up on both sides vigorously

some time, when the Turks, having invited the besieged to surrender, and receiving from them an
insulting reply, they set fire to one side of the building, and the flames spread rapidly, when the

Armatoli seeing how great was the danger which threatened them from within, threw open the gates

and rushed out sword in hand. Striking at their foes on either side in their headlong passage they
cut their
of

way through the midst of the Turks. Fifty the Governor's men, among whom was his own

were killed during the siege and sally, and seven only of the Armatoli, Joannes Karaples being
son,

wounded.

The Governor
defeat and

of

enraged

Salona, smarting under his at the loss of his son, sent

express orders to Lambros Kasmas, the Derven-aga, as guardian of the roads, to drive out all these

42

INTRODUCTION
district.

Armatoli from the

did not care to encounter

them

Lambros, however, alone, and got the

with him for that

Bey

of Loidovikos

to

unite

amount, and the Armatoli against whom they were directed were comparatively few in number, their chief strength lying in the zeal by which they were inspired. The engage-

purpose. no inconsiderable

Their two forces made between them

ment that immediately took place was

for three hours unremittingly,

carried

on

without the balance

of victory inclining either to one side or the other,

when Georgios Karaples with a sudden rush cut off the head of the Bey of Loidovikos, which at
once decided the
flight instantly.
conflict,

as the Turks took to

In a subsequent encounter with the Turks Georgios was slain. After his death many of their followers left the service, and
Manikas, the Derven-aga, who superseded Lambros after the defeat recorded above, undertook to be
a mediator between the hostile combatants.

The then Bey

mediation,
offered

of

Salona, hearkening to this to them different posts as

Derven-agas. For some time they had many doubts as to his sincerity, notwithstanding the oaths with

which he accompanied his offers, but at last they were prevailed upon to go to Salona, where they were most graciously received by the Bey, who
invited

them

to partake of his hospitality.

Alexis

the

Monk was made

Derven-aga by him, and the

others were engaged as his soldiers. During the repast which followed, the Bey disarmed every

iNTItODUCTlON.

48

suspicion by his courteous manners, and they all ate together as though in perfect ease, after which he dismissed them to their several posts.
scarcely, however, reached the monastery of St. Elias when a foot messenger brought them

They had

an order to return immediately to Salona. The mediator Manikas meanwhile in his office of Derven-aga had been sent away to quell some
In obedience to this alleged inroads of Klephts. Alexis and the others returned to Salona, but had no sooner entered the Bey's palace when

summons

the doors were closed behind them and they were fired upon and the whole of them were slain.

much to say that the most and best known names among the Klephts are those of men whose deaths have
It is not

perhaps too

celebrated

invested every one of their actions with that deep interest which follows the hero of a tragedy

the minor scenes up to the dread There were consummation in the last act.

through

all

hundreds,
battle-field

perhaps

thousands

lived the lives of heroes, but

Klephts who whose deaths on the

of

had nothing more exciting than the

ordinary death of soldiers dying in the fulfilment of their duty. Of all such, nothing more can be
said than that they lived and died in their career of opposition to a tyrannical government; no

particular act

of

individualism,

either

in

their

deeds or in the manner in which

terminated, distinguishing them.

their lives

were
of

The names

two men only, names which have

called forth not

44

INTRODUCTION.

only from the poet historian of the people, but from the educated poets of modern Greece, some
of her best ballads, are examples of this. Diakos and Katzantones are remembered in verse which
will not

be easily forgotten, with as

much
two,

love as
as

admiration.

The

first

of

these

Mr.

Papparigopoulos justly remarks, differed in no wise from many others who threw themselves
" he was ardently into the cause of the rising, but young and he was handsome," and those two

simple facts exhibited his sufferings or stronger

contrast.

Athanasius the deacon

the

as his surname, Diakos,

is

generally alone called was designed for a religious life, and was signifies educated in a monastery. It is seen that he had

name by which he

already taken the first orders in the priesthood, but like many other young men who were originally destined for the church at that time, he was so
stirred
still

by the tyranny around him, or possibly more disgusted with the abject life that the

majority of the peasant class to which he belonged was forced to lead, that he was impelled to throw aside all the bonds of a religious life and to join

himself to the Klephts. After some few years he became the protopallikar of Odysseus Androutsos,
the Captain of the Armatolik of Livadeia, which post he held under Ali Pasha. A few words in passing is due to Odysseus,

who was then

although
of

only with pain that the gifted son so celebrated a father can be alluded to.
it

is

mi ml i^YiwWmmi
'M/f
vs|f!i
444,

<7fg

ATHANASIUS DIAKOS.

INTBODUCTION.
Possessed of most of the external
first

45

qualities, of

the

Androutsos, equally handsome, and possibly equally clever a brave and brilliant figure in the first years of the revolution Odysseus did not
inherit either the incorruptible patriotism or the of his father, and not integrity being proof to the

seductive offers

made
to

to

him by the enemy,

country

became

traitor

his

and

fell

accordingly.

At

this time, however,

no stain had

darkened his career.

He

friendship for Diakos. of Odysseus that Diakos raised the standard of

entertained also a great It was during the absence

independence in Central Greece. If it be a merit to be recorded as the first who had ventured to do
so the merit is his, but it was as undoubtedly rash as other previous declarations of the same kind

had been. His success was

brief.

at

first brilliant,

but

it

was

Vriones and Kiose Mehmet, with a Turkish-Albanian army of nine thousand cavalry

Omer

and infantry sent out from the camp of Kourchid Pasha, advanced against him. Diakos and two other captains with fifteen hundred men endeavoured to hold two roads which led the one to
Bceotia by Thermopylae, the other to Phokis, but the troops which they commanded shrunk from

the unequal contest with so large a force, led by two leaders of so deserved a renown as the two
warriors above mentioned, and they fled precipitously, all but a faithful band of fifty followers.

Diakos scorned

flight,

and he fought on

until the

46

INTBODUCTION.

whole of this small but brave guard was slain. Then he was taken prisoner. It is now that the martyr completes the picture of the hero which
Life to this day fascinates the Greek peasantry. was offered to him, but the offer was flung back

with scorn, for the price was apostasy. He was therefore sentenced to be immediately impaled. It was a beautiful May morning in the year 1822

when Diakos was led to the stake. For a few moments the loveliness of external nature and his own age, as he was still under thirty-five,
called forth

"

What
?

"
!

an expression of passing emotion, he is reported to have said, " has death

come
leaves

for

"

me in the time of flowers and green On the stake, however, he gave forth no

expression of pain, but hurled out defiance to his " It is but one Greek foes. more," he cried ; "as

a Greek I have lived,

to reflect that Odysseus memory of his friend.

as

a Greek I will die.

left."

Odysseus and Niketas are

It is consoling
faithless to the

was not

He
the

achieved a brilliant

victory

in

revenge

for

death
is

of

Diakos.

"Would

that he had died then!"

the remark

of a Greek historian.

who

Katzantones, the second of the two Klephts are classed together on account of the

brilliancy of their short careers

and their

alike

most painful deaths, preceded the appearance of Diakos upon the scene for nearly twenty years, and belongs rather to the close of the eighteenth century. He was the eldest of five brothers, who

INTBODUCTION.

47

nomadic

were the sons of a shepherd in Agrapha. The life of the shepherds in Greece is still to

a very great extent the same as in primitive times. In the summer months they lead their flocks over the mountains from pasture to pasture, and only when the winter approaches do they come down
to the plains.

This was the manner in which In

life

the early years of Katzantones were passed.

following this

he had made acquaintance with

whom those wandering shepherds were generally in good accord, and who, in this pastoral state, would have been equally as free as
the Klephts, with
the Klephts
if

cruel exactions.

they had not been oppressed by Ali Pasha levied frequent and
;

heavy confiscations on the flocks he had shepherds and flocks of his own which were bound to consume the produce of others, and thus the pastoral
life

became by degrees odious to Katzantones, who was not of a temperament to bear vexations He had frequently said that he would patiently. become a Klepht if it were only to avenge himself upon the tax collectors of the Pasha, who in that
case would be obliged to be ransomed from his This asseveration was exactions in the future.

always received by his intimates and companions with derision, on account of his very small stature

and

slight frame.

Although his appearance has

descanted upon in disadvantageous terms, and the epithets "mean" and "insignifi" cant have been freely indulged in as regards his
often been

personal

appearance,

Pouqueville,

the

French

48

INTBODUCTION.

consul at Juannina at that time, speaks in terms of admiration of his fine black eyes and his soft
silken

brown moustaches.

Strength and

agility,

and a frame capable of supporting great privations these and hardships, he undoubtedly possessed
;

were natural qualifications

for a Klepht, but those

personally, ignored those qualifications on account of his comparatively diminutive

who knew him

It

form.

needed only time, however, to show how mistaken was the common estimate regarding

him

he was brave almost

to

temerity

was

possessed of a marvellous suppleness and lightness had an inexhaustible fund in all his movements
;

and owing to the early part of his life having been spent with the flocks At last he knew every pass in the mountains. he sold his he resolutely made up his mind then he flocks, and burnt all his huts and folds
of resources within him,
; ;

armed himself, and followed by he went forth as a Klepht to those same hills of Agrapha whither he had so often led his sheep. For some time Katzantones was inspired by no other
his four brothers,
feelings than those of revenge joined to a desire for
pillage,

and he treated the Greek

villages lying at

the base of Agrapha with as little consideration as those which were inhabited solely by Turks, so
that in this respect he is not to be placed in comparison during the early part of his career with

those captains
of their race.

acted solely from motives of patriotism, and a desire to accomplish the liberty

who

INTRODUCTION.

49

His endurance, his courage, and the indomitable hatred with which he pursued the Turks were for
of the

some years the admiration as they were the terror Ottoman Government. Ali Pasha, who was
successively

now

invested with the headship of the Dervenagas, sent out his ablest generals in

search of

him
he

adroitness
baffle

them.

but either by his valour or by his always managed to defeat or to As one instance of his prompt

ingenuity in finding a way out of very present danger, it is related that, being pursued to a
stronghold,

narrow

accessible only by two whilst in every other part there defiles,

which was

were only steep and rugged precipices, and having discovered that both these passes were occupied by Albanians whom treachery had led to his
retreat,

he cut

off

a strong branch of a

fir-tree

with his sabre, and mounting upon it astride, launched it over the face of the rock the foliage

and his own weight keeping the branch steady, and thus he reached the ground in safety. The Klephts who were with him were not slow in
following his example, whilst the Albanians only learnt his flight by the consternation which his

sudden appearance caused in the district below. Veli Guekas, the Derven-aga of Akarnania, was one of the most formidable of all those who arrayed
their strength against him. to that

With

a courage equal

of Katzantones, and with immeasurably

at his disposal, Veli

more means
all

had been ravaging

Akarnania in search of the notorious Klepht,

5

so

Introduction.
irritated that

he was so long able to elude him, he suspected that the villagers around were in complicity, and renewed his devastations upon
the surrounding district with increased vigour. Being informed of these proceedings on the part of Veli Guekas, Katzantones had the insolence or

and

temerity to write

him

a letter couched in the

following terms: "You seek me vrysis ; I will await you there."

come

to Krya-

Guekas received this defiance he was not in motion nor in preparation for any march, but he was so piqued by it that he immediately ordered
his Albanians to reassemble,

When

and so great was his impatience that, without even waiting for them, he started off with only a few of his men, and
flew with the rapidity of lightning to the place where Katzantones had appointed to meet him.

Katzantones with his Pallikars was there lying in ambuscade awaiting his coming. After a few insulting words on both sides the combat began,

when Veli
event

Guekas
the

fell

dead almost instantaneously, having

After this
of

received several balls at once.

was held in still greater dread than ever, and the fury of Ali Pasha was redoubled. Fresh bodies of men under
Katzantones
other Derven-agas were sent forth to vanquish

name

him, fresh dangers encompassed him everywhere, but he was still invincible.

The

island of Santa

Maura had always been an

asylum for Katzantones in his every need. Thither he would go to get cured of his wounds, or oc-

ItfTtiODUCTIOtf.

5i

casionally, if there was nothing much to be done in the career which he had chosen, to rest. When-

ever he

came there he was

followed by crowds

who

thronged to gaze upon the terrible Klepht. In 1805 he went thither with nobler
throbbing
in

thoughts*

any which had hitherto made their abode there. He was now bent upon promulgating a general of the
rising

his

breast

than

Greeks for the independence of their country, The Eussians who then held the Ionian Isles
secretly encouraged the project. All the chiefs of iEtolia, of Epirus, and of Western Thessaly

were assembled there, and here

real

at

last

was a
;

triumph

for the

shepherd of former days

for

Katzantones, who had a great love of display, glittering with ornaments of gold, and costly
silver
fight,

weapons, the spoils of many a well-fought

and conspicuous by

his

haughty carriage

despite the smallness of his stature, inspired involuntary respect from all the other captains, who

acknowledged
unsurpassed.

him

as

one whose

bravery was

this time, however, in the very height of his elation Katzantones was seized with an attack of

At

smallpox.
this

It

virulent

seems that when struck down by of the disease, he was impatient

breathed necessary confinement, for having always the fresh mountain air, he chafed at being held within the four walls of a chamber. Anyhow, he hastened left Santa Maura before he was well, and
to attain his native hills once more.

58

INTBODUCTTON.

Very shortly afterwards he paid a visit to a monastery on Agrapha in order to raise some contributions, and whilst there he was again taken ill.
After remaining a few days in the monastery, being still sick, and not feeling quite assured as to his
safety,

he

left

and concealed himself

in a cave,

George, the youngest of his brothers, staying also with him to nurse and tend him. Food was brought to them daily from the monastery, and it is conjectured that one of the monks gave information concerning the place of his retreat to Ali Pasha,

who, upon receiving it, without a moment's delay, sent sixty picked Albanians with orders to bring

him both the brothers

alive.

George was just about to issue from the cave

when he saw an Albanian posted at the entrance. Family love is strong among the Greeks, and fraternal love is possibly stronger with them than with any other people. Be this as it may, there is
no more beautiful example of fraternal love in the world's history than that shown by the Klepht George to his sick and helpless brother, the once
dreaded Katzantones.

Rushing back

to the re-

cesses of the cavern he hastily told his brother what had occurred; and catching him up in his

arms, threw him over his shoulder, holding at the same time his sword in his mouth and his gun
in his hand,

and made

for the entrance to the cave,

where he discharged his piece at the Albanian who attempted to bar his passage, and took his way to a forest at no great distance. He was pursued

INTBODUCTION.

ft8

by the Albanians, but he was swift of foot, and kept for some time in advance, whilst he occasionally laid down his precious burden to reload, when he would turn to face his pursuers and fire, and then again, charging himself with his brother's
enfeebled body,
fled

onwards.

In this way he

killed several of his pursuers, but at last ten of the

foremost of the Albanians, infuriated by the deaths of their comrades, rushed forward with a sudden

bound, and the two brothers were captured, and taken to Juannina together. A brother of Veli Guekas was in the service of
Ali,

and the Pasha

to

in the refinement of cruelty

slaughter of the Katzanthe death tones, trusting that a desire to revenge of his brother would nerve him to execute them

handed over

him the

in

Guekas went to some barbarous fashion. them in their dungeon, and began to pour a
volley of savage

reproaches upon Katzantones, the fate which accompanied by many taunts upon was now awaiting him. "Veli was a Pallikar,"

answered Katzantones, "and I

am

a Pallikar; he

This reply so did his duty, and I did mine." that he touched the soldier's sense of justice, Katzantones hastened back to Ali and asked that

might be set meet him as a

at
free

liberty,

would adding that he

as a soldier man, and fight him whilst could not murder him should, but that he however, he was a captive and in chains. Ah,

generous was not the man to be stirred by any thirsted for the he had too long impulses, and

such

54

INTBODUCTION.

blood of the defiant Klepht to release him now that he at last had him in his power. He therefore

ordered

that both the brothers should be

beaten to death by sledge hammers. It has been said that the hitherto heroic firmness of Katzan-

whose nerves had been somewhat shattered during his wasting illness, gave way under this dreadful torture, and that he uttered cries of
tones,

anguish, whilst George, upbraiding complaining like a woman, endured

until

him
all

for

thus

in silence

every bone in his body was broken, expired without a sigh.

and

Lepenotis, the second brother, who had received his name from the place of his birth, followed the
career of Klepht for some little time after the deaths of George and Katzantones but harassed
;

by continual pursuits, he at length submitted to Ali and, as it usually happened with the Klephts
;

they had been induced to make their submission at Juannina, he was waylaid and murdered on his journey back.
after

Among
Maura
"
all

the

large gathering

Klephts that took place at

and the island of Santa

of Armatoli

in the year 1805, for the purpose of concerting an universal rising of the Greeks, when

the captains of Olympus," as Kolokotrones remarks, "were there," there was none who

was more conspicuous, or who attracted greater curiosity and admiration from the inhabitants
of

the island

than Niko-Tsaras.

Kolokotrones

INTBODUCTION.

55

with

name

brevity only mentions his with those of others as being " there," and
;

characteristic

nothing further

but no historical sketch of the

Klephts, however brief, can omit the name of one whose encounters with the Turks whether on sea
or land, as well as his feats in athleticism, excite

our marvel, and almost our incredulity. Skill in running and jumping is not worth recording in a
biographical notice of any gravity, were it not that such skill may be explanatory of other feats accom-

plished in hardly contested

fields,

where pith and

endurance count

for

something against many odds.

Whether he

did or did not, as related, leap over seven horses in a line, or spring over a barrier of three waggons drawn abreast, and piled high with

thorns to bar his passage, is not of much moment in itself except that such feats if accomplished
of Pravi. explain the victory at the bridge Nicholas Tsaras, or Niko-Tsaras, as he

was
birth,

more generally
his

called,

was a Thessalian by

natal place being

in the neighbourhood of

Elassona.

Both

his

father and his grandfather

it

he had probable that wild descended from a long generation of those and if such were the case, his excepwarriors could readily tional agility and athletic prowess His be accounted for as being inherited gifts.

had been Klephts, and

is

father,

Tsaras,
for

had
a

held

the

post of

of

Armatoli

considerable period.

Captain There
distance

at no great happened to be a monastery under the from Ws station, which was fortunately

56

INTBODUCTION.

direction

and superintendence of an Archimandrite,

Father Anthemos, who was possessed of excellent literary attainments, and who was moreover a very

good

man and

an enthusiast

for Hellas.

Tsaras

grasped at this opportunity, and sent his son, Some knowledge Nikos, to be educated by him.
of science

and general

literature,

with a more

perfected acquaintance with his mother tongue,

Nikos soon acquired, and he had already made

some progress in the study of the ancient language, and was advanced to reading the Iliad, when an event occurred which scattered all his learning to the winds, and at once changed the
whole course of his future
life.

Tsaras, the father, being an able man, was in the usual course of things, soon marked out as

a suspect in the opinion of the Turkish authorities. To make sure of him therefore, and to prevent

him from becoming dangerous, two detachments

of ^Albanians were sent out secretly, with orders to bring back Tsaras, dead or alive. It was a

dark night ^which was chosen for performing this duty, and Tsaras had only his children and two or three of his Pallikars with him when the

Albanians reached his abode

but he was aware

of their approach, and being ingenious witted, he cast about to see how he

and quickmight be able to'save himself. Hastily binding some of his own clothes together, so as to make the semblance of a figure, he dangled it by a cord from a
window,

shower

of

bullets

greeted

this

INTRODUCTION*

67

appearance, and whilst the Albanians were rushing to seize it as it fell, contending who should be the first to secure the head, Tsaras, followed

by his people, made his escape by the door, and under cover of the darkness of the night eluded them, and succeeded in gaining the heights, as
the stations of the Armatoli were always on the lower hill-slopes. In this way young Nikos passed

suddenly from the peaceful monastery school and

his

Homer

to

a rough

calling of a

Klepht.

apprenticeship for the His new career seems to

his books, to the

have fascinated him more than

study of which he never returned. His father was slain in an encounter with the Turks when

Nikos was only

at

fifteen years old.

He

was present

his

father's

death, and was able to save the

head from being taken, and, young as he was, immediately took up the leadership of the band, and sallied forth upon a series of expeditions which made his name both famous and dreaded in the gorges of Kissarvos, and in the whole
vicinity of

Mount Olympus.
of his arms, and the renown which his daring, were sure soon to attract

The strength

followed upon the notice of Ali Pasha.

of

Henceforth

all

kinds
to
to

means were employed to subdue him, or win him over, from threats of vengeance

and station. After a time, promise of reward for Nikos was induced to hearken to solicitations to make his preferment, and went to Juannina
his

submission

in

person,

with

the

hope

of

58

INTBODUCTION.

obtaining his father's Armatolik. It was always the custom of Ali, as before noticed, to receive

every Klepht who went to him for that purpose with the utmost graciousness, but after he was
dismissed to have

him waylaid and murdered on

Niko-Tsaras, however, was

the return journey.

and was as wary and shrewd in matters as Theodore Kolokotrones ever showed himself, so he trod his way back very All kinds of snares had been set cautiously. for him but he went out from Juannina at night, and choosing paths and byways that were known
aware of
this,

such

to very few, he got safely into Thessaly. there,

When

precaution; and it is said that crowds of Greeks followed him as he passed

he used

less

regarding him with as much awe as admiration. Nikos did not return to the hills at
along, of gentler emotions and thoughts of the pleasures of peaceful occupations
this juncture.

wave

must

at this

time have passed over him

for, like

every other Klepht, he

probably have settled

now married, and would down on the beautiful coasts

of Thessaly, and have led a quiet, uneventful life in the future, if he had not speedily discovered that he was in perpetual danger of assassination

from the emissaries of Ali Pasha.

Thus menaced,

he began to long again for the comparative safety, and also for the freedom of the rocks, and he determined to take up gun and sabre and renew his
former
life,

not, as before, merely to rob

and harass

the Turk, but to achieve the liberation of his country.

INTRODUCTION.
It is conjectured that about
this

69

era he had

Ypsilanti, the Governor Wallachia, which led him to form certain definite plans towards carrying out the aims

some communication with

of

which he was now entertaining for the purpose of promoting a general rising; all of which, however, resulted in nothing more than a display of heroism and powers of stoical endurance. A descent upon Macedonia was what he first had in contemplation, and he crossed from Karpenesi to Skiathos, and took ship to the base of Olympus, intending to move thence into Macedonia. The

Pasha of Thessalonica sent to ask him who he was, and whither he was going? to which he replied, that he was going to join Mouchtar Pasha, who was fighting with the Eussians, and
hoisting the Turkish flag, he was allowed in conThe deception was dissequence to proceed. covered after a time, when he at once lowered the

Turkish banner and raised that of the cross. He was pursued by three thousand Turks, but to reach the hill Eilos, which he found

managed

of the enemy, occupied by a still larger body he resolved to return and then, as he had no guides, with which he was better acto those

parts

So he regained the valley of Nestos, which he had before traversed to reach Eilos, and he was after fighting day and night for two days, to force successful on the third day in being able of a passage by which he reached the Bay
quainted.

Kontessa,

60

INTBODUCTION.

Eussia had promised to aid him in this expedition, and the Russian Admiral Piniavin had
agreed to await him with help in the Bay of Kontessa, in order to take him and his men away

There was in his ships, if the expedition failed. no Eussian fleet there. The Klephts had the
ocean before them, and behind them was the enemy in considerable force, to the right was the
unfordable river Strymon, and there was no other passage but the bridge of Pravi. Pravi itself is
situated on a tableland between two high hills,

on the

left

by the sea
is

The

bridge

is the plain of Sychna. stated to have been a thousand

paces in length, and either end was closed by strong gates closed by chains.
It

was in 1804 that

bridge of Pravi,

now

his brilliant exploit at the to be narrated, called forth

eloquent bursts of song from the historians of the people. In pursuance of the designs which

he had projected of making an expedition into Macedonia, he had taken with him a body of three hundred Klephts, all picked men. The
Turks had
all

the
at

been forewarned, and had occupied most important passes. Upon his

the narrow bridge of Pravi, he found the passage barred by iron chains drawn across,
arrival

and a force of three thousand Turks opposed to

him

advantageous post, with the full of effectually crushing him. He took expectation up his position on an eminence, but in a short
at

that

space of time was so completely surrounded that

TNTBODUCTION.
he was neither able For three days and
his

61

to

advance nor to
at bay, but

retreat.

for three nights,

Nikos and
in the

Klephts kept the Turks

evening of the third day they began to drop down with faint ness and exhaustion, and, more than all,
their cartouche-boxes were emptied. Nikos rightly conjectured at this point that there was nothing
left

for

them

to

passage

through

do but to attempt to force a the enemy, sword in hand.

Desperate men can achieve desperate things. With a sudden rush they burst right through the body of the Turks, broke the chains across
the bridge with blows from their Damascus blades, and flew forward to the town of Pravi, whilst the

Turks dispersed and fled. Nikos and his men stopped

at Pravi just long

enough to appease their hunger and obtain a little rest, when, hearing that all the defiles before them
were occupied by the enemy, they retraced their steps, and again sought the mountains of Thessaly,

which they reached in safety after so great and useless an expenditure of energy and courage. This expedition having signally failed, and
Nikos seeing that his position in the mountains as a captain of Klephts was one full of uncertainty and danger, all hope of obtaining the Armatolik
held by his father being completely abandoned, he considered what way he could best damage

the Turks, and at last resolved to carry on the warfare against them by sea. For this purpose

he

fitted

out

two

ships

and

reinforced

his

62

INTBODUCTlOtf.

men. His first act was to seize upon a building on the coast of Thessaly, which he made his headquarters and in a short time the Gulf of Thessa;

lonica resounded with his exploits. It was not long before other leaders of Klephts imitated his example and joined themselves to

him, among
least

whom was

Gianni Stathas.

Two

at

not more, were painted black and had black sails, whilst Stathas himself
of
their ships, if

was also clothed in black; but they floated the Greek white and blue banner above their funereallooking vessels.

Pappas Euthymios, during the same time, was concerting measures with him for

the overthrow of Ali Pasha, but before their plan could be carried into effect, Nikos was killed

almost

accidentally.

Some
in

of

his

sailors

and
in

Pallikars,

having

landed
fell

order

to

take

supplies of water,

in with a party of Albanians,

by whom

they were attacked, and some sharp Nikos, who fighting took place between them.

was

in

down

the building before alluded to, looking upon the encounter, issued forth to take
it.

part in

When

proaching they all man, who in former times had been one of his

the Albanians saw him apfled, with the exception of one

own

and who having been punished for some misdemeanour whilst under his command,
Pallikars,

bore

consequence. This man a tree, and as Nikos was hid himself behind returning after the Albanians had taken flight,

him a grudge

in

he

fired

upon him.

Nikos

fell,

the bullet having

INTRODUCTION.
struck

63

him

in the hip.

He

was carried back to

the building, where he died in the course of a few days, when he was borne in one of his own
ships to the island of Skyros, and was there buried by his Pallikars with much ceremony, and his

sword

was

taken

to

his

widow,

who put

it

reverently aside to keep for his son. At the time of his death, Nikos was about thirty-seven. His

personal appearance

is

and imposing.
without

The

described as very handsome culture of his youth was not

besides imparting a dignity

its effects, for

by him were remarkable for correctness and elegance. It was his physical attainments, however, which attracted his Klephts to him, and they loved to talk of his swiftness, which could surpass that of any horse.
to his manners, the letters written

superstitious in their estimation of his powers, believing that he had a charmed life, and that a ball would glance off if it should touch his

They were

skin and would leave

him unhurt.
Pappa-Thymo,
as he
is

rally called,

genehas just been alluded to as concerting a rising with the pirate Klepht, Niko-Tsaras. A
priest Klepht,

The

Christian priest figuring as a Klepht may at first sight seem a strange anomaly until it is remembered that throughout this introduction the

word Klepht
determined

is

synonymous with patriot*

fact,

the domination of Ali there was, in

leader
of

Under no more

Klephts throughout all nor was Thessaly, than this Pappas Euthymios, there one against whom the Pasha of Juannina felt

64

INTBODUCTION*

a more rooted hostility. account that this priest

of Klephts, that

When

it

is

taken into

came from a generation

for

he was the eldest son of the

renowned Blachavas, who was

many

years a

captain of Armatoli, at Khasia, the transition from The priest to Klepht is not to be wondered at.

blood of the warrior rather than the ascetic flowed

Blachavas, his father, possibly from pious motives, devoted his eldest son to the service of the Church, whilst he brought up the two
in his veins.

younger ones to be Klephts or Armatoli. It is quite evident that Euthymios was never attached
to
his

sacred

profession,

as

immediately upon

the death of his father he assumed the leadership of the Armatolik, and as their captain by his two
father's Pallikars.

was acknowledged brothers and his

Ali Pasha,

ness

and

possessed of great shrewdperception in his judgment of the

who was

characters of men, immediately regarded this step

mistrust, and Pappa-Thymo was at once an object of suspicion. All his usual methods of alternating threats with cajolery, and attempts to destroy him with promises of advancement were resorted to. The Pappas listened to none of

with

was not as an Armatolos or a Klepht that he was intending to work he had probably been laying his schemes during his quiet life in the priesthood, and he at once aimed far higher than in maintaining the post he derived from his father, or
them.
It
;

in

making

raids for the sake of spoiling the Turks.

INTBODUCTION.

65

His whole heart and mind was set upon a rising, and for this end he consulted with Niko-Tsaras, and for this end he also went down to the confederation of chiefs, which met at Santa Maura. That confederation, as it has been shown before,
but Pappa-Thymo, after that had collapsed, determined to act by himself. In
;

resulted in nothing

addition to his

own

Pallikars he

had he thought

gained over a number of Albanians

who were

dis-

contented with their service under

prepared for hoped to be supported by the Souliotes and other bodies; for the captains of Klephts in different parts of Greece, as well as many Turkish Agas,

Ali, and he a descent into Akarnania, when he

had promised him their adherence. All the arrangements which he had prepared were frustrated by the treachery which gave Ali full
information

He every one of his projects. had fixed upon the 29th of May, the anniversary of the capture of Constantinople, for the day of
of

the projected rising, but the Turks of Thessaly, who had promised to join him, wavered when the

time

for acting

drew near.

His fellow plotters in Epirus hastened to give him information concerning the peril in which he

was placed, but

cipated the standard of revolt at Khasia on the 5th of May,

he, nothing daunted, rashly antiprojected movement, and raised the

when with

hundred of his followers he went down to Kalabaka to cut off all communication with announced the Epirus. By a special messenger he
six
6

66

JNTEODUCTION.

course events had taken, and summoned all the Armatoli to assemble themselves. He also wrote
to those Turks of Trikkala

who had promised him

their assistance, but they were no longer disposed At this juncture Blachavas to give him their aid.
left his

brother Theodore in

command

at Kalabaka,

and flew to Olympus and to gather more supplies of men. Meanwhile, the other brother, Demetrius, who had been sent
with three hundred of the insurgents to the bridge of Baba, where the Derven-aga Jousouf was sta-

to rouse the Armatoli there,

him back into Hani; but Jousouf, uniting with some Albanians
tioned,

was

at first

able to drive

under Veli Bey, and other forces also combining, turned again, when a terrific contest was renewed.

At the. same time, Mouchtar, Ali's other son, was moving on at the head of five thousand TurcoAlbanians with a commission from Ali to lay the

whole country waste. The same traitor who had been disclosing the intentions of Pappa-Thymo from the beginning, now guided Mouchtar to the pass, which Theodore was to hold as a post of
the utmost importance. On the 7th of May in the early morning these two unequally matched forces began the combat. The advance guard of

Mouchtar was
battle

at first

repulse,d,

himself, sword in hand, barred

when Mouchtar its retreat. The

was waged for two hours, at the end of which the whole of the six hundred Greeks, as well as their brave captains, were all cut to pieces. Blachavas arrived on the spot with a reinforcement

INTBODUCTION.
of five

67

that

hundred Olympians, only in time to see the sacrifice had been consummated. A
their heads were

ghastly convoy of the remains of these heroes

went to Juannina on mules, where cemented into a pyramid.

Pappa-Thymo would not

risk the lives of the

men which he had from Olympus by engaging with Mouchtar brought Pasha and his many thousands, and he, therefore,
reinforcement of five hundred
led
in safety to Olympus. It was at this time in the midst of his anguish and rage, at the waste of so many brave lives, that

them back

Blachavas determined to unite with Niko-Tsaras and other fugitive Armatoli from Olympus, and by
fitting out a fleet,

to carry on the

war by

sea.

Hundreds

of disaffected

men

swelled the numbers

who

daily flocked to join these piratical ships, which carried on their devastations even in sight

of the Sultan's fleet.

affairs,

Alarmed

at the prospect of

the

Sultan issued a firman, commanding

them

to cease their ravages, and offering them an amnesty. To Ali Pasha this firman also coun-

selled

as he

had

abstinence from such a display of enmity lately been showing, whilst the Patriarch
letter,

put a seal to this advice by a

composed

in

synod, which he sent to Pappa-Thymo exhorting him as a Christian priest to abstain from so sinful a
life,

and offering him absolution for all that was past. Blachavas was prevailed upon he immediately
;

stopped
fleet,

all

and

his piratical courses, dispersed all his disbanded all his Armatoli.

68

INTRODUCTION.

Without entering

into every detail

it is

sufficient

to state that through fraud, having held out some promise of restoring him to his father's Armatolik,

got possession at last of the person of Blachavas. In great pomp the unfortunate man
Ali

was conducted to

the Court of

delivered up to the Pashalik. yard of the Palace where for two days he was exposed to the insults of a fanatical mob that Mons.

Juannina, and It was in the court-

Pouqueville, the French consul, saw him, and thus graphically describes the bearing of the captive " I had once met Blachavas at Milias on Mount
:

Pindus, in all the pride of freedom, and surrounded by his warlike companions I saw him again for
;

the last time bound to a stake in the court of the

The rays of a burning sun on his deeply bronzed forehead, down which the sweat of agony and exhaustion was
seraglio at Juannina.
full
fell

flowing in copious streams. Even in death his eye still flashed defiance; and turning on me a look more serene than that of the monster who directed
his torments,

he seemed to

call

on

me

to witness

with what calmness a hero can

die.

Without a

moan

he received the last blows of his executioners, and his manly limbs severed from his body and dragged through the streets of Juannina, showed to the terrified Greeks the remains of
or a shudder

the last of the chieftains of Thessaly."

This outline of the lives of a few of the most

re-

markable of the Armatoli and Klephts

is

a picture

INTBODUCTION.
of

69

is presented to us again almost word for word in the scenes which Kolokotrones has jotted down from his own personal ex-

them

as a whole,

and

perience.

same thing throughout several heroism and daring, perils and escapes, betrayals and death. In his generous appreciation of the captains who had been sacriIt is the

centuries of endurance

ficed

the rising of 1821, Kolokotrones that had they lived, the liberation of his remarks,
before

country would have been effected during the first year of the struggle. This is rather more than
doubtful, although
if

the ranks of the insurgents

had not been

jutors

reduced by the loss of those capable leaders, Theodore would have found coadso

worthy of himself, if, it must, be added, he could have controlled himself into acting in conjunction with them, but his inability to submit his will to that of others is tolerably

more

shown in his " Autobiography." ness and abrupt brevity of these

well

The
line.

terse-

utterances,

bear the stamp of truth in every are the frank outspoken statements
cultured

They
an un-

of

was

of exceptional natural ability, who not careful to conceal anything, least of all his

man

contempt for indecision and weakness. Descended from a generation of Klephts, the son of a most

renowned captain, looked up to by every scion of the Kolokotroni as head of the family, it is not to a surprising that he was so little amenable provisional government of professors and priests.

He

was

not, nor could

he ever have been, popular

70

INTBODUCTION.

with the heads of parties.

He was

irritable

and

passionate to a degree, and he occasionally gave vent to feelings of displeasure in a rather strong

manner, as can well be inferred from an anecdote

given by his editor in some notes appended to his

Autobiography," who relates that whilst he was in Zante, he took up an English edition of the Greek New Testament and began to read from it,

"

when

young man who was present, and who was a reader in the Greek Church, began to expostulate with him for so doing, bidding him to remember
a

that

was forbidden by the Patriarch, " and, Kolokotherefore, you will be accursed of God." trones, upon hearing this remark, was so transported by a sudden access of anger, that he sprang up, and seizing the young man by his thick black hair, hurled him to the ground, when some byit

him from the chiefs fury. was conjectured by those who witnessed
standers rescued

It

this

occurrence, that the reference to the authority of the Patriarch had brought to the remembrance

excommunication fulminated by that prelate, which had been the occasion of so much suffering to himself and his kinsmen. That he was placable and forgiving, and that his wrath, if quickly aroused, was as easily appeased, is evident from the fact that he could tolerate as colleagues men who had not been unof Kolokotrones the

willing

when he was
for

a Klepht to deliver

him up

to

death

a certain

number

of grosia.

That the

tender emotions were occasionally as readily called

INTRODUCTION.

71

forth as his fiery ebullitions of temper, the torrents of tears which he shed when the death of Karais-

kakes was announced to him are proofs sufficient. At the funeral of Zaimes with whom he was always
in contention, his sorrowful

some surprise to him of his continual disputes with that politician whilst he was living. "True," was his answer, "I differed from him, but I never bore him always any ill feeling." It is related of him that his despatches showed his temporary moods, for it was only when he was angry that he employed the
capital letter

demeanour occasioned one who was present who reminded

he were

in his signature OebBopos, whilst if pleased, that condition of mind was

initial

evidenced by a small

name Theodore then appeared

being used, and his written debBopo?.

Although it must certainly be assumed that there were many who personally disliked him, yet on the other hand it is distinctly evident that he was also capable of inspiring a very strong and remarkable devotion. Apart from the duties of sonship, how beautiful is the conduct of Gennaios in every campaign in his obedience to an exacting
leader

Apart from this unquestioning obedience which Kolokotrones required and obtained from his son, there are everywhere marks of an excep!

which probably was accentuated by the behaviour of Gennaios before Tripolitsa, when he was a youth of only
tionally strong attachment to him,

a conspicuous the siege of the figure upon that occasion, during

seventeen years of age.

Pie

made

72

INTRODUCTION.

forth from the gates in full force, thinking that the mere sight of so large a host of cavalry and infantry, fully equipped
city,

when the Turks came

in

all

points,

would of
to

itself

be

sufficient

to

terrorise the undisciplined

and badly-armed
instantaneous

rebels,
flight.

and
This

cause
result

them
did
boldly,

take

not

met them
conflict,

Greeks occur, and the when there was a desperate

and a consequent repulse of the Turks. Young Gianni Kolokotrones, who till then had been known by his baptismal name Gianni (John)
exchanged that name for Gennaios (brave), which was bestowed upon him by his fellow combatants and others for his heroic conduct in the field, and by which name alone he was ever afterwards called.
only,

here

Amid much

base desertion in numbers of the

colleagues of Koliopoulos remained

of Kolokotrones, the noble constancy

unmoved throughout, and

;

through all temptations and trials he never once swerved from his fealty and that of his nephew Niketas the NiJcetaras, "with the swift-winged

and of his own familiar Of Niketas, the Turlcoor Turk-eater, as he was surnamed from his phage, exploits, he, whom no horse could overtake so agile a runner was he, Dr. Howe, the American, who deof the folk-songs, moments, is unrivalled.
feet

"

" Of tested Kolokotrones, has nothing but praise. all those who fought in the war of liberation," he " there was no more high-minded or perfect says,

a character than he," adding that his devotion

INTRODUCTION.
to his uncle

73

was

so remarkable that he identified

him

absolutely with the cause of his country, as an embodiment of patriotism itself, and never questioned but that the old chief was always in

the right, and that swayed by this feeling, and thus judging, he chose the welfare of Kolokotrones,

good patriot though he was, to mean the welfare

of his country. From the entire absence of selfin his character, and from his probity, seeking Niketas has been called the " Aristides of the

Kevolution."

When

fortune favoured the Greeks,

and a fortress was stormed or a citadel taken, there have not been wanting those who have censured the needy victors with greed in their
partition of the spoils.

So timeless an accusation

cannot be brought against Niketas, who in all his campaigns never asked for, and never received
more, than one Damascus blade. Diakos in his dying moments found solace in
the remembrance that " Niketas was
left,"

and

there must have been some consolation to the

oppressed heart of the hunted-down Captain of Klephts when, after his flight to Zante, he recounts
in

" out of anguish thirty-two Kolokotroni only seven remained," that Niketas was one of that
seven.

which the Kolokotroni exercised over the people of the Morea when their power was at its height, which may be
of influence

The amount

have been somewhat before 1770, is evidenced by the number of popular ballads which

assumed

to

74

INTRODUCTION.

are dedicated to recounting their family annals.

inspired by the prowess of Kostantes the father, followed the son Theodoros through his whole career down to the

These folk-songs, which were

first

very

hour of his

death,

whilst

the

relations,

whether uncles or cousins, like lesser luminaries or satellites, also invoked severally a recognition from the heroic muse of the Peloponnesus. The tragic events of 1780, when Kostantes and several
of his brothers were slain, were fruitful in calling forth folk-poetry of the above kind, whilst every circumstance of any note in the lives of the

twenty-five Kolokotroni whom their chief and the head of the family laments as having fallen in

consequence of the

firman of 1803,

has

been
in its

made the subject of a separate poem. The imagery in this poetry is extravagant

expression, but underlying all its metaphors there is truth in the narratives as they stand, and they
testify

the devotion borne by the peasants. reverse of fortune which had happened to this
to

and their temporary absence in consequence from their accustomed haunts, calls forth the following rhapsody " The sun is shining On the plains and on the brightly on the hills strongholds of the Klephts But where are the Kolokotroni who have silver, yea, silver in plenty ? They had five rows of buttons below, and six rows
family,
;

they went to church they disdained to walk the earth They went on horseback to
above.
;

When

worship.

The horsemen

kissed the

cross

and

INTBODVCTION.
the priest's hand;
horses,

75

They dismounted from

by one," &c.

their

and went
in

in one

consequence of the firman, and Although the excommunication which the Patriarch felt
compelled to fulminate by command of the Sultan, it might almost appear that every one's hand

was against him, and ready to deliver him up to torture and to death yet the passionate laments
;

that these

at this time for the songs " Theodoraki " show dangers which surrounded very clearly that the men who were willing to

exhibit

betray him, and

to a different

who were pursuing him, belonged " God where class to the poets.
!

the Kolokotroni gone, that they come no longer to weddings or to feasts?" would not be
are

sung by any other than the peasants who were generally on the side of the Klephts. The following, which is chosen for its brevity, but which
is

only one out of a number of others, may serve to exemplify how great was the fascination by

which the Kolokotroni held the people of the Morea " How heavy is that cloud which ready

now

break doth lower; the waters cover all the plains, snows on the hill-tops shower. It is
to

not rain,

they are tears and bitter come weeping, in which the firman which hath the Morea is steeping Koumaics, Turks, are all in arms, our Klephts beloved betraying the the Kolokotroni brave, now eager to be
it is

not snow

Klephts,

slaying."

The imputations which have been

so

often

76

1NTB0DUCTI0N.

brought against Kolokot rones, that he only aimed

at freeing the

derive

all

Morea, in order to become its ruler, their plausibility from his almost extraplace
of
his
birth.

vagant

attachment to the

Apparently he was never happy when he could not tread its rugged mountains, and whilst he

was

in Zante he was daily in the habit of ascenda height whence he could see the Peloponnesus, ing and there he would stand and gaze upon the outline of her hills

and pain.

"

with mingled feelings of pleasure " is There," he would say, my home

;

there was I born; there are the graves of my kindred; and there have my brethren been slain."

But the remote idea of kingship, if not indulged by himself was one not unfamiliar to the people of the Morea in respect to him. The Klephts assumed a kind of sovereignty among themselves,
and in one of the " heroic songs" dedicated to
sing the praises of the Kolokotroni brotherhood, there is a bold renunciation of the authority of the Sultan and his firman, and an assertion that

Theodoraki
to the

King of the Morea a king equal Sultan, and that his brothers are Kadis
is

and

Viziers.

Theodoraki

is

also always described

as "wielding the sword of Leonidas." It will be " " seen in his that one man out Autobiography

body of Klephts who had submitted, and who were serving under the Turks, refused absolutely fco march against him he would march against
of a

" but not This against our king." aided by his own assumptions of popular idea,

any one

else,

INTBODUCTION.
independence,

77

would naturally strengthen any suspicions which the provisional government might

harbour at times as to his ultimate designs.

in will as he was undaunted in prowess, there is, nevertheless, seldom to be seen in the autobiographies of public men so much restraint as is exhibited in this man.

As strong and unbending

He

actions.

hardly speaks of himself at all apart from his A few words record the plain fact that

he marries, and not once afterwards is his wife mentioned. That this was not the result of indifference

may

be gathered from the reverence

;

which he displayed at her obsequies for she dying whilst they were in Zante, Theodore, when the usual requiem service was held, himself bore the
funeral cakes (fc6\va) into the church, carrying the salver which contained them upon his head.
his children nothing is mentioned until they are of an age to bear arms. He is reticent

Of

of his feelings throughout, except when he speaks of his country, and sixty years and more of
travail

and exposure to every danger, from the time when he was born under a tree on the mountain till the day when he was brought to

judgment by a faction and heard sentence of death pronounced against him, had left him unchanged. On that day he was not voluble in his own defence, and he made no appeal to his " past services. Lord, into Thy hands I commend " my spirit were the only words which fell clear and unfalteringly from the lips of the old warrior

78

INTRODUCTION.

he then thought, of death from the hands of the executioner saying which he crossed himself, and then took a pinch of snuff. The people, however, never swerved from their "When some years before this last love to him.
in the near presence, as

he had been dismissed from the generalship, all the reverses that afterwards befell the Greek arms in the Peloponnesus were ascribed to his withtrial

drawal, and the senate was obliged to restore him to the command in answer to the reiterated cries " Give us of an angry mob back Kolokotrones " us back Kolokotrones give It is gratifying to reflect that the old chief lived
! !

ten years after his condemnation to death, and that he enjoyed the full confidence of the young

monarch, Otho, whose

his

first

gracious

act

after

majority was to release him from attaining confinement. Only a few days before his decease, which occurred in February, 1843, he was present at a ball given at the palace, and death seems at last to have come to him very gently upon the evening of the same day, in the morning of which

he had attended the marriage of a

friend.

In translating the following " Autobiography," which was not written down by the hand of
Kolokotrones
himself,

but

dictated

by him

to

transcribed with exact fidelity the Tertzetis, words as they fell from his lips, the same course

who

has been followed/ and no attempt has been made

to modify the original.

INTBODUCTION.

79

The

authorities
:

which have been consulted

"

are
of

the Greek works

"

The History
Trikoupes;
;

of the

War

Independence," by
of Greece,
'

S.

"

The History
of

by Paparregopoulos
"
;

" Greek Miscel-

lanies,'

The Kisings " The Sathas against Turkey," by " The Epirus," by Aravandinos Songs Aravandinos " Chants Populaires," by
by Sathas
; ;

Greeks

History of
of Epirus,"

by Fauriel; u Sketches of Actors in the Kevolution," by Dr. Howe " History of Modern Greece," by Tennent, &c.
; ;

OF

UNIVERSITY

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF

THEODORE KOLOKOTRONES.
From 1770
to 1836.

having been dethence and went over to Libovisti. This stroyed, departed happened some three hundred years ago. He appeared to be intelligent, so the chief elder there made him his sonin-law,

THERE Tourkoleka, whose own place village

was a certain person from Roupaki, near the

and the heir

of all his possessions.

Tzergines, and sixty families of that

Messenia at the present day.

off

His name was name can be found in A son was born to him who
seized

was very handsome indeed, but he was

and carried

by the Albanian chief Bouloubases, who put him in This young man's name was Demetraki. The fetters.
Albanians who were guarding him amused themselves by * when Bouloubases told him that if he jumping in threes
liked to

jump

also,

he would remove his chains. Demetraki

replied to this offer

his irons on,
if

by saying that he would jump with the chief would give him his freedom if

he surpassed the others. As the Albanian thought that it would be utterly impossible for him to do much in his
fetters,

he readily promised to
happen.

set

him

at liberty

if

this

should

He

accordingly, having his chains on,

a

* Three consecutive jumps

common game

in Greece,

82

KOLOKOTBONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

others,

jumped with the

and by

his superior skill

won

his

freedom again. He sons, who were named Chronos, Lambros, and Demos.

afterwards married and had three

They became the possessors of five hundred sheep and These were taken from them by sixty horses and cattle. their rivals and killed upon which they went to Koumeli,
;

becoming Klephts, were there for twelve years, after which they went back to the Peloponnesus, taking twelve Eoumeliotes with them. The Turks when they heard of
and,
their return attacked them,

and one

of

them was

killed,

but the others

younger

of

managed to save themselves. Demos, the the two who were now left, married the

daughter of Captain Chrones from Chrysovitsi, a great house. This was when Morosini governed the Morea. He

was not one was

of the Venetian captains.

The son

of

Demos

called Botsikas, instead of his family

name

of Tzer-

gines, because

he was small and dark-skinned.

In Botsikas' time the Turks came into the Morea.

The

Chrysovitsioti, the Libovisioti, and the Arkourodematiti

went to Pyrgos of Dara, and made war against six thousand Turks they were defeated, however, but Botsikas himself
;

one son, Gianni, and an Albanian said to him concerning this son, " What monkey have you " here ? For truly his back was like a croiv's, and so the
escaped.

He had

name Kolokotrones /e\o?, back tcorpwv, crow remained with him and his descendants. Botsikas was killed, Gianni
;

was hung at Androusa, and thus from 1553, when the Turks came into our parts, they never admitted their
supremacy
;

but there was always war.

KOLOKOTRONES,
THE KLEPHT AND THE WABKIOB,

CHAPTEE L

WAS

born in the year 1770. It was the 3rd of April, and it was Easter Tuesday. The revolt of the Albanians in the Pelo-

ponnesus had taken place in the previous year of 1769.* I was born under a tree

on the
district

hill

called

Kamavouni, in

the

of old Messenia.

My

father, Kostantes Koloko-

had been a captain of the Armatoli in Corinth, a post which he held for the space of four years. He left Corinth, however, to go to Mani, and whilst at Mani he harried the Turks greatly. In the year 1779 the Kapitan Bey and Mavrogenest came down and overrun Mylos and Nauplia. They sent papers of submission through all the Peloponnesus, and
trones,

the people went up and made their submission in person to the Kapitan at Mylos. He forwarded to my father a
special
to

and separate paper of submission, and asked him join them in their endeavour to expel the Albanians,
* See Note A.
f

See Note B.

84

KOLOKOTBON&S,
him

that the rayah should have his rights. My father straightway moved forward with a thousand of his

assuring

soldiers

and took possession

of Trikorpha, near Tripolitsa,

but did not go to the Bey because he feared to do so. The force of six Kapitan then rose up from Mylos, and with a

thousand regulars and three thousand Klephts marched As my through Doliana towards Tripolitsa and encamped.
father

was

still

at

Trikorpha the Kapitan Bey sent to

him

commanding him to go to him by himself in order to make his submission, but my father gave this reply, " This is not a subfitting time for me to go and make my
again,
mission.
seize

The Albanians are

all

at Tripolitsa,

and they can

the wild part of the country and disperse upon themselves over the whole of the Peloponnesus, and get
possession of it." My father, nevertheless, sent the Bey a present of a capote for himself and twenty jackets for his
captains.

Whilst the Turkish army was advancing upon Tripolitsa

in order to besiege the Albanians, a body of four thousand Turko-Albanians came down for the purpose of driving my
father from his

pursued them

encampment but he repulsed them, and some distance, and then returned to his former position. The Turkish army commanded by the Bey had moved away to Agio Sosti, a place some little way off, when an additional force of Albanians, six thousand in all, again attacked my father, and were again driven back. The Albanians saw that it would not be possible for them to hold Tripolitsa because it was not walled so they
;

for

gathered all their forces together against my father; but he made a furious onslaught upon them and drove them into the open plain, where he was joined by other captains.

They rushed into the fields, and the cavalry cut them down on the plain as reapers mow the wheat the horsemen fell upon them and reaped them-^the cavalry on one side and
;

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

my
father

85

and his troops on the other. Whilst they were the Albanians cried out, " Kolokotrones, do you not fighting
give

any quarter

"

"

What

quarter should I give to you," he replied,

despoiled

who have come here and

slaves of us,
for

my

country and
it

"you made

and done us every

evil

which

was possible

you

to do

?"
;

" ours is to come." your turn now," they replied Out of a force of twelve thousand men, there were only
It is

"

seven hundred

who made

their escape to Dadi.

up a tower at Tripolitsa with the heads of these Albanians, and the Peloponnesus was at peace for a time. The next year, however, namely in 1780, the same

They

built

Kapitan Bey came down again and endeavoured to destroy my father. A squadron arrived at Marathonisi, and armies
were brought over both by sea and land. The colony of Kastanitsa, where Kostantes Kolokotrones and Panagiotaras

were established, was

six

hours distant

from

Upon the coming of the squadron Panawho was a Maniote by birth, solicited his gioras, countrymen to lend him some assistance, and the Maniotes
Marathonisi.

promised that they would go and aid him, but no help ever came to him from them. The dragoman Mavrogenes was a

Greek born, and he was a

man

of ability.

He had made

the Maniote, Michael Tropaki, a Bey, and by making him a Bey he secured his aid for himself, and a force of four-

men was brought down to besiege them. The Sera skier, AH Bey, sent a writing to the besieged summoning them to surrender, and demanding that both my father and Panagioras should each give one of their sons as hostages, and in that case he would remove his hand from themselves, but they both answered " We will not surrender we wish for war and he who
teen thousand
is

conquered,

let it

be for him to submit."

86

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
Panagioras still hoped that help would come from Mani.* The Turkish army then prepared to besiege them

vigorously;

they

brought up

cannon

poured upon them an unceasing fire by day. Their bombs and their cannons, however, did not inspire the besieged with any dread, and for twelve nights

and bombs and both by night and

and for twelve days they stood out nobly and bravely. When, however, they saw that no assistance was forthcoming, they determined to flee from the towers in which There were two towers, the one they were besieged.
being held by the father of Panagioras, and the other by my father and Panagioras himself. Now the father of

Panagioras was an old

who was
other

man of eighty years, and his mother, there also, was about the same age, and she by
many
years was not able to
sortie.
flee

reason of her

with the

women
Set

during the

Panagioras' old father

therefore called out from his tower to

son,
I

my

father

and his

"

fire to

the other towers, but I shall remain where

am."

He
who

his wife,

did remain there with one servant only and also had her one maid, with the full inten-

tion of fighting, but

hoping nevertheless that his sons would eventually be able to go and help him. The battle was thus carried on by him and his servant, but he had
great
skill.

They who held the other tower made a rush through the
There were only and a part of the women, but many children were captured and taken for slaves, and among them were my two little brothers, one being three years old, and the other only a year old. Both of these
three

camp

of the

Seraskier sword in hand.

men

killed in the sortie,

were carried
redeemed).

(but they were afterwards they sallied forth they found that the Turks were occupying the hills for the night ; and about
off

into slavery

When

* See Note C.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

the middle hour of the night the

87

forth, and was therefore a very short night, and there was consequently no time for them to reach Mani, for when they got to the hills it was daytime. Panagioras was captured alive, and was after-

moon shone
It

her rays lightened up every place.

wards

killed

by the Bardouniotes.

My

father

and his two

brothers, Apostolus and George, were also slain, the one on the hill, and the other when he was alone, because he had

been wounded

my

four Kolokotroni
tower,

uncle Anagnostes, who was one of who had been shut up together in

the

the

was saved. Myself, with my mother and sister, were saved by my father's pallikars. Kostantes Kolokotrones, my father, was wounded by a sword-thrust at the time of the sally, and was afterwards killed through the treachery
a Turkish friend. His head was never recovered. The murderers who slew him concealed his body for the sake of the property which they found upon him. Three years afterwards his body was dug up, and every one knew
of

that

it

was the body

of Kostantes Kolokotrones because

little fingers had a crook in it, in consequence of a cut from a Turkish sabre years before. They had hidden him in a hollow between Arna and Kotzatina, and he was

one of his

afterwards interred again at Melia.

My father was
;

exceed-

ingly dark and very thin, so swift of foot that the most speedy stallion could never overtake him he was thirty-

three years of age at the time of his death, and was of middle height, black-eyed, and slim. The Albanians held

him
"

in so great a terror that they swore

I

by his name.
"
!

May

be saved from the sword of Kolokotrones

It

was

their favourite oath.

he had killed with his

irregulars.

was said that before he was slain own hand seven hundred Turkish

Panagioras was a man of a gigantic stature, also young, with black hair a man of noble breeding, of about thirty;

88

kOLOKOTilONM,
Old Gianni Kolokofeet

seven or thirty-eight years of age.

trones was killed at Androusa
cut
off,

his
;

hands and his

were

and he was then hung

but his son some time

afterwards avenged his death. As for the old father of Panagioras, who was left alone fighting in the tower, his
servant,

who surrendered himself

alive.

up, bore witness to seeing

him

persistently lighting his fusee, but the old

man was

captured

When

was asked, "

Why

did you not

brought before the Kapitan Bey he make your submission ? "

the old man,

"I make my submission now," answered " because the heads of those who submit are

not cut

off."

The hands and feet, however, of the aged warrior were amputated, and he himself was afterwards hung. We remained some time at Melia in Mani with my uncle
Anagnostes, and I bought back the two enslaved children, my brothers Gianni and Chrestos. One of them had been

taken to Hydra

and we stayed in Mani three years. We had sustained many losses, and our other uncles on our mother's side, who were called the Kotsakaioi, came to us and took us away with them to Alonistaina. We managed
;

to get

away without being recognized,

fear of the Turks.

My

for we were in great uncle Anagnostes afterwards went to

Sampazika, in the extremity of Mani.

district

of Leontari,

which

is

at the

there allied himself with George a native of the place, and a prefect, and a good shot, Metaxa,
to whom he gave his daughter in marriage, and he then built himself a house. Hearing that my uncle had established

He

himself at Akovo, we left where we were and went and settled ourselves there. We stayed there some time, and the submitted Klephts appointed me Armatolos of Leontari to act against the other Klephts, and I managed the province

with leniency.

was then

fifteen

years old.

When

was twenty years

of age I

of the chief primate of Leontari, a

married the daughter man who had been ruined

KLEPHT AND

WAIffilon.

89

by a Pasha in Nauplia. As I received in dowry both olivetrees and a vineyard, I built houses and settled down as a
householder, but I
still took care of my Armatolik, and went about with a gun, for the Turks envied us always and wished to slay us all; they were not able to do so

therefore kept

because our place was situated on the heights. They up a continual warfare against us by craft
,

At one time they sent out one hundred, and another occasion two hundred soldiers to attack us, upon but as these were not able to get us wholly in their power,
subtlety.

and

I saw, however, they did not carry out this attempt. that if they continually found that artifices failed they

come against us openly. We received inAfter we this, and fled away from the place. had left, the Turks went and destroyed all our possessions, and issued orders that wherever we were found we were to
would at
last

formation of

be destroyed likewise. I now found myself with twelve of the Kolokotroni,

all

younger than myself, so we took our families to Mani and left them there ; and then we rose up openly as Klephts,

and got together our and sometimes less.

straight
off,

sometimes sixty in number, remained Klephts for two years and afterwards, when they found they could
soldiers,

We

do nothing against us, they offered us the Armatolik again. I had Leontari and Karytaina given into my charge, and I

remained there as an Armatolos four or

five years.

uncle Anagnostes Kolokotrones gave himself up to drink as a means of forgetting all the past events of his
life,

My

and

he,

my

father's eldest brother,

was

killed in

Leon-

some time afterwards. They carried off his head. He had of his hands had been cut off in his youth.) (One led an active life for forty years, and was fifty-two years old at the time of his death. He left behind him three sons,
tari

Giannaki, Georgaki, and Demetraki, and seven daughters.

90

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
his

At

death

he

was

the

last

of

my

father's

six

brothers.

When we
the service

were Armatoli, our children were

left in

Mani,
in

at Greater Kastania, but during the time that

we were

We
in

we always went down to Mani on special days. always went to Mani to help the Bey Koumountouraki his needs, and we also gave our assistance to the
Captain Konstantine Douraki, my father, had begun a feud

party to which he belonged. who had been a friend of

about this time with the Kitriniari, and we had sent him reinforcements. We had at one time shut up Nicholas
Kitriniares and besieged him, and whilst his brother and cousins were having a meal he discharged his gun in the air. The Maniotes had caused him to be in great straits,

and he therefore desired

for
kill

to deliver the place up,

and asked

me.

me

His design, however, was not to surrender, but to if possible by an act of treachery. He came himself
it,

outside the gate of the tower in order to surrender

but he

had placed some men inside, and these men discharged six guns full at me. I was struck, but not hurt I fell down
;

under the roof of the tower gate, and my own men thinking that they had killed me, wanted to slay the relations of " Kitriniares; others, however, called out, No, let us look " after Theodoros. The brother of Kitriniares came up,

and

I took

him by the shoulder and protected him, and

fire into

at

night I threw
up.

it was then delivered The brother then asked me what I meant to do to them for their treachery, and I answered him, " God has preserved me, so I grant them

the tower, and

us.

His brother was with

their lives."

Zacharias * was helping the other side. We fought with each other for a space, and then we had a conference outside.

I
*

supported the Bey.

Mourtzinos was in opposition

Morea.
See Introduction.

A celebrated chief of the

Klepht AND WABBIOB.

to the

91

one's

One must help Bey and my friend the captain. own people for one or two months during the sumsix years

mer.

During the

described above I removed

my
it

children to the village Gianitsa, near Kalamata, because

was better

Mani was envious of the Bey, so Seremet Bey went to drive out Anton Glegoraki Bey. The Bey Koumountouraki came into Kalamata with sixty men, and I had eighteen with me but I was
for

me on

account of provisions.

prevented from giving any assistance to Koumountouraki, although for friendship's sake I was bound to help him, because the Turks and the Maniotes had assembled three

thousand strong against Koumountouraki. I foresaw that there would be large bodies of men in the captaincies, and it was my advice that we should not go into Mani.

We

wished to occupy the fort of Koumountouraki, which was four hours distant from Kalamata. The chieftains and other Maniotes fought with us, and I was wounded, but

we took possession of a tower, and afterwards, during the night, we reached the fort. The sloughing of my wound was internal. I wrote a letter, therefore, to Panagiotes and

them some agreement which I could go to Mani to be healed. The Mourtzinoi by told Seremet Bey that they would drive out all the Klephts, which would weaken the power of Koumountouraki, and
Christeas Mourtzinos to obtain from

they

made merry with Seremet Bey about my going down in

and
told

their very midst,

me

that I had better take

all

my

men with me. men remained

going with my men. As my one Petrounes became a mediator, behind,

I deferred

with the object of persuading Koumountouraki to make his submission, assuring him that he would suffer nothing but I said, " When Petrounes comes, do not listen to him,
otherwise he will destroy you." Koumountouraki did not think so:

he entered into a

92

ROLOKOTRON&S,

and our people went away. Koumountouraki was delivered up, and the squadron took him away
treaty with them,
captive.

wound, and went back to my Armatolik. The primates and Deligianni caused me to do this, for " It is not well that thou dost endanger thyself in they said, Mani take thy family into Karytaina." So I took my
I got healed of

my

children to Karytaina, and settled in the village of Stemnitsa.

In the year 1802 a firman came, which commanded that we two, Petimeza and myself, should be killed. This was

motion by a voivode in Patras. The firman said, "Either your two heads or the heads of the chiefs."
set in

Whereupon

the vizier of Tripolitsa

summoned

the father of

Zaimes and Deligianni. Zaimes obeyed the summons, but Deligianni was very much afraid. He took an oath
to
I

them both that it had nothing at all to do with them. had accompanied Deligianni as far as Tripolitsa, and " I as we were returning together I said to Deligianni, do not believe that the firman is for us " and he replied,
;

The Pasha, however, only sent for those and he read the firman to them. " You must give us two, " Old Zaimes for these are wild men." time," they said,
not fear."

"

Do

Asemakes, however, had Petimeza quite in his power, because he went down to Kalavryta daily, but for myself I never went to Karytaina. The two primates said that they

must make themselves masters of the wild one (Kolokotrones), and that afterwards they could easily get the tame
one (Petimeza). Deligianni made two of the primates take an oath that they would kill me. That was rather difficult

was always very cautious. They had a conference with Velemvitsa, and swore him in first ; but he "I do not agree with the killing of those men ; we replied,
to

manage, because

shall destroy the province."

They did not change their minds,

ELEPHT AND WABBIOB.

however.

93

They then brought one Bouloubases with his Albanians into Karytaina. I had my suspicions about this proceeding, and went to pay a visit to a primate in Stem" nitsa. What do you want with the Albanian Boulou" he bases here ?"I asked ; won't become of your opinion.*' The Albanian then came into Stemnitsa, and I went there
also,

taking with

me

fifty of

my

men.
him,

had an interview

with Bouloubases, when

set us at loggerheads
:

I said to

"

tame

fowl cannot chase

still

They are trying to away wild

remains."
to

ones.

Though

all fly

away, the sparrow

his

That circumstance fortunately brought old Kolias

me,

who came with

son

Koliopoulos.

We now
at

numbered two hundred, and our own men joined us

Magoulia. Anagnostes Bakales, a primate at Garzeniko, derided the Turks and sent me continual information.
wrote to the two primates (before-mentioned) to send me news also, and to advise me what to do, but they only
I

wrote

me

lies

and

I procured

some guns and ammunition

with
his

from

Demetri.

Bouloubases,

force

of

two

hundred picked men, surprised us, however, at Kerpeni, when we were only forty altogether. I marched outside
the
village
;

and
but
if

shut
I

Kermitsa

myself up in a monastery at had remained there I should have

been utterly

lost, so I left

and got away

to the wild parts

of the country.

Meanwhile they slew Petimeza in Kalavryta, and sent We killed some Turks, however, his head to Tripolitsa.

and we also burnt some of their villages. The primates whereupon appealed to Kolias, asking him to persuade us to make some agreement, whereby everyat Magouliana,

thing might be pacified. I was therefore taken back into the Armatolik service again. Deligianni had been trying
for three or four

months

to effect our ruin, but

he had

not succeeded.

94

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
So, in the

month

of

September,

Armatolik.
of wreaking

Deligianni at this time

I again entered the found an opportunity

He had a friend in Lala, one his spite. Hassan Aga Phida, and he besought him to slay us We treacherously, of course, because we were Armatoli. had placed our families now in Palouba, and old Kolias, who had discovered the treachery, sent us information I was in that the Lalians were coming down upon us.
and
a village called Tourkokerpeni when I cast about in my mind how
secret
I received this
I

news,

could unravel this

movement which was

us,

astir

overthrowing
of the night.

and I thought it The Turks came up and seized upon two

the purpose of over during the whole

for

roads,

sending out two separate bodies, each with two

hundred men, in order to entrap me in an ambuscade. I had a traitor about me, and he came to us to see if

we were on the move,

to

I had hoped or if we were sleeping. have been able to send a defiance to them in the

morning, but in the morning we found ourselves surrounded in a village. I had given my clothes to an
adopted son.

We

were rejoicing at the return of day,

saw the Turks drawing nigh. We seized our guns, but as we were endeavouring to get to the back of the hill, my adopted son had eight balls fired into him. My

when

lo

brother Gianni was also wounded.

selves

We

then shut our-

up

in

three houses,
all

the cellar.

In

and I stationed myself in we numbered thirty-eight. The second

two hundred coming up they surrounded us. We fought through the whole of that day, but at nightfall we sallied forth and fled. This occurred on the 7th of

body

of

March, in the year 1804. In the year 1805 I

left

for

Zante.

The Emperor

Alexander of Kussia had sent an invitation to the Greeks

to take service in his armies.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOE.

All
of

95

and Koumeliotes and we Peloponnesians, had framed an address to the Emperor

us,
to

both Souliotes

ask

him
free.

to

give us help

so that

we might

set

our

country

up

this address.

Anagnostaras was very active in getting The Souliotes and Eoumeliotes were in
got together a
force

Parga, but Anagnostaras

to Zante.

of

five

thousand Peloponnesians for the army at once. I went When the answer to the address came that

was in August I had an interview with the general of the Eussian army, and he told me that he had arranged
to receive into the

Eussian service as
the

many Greeks
of

as

chose

to

enter,

for

express

purpose

fighting

Napoleon. " Then, for

the service.

my

" I shall not enter part," I answered,

'

What concern
If

is

it

of

mine in regard

to

Napoleon
from

you, however, want

men

of aiding us to free our

five

own

country, I
soldiers.

to

ten
oil,

thousand

for the purpose can promise you We were once

baptized with

and we have
will

since been baptized with

in blood for
"
!

blood, and yet again

we be baptized
I

the deliverance of our fatherland

I stayed in

Zante a fortnight, but

I left

would not consent

twenty-eight of my comrades behind, and my nephew Niketas, a son of my brother Gianni Kolokotrones. The other Greek soldiers enlisted,
to

that measure.

and were sent

to Naples.

When

the Turks saw this

movement they

sent informa-

tion to the Sultan,

and expressed to him all their susThe Sultan thereupon conceived the picions about it. idea of taking some summary acts of vengeance on the
people.
ing,

The patriarch

"What

Constantinople) intervened, sayhave the people done? Better that we kill

(of

the prime movers and the evildoers turned away from his purpose.

"
;

and so he was

96

KOLOKOTRONfiS,

The opinion of the Turks coalesced with the convictions of the French Cabinet, which had advised Turkey to make an end of all those captains called Klephts, and to get rid of the captains of the sea-vessels also, or else at some
time or other they would cause a rising.

The Sultan, following

slay all the Klephts.

this advice, issued a firman to

At the same time the patriarch was compelled to issue an excommunication against them, in order to stir up the whole people and by these means
;

the Peloponnesians, whether Turks or Romaics, were excited against the Kolokotroni.
I

all

had gone to Zante in August, and I had left it in September, and returned, and in the following January, in the year 1806, came the orders to hunt us all down.
Petimeza, Gianni, and Zacharias were already gone from us, and we were now only a hundred and fifty men in all.

We
I

went

to the

monastery of Velanidia, near Kalamata,

and wrote a letter to the abbot asking him to send us The Turks seized the letter, and Deli Achmet provisions.
with a thousand

men came down and

laid siege to us.

We

issued out, sword in hand,

pursuing them right into

and put them to flight, Kalamata, and took their flags,

many

of their

men

being slain.

This Deli Achmet had been a noted

man

in Eoumeli.

He had

been

ill-treated

Peloponnesus.

by Ali Pasha, and had fled to the The Pasha of the place gave him G.Ye

hundred paid men in order to hunt out the Klephts. As soon as I heard this, having eighty men with me at
the time, I went out on purpose to try my strength with him at Akovo (Sampazika), but he was afraid to fight

with us.

So we then marched on

to Vlachokerasia

and

despoiled it, because there were the possessions of that Chaseki who had destroyed and burnt our houses. At

another time we went, down to Tzepheremini, and when

KLEPST AND WABMlOB.

the Turks of Androusa learnt where

91

we were they came

up with a hundred men for the purpose of having some blows with us, but we drove them back and frightened them into saving themselves. The same men made a
stand at Paleo-Kastro in Melia,

when we fought

against

them

day and at nightfall we escaped. They advanced again into Marmaria, and all the Turks from the different
all

districts

joined with

them

they surrounded

the

hill

where we were, but we engaged with them the whole of that day also, and in the evening we again drove them

The nephew of Deli Achmet was present at the conflict at Akovo, when they declined to fight, and on his
back.

return to his uncle the

latter spat in

his face for rage

because he refused

the encounter.
:

The young man's

answer to this affront was " May God grant that you yourself them, and then you will see what they are
After

may
like."

fight

with

that

last

repulse

Deli

Achmet departed

to

Kalamata, where he stayed three months. Being fearful whilst he was there that we might advance against him
to

and give him some trouble (for we had written to him that effect), he went and had an interview with the

Pasha, and said that as he could do nothing with us, the best thing would be to make us Armatoli again and thus
obtain a
little

peace.

So

for this

time the matter was

passed over. When I heard that the firman, together with the ex-

communication, had actually arrived, I gathered all my hundred and fifty men together and said that we had better go back to Zante; but they having heard that
the Kussians had taken the whole of the Greeks

who

had entered
voice:

their service

"

We

our own country

Naples, answered with one will not go to France; we wish to die in " and my brother Gianni cried out,
to
!

KOLOKOTBOtiM,
rather

"I would
"

be

devoured

by the
which

birds

of

our

country
I

then

proffered

other

advice,

should separate into parties of four

ourselves

and

was that we five, and keep

concealed during the months of January, and March, after which time the snows would February, be dissolved, and we could then resume our old career.
this counsel, because by that time our pursuers would also have dispersed, and the present danger would but they would not therefore be averted for awhile " We do not wish to spend hearken to me, saying, " " what few pence we possess adding, Why do you send " " from their districts ? Only do your captains away " and when March comes back this now," I said again, we will meet together, and then I will repay you all that
I gave
;
!

you have spent

"
;

but they would not heed me, and went

about through every part of the Morea displaying an open This flag bore upon it a X with stars and a halfflag*

moon,

signifying Christ.
chiefs of the Morea,

They had some

namely, the Kou-

mountouraki, as hostages in Tripolitsa, and the friends that we had in Mani, as the Mourtzinoi and the rest had been
banished by Anton Bey to Zante, therefore we had no longer any refuge in Mani. The hills were covered with snow, so
that
of

we could not take

to

them.

On

this account thirty

our comrades separated from us and went to Pygadia, and we others spread abroad our flag and marched to
Agio-Petro.

We

sent into Vervena an order that

it

should

forward to us

have was their answer; so you here," we fell down upon the place and despoiled it. Thence we retired to Sampazika, but the Pasha had issued orders
supplies

both

and bread.

"

We

powder and shot

for

throughout every district that Komaics, should drive us forth.

all,

whether

Turks or

KLEPHT AND WAMXOti.

From

9y

Sainpazika we went again to the monastery of Velanidia, and sent into Kalamata asking both for bread and guns, but the Kalamatans were afraid to supply us,
so

we moved on

to

of striking a blow at the Turks,

Kalamata straightway with the intention and then the primates

is close to

brought to us at Agio-Elias, which both food, ammunition, and guns.

Velanidia,

We

marched thence

the same day to Pedema, at the extremity of Kalamata, and in the evening went on to Tzepheremini. We

were then about an hour from Skala, whither came down Kehayas Bey with two thousand Turks and cohorts. We
got

away that evening

to Alitouri,

and whilst there the

Androusani and the Leontarians and others, to the number of about seven hundred, assembled against us. When the

dawn came we began the village, and pursued them

four stallions;
river,

conflict,

drove them out of the

for a

whole hour.

We captured
in the
of

many

of their

men were drowned

many and took a large amount and ammunition. provisions

also killed

and we

When
was
people.

the soldiers

who were
they came

in Skala heard that there

to give help to their

fighting going on,

own

We retreated and shut ourselves up and defended ourselves during the whole of the day, and in the evening, sallying out with drawn swords, were able to reach Arcadia. We entered one village and
Alitouri,

in the village

found

it occupied by three hundred Turks, so that we were not able to get any bread there. The Turks who came to Alitouri, finding that we were absent, turned round and

came and sought us nearer. Kehayas Bey now began to oppress the Christian popuThe Turks lations, in order to inspire terror everywhere*
came upon us from above, but as they were inhabitants of the district they sent word beforehand for us to flee, because we were still feared by them* We had built an

100

kOLOKOtBONfiSi
in order to fight them.
to seek for

encampment
went
to

We

fled

thence and

to

Kontovounia

bread, and then returned

hill to rest.

We

sent to our friends to find us a boat,

in
it

and get right away, but they answered that all the boats from Pyrgosto Neo-Kastro were As we had no means whereby we could flee to retained.
so that

we might embark

Zante, we returned to the interior of the Peloponnesus. We were able by pillage to procure bread, but the Turks
arrived in Psari also, and

we were
to

fighting all day.

away from me and became insubordinate, for during this time they had been fighting through the whole of every day, and walking

My comrades now began

flee

through the whole of every night. So forty left me all at once, and from a hundred men we were now reduced to

The next day we who remained went down to We fled Leontari, but back they came upon us there. on to Sampazika, and there we met again with four hundred Turks, whom I had not expected to find
sixty.

in that place.

We fought with the Turks and we saved our guns, but we had but little bread. At night I told my comrades that we could no longer keep together, and that we must disperse; so

we

parted, each saying the one to the other,

"

meeting in some other world." I only kept with me nineteen of my own relations, and Georgio, one of my captains who had no place to go to.
In five-and*twenty days not one of those who Of the nineteen who remained with me, alive.
cousins,
left

A happy

me was
two
first

my

endure hunger and behind and hid themselves, but in a few privations, stayed days they were discovered and were killed so then there
longer to
;

who were unable any

only remained seventeen. Not knowing whither we were going, we went and took up our quarters by chance close to three companies of soldiers.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Fortune bo

101
it

far favoured us that they did not see us until

was nearly dark,

so that

we had a

little

breathing time,

and we were obliged to make a stand, and to pass through them fighting, in order to save ourselves in so great a peril. We marched

They discovered

us, however, at last,

through the night as far as the plain of Leontari we heard much firing off of guns, and the sounds came from
all
;

Firing off a volley was a signal that Klephts were taken. The next night we went over to Anemodouri to obtain food, but we only
parts
;

all

but we did not

know what

it

meant.

found the

women there, as

all

the

men were at Drasila, and it

was guarded by the Turks. The dogs, who began to lick us, caused some suspicion, and the Turks came and laid siege to us. When the Turks were drawing nigh, the dogs began to
bark, and then I

knew

that the Turks had

come up.

We

away our families at that time, and by whatever road we found open we managed to get them to Tripolitsa, which
took

we entered

quite publicly,

and afterwards we went

to the

heights of Valtetsi in order to take

up our quarters there.

The women of the village recognized us, and immediately went about saying, " Kolokotrones has just passed through here ;" and so we were again pursued. We fled at nightfall,
and retraced our way towards Karytaina, and, lest they should know us at that place, we sprang from rock to rock
till

we came
full

to a sheepfold,

when we were

told that

it

was

of Turks.

Then

determined that we should

divide ourselves into four parties,

friends.

and go and hide with our

our relations.

Antony Kolokotrones with one other was concealed by Demetrius Kolokotrones and three others went down to Visino to hide, for we had relations in that

place also, and

my

brother Gianni with four comrades

descended into Demitsana, in a village of which district we had a trusty friend with whom they were to be concealed,

102

KOLOKOTBONES,
is alive at this

Antony was preserved, and

hour. Demetraki*

then went away. He only stayed two days at Visino, and was captured. They cut off Demetraki' s head and his hands

and

his feet, for they thought

it

was

I myself,

because they

found letters upon him. My brother Gianni could not find his friend at Demitsana,

comrades went to a monastery at Aimyalous and asked a monk who was pruning the vines for food and The monk gave them food, and they concealed shelter.
so he

and

his

themselves in a vat in the vineyard. The monk then went and gave information to -the Turks, who came and besieged

them
I,

in the vat,

and

my

brother was killed.

other four, went to a friend
at Pyrgaki, K. Paraskevas

of

who was left with the mine who was a primate

in order to hide.

name,

I found his son,

whom

by had kept

with me in Karytaina. uI guarded you for a long time," I said to must take care of me." you

him

"now
to

He

took

me

to a cave,

and then

I sent
It

learn what had occurred there.

him into Vytini was the month

of

January.
yet

We

had been hunted down

for

twenty days, and

we were still alive. The son gave the news to his father. The father himself went into Vytini, and reported it to the Turks, telling them that he would lead them straight to the cave where we were
concealed, so that they might seize us.

In order,

however, to

make

sure that

we were

still

there,

he came on

" beforehand; he was armed; I said to him therefore, Zacha" And immediately suspecting riah, why art thou armed ? him I added, " Fellow, hast thou betrayed us ? " " That will
not happen," he answered. Whilst he went back to speak with them, I, with the other four who were with me, sped
*
Demetraki, a familiar

name

for

Demetrius

aki being a kind of

affectionate termination, as Georgaki for George, &e,

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB,

away
to the hill.

103

They pursued us the whole of that day, but Fate was kind to us, for there was not much snow upon the hill, and we were able to walk with ease ; but they
followed us as far as Zygovisti.

That was the day on which they

killed

my

brother,

when

made great had killed him when

the Turks

rejoicings.
I

knew

directly that they

heard volleys

fired off,

which was

a sign of their joy. I then marched through Liodora to old Kolias and

Demetrius, my son-in-law. They had got them at Karytaina as hostages, so I only found my brother Georgaki at the sheepfold. I had some conversation with Georgaki,

and he brought us food, and I besought him to go to Zatouna and obtain some information for me. He learnt
there that they had killed
all

our people.

The Turks gave him an

the Psarai, the
villages,

order,

which had been issued to

that

if

Paloubaioi, and to the people of other Kolokotrones was killed by them they

should have an indemnity for their villages of so many years ; but if they did not kill him the sword should not be
taken away from them for the space of seven years.
Turks, who had been pursuing me
in

The

every direction, considered that there was clearly no other to whom I could flee for refuge except the Kolias family, and therefore they issued this decree. told

Georgaki came to

me and
to
killed

me

everything, so I

left

him and

directed

my way
we

a Langada. and there they betrayed us. We went thence to lamb, we fled Arachamites, and there we again found Turks

We

went

to Kalyvia, in Chrysovitsi,

onward, and at last reached the monastery of Kaltesia. We knocked at the door there were two hundred Turks inside. They knew us at once, and immediately set forward
:

in

pursuit, but

where we met

got safely to Gianitsa, in Kalamata, with one of our comrades, who had been there

we

104

KOLOKOTRON&S,

four days, being quite unable to walk any further on account of

great prostration from hunger. We found Turks everywhere, but we could not find either any place of rest or any food. Koubes was in Gianitsa with four hundred Bardouniotes.
I

within.

went into a house by chance, and again I found Turks I raised my gun quietly and turned away without

being discovered, as they were all asleep. I entered another house, but there were Turks everywhere. I managed to get away to the house of my godmother at the far extremity of the village, and she offered me three okas* of bread,
for

which

gave her a Venetian

florin.

We

marched on

to Selitsa.

The bread, however,

so oppressed our stomachs

that

From
friend,

we were hardly able to walk. Selitsa we journeyed on

Captain

to Kastanitsa, to

my

old

Konstantes

Douraki,

whom

trusted

greatly, because I

had taken care

it

of his family in

former

times, and because he was, as

for I

were,

my

co-father-in-law,

had betrothed
of the five

Out

daughter to his son. we numbered, two Maniotes

my

left

us and

fled to their

homes, so now there were only myself and two

a

Koumeliotes.
I

remained

month

concealed

in

the

house

of

Whilst there, one Niketas came to me from Tourkoleka with twenty-five comrades, and I said to him, "Let us only find a boat, and we will all get over to
Douraki.

But he thought that there need be no longer any and therefore turned back again. The Turks killed all of them excepting one, who was captured alive and was taken to The Pasha there inquired of him if they were Tripolitsa. " All all slain, and he answered, except Theodoraki KoloZante."
fear about going into the interior of the Morea,

kotrones;" whereat the Pasha flew into so great a rage

that he killed very

many Turks and Komaics who had

* An oka
is

2^

lbs,

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

declared to
stroyed.

105

him that Theodoros Kolokotrones was

of

de-

The report
faction,

my

death had given the Turks great

satisstill

but

when

the Pasha discovered that I was

alive, and actually in Mani, he sent Papazoglou with fifty thousand grosia (about 565) to the Bey of Mani, at Agio-

As soon as he arrived there the Bey summoned Captain Konstantes Douraki to go to him at Kytria, when
Petro.

he

said,

"

I will give

you

so

many thousands
I I
if

(grosia) if

you

will give

orders,

up and

this Kolokotrones.
I

have received most

strict

am

told that

do not succeed in seizing

upon Kolokotrones, that he the Pasha will write to the Kapitan Pasha, and that you will be dismissed from your
Douraki, when he looked upon the determined to betray me, for the Maniotes will do grosia,
position of Bey."

anything for grosia. At a previous interview, after the Bey had discovered that I was concealed in Douraki's house, Douraki had said,

" He must be concealed

it

will

one who belongs to our family grosia he forgot everything.

never do not to preserve " but when he saw the

;

No one
there

knew that

except Douraki and the abbot of the monastery I was living up in Douraki's tower. Douraki

at this juncture sent for the abbot,

he took, together It was then with his eldest son, to see the Bey at Kytria.

whom

March, and

had gone there

in

February.

The Bey

promised the abbot that he would make him bishop and give him other privileges if Kolokotrones was delivered up

and the Bey also wrote a letter to myself, which " they brought back with them, which said, Thou must come hither, and we will talk it over, and I will write to the Kapialive,

tan Pasha to send thee a ticket of submission

sole

thou canst
all

come with thy kinsman Douraki." The meaning of this was that they wished that I shoujd be taken alive,

106

KOLOKOTBONES,

When the abbot and Douraki's son came together to pay me a visit, I suspected that there was some artifice in hand
concerning me, but I did not know what form it would take. I therefore sent a boy to little Kastanitsa, about six miles
distant from the place in which I was.
(It

was the place

where my father was surrounded.)

Basil Panagiotoras,

who came
and
I

to

him to my nephew, me that same night with

I sent
all

three others.
well as

then told him

that was going on, as

proposed to go away with him. "I He made answer, will go back and sell some oil, and will return in the evening;" but he did not return in

my

suspicions,

the evening. The next morning

my

co-father-in-law with the abbot

came

to me.

I rose to greet the abbot.

"

Welcome,"

I said.

His reply was, "I wish you had come across me." I asked him to speak of something else, but he made no answer.
In the evening my co-father-in-law came again, with his brother and two other relations, and gave me theBey's letter. His brother had some suspicions, and was no party in the
took the writing and read it, when I understood immediately that the desire was to get possession of me alive. " How can we go in the daytime," I said, " when every one " " will see and know who we are
plot.
I

? Oh," replied Douraki, can dress yourself like a Maniote, then no one will you recognize you." His brother then made a sign to me to be

"

careful.

matter until the evening," was my About noon on the same day, however, I gave my answer "lam one of your own people, and I can go to make my submission at some other time I am one of your own people, and you have some knowledge of me."
I will consider the

"

answer.

gave this in writing and handed

it

to Douraki,

the writing from me, and opened it, and read it, saw that I did not wish to go ; and afterwards therefore tried

who took when he

THEODORE KOLOKOTRONES.

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

to put

107
sister

some opium
this before

into

my

wine.

His wife and

saw
and
not

him do
one of

he took

it

to the tower

where

I was,

my men also heard the wife say to her husband " What is this that thou art doing ? Dost thou
all

remember

the good that Theodoraki has done ?

"

Douraki, however, only insulted her, and came and offered me the wine, but I had been forewarned by my man,

and as he gave it to me I managed to knock over the can which held it, so the wine was spilled. " What do I want

now with wine

"
!

I cried.

I then told

him that

it

was

my
to

intention to leave the place.

He

tried to persuade

me

go into his house and take wine with him before I left, and went in to prepare it, and at the same time he ordered some

men

to fall
;

together

upon me and secure me whilst we were drinking but his brother prevented me from going in, and

he also kept the dogs from barking whilst we got away. As soon as Douraki discovered this, he himself called out
all

the villagers, and told out a hundred to keep the roads.

place, however,

knew the

quite well,

and we

fled

by

another way, and got safely to little Kastanitsa, where I found Basil, with whom I had proposed to flee.
departed thence to the village Pasava, and got to the house of an adopted brother of mine, where we stayed two days. We then sent him to find out Maria, the mother of
she was the daughter of Panagiotaros. When she came we asked her to procure a boat for us at Mara-

We

Tzanetakes

thonisi, so that

we could embark in it and get away to Three days afterwards we went in company with Cerigo. Maria and took ship somewhere between Mavrovouni and
hardly made any sail, as it blew strongly from the north, so that we made very little way. (Palm We touched Souli and Sunday was on the morrow.)
Marathonisi.
sailed back, but the

We

wind was contrary and drove us Ela-

nhonisi.

We

at last

made

Cerigo in the face of a violent

108

KOLOKOTBONfiS, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

storm, and were carried to a village called Potamo. There we met with one of the Giatrakaioi, and he said that he

thought

it

would be better not

to declare

myself as Koloko-

trones whilst I remained in that village.

went to the governor banitaki, and he scolded us

were there

We

of Cerigo,

whose name was Alarmed.

Whilst

for going about

we were recognized by a boy from Pyrgos. we (The day on which we came there was the Great Thursday.) I then proceeded to the Kussian commandant and told him straightway the whole truth who we were, and[to what we were reduced, when he immediately gave orders that we
should be well cared
for,

and supplied with everything that

we needed. I had been once to a festival at Agia Mone. This monastery had been a large one, and had been destroyed by the Turks in a former war. When I again saw it the ruined and desolated church turned into a stable, and roofed with branches of trees I made this vow: " Blessed virgin, help us to deliver our country from the tyrant, and I will build
thee up as thou wast before." She did help me, and in the second year of the rising.
I fulfilled

my vow
of life

and

rebuilt

it.

which we had already led aided us much the war of Liberation, because we knew all the throughout passes on the hills, and we knew the habits and ways of men. We had been accustomed to hold the Turks in contempt, and we were inured to hunger and thirst, suffering,
filth,

The kind

and every other privation.

CHAPTER
ARRIVED
in

II.

After a month's sojourn there I learnt that Pappadopoulos, the general of the
forces,

Zante in May.

Russian
sent for

had come
asked

into the island of Corfu,

to

and he

me and

me

enter the service.

I replied,

do not intend to enter the Russian service, because my purpose is to return to the Morea and avenge the slaughter
I

"

of

my

kindred, and the injuries which I have sustained

I could not take

myself.

an oath, and afterwards become So I returned to Kastro, and remained there ten months without any ema perjurer by fleeing away secretly." a letter to one Rontikes, a native of Magoulia, which he was to take to my family, in order that he should
I entrusted

ployment.

obtain and bring me all the property which I had placed with different men. He took it and went, but he showed it
to Deligianni,

consequence of
1807.
All
the.

and Deligianni showed it whioh all my goods were

to the voivode, in
lost.

That was in
Roumeliot

soldiers,

and

captains,

and the

Klephts in a body

had

fled to the

seven islands about the

same time as my own flight took place. War against Turkey, and commanded
into

Russia had declared

all

the soldiers to go

immediately tried to go to Santa Maura, where they were all assembled, and get as

Roumeli

to attack the Turks. I

110

KOLOEOTBONES,
of

many
1

them as

Peloponnesus. Eussia, one composed of Maniotes, at the head of

myself and then return to the There were two regiments in the service of
I could for

whom

was the son

of

of Pierrakes

Samet Bey, and the other was a

Peloponnesians commanded by Anagnostaras. body These were still in Zante. Pappadopoulos had ordered

them

to

fit

out a vessel of war.

I could

When

they had

made

it

ready and

go in

it

to

Santa Maura, Anagnostaras,

"

the Petimezaioi, Giannaki Kolokotrones, Melios, and others

came down
'

to

me and

said,

Do

not go,

we

shall get per-

mission to have a ship for ourselves, and if thou desirest, thou canst go in her." They found a Turkish boat with

two cannons, and they bought her and appointed

captain.
I took out passports,

me

to be

to the government office and there they gave me permission to attack the Turks either by sea or land. I took eighty soldiers for land service, and went down to a place called of the Eepublic of Corfu,

and went

Achaia, near Patras, and burnt the houses, possessions, and magazines of Saitaga, and returned to Zante. The inhabitants of Zante, however, were obliged to import food from the Peloponnesus, and therefore they petitioned the

government and begged it^not to attack the Morea, as in consequence of that the Turks would not admit any of
thither for the purpose of trading. The me in consequence from making any government prevented
assaults
at

them who went

by land, and ordered Santa Maura.

me

only to carry on the war

met Pappadopoulos with Synevi at Corfu. He was making

preparations to attack Constantinople in conjunction with the English. I gave him a little of my opinion namely, that there were twelve hundred Kussians and five thousand

Greeks in the service of the seven islands, that they had

twelve vessels in the Baltic and the Black Seas, and forty

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB*

111

other vessels, both brigs and frigates, which had been got together for the purpose of attacking Buonaparte, so that with

ten thousand of the islanders

twenty-five thousand

we should number

altogether

with six ships in the Gulf of and others at Egina, and that with these forces we Corinth, could sail away, and then I would undertake that in two
I would free the Peloponnesus. General Pappadopoulos received my proposition, and laid

men

months
it

before Synevi Motzenigo, the national primate, Benakes, the vice-admiral, Deli, and General Atrem. Pappadopoulos

took

it

to the council,

and Benakes opposed

it,

saying,

"I

will not

country lost a second time even for my " We must go with the Motzenigos said, which is Constantinople, English and strike at the head, and afterwards, when we have struck the head, all the rest

have

my

father's sake."

is

ours."

This opinion was therefore accepted and mine

thrown

over.

Synevi went to Tenedo, and the English to Constantinople, but rather as if they were going upon an excursion than for any warlike purposes. The Turks were met by
the Kussians at Tenedo, and after one battle the Turkish
fleet

was destroyed. After the battle of Austerlitz the Kussians gave up the

and Synevi was ordered to retire from the sea, and the Kussian army to evacuate the land. The war was then virtually over, and as many warships
islands belonging to Napoleon,

as had been taken into the service of the Eepublic received their discharge, and I returned to Zante in August. On the 27th of July, 1807, an order came for the Kussians to deliver

up the

forts to the

French. I put myself under Captain Alex-

ander in the Levant, who was against the Turks, for ten months, and afterwards went to Mount Athos. Three Turkish
to us at warships, two corvettes, and one frigate laid siege Skiathi. We gave information to an English frigate, and

112

KOLOKOTRON^S, KLEPBT AND WARRIOR

she came to our assistance. The two corvettes were shelled,

the frigate was captured uninjured. There were about fourteen hundred of us Greeks, among whom were

but

the captains of Olympus, as Pappa-Blachabas, Liolios, Lazopoula, and the captains of Tsaras. These were all in
all

having been driven there by Mouchtar Pasha and other Turks. As the winter was now coming on, we went
Skiathi,

over to

Mani and returned thence

to Zante.

CHAPTEE

III.

the spring of 1808 Veli* Pasha alarmed Ali Pharmakes

should deliver up his tower, or give himself or his son as a hostage into his hands. He was stirred up to this by Deligianni. Deligianni, not really desiring that Ali should even exist, told

INby

demanding that

either he

Veli that he

must demolish
his strength.

his tower,

and thus he would

:

demolish

all

To

Ali he said

"Do

not go

away,

for Veli intends to kill thee."

So Ali

Pharmakes

made

My

preparations to oppose himself to Veli Pasha. grandfather, Gianni Kolokotrones, and the grand-

had been friends and adopted brethren. My grandfather was killed, but the friendship was continued between my own father and the father of Ali and we also were sworn friends. Remembering this friendship, and
father of Ali,
;

counting upon

it,

Ali wrote a letter to

Veli

me

to this effect
is

"Dear Fellow-countryman,
ready to destroy
I

Pasha

making

me

come, and give

:

me
"

your help."
I

answered
at
this

it

you

immediately, thus moment, because by

if

do not come to
doing I should to do

so

injure you,

for

Veli

Pasha has no intention

to

you any harm, as soon as he learns that I have gone you, he will come then; but if you can see no
*

A son of Ali

Pasha, Vizier of Epirus.

114

ROLOROTBONfiS,
way but
to declare

war against him, and if he advances against you, let me know, and then I will come." and Ali Veli Pasha did muster his forces against him wrote to me again that the soldiers were advancing, and
other
;

bade

me

thus

"If thou

art

really
I

my

friend, come."

When

I received this

second letter

made ready

to go

with a hundred men, but their officers prevented me, saying that I could not take the men away to another part, because I had previously given my word that I would not do so.

The French

also hindered the soldiers

I only

from joining, so that,

instead of a hundred men,

had

sixteen,

myself

making the seventeenth.

directed

embarked near Glarentza and

my

course to Monasteraki.
I arrived at Monasteraki, eight

The same day on which

it, and we were obliged to wait until the middle of the night before we could cross. Ali Pharmakes had four hundred men, but so many had

thousand Turks arrived before

him, out of fear, that at this time there only remained ninety with him. The conflict was opened at dawn, and was carried on vigorously both by night and day for the
left

space

[of

thirty days.

They had

four cannons.

On

the

day of the siege proposals were made to Ali that if he would deliver up Kolokotrones to them, all his possessions and his tower also should be guaranteed him.
thirtieth

Ali answered

it be according to the laws of honour and those of the Pallikars to give up a friend who has come from the islands to help me, of course I can do it."
:

" If

They answered him: "That is true, but it is a great matter for a Komaic to be ruined by Turkey for the sake " of one man." Ali Pharmakes replied again Were I a
:

might become unfaithful but I cannot do it so make your mine, and if you can overturn us, the issue rests with God." And fighting recommenced. We had a council in the evening, and, having gathered
Pasha,
I
;

KLflPH? AND WAMBIOB.

all

115

the AgaS together, he told the heads of the corps what the Turks had proposed namely, to give up Kolokotrones. " They all cried out together, We will all be lost, but this
do."

we cannot
done with

"You had
"
I
is

better deliver

me up and
bread." *
it

have

it," I said.

have eaten

my

AH

Pharmakes

replied,

"It

not thy service

is

ours."

And

they all determined to die together. At the end of sixty-four days they began to cast
it.

fire

into

the mine, and the

in

We

mine had thousands of okas of powder dug down twelve feet outside the tower three
cubits in width, with the view of seizing the
to tremble,

and a half
miners.

The mine began

and the ground

to

quiver in one quarter, on account of our having dug away the earth, and then the earth fell in ; but the tower had

no damage. The Turks, who were hoping that the tower would be overturned, and that we should be buried under the stones in its fall, shouted but we, as the
suffered
;

mine was destroyed, fired off a volley as a sign of rejoicing, to show that we had received no harm. Then they began to treat with us. In the course of sixty-five days more than three thousand cannon shots had been fired at us, and when they saw that neither their cannon nor their mine had done us much injury, they proposed a treaty, and asked what terms would be sought for. Ali Pharmakes demanded that the
tower should not be destroyed, and that Kolokotrones should go out unharmed, requiring hostages until he should arrive safely in Zante, and that he, Ali, would remain in the tower until he had received a letter from
Kolokotrones, announcing his safe arrival ; after which Ali would leave the tower, and would go and make his

submission to Veli Pasha.

This arrangement was entered into by the army and
* I have run the course of
its

my

allotted

life.

lie

KOLOKOThONES,

the matter.

commander without any consultation with Veli Pasha upon The writing was drawn up and signed by Paso

Bey, and the Agas and all the chiefs took the required oaths. I departed on the morrow, taking with me my own men from Lala and three hostages from the best among them, with
the agreement that

we were attacked they should be slain. So we embarked and got to Lala, when I sent the son of
if

Ali

home, and I myself went to Pyrgos in Gastouni. The treaty was forwarded to Veli Pasha, and he was greatly enraged at it, and gave orders to take possession of all the
landing-places, and to seize
sion

me.

The

ticket of submis-

was sent

to

Ibrahim Aga, who was Ali Pharmakes'

cousin,

When, upon his reading over the submission paper, he came to where it said they must seize Kolokotrones, he made a jest about it to Tatares,
"
saying,

and a voivode.

We

do not understand the Turkish language

it

here;
there

so thou hadst better take

is

to

Gastouni, where
it,

a kadi and a voivode

vizier

who can read

and then

what the

has ordered in this paper we are ready to

Tatares laughed out, and I immediately took my hostages with me, and, being accompanied by Ibrahim Aga, went to Pyrgi and embarked, when I released my
carry out."
hostages, and sent a letter to Ali Pharmakes, acquainting

him

of

my
is

safety.

about two hours' distance from Pyrgos and six Pyrgi from Gastouni, and we had scarcely got two miles outside
it

when some Turkish

soldiers,

who had been dispatched

;

from Gastouni, arrived there to seize Pyrgi but we were gone. When the news reached Ali Pharmakes that
after us

we were embarked, he himself went down to Tripolitsa to make his submission in person to Veli Pasha. I went to Zante, and shortly after Ali Pharmakes found a way to Veli Pasha had also leave and come to Zante also.
written to me, asking

me

to go to

him, but I would not

KLEPHT AND WABEIOB.

and he did not
to
kill

117
lie

Ali Phannakes, because

endeavoured
;

make him deceive me into going to Tripolitsa but he made no such attempt. The reason why Ali Pharmakes
entered into this treaty was due to some compulsion from the Turkish inhabitants, who feared for their lives and
property. He had scarcely got his ruin was compassed.
All the Agas, with Paso -Bey
to go to the

away from Pyrgos when

to

and Veli Pasha, wrote

also
;

me

Morea, and Pharmakes wrote

but he

put a ball above his signature as a sign to me not to go. The brother of Ali Pharmakes, therefore, when he came
into
ear,

Zante with the

men

of Veli Pasha,

tweaked

me by

the

and
;

understood his meaning, so I said to them:

"

Go
Ali

I will

come."
to Zante.

Pharmakes then came

He had

asked per-

mission to go and see his villages until Kolokotrones could come, he said, and he took with him five hundred thousand
grosia
;

and we sent a boat

for

him, and that

is

how he

got

to Zante.

We planned to go to Paris together in order to have an interview with Buonaparte, and we went to Corfu
;

in the first instance

prevented us from so doing.

I will write myself,

but Donzelot, the governor there, " " Stay here," he said, and
state that

you require an answer. We must, however, arrange our plans before the answer of The plan which we made in conthe Emperor arrives."

and

that Buonaparte junction with Donzelot was as follows should give us the command of five hundred gunners
:

clothed in fustanellas (for there were five thousand Greeks in

the French service), and that he should also give us grosia in order to make enlistments in Tsamouria, where there were

enemies of Ali Pasha.

We

crossed over to Tsamouria and

went to got three thousand Tsamides for pay, and then The gathering Parga and embarked them for Santa Maura. was intended to take place at Santa Maura and Zante. I

118

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
Santa Maura myself with
six

crossed over to

hundred

men.
English came to Zante, and, disembarking, they established themselves there, and

At

this time (on the 9th) the

sent

away the French

to

Corfu.

About four hundred

war.

Greeks were put into the

boats as prisoners of

They also took Cephalonia, Thiaki, and Cerigo, and made them their own. General Oswald had orders from the
generalissimo of the English forces, who was then in Palermo, to take into the service all the Greeks who were
willing to join,
at their head.

and

to put

Church (who was then major) had come more

into the islands
soldiers, as

When we saw
we

that the English

sent word to Parga to enlist no

our

plans were frustrated

to get all the forts

Our scheme was by in Messenia, Parga, and Monemvasia

their arrival.
All the Turkish inhabitants of those

placed in our hands.

places

had agreed

at a conference

we had with them, that

we should form

a government, consisting of twelve Turks

and twelve Greeks the Turks to be governed with the same impartiality as the Greeks. Donzelot had framed
the laws in conjunction with ourselves. Our flag was to have been a cross on one side, and on the other a half-

moon and

stars.

This plan also formulated that

when we

had secured the Morea we should write to the Sultan to assure him that our action was not against him, but against the tyrannies of Ali Pasha, and Donzelot had
already advised with the minister at Constantinople to

him from making any movement. It was my own private intention, however, that when we had got possession of all the forts, we should then make it
prevent

a more national movement, and throw over the Turks

but

what

I resolved

circumstances.

upon doing would have to depend upon Our measures would have necessitated

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Ali

119

raising fifteen thousand of the islanders. Donzelot, myself,

Pharmakes, and a secretary were three days and three

nights laying out our plans.

Ali Pharmakes was at this time forty years old. His skin was very dark and yellow, and on this account he had received his cognomen from Pharmaki (poison). He was shorter than myself and thin, but a most sensible and trust-

worthy man very silent, but irritable. He died at Lala. He was ill in Zante with dysentery, and his relations advised

him to go there. The English sent him a physician, but when they saw that he must die they gave him permission
to go

anywhere outside of the Morea, for the English, being on good terms with Ali Pasha, would not grant him the

liberty of going to the

When
and

Morea, lest Ali might be displeased. heard that he was dead I went over to the Morea
[Koloko-

also to Lala to condole with his family.

trones, in his narrative, is here anticipating events.]

We

then stopped at Cerigo until Sunday, the Feast of St. A Cephalonian boat, belonging to Alexander Thomas.
KaftopQulos, coming in, we embarked on her for Zante. The captain found out who I was, and paid me great attention.

In Zante they had given me up for lost, and all who were there the Petimezaoi, Anagnostaras, Melios,

Gianni Kolokotrones, Niketas, and the rest welcomed me back. This was in 1806. In order to be in safety I had changed my clothes, and had only taken the most wretchedlooking weapons with me, so as not to excite the covetous
to kill
I

me on their account. was born in the year 1770. When I was saved at Kastanitza I was ten years old I lived at Mani two years, three years at Alonisthaina, and twelve years in Sampazika. I was married when I was twenty, and I was twenty-seven when they first began firman against Petimeza and to hunt me down. The
;

royal

120

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

myself came over in 1802, and the second firman with the
patriarchal

excommunication in January, 1806. I was thirty-six years old when I went to Zante, and fifty years of age when I embarked in the war of liberation.
were Klephts and Armatoli our chief officers were always chosen for their courage and ability. Whilst

When we

we were Armatoli we had our pay, and when we were

Klephts the half of the
spoils.

Prizes were given to those

If

who

distinguished themselves.

any

of

them committed

a fault his hair was cut short, and his arms were taken from him. Reverence for women was our law whoever
:

insulted a

We had driven out from us. amuse ourselves with, jumping, The country people dances, heroic songs, and quoits. made our songs, and we sung them .to the lyre. The
woman was
to

games and drums

songs were our hymns and our military newspapers. Our arms were pistols, daggers, and swords carried in
our belts.

we wore

jambes on the legs, and in the winter breast-plates, and we also had large buttons on

We had

our waistcoats.

The captainships descended to the sons not to the first-born, but to the most worthy. Our flag had the same cross as that upon the Russian
banners.

The monasteries gave us

help,

and the husband-

men and
of us

shepherds always sent information to the Klephts,

them ammunition and provisions. When was seriously wounded in a battle and could not any be carried away, we all kissed him and then cut off his
as well as giving
It was thought a great dishonour to have the Turks bear away one's head. Among the thirty-six first cousins whom I had, only eight were preserved the others were

head.

all

destroyed.

There

is

Kolokotrones buried.
cousins,

not a spot where there is not a Besides those, there were my second
lost.

my

uncles,

and many friends who were

The

name

of Klepht

was a boast.

"I am

a Klepht," some

KLEPHT AND WABB10E.

121

would say vaimtingly. The prayer of a father for his sons was that he might become a Klepht. The Klephtship afterwards lost its authority. In my father's time it

was a sacred thing for a Greek to undertake. When the Klephts had a collision with the Turks all the husbandmen
left

and went to help the Klephts time the Greeks were disposed to ally themselves every with the Turks. When Androutsos, the father of Odysseus, came, I was well known in Mani, and I accomtheir oxen in the fields,

panied him to Corinth.

being pursued, for fifteen

During the time that we were

days we neither slept nor tasted food, and we had fighting every day, but we saved our
guns.*

From September to
Maura.

The English had

January, 1809, 1 was staying at Santa cast the son of Ali Pharmakes

and others into prison. Upon learning this, we disbanded our army and only kept twenty men. The minister
Forrest,
invited all the captains,

and Oswald, the general of the English army, and also asked them if they could not bring Kolokotrones to Zante with them. The English, seeing so many assembled at Santa Maura, had some fears

They answered, When you like to do so, you can send a letter to him by a trustworthy man, and we hope that he will follow us." On account of this reply
about them.

"

Oswald and Forrest wrote a

native of Zante

letter

and sent

it

to

me by

named Pomones, who passed over in the and embarking under a Turkish flag, came to Clarence, Santa Maura. This letter invited me to go to them, and with it was a circular invitation to all the chiefs, both on
land or sea, offering to give us what we asked, and that they would send boats to fetch us to Zante.
It was difficult at that time for any one to go about, because the middle islands of Greece were in the hands of

* This sentence has no reference to Androutsos,

122

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

the French, and the others were held by the English. We went, therefore, to General Camus, a Frenchman, and

manned

permission to go to Mothokorona, and we a boat, and hoisted a French flag. We had scarcely got out to sea when a contrary wind met us
asked
his

to Thiaki, which was guarded by English and they summoned us "Who are you?" sentinels, " " Kolokotrones we answered, when they made preparations for attacking us. I asked them if they had any
!

and drove us

commander with whom I could confer. They answered that they had an English officer who was resident there he had come to those shores in 1810. So I got into a boat and went to him and produced General Oswald's letter. The moment he saw that, he became very friendly and treated me with great respect. He gave us some Cognac, and we then stayed at Thiaki. The commandant of Thiaki gave us an invitation, and we remained there four days. Ali Pharmakes and myself had some misgivings
;

about the English as they were the friends of Ali Pasha, and so we both agreed that the two of us would not go to

Zante together, but that one of us should remain in the boat at Skrophai, and that I would go to Zante, and if I

saw that matters were on a firm basis I would then write and he could come. This was carried out. I went to Zante and left Ali Pharmakes in the boat, together
to him,

my nephew Niketas. As soon as I arrived in Zante I went both to General Oswald, to Forrest, and to Church,* and they questioned
how affairs were going on at Santa Maura during months' stay there. I then received permission to my go to Kastro and release all the native Turks belonging to Ali Pharmakes who were imprisoned there. I saw that
as to
five

with

me

* Sir Kichard Church, commander of the National Corps in the

Ionian
Isles,

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

123

everything was quite fair and straightforward, and I sent a special boat to Skrophai to fetch Ali Pharmakes, who then came to Zante also. I entered the service with the

rank of captain, and after a few days had passed, General Oswald again sent for me, and asked me in what way we could gain over all the Greeks who were at Santa Maura
belonging to the French service, informing me that we were to fight only against the French. Lepeniotes, who was the brother of Katzantones, came into Kalamo and

Meganesi at that time with two hundred men, he having been driven out by Ali Pasha. Meganesi belonged to the
" I French, and they drove him out. Lepeniotes said, wish to take service with the English, but I will not put faith in any one except Kolokotrones." The general then

me the letter, and sent me to Kalamo, and gave a brig to be under my command. " One brig has " but I want a gunboat in order to come," I said to him, go to Kalamo," and I told him to send me three days
showed

me

afterwards a gunboat in any case, and three days after the brig the squadron with the soldiers were to make a move.

That was our plan. I went to Kalamo and met Lepeniotes, and took him and all his two hundred men and the boats and we made
;

a descent on Meganesi, and routed the French, and made a halting-place. Whilst there I made a signal for the Moore and Lowe, the Governor of St. brig to come.

Helena, were in the brig.

They made a

signal for

me

to

go to them, and so I went, taking only four and the others remaining at Meganesi. Whilst I was at Meganesi I sent over to Santa Maura, and many Greeks came to join us, and I told them what they ought to do. We went to see where the fleet was stationed. We arrived at Vagina I, Lobis, and Konstantine Petmezas. As soon
as the

men

with me,

French saw us they sent a regiment with four

124

KOLOKOTBONES,
us,

cannon and cannonaded

with some Greeks
cried out to them,

and

in

one detachment

met

who were in the French service. I " What are you doing here ? The
!

English fleet is coming." But their answer was, "We " have taken our oaths, and we must fight." "Ah is it so? " then I cried ; go back to your ranks, for we must fight
also."

The

fleet

general.

came, and we went to the harbour to see the Whilst I was making my report they made a

signal for a landing, just two hours before nightfall.

As

soon as I understood

it

I said,

"

General,

we must not

make

now, because we are gathered together from different parts, and our soldiers do not comprehend
a descent
it,

and, between ourselves,

we may be

killed

but we will

go at daybreak,

and

promise you that by noon

we

shall

have taken the place." The general accepted my recommendation, and ordered the soldiers to go to their ships.
There were four thousand soldiers in
cans, Sicilians,
all

English, Corsifor

and Greeks.

The French prepared

war, and as the soldiers began to disembark I also landed, and the Corsicans seized me as a prisoner of war, and
carried

me

off to

Church
first

Then we marched forward and

took the place. We took the

battery of nine cannon; the five hundred Greeks, with Church at their head, did all this.

The general came with the English soldiers and Lowe with the Corsicans, and went into the country and the general ordered Church to go and take another battery still more powerful because it had twelve cannons, with the marsh on one side, and on the other shoals and the sea, and so there was only one part left on which we could
;

advance.

We

sent a scout forward.

I

The Albanians took

him and scourged him.

They
called to

went with ten

is

men
?

to

me,

"

Who

going to attack

"

a height. " I

am."

KLBPHT AND WAUBIOU.

Two
captains then

l2o

came

to hie.

I told

them

to

march

forward, and they were not disheartened.

"We

will fight,"

they said. The conflict began, and we repulsed the enemy.

We

retired to Gyra,

planted the cannon in the windmills. The French where they had erected a strong battery.
led the Greeks
last.
first,

We

the Sicilians second, and the

English

As we neared the battery it began to disand guns upon us. The brother of General charge Church was wounded, and a captain of the frigate, and altoball

gether thirty-five Greeks were wounded and killed. We took the battery by assault, and in this conflict the Corsi-

cans signalized themselves greatly. where the French were collected.

We
On

besieged the fort

account of some

suspicion they did not wish the Greeks to enter the fort, and so they came out to surrender to us. We had not

attacked them thirty days before we had thrown forward

ten cannon and ten

bombs and
;

in eight days four

hundred

bombs had been discharged day and night. Major Clark died the French surrendered, and the soldiers were sent
;

prisoners to Malta.

returned to Zante, and then I was promoted to be major. That was in May, 1810, when we had been absent

We

from Zante a year. We then embarked on a frigate with fifty Greeks and fifty English, under the command of Church, and made a descent upon Paxos. We disembarked and formed
the Greeks into two companies, and went into the country, being aided by the two frigates, when both the Greeks and
the French surrendered.
of war,

We

took the French as prisoners

and the Greeks entered the service. Ali Pasha at The this time sent to besiege the French in Parga. so we went over, and the Pargiotes called for our aid,
people forsook the French and hoisted the English flag. After this we returned to Zante, when the general, being
jealous of Church, displaced

him

in favour of his brother.

126

KOLOKOTBONES,

to go to London, and being at perfect he chose, he dressed himself in Greek clothes. As many Greek captains as we could find in Zante

Church then prepared

liberty to do as

now joined us in making an address to the English Government asking for its assistance in freeing our country. This address was found among the State papers when we framed a second one in 1825. Church took this first address to
London, and got permission there to form a regiment of a hundred and fifty Greeks, and in five or six months he
organized a body of six hundred Greeks. In the meantime Napoleon fell, and an order came to disband the Greeks and other foreign soldiers. They gave about eight

hundred dollars
divided
I

to each officer,

and twelve hundred

to be

among the captains, when they were discharged. remained, however, for two years afterwards in the position of major, when I also was dismissed.
then saw that what we had to do we must do by ourselves, without any hopes of help from foreign Powers.
I

Church went
sent

to Naples

and became a general

there.

He

two invitations to join him, but I now knew that the Hetairia (secret society) was formed, and I determined
henceforward to devote myself only to freeing
country.

me

my own

me about the Hetairia, and Arisand afterwards Anagnostoras brought me came, a letter from the Hetairia, and I began to act in concert with many in Zante and Cephalonia, and also with
Pangalos spoke to
teides

the captains of the Speziote and Hydriote vessels

and

letters at least came to me from Ypsilanti, bidding hold myself in readiness with all my people, as the day of the rising was fixed for the 25th of March.

twenty

me

The English heard that I had received some letters, and the police came at night to search me, but I had taken
good care of

my

letters.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOR.

On
the 6th of January I went to

127

Mani

to the house of

Captain Panagiotes, the son of Mourtzinos.

But

at this

juncture, before I went to the Peloponnesus, I passed over to Corfu, with the view of seeking from Maitland my four

thousand

dollars,
I I

Kapodistria.
after

the pay due to me, and also to meet met him, and stayed with him eighty days,

which

returned to Zante.

We

talked

much about

the position of affairs.

Here ends
rising.

my

past

life

at the

Whatever foreign
it

service

commencement of the I had before entered

:

into, I only entered

upon these conditions

that I

was

never to be sent far from the seven islands, never to fight except upon Turkish ground, and never to lay aside my
national dress.

In the islands
for

met with the Botzares,

to learn, there were not

and took Markos

In

my
I

adopted brother.

my

youth,

when

had time

There were only a few schools where I many could learn reading and writing. The primates of the difschools.

knew how to write their own names, and even archbishops knew scarcely anything beyond their ecclesiastical duties they had studied nothing more than the psalter, the Octoechos, the book of the months * and the
ferent districts hardly

they read no other books. It was not until I went to Zante that I met with the history of Greece. The books which I often read afterwards were the history
prophecies
;

of

Greece, the tale of Aristomenes and Gorgo, and the

story of Skenter Bey.

According to

my judgment,

the French Bevolution and

j

the doings of Napoleon opened the eyes of the world, The nations knew nothing before, and the people thought that kings were gods upon the earth, and that they were

bound

to

say that whatever they did

* Books of the Orthodox church

was well
service.

done.

128

KOLOKOTBONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

this present

Through
In

change

it is

more

difficult

now

to rule

the people.

time commerce was very limited, money was gained three grosia on a dollar. It was thought a great thing if a person possessed a thousand grosia.* Any one with such a sum could command as much service

my

scarce.

for it as
florins.

he could not procure now for a thousand Venetian The community of men was small, and it was not
that
all

until our rising

the Greeks were brought into

communication.

There were

men who knew

of

no place

beyond a mile of their own locality. They thought of Zante as we now speak of the most distant parts of the world. America appears to us as Zante appeared to them.

They

said

it

was

in France.

* 1,000 grosia
tallera

= piastres were then worth about <22; = dollars represented as nearly as possible i225.

and 1,000

CHAPTEE

IV.

began to be divulged among every class of men, both good and bad, and thus we were unhappily forced to commence the rising prematurely. Diogos had communicated it to Ali Pasha. On this account I left Zante on the 3rd of January, and arrived

last the secret of the Hetairia

Skardamoula upon the 6th, going at once to the house of my friend and countryman, Captain Panagiotes Mourtzinos.
in

Our general move took place on the 22nd of March, but from the 6th of January I was working and employing all

my

energies at

Mani, in endeavours
after the usual custom,

to

unite

different

Maniote houses

and we did succeed

in uniting them,

and took them into the brotherhood. The

I also sent to the districts

rising took place at Kalamata.

of

Messenia,

Mistros,

Karytaina,

Phanari,

Leontari,

Arcadia, and Tripolitsa, bidding all the inhabitants to come whither we were, and then I instructed them to be all ready on the festival of the Annunciation, and that each
district

was

to

attack the Turkish

inhabitants

simul-

taneously, storming

them

in their different fortresses

namely, that the Arcadians should besiege Neo-Kastro, the Mothonai Mothon, and so on. Whilst we were making ready and gathering them all together, it was necessary that Zaimes and others should
go to Tripolitsa and remain there, where they attacked the 10

130

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
I

Voivode of Kalavryta. The Turks found out that come, and thought that I had arrived at the head of
six

had

five or

thousand men.

and

Mistriotes, clothed in the

had four men with me. The Arcadians rayah cloaks, came down to

inspect us in order to see

was playing at quoits and reported "We only found an old man playing
quoits."
I

how many there really were. I when they came, so they went back
at

went to Mourtzinos as to a friend and

of the

same

district.

Mavromichaeles had the

title of

had the power in Mani. wherefore I had gone there, and Mourtzinos answered that
zinos

Bey, but MourtMavromichaeles asked

had been unfortunate in Zante, and had come to get some assistance amongst my friends, after which I should
I

return thither again.

He

behaved himself tolerably well

towards me, and it is not true that he betrayed me to the Turks, for he had not the power to do so even if he had the
will,

for besides

my

friendship with Mourtzinos,

it

is

custom in Mani
place of refuge.

to help every

one who goes there for a

fell

On

the 23rd of

March we
led

upon the Turks

a

at

Kalamata.

They were

some importance in

of by Arnaoutogles, We had two thousand Tripolitsa.

man

Maniotes, with Mourtzinos and Petro Bey. Western Sparta also was moving. The Turks remained at about a hundred

men, report stating them to be ten thousand. Eastern Sparta began to move at the same time. When I first arrived the Turks had sent for the primates and chief householders, and they went, but they were not killed. The
Spartans,

when they had done some

Monemvasia.

pillaging,

went
at

off

and

laid siege to

We

had a meeting

Kalamata

to consult whither

we should move the armies

in the first

instance.

The Kalamatans inveighed against the Bey, us to go to Koron lest the Turks should put the wishing

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Christians to the sword.
I said in answer, " If
off

131

you give
Arcadia

us help for this army I will move

to old

and give aid to the centre of the country." I had received a letter from Kanelos, who invited me thither, saying that
he had ten thousand men, and in arms, and that I was to be placed at the head of them. Dionysios, the son of
Mourtzinos, was
rise at once.
ill,

and therefore

all

the Maniotes did not

two hundred from him and seventy from the Bey, and Captain Voides came with his thirty men, so we made three hundred in all, and I prepared two flags directly, putting a cross on them, and moved forward.
I received

The Androusian Turks, hearing that we had a force, fled in a body to the fort of Messenia. As we went along all the Greeks showed the greatest
they came out and met us everywhere, carrythe sacred pictures (ikons), with the priests chanting ing Once I could supplications and thanksgivings to God.

enthusiasm

not forbear weeping, on account of the ardour which I So we went on, followed by crowds. When we beheld.

came to the bridge of Kalamata we exchanged and I marched forward. On the 24th of March we arrived at the
Skala, in Messenia
families.

greetings,

village of

village

of

about

five

hundred

As many men as
"

I could get

were sent forward

as scouts.

Go

follow with three thousand

ruse.

to the forts, besiege "

them, and

I will
v

men;

but that was only a

At daybreak on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1821, they heard in Leontari that I had arrived
at

the head of

many thousand

Maniotes, so they seized

on the animals
into
Tripolitsa.

belonging to the rayahs,

and went away Upon leaving Skala I fired off some

three volleys so that the

thousands of small shot in

people might join us upon hearing this announcement.

The Garantzaioi, hearing the guns,

killed their Beys,

182

KOLOKOTRONfiS,
for
flight;

who were preparing

with them. I

so

the

first

slaughter

then marched to Dervenia, in Leontari, began to go to old Arcadia, and met a messenger from the Greeks, who told me that the Leontarians fled and went towards Phrankovrysi, but had since returned and killed two or three Greeks. They had seventy horsemen. I " Go and shut them up there," and turning back, I said,
this same day of the Annunciation, Turks that they should go to Tripolitsa, met and told the because they did not know what all this might mean.

came to Leontari. The Phanarites, on

The Phanarites, Mountrizani, and other tribes where the Turks had intermarried with the Christians, got together seventeen hundred guns. They assembled two hours off
Andritsaina, near a brook called Soultina, having carried
off

amongst them three thousand animals belonging

to the

rayahs.

The islands now made a proclamation that no one was to go out of any of the islands to help the Greeks. Some, fled secretly from Zante, both peasants and however, proprietors, and became co-partners in every danger their
:
-

property was therefore confiscated. Western Turkish Koumeli was then in amazement about Ali Pasha, because the Souliotes had seized upon Souli. (The downfall of
Ali Pasha helped us much it was needful that he should be removed, he was a great brute.) Spetsai was the first island which joined in the rising,
;

vX

and she sent immediately to Hydra The landholders were indisposed

to follow her example.

to
rise,

but Captain

Anton Koulodemas and Ghikas, the brother-in-law of Miaoules, had a meeting with the people, and addressed
the chief

men amongst them

we
is to

thus

the rising or

shall set fire^to

" You will either join you and burn you out
:

So they were forced to submit, and laid out their grosiaand embarked.
get your ships in order."

so all you have to do

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Psara and Samos rose of their own accord.

133

When

I left

Skala on the 25th, going on to Dervenia, I

to
letter.

met a scout who was sent

who brought me a

me by Basil Boutouna, and " The Turks of Karytaina and

Mustapha, the Voivode of Iblakios, are shut up in the old fort of Karytaina, and the two prefects, not having been

and knowing nothing what has occurred, have persuaded the Turks not to The people of Karytaina's / flee, but to remain in the fort. have not taken arms." Such was the writing plains

among

the

number

of the Hetairia,

of

which
the

no time, but straightway issued " Fire and sword to following proclamation every
I received.

I lost

place that does not listen to the voice of the nation."

Hearing that I was going down to Dervenia, seventy horsemen rode off immediately to Tripolitsa, and I moved forward to the village Tetempes, between Leontari and
Karytaina. "

What

" Let us go to Leontari." " I said [in irony of a to polish copper pots

My

Maniotes

said,

Maniote

calling]

the morning of the 26th, as soon as it was light I got a thousand men together and made a move towards Karytaina, in order to await the coming of the Phanarites

On

Hearing the volleys, every one was aroused. On the road I met another messenger from "Look at this letter from the Basil with a letter.

and Karytainans.

stopping at Soultina." To-morrow we leave Tripolitsa with a force of so many ; make ready to join us. Kolokotrones has gone forth with
Phanarites," "
it

said,

"who

are

several thousand Maniotes."

Basil had killed the Turk

bearing the above at the bridge of Karytaina, and had taken the letter from him. Upon reading it, I determined to take up a position and lay in wait for the Phanarites.

The Turks, when they arrived before Karytaina and saw the flags (which not being unfurled did not show the

134
cross),

R0L0K0TB0NE8,
thought that they were Turkish banners, and that I marched through a for them.
they try to pass to-day I will I questioned a rustic whom I met in the
myself,
if

we were a reinforcement
defile, for I said to

attack them.

" They pass about the Turks and Phanarites, and he said, have had no information of anything, and are going to sleep to-night near the spring, and can easily be surwrote a despatch directly to Panagiotes Giatropoulos of Andritza to go forward and take them in the rear, whilst I should await them in front. When I saw that
prised."
I

the Turks were not intending to

I

make

move

that day,

went on

to

were in the

fortress.

Karytaina and surrounded the Turks who On the morning of the 27th I rose

up at sunrise, and leaving a body of fifteen at Karytaina, went back to the defile. The same night that I was at " Send us Karytaina a message came from Panagiotes
:

troops because we have not assembled any yet."

On

on the 27th

the same day that I began my march that is to say, a despatch came to me from the late Beyzade

Elias to say that he had arrived at Leontari with two hundred Spartans, and I wrote to him to come quickly,

" because From the place to-day we shall have a fight." where I wrote to Leontari is a four hours' walk, and by

chance

it

on

foot,

happened that we could only send an old man and he did not get there in time, so that they did

not arrive to take part in an engagement, therefore I went up the defile as far as St. Athanasius. In the morning the

army of the Phanarite Turks was

before us, a mile in extent,

in a narrow pass, and with a great deal of baggage, so that the entire line occupied two miles. Upon seeing us

they immediately opened fire in front, and as we had entrenched ourselves we fought for six hours. The Spartans
that day
for

which they imitated Leonidas, they were three hundred, and the Turks seventeen
battle in

had a

KLEPRT AND WABBIOB.

hundred.

135

After six hours they ceased firing, Voides was wounded, and five or six were slain. It was noon when
firing,

they ceased
to
off,

and the army said

to

me

that we ought
six

open upon them.

Koliopoulos was then

miles

at the river Achelsous.

Hearing the
four
;

firing,

he moved

forward.

He

did not, however, arrive in time, but half an

hour afterwards.

He had

hundred men with him.

they fought with deterproperty

The Turks
mination

killed fifteen of us

because

they had

their

and

their

women and

children with them.

If Koliopoulos,

Georgaki,

and Demetrius had come up, the Turks would have been routed there. The Turks took our position. Hearing the
volley fired by the Kolians they went opposite to look out.

The Spartans, perceiving that a reinforcement was coming went away carrying off their wounded. Upon hearing the volley, we made a rush upon the place with twenty men,
to us,

so

that the Turks should not pass over the bridge.

hoisted a banner so that Koliopoulos might

know me.
all

had got quite a

stiff

neck from shouting

day.

We

drove back the Turks, who, with their women and children, not being able to get to the bridge which we had seized,

were

lost

five

hundred were drowned

in the river alone,

not being able to cross it. The Greeks took possession of the mules and all the wounded stallions the remnant
;

fled to

Kastraki as to a hive.

(This was our

first

victory,

and the

We

first which the Kalavrytians gained over the Turks.) besieged them. In the evening Elias arrived from

Leontari, and on the 28th Kanelos came, with two hundred Karytainans. Anagnostaras and Pappa Phlessas moved

forward to Arcadia with

five

hundred men, and as the

into fleeing, they turned back and went In two days we Karytaina together, one thousand strong. had amassed six thousand men. The Turks who were

Arcadians were

shut up had

left

their animals outside,

and the Greeks

136

ROLOKOTBONES,
;

I had they had neither water nor food. stationed Niketaras with a hundred soldiers at Phranko-

took them

vrysi, in Tripolitsa,

two days two Turks that we were there, Mustapha Aga clothed as rayahs, and gave them five hundred grosia to go to
two hours
off.

In the

first

and ask that a reinforcement be sent, announcing that all who came should receive pay for their The two messengers, when they had got two hours help. on their road, were met, but were not seized. The letter
Tripolitsa,

was delivered, and two thousand

men

were despatched to

the help of the Karytainans and the Phanarites. As soon as I learnt about those two messengers, I suspected that

a reinforcement would arrive.

the

had a conference with

it

army immediately, and gave

as

my
is

Anagnostaras should go to Salesi, which equidistant from Tripolitsa and Karytaina, taking two thousand men to Salesi, to prevent the reinforcement

opinion that four hours

from Tripolitsa from moving forward and if it could not prevent that it was to keep them from going back for the Turks were inspired with fear that they would pass over to " It But he will not do to break the
;

Karytaina.
force

answered,

we have gathered together." I then made another suggestion, "Let me have five hundred;" but he had
different views, so that plan

was abandoned.

We

could

have

hemmed

in the

Turks so completely that not a

us.

shadow could have passed

On the next day, the 1st of April, the reinforcement started from Tripolitsa at daybreak, passing by the place
where
ting
I

had

told

Anagnostaras to station himself, and

set-

the districts before them. When we saw the " It is the fires we said, reinforcement." I then ordered
fire to

They went and returned, saying that they were not coming against us but I persisted in my opinion, and said, "Take possession
;

that scouts should go forward and reconnoitre.

KLEPHT AND WABB10B.

of three heights that battle
flag in

137

we may await these Turks and do with them." So I mounted a horse, and, taking a one hand, and also my glass, I told them that if they
Turks, I would furl

who were advancing were

that
if

my

flag,

and

lowed

me on

they were not, I would display it. Two men folAs soon as I had reached the hill, I foot.

dismounted from
tree,

my

horse and tied

it

to the

bough

of a
tele-

and ascended

to a cliff

and looked through the

scope.

When
I

Turks

saw that they who were approaching were furled my flag. As soon as the Greeks saw this
I I

signal they all

breeze, and as

began to flee. As it was cold with a fresh was in a perspiration, I took from a young

shepherd a small white capote, and returned to find army. My men were gone, and Kavadias had taken
horse.
I

my my

where the regiment was stationed, and found there the late Elias, who had been fighting.

went back

to

The other regiment had taken to the hills. The Koliopoulans had been fighting on the rear of the fort. I removed Elias thence because he was alone, and we all
went to a height. "We " because if the Turks
will hold this height," I said,

dislodge these

men we can

fall

upon

them

in the rear

and drive them

into Tripolitsa." Anagnos-

taras took possession of the bridge with a thousand men,

Pappa Phlessas and Kanelos kept the upper road, and I remained alone. The Greeks were broken. I concealed myself beneath some branches of trees with my two heavy pistols. Twelve Turks pursued one part of the Greeks, ten some of those from the bridge held by Anagnostaras, and others went in pursuit of Pappa Phlessas and Kanelos. The
Greeks thought that they were followed by the whole Turkish force. The Turks passed over ; I saw them, for they passed quite close to me. I was saved by the capote which I was wearing for I had on a red scarf, and the
;

capote concealed

it.

138

ROLOKOTBONES,

came in front of my own men As soon as they saw me they cried out, " " Where have "Where you left me," I said, you been ? "but concealed." I proposed that we should now march

When

the sun rose high" I

at the bridge.

on
so.

to Tripolitsa,

but the Greeks would not consent to do

and Elias
I

The Koliopoulans went to Heliodora, Pappa Phlessas to Demitsana, and Kanelos to Langadia, to take

their families to Megaspelion.

had some conversation with those who were upon the bridge. Night at last overtook us, it was one o'clock, and
quite dark.
I

made the

sign of the cross, and said,

"

All ye

who love your country, come with me." I then moved on, followed by Anagnostaras with two hundred of his men,
them by a pass "I had known for twenty years. When we were near the monastery AgioGianni we met the people of Stemnitsa, who were going to
and Bouras and
I led

take refuge there with their wives and families.

out,

I called

"

Whither are you going, Stemnitsians ?"

"

"We
;

are-

forced to flee," they answered.

Come

here," I said

"I

am

quite able to
I

meet those Turks."

then went forward to Stemnitsa, which is a mile distant from the monastery. I sent a messenger so that

no one should be troubled about me.

When Phlessas and Elias heard that I was at Stemnitsa they came to me at once. At sunrise the next day I said,
go and take possession of Langada ; the Turks that way, and we will fall upon them." Near pass is the village Chrysovitsi, and I went there with Langada
will
will

"

We

three hundred men.

On

the road the Greeks concealed

into Chrysovitsi the

themselves, for

as

we went

moon's

rays revealed a hundred of them. In the villages of the Vlacho district the people were still absent in their winter
quarters,

and there were no men there. We met one man, however, and we asked him if any Turks had gone into

KLEPST AND WABBIOB.

Langadia, and his answer was, went there and carried off five or
there was not a

139

"
six

Yesterday seventeen thousand sheep, and

man

to fire a shot at

them."

Niketaras,

who was

at Phrankovrysi,

bodies of Turks,

had taken some

but
all

had attacked many prisoners, and had killed

about

five or six;

the Turks had marched back

again into Tripolitsa.

At daybreak the captains said to me, "What are we doing here ? Let us leave and get on to Leontari, and gather
is

and just see what the world " I shall not go," I answered ; stay here doing." on these hills where the very birds know me better that

some

soldiers together there,

"

I shall

I they, my neighbours, should eat me than any others." with me. I had a horse. had not one man of my district

Anagnostaras, Elias, and Bouras went to Leontari.

was

left

alone, I

and

my

horse at

Chrysovitsi.

But

Phlessas turned back and said to a boy,

lest the
I sat

"

Stop with him

their flags.

wolves devour him."

down

until they

had disappeared with

After

some time

I descended the hill until I

came

to a

church on the road, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin (the Panagia at Chrysovitsi), and there, where I threw myself

down,
"

wept

Holy

for Hellas. " " I cried, help us Virgin

!

now, that the Greeks

may
I

take heart once more." then took the road leading to Piana, and on the way I met my cousin Anton, the son of Anastasius Kolokotrones,

and seven of my nephews these with myself made nine, and my horse made the tenth. I had not even a gun.
:

Anton

told

me

that there

was nobody

in Piana, that they

they I threw myself into Alonistaina all had fled. me there and about twenty came down to me. I

knew made

them

all the villages messengers (runners), and sent into In three days I assembled a in order to form a regiment.

all

140

KOLOKOTBONES,

force of three

hundred men, and went with them to Piana, three miles from Tripolitsa. A despatch was immediately " Kolokotrones with three hundred men sent to Tripolitsa
:

is

in Piana."

Early on the morrow a hody of Turks four thousand strong was despatched from Tripolitsa. When I saw them
through

my

glass I

"
said,

The Turks are very few in

number."

I said this to encourage them, for I never allowed any one but myself to use my telescope. They opened fire ; but our men were routed. I was left with my

horse behind,

and alone.

took the road leading to

Alonistaina, and on the way found Nikolo Boukouras standing by himself, so I took him up on the crupper.

We

on the one

side,

and the Turks on the

other, were

both going to Alonistaina. The Alonistainans were firing from the heights so that the Turks should not get into the
place,

and wasted

Boukouras,
"

their time. As I was going along with " I called out, " Come here, you dirty dogs
!

not anger them," said Boukouras. Kanelos Deligianni came up with a hundred national guards and

Do

baggage; but the Turks

his

fell

upon him and

and,

carried off

baggage.

I joined
all

Kanelos, but the

fright,

men which he
went to

had brought
their

took

dispersing,

own

villages,

and

and eleven

of his

men.

was again left with Kanelos The Turks burnt the village and
I

went back to Tripolitsa. I took Kanelos away with me at night, going from place to place, until one day at dawn we reached a village at the extreme end of Karytaina.

The men of the plains and the mountaineers passed over the other part of Phanari to the hill Dragomano. Out of sheer hunger we killed, roasted, and ate a lamb, and
it

was the Holy Wednesday.*

*
in Passion

I sent scouts to Leontari,

Wednesday was a great sin.

Week.

To

eat flesh, except in extremity,

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

141

where some captains were assembled, with this message, " Pappa Phlessas, Mourtzinos, and Anagnostaras are drawing near Tripolitsa they are at Marmaria." Kyria;

koules with the Mistriot army, and Vrysthenes with the

Agiopetrikan force, were going to Marmaria; there were

two thousand
I wrote to

men at Vervena, and Kyriakoules brought some thousand men down to Vlachochoria, opposite us.
him
if

to

come
"
I

but he would not.

said,

me, and so unite into one force have got a very good position," he
to
:

"and

the Turks

come down upon us you must

send us a reinforcement."

some man

Kyriakoules on the very day of Easter had set as sentinel of the place who betrayed them, and at daybreak

two thousand Turks came down and attacked them.

They

fought for a short time, when fifteen Greeks were killed, amongst whom was the celebrated Anton Nikolopoulos and

Panages Venetsianos. Kyriakoules went away with the other part of his army to Mistra. When we heard of the conflict

we went with a reinforcement, but it was two hours off, and when we got there we found no one, neither Greeks
nor Turks, only burnt houses, and We therefore retired to Marmaria.
fifteen headless bodies.

At this time

seek for me, also

my son Panos of blessed memory came to my son Gennaios, bringing thirty followers.

trakos,

The other regiment was at Vervena under Vrysthenes, Giaand Zapheiropoulos. Upon the arrival of Panos and Kanelos Deligianni, I sent him to Karytaina, with
orders to burn the houses of those

who

did not rise.

They gathered a force in Alonistaina and Chrysovitsi. They did not delay enlisting in all the villages round, and got together six hundred men, and sent the whole of them The Koliopoulans and Kalavryto strengthen the place. tians were laying siege to Lala with cannon, and we
assembled at Marmaria quite twelve hundred in number,

142

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
to take possession of Valtetsi,

and went thence

which was opposite the encampments at Vervena, Chrysovitsi, and Alonistaina. Mourtzinos, Niketaras, and others went to
Valtetsi,

and
all

we were

put myself at the head of them. When collected, I stationed myself there with two
I

hundred, with another three hundred in the village to give The encampment was near to aid either the assistance.

one part or the other. This was the commencement of our warfare, and they did not know how to fight. The Turks about this time took over ten thousand men
to the port of Nauplia.

We

thought that they would go

to Vervena,

which was opposite Nauplia, I had gone to Kalogerovouni to give a signal where a reinforcement
should be sent, for if they had gone to Vervena I should have taken a reinforcement there myself, whilst those who were in the encampments at Chrysovitsi and Piana

were to seize upon the post of Valtetsi but the Turks did not go to Vervena, but to Valtetsi, so that I had to
;

turn the battle round, as it were, and go thither. The Turkish body was attacked by Giatrako, Kyriakoules, and

They wavered, retired, and fled. from the rear, and went to take their place.
Niketaras.

began

to
!

burn the
or

village.

I shouted

out,

came up The Turks " Hold fast

I
!

be firm

we shall be destroyed." Thirty of us stood firm, and smote a standard-bearer, when reinforcements
coming
turned
suing

from

Vervena,

Piana,

and
into

Chrysovitsi,

we
pur-

round

and

drove

them

the

plain,

them down
There

as far

as Violetta, half a mile from

were two thousand Kalavrytians in If Levidi, and they received no information about it. could have come to our aid we should have gone they
Tripolitsa.

into Tripolitsa with the

to his

own

regiment.

about getting soldiers,

we went back each The next day, upon some pretext Mourtzinos went away, and I was
Turks
;

but

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

left

143
all

with twenty

men

of

my

own.

They

marched

to

Leontari, and I with those twenty men went and divided the Karytainans into two bodies, one of which I put under
Koliopoulos, and the other under Andreas PapadiamandoThe whole were about twelve hundred men. poulos.

"

ten days had passed I wrote to those in Leontari Come, and we will take possession of Yaltetsi." About
:

When

twelve hundred Petrovaioi and Messenians

moved
"

thither

with Elias.

I also went to Valtetsi,

and

said,

Build up

close breastworks.

At the end

of the village is a church,

which we made use of as a breastwork, as well as two of the heights which defend the village, so that if the Turks " shut " We are lost come," I said, yourselves up." men," " Shut they answered. yourselves up there," I repeated, " until I come I'll with a reinforcement
;

be answerable

for you."

At the very time that we were building up these entrenchments, Kehayas came from Juannina to Vostitsa with four thousand men, burnt Vostitsa, and then crossing over to Maura Litharia without a gun being fired at him, he burnt Corinth.
Phlessas then burnt the houses of

Kiamil Bey, whereupon Kehayas went and burnt Argos, and afterwards marched for Tripolitsa. When he had

he was told of the first battle of we routed Bomaics and his picked Turks. Valtetsi, where The old Turks related it thus " They were Bussians, and
entered Tripolitsa
:

we drove them into the plain of Sinanos, where they surrendered." That was the plan they had laid out for themselves. Kehayas, who was a warlike and able man, made a scheme to the effect that Boubes, whom he had sent to
thousand men, should go to Valtetsi and drive out the Greeks, whilst he would send a separate force of fifteen hundred by night, who should take possession of Valtetsi from the rear, and if the Greeks were

Bardounia with

five

144

KOLOKOTBONM,

broken as the Turks had been previously, they were to fall upon them, whilst he himself with two thousand
the

cavalry should also come up from the rear of Valtetsi, same course as was followed when the Greeks routed

them, and to throw a thousand men into Kalogerovouni to oppose the army of the Verveni men if they moved forward with a reinforcement. The one army at Chrysovitsi,

where

other,

commanded by
had made

then was, numbered eight hundred, and the Koliopoulos, consisted of seven

hundred men.

We

Kanelos Deligianni

with four others

military inspectors in order to keep a regular surveillance

over the armies.

When

the Turks at daybreak

moved on

to Valtetsi, our sentinels

had been

all

through the night

passing over the several positions. I slept at Valtetsi, dined at Piana, and supped in Chrysovitsi, making the

round of the three camps, and

Chrysovitsi.

fixed to

remain

this

day in

We

had

sentinels

posted at Pano-Chrepa,

above Tripolitsa, who were to give us information when the Turks were to advance. They made a signal that day,

had marched in the direction of Valtetsi, when I immediately moved on with eight hundred men, and consequently, as the Turks were arriving in Valtetsi, we were arriving there also. The battle of Valtetsi began. The five thousand of the enemy attacked us. Opening fire as we came up on the flanks of the Turks, we gave a volley to encourage our men in the middle, and they being much emboldened,
by lighting
fires to indicate

that the Turks

repeated

it

the Turks replied with another, and a great

conflict ensued.

The Turkish advance guard, who were

it

expecting the flight of the Greeks, awaited hours, and hearing the terrible engagement

for

two

that

was

going on in the rear, concluding that the Greeks were surrounded and were still fighting, came up also to give

KLEPHT AND WARBIOR.

their aid in laying siege, to them,

145

possession of a height,

and with ten flags took and thus prevented our communicating with those in the middle. We, with our eight

hundred, strengthened the place so that the Turks could not take us in the rear. Kehayas himself persevered,
but seeing nothiug coming from
to
Valtetsi.
it, brought two cannon The Greeks enclosed there fought on. Koliopoulos came up and so surrounded Eoubes and his five thousand men that he was not able to hold any communication with the other part of the forces. Eoubes had brought cannon against them, but did them no injury with it. The battle was sustained vigorously throughout

the whole of the day, as the Turks hoped that by their persistence the Greeks would ultimately be compelled to evacuate Valtetsi, and we kept up our resistance with
the expectation that the Turks must soon retreat. When twilight was coming on I took a few men with

me, and ascended to a height where the Turkish flags were I went close to them and fired, and they gave planted. me four shots in return. The Greeks behind could not

comprehend
"

it.

I shall take

you

alive

am

Kolokotrones," I said.

"Who

art

thou?"

" Kolokotrones."

They evacuated the position, and then we went into and distributed ammunition and food to all who were in need of such. At two o'clock at night two hundred we thought that of our own men came and fired a volley
Valtetsi
;

they were Turks, instead of which they were Greeks. We passed the night, therefore, divided into two parts, each en-

deavouring to put the other to flight. came we were still at war. I levelled

When

the morning

my

glass to take a

survey of what was going on, and saw that the Turks were in one place, and that Eoubes was surrounded. Kehayas
11

146

ROLOKOTItONM,

brought his cannon against the breastworks of Elias the Beyzade, but the cannon passed over Elias' breastworks and traversed those of Eoubes. Had they been
pointed lower they would have reached them.

being in sore straits determined to make a sally through the breastworks of the Greeks. I was persuaded that he would try to flee, and so moved nearer.

Koubes

Koubes made a rush; they

in their fear.*

left their

guns behind them

They
killed
;

fled

between the two bodies

three hundred were

we were in the rear. We fell upon them in close quarters. The Greeks who had been surrounded we massed together, and followed them for a whole day. The Greeks fell to spoiling and slaying, and did not pursue them with ardour. Niketaras, who was in Vervena with eight hundred men, came up, but just an hour too

We pursued them, however, as far as the plains. This battle established the good fortunes of our country if we had lost it we should have had some difficulty in making
late.
;

another stand.
Elias was on the heights, and his men were in the ; Metropetrovas was on another height, and the

church

Leontari

men had

the other breastwork.

It

was Kolioall

poulos who surrounded Eoubes. in the pursuit of the enemy.

lasted twenty-three hours.

We

were

engaged

This was upon the 13th of May, and the battle had

That day was a Friday, and I gave an address to the " We must all fast, and render up thanksfollowing effect
:

givings for this day, which should be kept holy for ever, as

the day upon which the people

made

a stand, whereby our

country achieved her freedom."

* They were richly ornamented, and they thought very truly that the Greeks would stop to pick them up instead of pursuing their foes*

ELEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Kephalas and Papatsones were in the battle

147 of Valtetsi.

After this victory the Karytainans returned to their places at Chrysovitsi and Piana, and the rest remained in
Valtetsi.

Bouboulina

crossed

over

ten

Tsokres and Staikos wrote to me and a leader also so I sent Niketas with fifty men from Chrysovitsi, and fifty from each of the camps of Valtetsi and Vervena. He went over to Doliana to take his fifty
;

days afterwards, and to send them assistance,

from Vervena and

at Tripolitsa.

The Turks held a council The Mistriotes and Bardouniotes proposed

slept there.

that,

as

they did nothing

at

Valtetsi, they should

go

and destroy the camp at Vervena, and thence march to Mistra. The Turks took to this idea, and getting into
motion directed their march towards Doliana, in order to Niketas had hardly gone spoil our camp at Vervena.
told

a quarter of an hour's distance from Doliana when it was him " The Turks are coming " He turned back and
!

gained the village, which the Turks surrounded. Whilst some bodies of men enclosed Niketas there, others marched

on to Vervena.

The regiment
first

at

Vervena was prepared

for

them, and at their

bearer,

volley they killed a

standard-

when the Turks, being

seized with a panic, fled at

once.

When

they got near Doliana on their retreat, the

Turks, who were besieging Niketas, were broken, and Niketas coming forth with his men set upon them and drove them into the plain. Two cannon were taken and
seventy men slain, and the Turks were so discontented with the result that they made no other expedition of the
kind.

Niketas then marched into

Argos and despoiled the

he took mosques' and minarets, and sent us the lead which from them, for we were in want of lead and paper, and we had therefore made use of the library of the monastery of

148

KOLOKOTRON&S,
The brothers
had made

Demitsaoa, and also those of other monasteries, in order

to

make

cartridges.

Speliotopouloi

an agreement with themselves to supply us with powder, and on account of their serving us thus with powder we did not make any requisition on the Demitsanians for the
army, but
left to

them

this service instead.

the Spetsiotes and Hydriotes heard of the progress the war was making, besides giving us ammunition they also sent us leather for shoes. They sent these things
to

When

me, so I gave them out wherever

I rose

saw that there was a

and in

need.

up one night

after the battle of Doliana,

conjunction with the Karytainans seized on the heights of

Trikorpha, where we had shepherds, and we kept all war material and provisions and other things in Zarachova, at which place there was a strong tower.
I

built

breastwork
first

This was the

litsa,

on the summit of Trikorpha. time that we had been so near to Tripo-

as it was only half an hour distant. I stimulated their ambition to go forward, and I reminded them of the

proverb of the serpent. The next morning,

made breastworks

we had came out and opposite Tripolitsa, they attacked us with two thousand men, but we both repulsed and pursued them. For the succeeding five or six days we had battles continually. We were eighteen hundred strong. Our position helped us much, and since the defeat of the Turks at Valtetsi and Doliana, the Greeks had become much more courageous, and went out frequently for a little T skirmishing. W hen this warfare had gone on for some time, a reinforcement came to us from Valtetsi.
I

when

the Turks saw that

had given out orders in the

district that

whosoever

should leave the camp should be seized and scourged, and that he should be sent back and his house burned*

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

Kanelos Deligianni was to arrange
I
for

149

was

to order

and supervise

all

our supplies, whilst The military matters.

Greeks began to feel so great an enthusiasm for the cause that they threshed the corn, and afterwards leavened the
flour,

and baked the bread which they brought on their

asses and males to the camp.

We

had, however, national

ovens at Piana, Alonistaina, Vytina, Magouliana, Demitsana, and Stemnitsa. They brought us sheep from twenty to thirty, forty, and fifty at a time, and gave them to us
with their heartiest good wishes. Kyriakos Tsoles made us a present of a hundred and twenty goats from Zarachova. We also had cuttlefish sent, which they had
collected for us.
to the other

This example was also followed in respect camps, which were treated alike.

Valtetsi

Ten days later I ordered the armies to move from and come on to Trikorpha, which was done.

Anagnostaras, Elias, the Messenians, the men of Leontari, and others, to the number of fifteen hundred, came

above the mill of Tripolitsa. We then sent for the Tsakonai and the Agiopetritai who were at

and

built breastworks

Vervena, and they took up their position at Steno. There they made both breastworks and entrenchments, Zapheiropoulos commanding. The Turks came out and skirmished
with them occasionally. Meanwhile the siege of Patras had been raised because
the Turks had defeated the besiegers on several occasions. During the time that we had been occupied, as detailed above, the Lalians had written to us to send them a reinforcement.

ments

at Lala,

One was sent, and there were many engageand in one of them the brother of Kolio-

poulos was killed, and Andreas Metaxas was wounded. Upon this the Lalians removed their families to Patras. The interior of the Peloponnesus was evacuated, Patras was then strengthened, and the Kalavrytian army re-

150

KOLOKOTBONJES,
and came over to our assistance at Pano-Chrepa. them and instructed them how to build breast-

treated
I

went

to

works at Perthori, in order that we might press Tripolitsa. These sent me a lying letter, saying that a great many Turks had suddenly come to the Black Kocks, wherefore they had removed themselves away six miles further from
Tripolitsa.

council of a part of the chiefs took place at Kaltezia, in the district of Mistra, and it was thought desirable that

we should have Mavromichaeles with us therefore Kanelos Deligianni and Poneros brought him from Kalamata into Stemnitsa, and he was made President of the Senate.
;

They then wrote concerning it to Spetsai, Hydra, and the Seven Islands. Meanwhile we were having skirmishes every day. The forces within Tripolitsa amounted to fourteen thousand foot and eight thousand cavalry. Ypsilanti came to Aspros in June, and all the governors of the Peloto ponnesus gathered together for a conference Andreas Zaimes, Petro Bey, myself, and the rest.

wit,
I left

my

camp.

son Panos, Giannaki Kolokotrones, and others at the We received him with a guard of honour, and the

Spetsiote chief being there, we all accompanied him to Vervena. There Ypsilanti happened to do certain things which

displeased the chiefs, and so they quarrelled.

Ypsilanti had
fifty

Vamra and Anagnostopoulos with him, and

the

Greek

students in Europe. He wished to become the head of national commissariat, and the chiefs not desiring
it,

Ypsilanti was offended and withdrew to Kalamata.

There were five thousand soldiers gathered together at Vervena, and these all seized their arms in order to kill the whole of the chiefs. They came and laid siege to us in Petro Bey's tent, where we were all assembled. I heard
the uproar, and was going out when Kanelos Deligianni prevented me, saying, "Do not go out, lest it might give

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

rise to

151

a gun might go off, and then we should all be killed." I had not got soldiers of that " sort, so I went out and called to them : Greeks, what do

something;

for

you want
bore

Come

hither

"
!

me

into the open air.

They ran They said,

to

me

directly

and

"We

want

to kill

because they have driven away Ypsilanti." " Come," I answered, let me first talk to you about that, because I must be your fellow-helper in the matter if you

the chiefs

"

kill

them."

then marched them

all

awav with

their

guns at full cock to a fountain, and then I stationed myself " upon a piece of rock so that all might hear me. Why do you wish ruin to come only through ourselves ? We

have taken up arms against the Turks, and therefore it is regarded by the whole of Europe that we Greeks have risen

Europe is looking on to see At present the Turks are skilful in fortresses and the open field, and we in warfare on the
up against tyrants, and what will be the upshot.
all

If we kill our primates, what will the kings say ? that these people have not risen for freedom's sake, Why, but to slay their own colleagues, and that they are bad
hills.

men, and carbonari; and then the kings will give help to we shall have a heavier yoke than that which we have borne hitherto. We will write a letter, and
the Turks, and

come back again." Thus I pacified them. The chiefs and Mavromichaeles sent Anagnostaras to Ypsilanti, and he was brought back, and everything went
Ypsilanti shall

proper channel. At this time Monovasia surrendered. The Maniotes and Tsakonoi had been besieging
into
its

by land, and the Spetsiotes with their boats by sea. A few days afterwards Neokastro was also given up. This
it

place had been laid siege to by the Arcadians, Messenians, and also by the Maniotes and the Spetsiotes.

As we were now returning

to Trikorpha

we asked Petrg

152

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
to send to

Bey

Mani and

to procure us

more help

but he

replied that the Maniotes would not leave unless they were paid. Then came five hundred Maniotes, for all the
districts

agreed to pay them whilst they were besieging Tripolitsa, and Karytaina especially undertook to pay for
to

three hundred under Mourtzinos.

from Mistra, and began

distance.

We brought a cannon cannonade Tripolitsa from a

sitting at

At that time our rulers were

Sarakova.

do

not remember what'Ypsilanti had asked from them, but the rulers did not agree to it. As soon as the army heard

wanted to go to Sarakova again to petition was presented to me to this effect

of
it it

kill
:

them. A " The chiefs

do not want to sign what Ypsilanti has presented to them " for their signature and they came to ask my opinion " " whether I only as to should not go and kill them ! they
;

"
replied,

ness."

So

Keep yourselves quiet I will finish this I went off at noon to Sarakova by myself
;

busi;

and

finding the chiefs

after

all

together,

I said,

"

What

are you

Whatever you do you must sign what Ypsilanti requires, and make an end of this breach." And so it was at last settled.
?

now

On

Turks came
Tsakonoi.
fifteen

the festival of St. Elias, on the 20th of July, the upon us and upon the Agiopetritai and

That was a most unfortunate day for us, for We Agiopetritai and ten Mistriotes were killed.
from noon
till

had

fighting

evening, and in the evening

we
fir

got right into their midst.

We

approached so near that

in the great

we brought the Kosmitai

grove
of
Tripolitsa.

to

make a mine

Provisions were

beginning to fail

there, so they drove out all the

Greek families in order

that they should not consume their rations, and thus we had news every day of what the Turks inside were doing
or not

doing.

They brought

all

these people into

my

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

158

camp, and I interrogated them. Water was failing, for we had cast foxglove into the running streams. The Greeks went up to the walls of Tripolitsa. One
day
I learnt

ready to go into Corinth with

from a Greek that Kiamil Bey was making from three to five hundred

men, and that he intended to pass through Mytika. As soon as I heard of it (only it happened to be false) I took
ten of the cavalry with me and went to Mytika in order to reconnoitre this body but instead of two hundred
.

Tripolitsans
sunrise,

did not find thirty.

and they went away. were so few, when they told they

spoke to them at I upbraided them because

I.

me

that the others

had

not come, and that they had kept guard there for twenty days. Dagres, with two hundred men, was at Tsipiana

and on the rocks. Some shots were fired at them, when they came down, and I took them with me to the village As I had acquired these two hundred men of of Louka. I threw them into Mytika, opposite Kapnistra, and Dagres,
they

made breastworks
it

there.

and found that

would be easy

to dig

examined the ground, from Mytika right

up

Kapnistra where I had left the It was about a mile long, soldiers belonging to Dagres. and for half a mile of the distance there were trenches " Make a trench here." I then sent an
to

those parts of

for vines.
I also

order,

despatched other orders to the villages round about

seventy to two hundred men to dig a trench, and to throw the earth which they dug out towards Tripolitsa, as I did not expect that they
Tripolitsa to

summon from

would cross

at

any other part

of the trench

and in three

days they had completed it right up to the breastworks, where it terminated. It was seven hundred paces from the base of the hill where the breastworks were situated.
Doliana Kehayas, three or four days after this, went to with six thousand soldiers, and as he was returning he

154

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
Dagres very hard, and
almost
destroyed
his

pressed

twenty -seven of his men being killed and wounded. The Turks, however, did not notice the twenty
regiment,

newly-made trench because it was night, but, seeing only the end of it, they said, " The Giaours are making
frontiers

they are parcelling out the land." Dagres was shut up in a cave with four of his people but when
;
;

heard the

firing

knew

at

once that he had been

attacked,

and moved on

to help

him.

I ordered all the

regiments of Karytaina to march near me, and sent them to Chomatovouni, opposite Mytika, with my adjutant Photakos,

and

also despatched a

band

of about three

hundred

and give assistance to These were followed by two hundred others, who Dagres. came up shortly, and a thousand Karytainans also arrived. The Turks who had been left in Tripolitsa sallied out to
of the swiftest to hold the trench

skirmish for the purpose of preventing the Greeks from

going to aid Dagres.

The

soldiers,

however,

whom

had

despatched on that service attacked the enemy from above, scattered them, and eventually saved him. The greater
part of the Turkish

army went

to the village

Louka, and

procured

six

hundred mule loads

of provisions.
;

Kehayas
our

sent three hundred cavalry to cross the trench

men

pressed down upon them, and then opened out

ten

so that the

three hundred Turks crossed over, &\e being killed and

wounded

fifteen

horse were likewise wounded.

went forward

to strengthen the

Greeks,

again brought out another thousand. formed themselves into two divisions, opposing front to About five hundred front, and attacking in both parts.
of the

when Kehayas The Greeks then

and many wounded, both horse and men. At last followed the main body of the Turks with their laden mules and horses to the number of six

enemy were

killed,

hundred, with foot-soldiers and cavalry accompanying.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

155

The Greeks who had been sent to the assistance of Dagres approached them fighting from behind. Both the cavalry which had crossed the trench, and that which had
not,
all

Eighty of the cavalry were slain, and the animals laden with supplies remained in the hands
a rush.

made

of the Greeks.

The Greeks gave themselves up

I threatened the

to pillage,

and so the Turks were saved because

followed up.

they were

not

men

with

my

sword, I tried

flattery and cajolery to move them, but they did not heed me and so the Turks were saved. In this battle the
;

Turks numbered

six

thousand and the Greeks one thou-

sand
were

Karytaina men. The brother of Kehayas Bey was wounded, and a hundred and twenty of the enemy
all

killed, besides the

many

that were wounded.

Of the

Greeks there were two or three who were wounded, but

only two were slain The Turks did not again venture forth from Tripolitsa. This was the last time. They now fought only from the
!

walls,

and they despaired

of being able to procure

any

more provisions. This battle took place on the 15th of August a month before Tripolitsa was taken. We I went forth one night and seized Mantzagra. came with his made trenches, and Demetraki Deligianni forces and occupied the village, which is ten minutes off The Turkish horses now began to succumb because they had nothing to eat. I therefore sent out Gennaios, and he, gathering together Tsakonitai and Agioand took petritai, joined with Panagiotes and Tsakona, and at possession of Voulimi (there was no cannon there),
Tripolitsa.

the same time Kephala with the Messenians were ordered

to go

and encamp

at

Agio

Sosti, so that

we

left

them no

possibility of obtaining

any more.
to

The Albanians now began

us.

open communications with There were three thousand of them, and theirs was

156

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

the whole strength of the Turkish fort. They proposed to me that I should allow them to pass out, and I promised
that all the Turkish inhabitants might also leave, only without their arms, but to the Albanians I granted their

arms.
chiefs

I first spoke about this to the primates

and the

and

to Mavromichaeles,

honour
hurt.

to the

and then I gave my word of Albanians that they might go forth un-

In the month of June, whilst we were besieging Tripolitsa, I summoned Panos of blessed memory from Dervenia.
Panos, Ypsilanti, Gennaios, and others were at Vasilika, a district of Corinth, because I had told them that the Turks

had gone there. The army, consisting

lanti

of seven

hundred men with Ypsi-

from Agia Irene, met the fleet which burnt Galaxeidi. The Albanians during this time were making their arrangements. There was a secretary with the Albanians who

was on the

Bey, and also on that of Almas Bey, and he came to act as a mediator between the Albanians
staff of Veli

and ourselves.

When

the other Turks heard about the

treaty that was thus being negotiated, they wished to take part in it themselves. Petro Bey and Deligianni and

them that they might but that they must leave their arms behind, when go out, we would embark them for whatsoever place they desired to go to. Their answer was, " No ; ivith our arms ! " We
others acted for our side, and told
sent Koliopoulos to the Albanians as a hostage, so that they might trust in us. The Greeks, who knew that
Tripolitsa
to

must fall, had assembled there from the number of twenty thousand.
right into the

all

parts

Whilst the Albanians were

jumped

going out, some Greeks amid the redoubts of the place

The Albanians were to go out, taking Koliopoulos palace. with them- As the body of them was issuing forth, I sent a.

klepst and wabuiou.

public crier
to

is?

announce that we were not

to slay the

Albanians.
Inside the town they had begun to massacre. My horse from the walls to the palace never touched the
earth.

The Albanians who were then shut up

in the fort

did not trust

my

words.

I rushed to the place.

The

affair of the

Albanians had

been settled in

three days previously. Upon my reaching the fort I found that the Greeks were endeavour"If you wish to hurt ing to attack those Albanians.
tent

these Albanians," I cried, "kill

me

rather; for whilst I

am

will I kill the first."

a living man, whoever first makes the attempt, him I then went in front of them with

my

body-guard, and had a conversation with the two

leaders, Veli

Bey and Limas Bey, and demanded two

hostages on their side, when I gave up their property to them, which amounted to as much as thirteen animals
could be laden with.

The
treaty.

chief

the Greeks had joined in this I took I was faithful to my word of honour.
all

men among

Koliopoulos from the Albanians, and gave them Giannaki Kolokotrones, Chrystakes, and Basil Alonisthiotes as

hostages in his stead. I ordered Koliopoulos, with three hundred men, to escort

them, and he accompanied them to Kalavry ta and Vostitsa, and then returned.

The host which entered it, cut down and were slaying men, women, and
Tripolitsa

was three miles

in circumference.

children from Friday until Sunday.

Thirty-two thousand

were reported to have been slain. that he had killed ninety. About a hundred Greeks were
killed
;

One Hydriote boasted

but the end came

a proclamation was issued that

the slaughter must cease.

The family

of Sechnetzi

Bey remained under my

care

158

KOLOKOTBONES.
twenty-four
people
in
all.

they were
his

Giatrakos took

Kiamil Bey, and Kehayas was also a prisoner, and with harem was taken charge of by Petro Bey.

had written to Kehayas, "I and I told him therein knew you to be a man of skill, and that you came to fight as with a Klephfcic horde. I
After the victory of Valtetsi I
:

hear that you have papers of submission for the Bomaics it is not now the time for Turks to offer papers of submission, and I hope to be able to give you, if you are saved, a
;

permit to go to your own country. and au revoir in your own palace."

Hold out

if

you can,
this

And God brought

Russians,"

about, and we met again in his palace. " I have been a slave among the

said
of

Kehayas;
the Greeks

"
;

it

is

better

forme

to fall into, the

hands

if

not, the Sultan will send orders, and I

shall be lost."

"Do

We

we never kill those who surrender." then delivered him to the keeping of the Mavronot fear;
I entered Tripolitsa

michaeli.

they showed me a plane tree in the market-place where the Greeks had always been

"When

"Alas!" I said, "how many of my " own stock my own race have been hung there And I ordered it to be cut down. I felt some consolation
hung.
I

sighed.
of

then from the slaughter of the Turks.

When we

started to go to Valtetsi

three hares crossed our path, and the Greeks caught " " all. Now, lads," I cried, victory is certain." Greeks have a presage either of conquest or defeat

remember that them The when

they meet hares as they set out from a camp. They did not kill them, and if they had not been able to catch them
the hearts of the Greeks would have been so depressed that they would have lost the battle.

Once, whilst we were at Trikorpha, Anagnostes Zapheiro-

KLEPHT AND WABBtOB.

poulos,

159

who was then my

secretary,

saw that

hard for twenty-four hours straight off. the twentieth hour I went to my tent and ate a small " Beseech thee, Kolokopiece of bread, when he said
:

was working At the end of

I

trones, to study thyself

study thyself; thy country will

reward thee."

"My country will banish me rather," I replied; and fate brought this about, and verified it. We had formed a plan of proposing to the Turks that
we should
divided

they should deliver Tripolitsa into our hands, and that in that case send persons into it to gather the spoils together which were then to be apportioned and

nation, but

among the different districts for who would listen ? Karytaina, from the commencement
fall of Tripolitsa,

the benefit of the

of the siege until

flocks of those

the

had given from the

who were
animals.

well-to-do

in the district forty- eight thousand

CHAPTEK

V.

AFTER their
off

ten days had elapsed

spoils,

all

the Greeks carried

and went

to their different districts

with their captives, both male and female. In those ten days which had been granted to the Greeks to secure
their spoil

we had a

and others attended.

that

council which Ypsilanti, Petro Bey, " I

spoke to this

effect

It is

time

we made another campaign, and as for myself I will I to Patras," and they thought well of the proposal. go then set forward with only my body-guard of forty men.
I issued a command to the district of Karytaina to gather the forces together for Patras, and when I arrived at Magouliana, six miles from Tripolitsa, I had collected

to

seventeen hundred soldiers, and by the time I got down Gastouni ten thousand were assembled. Hearing that

was mustering the armies for Patras, the chiefs who were besieging Patras, namely Zaimes, Soter Charalampes, and Patron wrote a letter to Ypsilanti, in which they said,
"

We

hear that Kolokotrones

is

coming

to Patras

Koloko-

trones can stay away, and assistance can be sent to us, as, for instance, three hundred national guard, either with

Deligianni or Mavromichaeles, and in six days hence we which was, in short " It does shall have taken Patras"
:

the spoil here as he did at Tripolitsa."

not suit us that Kolokotrones shall come and carry off Their intention

KOLOKOTRONfiS, KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

161

was that I should not go and strengthen them at Patras, although, if they had allowed me to go at once, the Turks would have given up the keys to me immediately
Let them be Anathema. They wrote to me from Tripolitsa that I had better turn back, because the Patras business was over. "Return,
out of very fear.

and we
forces

go to Nauplia." which I had massed.

will

turned back with the

Tripolitsa I

and

their reply

I was approaching wrote to know what we could do at Nauplia, was "

:

As

We

are quite efficient of ourselves

to take Nauplia, because they are

hungry there." Tsokres, and others were the leaders of the besieging Staikos, forces. At the very same hour in which they wrote that letter an Austrian boat laden with ten thousand measures
of corn arrived at Nauplia;

and

therefore, as

that had

happened, the army wrote Come, for a boat has arrived with provisions, and we cannot do anything by ourselves."
:

"

We

started for Argos at once, Ypsilanti, Petro Bey,

and
that

the then

Senate.

The Tripolitsans
left

petitioned
fort

me
for

Panos should be

behind to keep the

city.

the

preservation of order in the

therefore

allowed

him

to

remain with them.

in order to take the field,

then embarked for Argos carrying with us Kiamil Bey

We

and his son.

When we

disembarked at Argos we found

the siege in a fair state of progression.

Bouboulina * with her brother guarded the blockade. When we had called together all the chief people from

Hydra, Spetsai, and the Peloponnesus, we formed a government. At the same time we also determined upon

making an

I rode over to Mylos to assault on Nauplia. look at the ships there, and whilst on the road my horse

threw me, and I became unwell in consequence.

gave

my

advice in regard to the projected assault. * The warlike widow of a shipbuilder and
Spetsiote

The army
captain.

12

162

KOLOKOTBONES,

on land was to attack Palamedi and the port, and the ships were to cannonade the castle, and the Five Brothers

and

five

hundred were

to

fall

upon Kranidiotika from

followed.

the shore.

" If thou art " stand aside awhile." not equal to it," they told me, " " Stand was aside, while my brothers are being killed

My

advice

was not

my
to

rejoinder.

The
the

forces

assembled at Areia.

Josaphat sent word

or

soldiers,

"Whoever

is

killed

wounded, the
thousand of

country will recognize his value." We were four thousand in all.

I took a

them, and with Niketas, Giatrakos, and to attack the port from the shore.
Tarelle had a hundred
I told

others,

went down
Philhellene

The

men

with him.

them that if they had an opportunity the boats should make the first attack, but if there was not an opportunity we would not attempt it. They answered " The boats are I there, and we will attack the first."
:

when they could bring down

and then
the
strike at the port

resolved to attack Palamedi myself at night until daybreak, a force from the country,

on the land
to

side.

I decided to

take the thousand

others

men
it

four hundred followed me, but

better

began the
opened
fire.

go down country. I attack at daybreak with those I had, and We seized the landing-stages at Pronoia, and

thought

attacked

Leuko

in

the
it

same way.

The boats
The

to

the

shore had no wind, as

therefore

blew from the shore, and was

contrary, so

we made no way.

Turks

were strengthened between their platoons, and the Greeks kept sinking in the earth of the Turkish cemetery. The
battle lasted two hours.

no

service, I sent

my

Seeing that the boats could do adjutant, Photakos, to bid them

of

retire at once,

and therefore the whole

killed,

them

retired in

a body.

few were

and we had a

little

fighting

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

163

with the Turks, but we returned to Argos with nothing achieved. The Greeks were not equal to the taking castles such as those by assault; it was folly to attempt it.

We

sent

word

to the different districts that

have an assembly.
arrange

we ought to Mavrokordatos and Zaimes came to

the meeting in order that

we might form a

government.
Mavrokordatos, with his son Karatza, was at Patras, where he had been some little while, and we met him at

Argos

for the first time.

Upon our return

together.

to

Argos

all

the chiefs and rulers from the various districts and from
the islands of Greece

met there

Ypsilanti was
brave,
of

a. man of fixed opinions, honourable

and

small intellect

and vain;

also

deceived.

He was

small in stature and slim.

he was easily His name

was very useful to us in the beginning, but he had an idea that he should be made head of us all, and his brain did
not furnish the necessary qualifications for the position in which he was placed. Had his brother Alexander come
to us

he would have been of real

service, because

he would

have been able to strengthen us. For myself I did not bow down my shoulders to one of them. I was not going
to
for the leaders to ride upon. were there, and there was myself, but there was no They third person. There were no dissensions at the meeting.

make myself a crupper

Anagnostaras was a

man

of great

sense,

but envious,

heavy to move, and fat. and very useful to his country.

Krebata was also a clever man,

were quite agreed about making a government, but we quarrelled about the place where it should be held.

We

The

soldiers

who were gathered

there

made

a petition to
all

me

asking for

my

consent to their killing

the chiefs

and primates. Some of them thought that there was no one to jeer necessity to have an assembly at all for every

164
at.

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

" What are At noon I went and argued with them. " Take your oaths, because this you doing now?" I asked. which they have in hand must be done for you, and then

you can go
I led

to a place

them straightway

where you can begin the assembly." to the church of St. John they
;

took the oaths, and thus this boiling over was stopped.

The people always have a fancy

The
politicians

for killing their governors

whenever the smallest cause for discontent arises. went to Epidauros and began to frame
soldiers departed for Corinth. their laws,

and we with our

Giatrakos had his Leontarians and

men

of Tripolitsa with

him, and he also took there Kiamil Bey and twenty braves from Leontari. Ypsilanti and Anagnostaras were also there.
Giatrakos with his Turkish prisoners went to Examilia, and the rest of the forces set themselves to besiege the
castle.

One day

took a journey

down

to Examilia, in

order to ask Kiamil

Bey

to write a letter to his lieutenant

and

to his wife

also to bid

them

deliver

up the

castle.

Either he did not write to that

listen

effect, or they would not

to this

request, because the castle

was not

sur-

rendered.

The army which was

in Corinth killed twenty

There were several Lalians and Albanians among them, and I sent down Karachalios, and asked them once
Turks.
or twice to surrender,
morroiv,

and they always

said, to-day or to-

and

in that

manner twenty days were passed.

The

was that they were expecting a reinforcement from Omer Vrioni, who was in Eastern Greece. They went to the Corinthians and persuaded them thus: "Do
fact

not surrender to Kolokotrones, because a reinforcement

will

come

to you."

Their intentions also being, that

when

we were gone away and they were

would partake
of the spoils
:

left there alone, they there was envy in it all. After twenty days I sent Karachalios again to the Lalians,

and two

of

them came

to

my

tent.

I told

them

to

go out

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

of the castle

165
it.

and

to let

the other Turks remain in

;

This was in order to

took their

make a beginning so sixteen of them arms and came out, and I put them into my

own camp.
five or six

went on had passed days

We

treating with

them

and

after

over, a Lalian came to

me and

cried aloud against the deputy of Kiamil Bey, against the

names them about again spoke with the terms, offering to allow them to take two changes of raiment with them, when we would see that they were put aboard different ships, some going to Koumeli, and others
I

Kadi, and against two other Turkish officers whose

do not remember.

We

to be sent either to Galaxeidi or to Salonia.

Their answer

must first have a conference with the others, after which we will send you our reply." The next day they spoke with me again in reference to
was,

"We

my
do

were preparing to so, when the whole army, from its utter want of discipline, began to move nearer to us. Seeing its undisciplined state I misdoubted this,

making a covenant with them.

We

and galloped off with only Captain Anagnostes Petimeza, and went to a castle in some Turkish cemetery, when I announced, " The chiefs

must sent a body and so they did.

of thirty national

guards to attend
to the fort that

me

"
;

We

two being there,

to

I sent

word
I

they

would speak to them again upon the matter, because the previous bond which I had made in the past days had been made of no effect

must come down

me, and then

through the conduct of the Turks. Four came out upon As I this suggestion, and we sat and conferred together.

had got these well in hand, I sent to the Kadi by my thirty men to announce to him that all the Turks must deliver up their arms, and place them all together in one house. The Kadi gave his word that he had had them sworn upon
their faith not to conceal

any

of their arms, but to give

166

KOLOKOTBONES,
all

them

up

so they were all disarmed.

it

assembly, as soon as

As regards the was known that the Turks were

going to surrender, we demanded that five or six members of the Government should be sent to receive the spoils, and
to divide
it

among

the nation.

Soter Notaras and others

of Arcadia also

were therefore sent.

The Archimandrite

arrived from the Senate in order to get our signatures for the laws which it had been framing. I would not sign them " The executive because there was a clause which said,
will conclude a proposition, will render

and

at the

end of

six

days

it

an account of

it

to the assembly."

All except

myself appended their signatures.

to that clause
I signed
it.

when

it

was brought back

into the fort to

supplement was put to me, and then

I sent the thirty

men

disarm the Turks,

it

which, being

done, I

gave information of

to the deputies

from the assembly, and taking three hundred men from different regiments, I went to the gate and crossed it with

and then planted the flag on the top of the The army and myself then went into the interior fort. we numbered six thousand men. Ypsilanti, Giannaki
a Greek
flag,
;

son Gennaios, Anton Kolokotrones, Anagnostaras, and others were at the fall of Corinth.
Kolokotrones, Apostolus Kolokotrones,

my

News was then brought that the squadron Bey with nine thousand men had arrived Upon hearing this I gave the necessary
marched
directly
for

of

Kapitan
Patras.

at

orders and

Patras.

Tripolitsa,

and when

at Tripolitsa

passed from Argos to I ordered that regi-

ments from Karytaina, Phanari, and Arcadia should get into marching order for Patras. When I arrived in Tripolitsa the news' had come that
Ali

Pasha was destroyed, and many members of the Senate said, " Now that Ali Pasha is dead, the eighty

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

thousand
us."

16?
will
fall

men who were

rests with

besieging

him

upon

"

That

God," said

I.

Then one Nicholas Tzanetos from Phanari remarked

"

We

have done

well,

and have made a senate and a

let

parliament, and now, as the old writings say,

ruin come

upon us."
" Well
I
said, Sir

"
!

was

my
to

reply.

ordered

Gennaios

bring
I

his

Tripolitsans

and
of

Phanarites near.
the
first

At Vytina

received the
of Greece
;

orders

received from

systematized government it a diploma as general.

I

and

I also

On

the 1st of

March

had gone through Karytaina, Pyrgos, Gastouni, and had collected six thousand men. I- have now related the events up to March 2, 1822.
I arrived in Patras.

Niketaras and Acholos had gone against Omer Vrioni. When I first arrived in Patras,* on the 28th of February,
I

was

ignorant
raids

of

the
into

country

the

Turks
Achaia,

had been

making

and

pillaging

having a force of about five thousand men, and the advance guard of Gennaios came up with them.
Koliopoulos went
driving
rear,
to

his

assistance,

and routed

them,

them outside Patras, when I came up upon their when we all massed together at Saravali, and I

immediately sent a hundred to take possession of the monastery of Gerokomeios, and also to carry there a

cannon from Patras.

seized

When

the Turks saw that we had

upon the monastery they prepared directly for a as battle, thinking that it was the same with us now We moved up our armies quickly, and a terrible formerly.
battle ensued.

We

took about eighty heads.

into the interior.

The Greeks had arrived and gone

and other

* Kolokotrones had with him a force of about 4,000 chiefs, about 1,500

men

Zaimes,

168

KOLOKOTRONES,
;

told

They signified their intention of remaining there but I them to go to their several posts. The Kalavrytian body of a hundred men stayed at Gerokomeios, and four
hundred
Saitaga
;

of

the

Tripolitsans

whilst

Kanelos
six

Pournaro-Kastro with

remained by the vats of Deligianni was to occupy hundred. I placed Gennaios

with three hundred Phanarites at Paleopyrgo. I had the Gastounaioi at Obria, and the most effective part of the army I held back in Saravali as a reinforcement.
Saravali was half an hour distant from our breastworks,

and three-quarters from Patras. I saw the regiments of the Turks, who, when they heard that Kolokotrones had come, they sent immediately to Jousouf Pasha, who was
then at the
saying that Kolokotrones had brought over a force of many thousands. Before we came to a
castle,

battle,

Miaoules had made frightful havoc

among

the

shipping, which had fled in consequence and gone to Constantinople. We, with our own men, stayed where we were and prepared for battle. As the Turkish vessels were gone, Jousouf Pasha sent to Epakto and to the castle of Patras and levied all the Turks, and with as many as he could muster marched into Patras. The assembled Turks numbered twelve thousand nine thousand of these were Eastern Turks, and three thousand of the others.
;

On

the 9th of
I

March
it

the whole of

and when

took a survey of

them were set in motion, them from Saravali, and saw

how

great a host

the Kalavrytians,
Tripolitsans,

was, I summoned all our troops, with who were at Gerokomeios, and the

The

battle

who were stationed in Saitaga. was commenced beyond the

hills.

When

the engagement opened, I sent Gennaios forward with his Phanarites, and the Gastounians from my own regiment.

As

soon, however, as

the reinforcement arrived

six

it

was
sur-

broken, and Gennaios with his

hundred

was

RLEPHT

AtfD WAUBlOB.
;

169

rounded in the vat grounds of Saitaga the Turks were very numerous, and they enclosed him there, and endeavoured to force him thence. Koliopoulos in the
meanwhile, with the rest of the army, took possession of the vineyards where the vats were situated, and with the
help of the Gastounians held them.

The army

of Patras,

under Kanelos, was engaged also at Pournaro-Kastro, and Zaimes made a stand there, but was routed and pursued
for half

an hour, when he reached the

river

by the mills

with the remnant of his army.

was alone, for I had sent out my whole force, so there was with the master of Arta from "Western Greece, Andreas, Kalamodartes, and the secretary, Michaelages.
I

to force the vats

Seeing clearly that the Turkish forces were preparing and the monastery, I said, " I will leave

the mules with the shepherd here

come
I

on,

and

if

not, flee

we break the Turks, with the mules, and I go trusting

;

if

in the help of

God and

in yours."

went forward alone, not even having

my

adopted son

with me.
Lechorites, "

whom Zaimes had

;

quarter of a mile off I met old Anagnostes " sent to me. Kun, brother,

run

he cried

" we have

lost the battle."

accompanied

old Anagnostes

When

along the road leading to Paleopyrgos. we arrived at the high ground just above Paleo-

pyrgos, I

saw a
line.

little

flag,

Koumanites, with
forming a "
"

fifteen others, stationed all together

and there was Evangeles, and

I called to

them

What men

are

you ?

"

Greeks," they replied. " Do you not know me, then

trones
;

"

I asked.

"I

am

Koloko-

come

hither."
I

tanella.

was wearing a red jacket and a red fusThey descended, and I sent them forward, and then went myself straightway towards the Turkish centre, and
At that time

170

KOLOKOTBONES,

some straggling Greeks, who heard whither I was going, joined me, and I thus got together about fifty men, and these
I placed at a post in front of the

to

them, "Fix your

"
replied.

Turkish centre. I said " We are lost men," they flag here." I then will send you a reinforcement."

the vineyard of Kol, and told those who were there to take their flag and go and place it by the
galloped
off to

side of the other.

Gennaios and the Kalavrytians were

rounded.
a lime

all this

time sur-

I looked forward to the line of flags,

and saw
as there

furnace, so I ordered Paraskeva, the brother of

Koliopoulos, with twenty

men

to

go and seize

it,

were only about

fifty

them

they also said,

;

Turkish cavalry who could oppose " We shall be lost."

you."

" Go

I will see to

As soon as the centre was well strengthened, Karachalios and my adjutant, Photakos, took up their station where
I could observe the battle.

able to break the Turks from the centre,

saw that we should not be and that if we

them we must defeat them in the wings. Taking Karachalios and Photakos with me, I went to another
defeated

part which the Turks were holding, near the water source (but there were only two there). I raised my " voice Where are you, you silly Greeks ? Come down " come down Hearing my voice, those that had fled came
:
!

down, and when they had all descended, I put up my glass and called out (it was merely a trick, for I saw nothing),
"

The Turks are broken."

The Greeks

rallied at

once,

and the first ranks were broken where were the Turks, who had surrounded Gennaios in the vat grounds. I was on horseback, and fortune was good but not my The wing of the Turks horse, in order to take them alive.
that

was near

to the

lowed them up.

Sikeres was

water springs was scattered we folcommander over the Tripo;

KLEPBT AND WABBIOB.

litsans.

171

My own

centre
;

now

attacked the Turkish centre,

and an officer was killed the Koumaniotai also attacked, and we got two hundred and fifty heads. What became of the wounded I know not, and we then returned to where
they had been drawn up. From that day they did not advance forward to engage us, for they said that our flight

was only a stratagem.

then approached nearer. All through the day there was skirmishing with bodies of Turks; Karachalios was

We

wounded in the head, and therefore he gave up his flag. " You " he cried "lam stunned." go ahead The food for the whole army came from Gastouni, and
! ;

the supply of provisions was most regular. We had altogether four thousand beasts, eighty head of cows, besides bread, all coming from Gastouni. Gastouni was

an inexhaustible

many

them all to us. As week the number was made up again, so that we always had four thousand. I now wrote for the Arcadians to come. The Arcadians
hive.

Sissines sent

as

we

ate during the

had chosen Metros Anastasopoulos to be their leader ; their force numbered Poneros also twelve hundred.
arrived.

He had

wished to have led the army of the

Arcadians himself, and to have exchanged into that service, and had asked me to put him at their head when the Arcadians came first to Saravali, where my camp was.
I told

him

at once,

"I cannot do such

can
I

I do for you more ? said. The Arcadians came alone and carried on a good war, fighting bravely, and they killed somewhere about ten Turks. In fifteen days, however, all the cohorts, whole

asking the rulers." " Now what by them.

a thing without I did ask, and he was not accepted

"

cohorts of twelve hundred men, went

captains alone remained.

I seized

away secretly; the some of them and put

them

to

shame.

172

ROLOROTHONfiS,
off,

As the Arcadians had gone

were
left

and the captains only

also.

behind, I dismissed

them

An

order

now

came

minister of war, telling me to move my armies into Western Greece. I immediately replied that I
to

me from the

could not go

" I must

away and leave twelve thousand Turks in Patras. " first," I said, put out the fire in my own house

before I go to quench that of

to
I

me

again, saying,

my neighbour." He wrote " The letter which thou hast forwarded

have not shown to the Government, as thou wouldst have been seriously damaged by it; take, however, this second order and fulfil it and begin the campaign." I
Koliopoulos at the head of the armies and went straightway to Corinth, to stay there for three days.
left

then

to the

Having gone five hours on my journey, Government that I should not go

I sent

information

but I received no reply. I continued my journey for about a quarter of an hour longer, when I received an order to leave behind the eighty men

Western Greece; then went on my road. I had

to

whom

had taken with me and to enter Corinth with five I had a tent given to me for my use only. with no floor, and at night they left me so uncared for
I

I did so.

that I went to the village to sleep. When it was known that I had gone away thus, the executive began to quarrel among themselves, saying,

And the others, "No; it is you and you ought not to have acted thus." However, they sent a commission of inquiry from Koletes, Korinthos, Soter Notaras, and from some
who
"It's your fault." are to blame,

" If Keplying to them, I said, you do not receive a general when he is coming to confer with
of the HydrioteSo

you in a proper manner well, I go away; and I shall betake myself to Tripolitsa, and what I have to say I " shall say it there to the Senate." No, no go back," "do what thou proposest, because it was their answer
;

MARKOS BOTZARES, A SOULIOTE CHIEF.

Surr.amed "The Leonidas of the Revolution," killed during the Siege of Missolonghi

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

was wrong that there should be any want
I said

173

of proper tents." " You openly to Koletes in answer, ought to be minister of war at Juannina, and not here."

The
sent

ruler of
for

Corinth and the others who were there,

I

me and

went

to

them and

laid

some

propositions before them, which the Government accepted. I represented to them that if I left and went to Boumeli,

the Turks of Patras would swarm

all

over the Peloponnesus

numbers being twelve thousand it would directly, be utterly wasted by them. The Government saw by these representations of mine that there was a necessity for my presence there, and it therefore gave me a fresh order to
their

and

go to Patras.
passed through Argos and Tripolitsa, and reached Patras in the beginning of May. I met Markos Botsares
I

in Corinth

he was staying there in order

his
if

to

make a
Western

change

for

family.

He
I

told

me

to

go to

Greece, as

I did so

they would

of all the forces.

But

gave him

make me my own

the general
ideas

upon

the subject, observing that I had proposed to the Government that Mavrokordatos, who was then president of the
executive, should be sent with a thousand trained Philhellenes.

consequence of this, Mavrokordatos and Markos Botsares took the Philhellenes and went to the

In

camp

at Patras,

where

found them

after

which they

to me passed over to Western Greece, thence that they wanted me to send them more help so I despatched my son Gennaios to them forthwith with

and

wrote

two hundred picked men. Giatrakos coming over afterwards, I sent him also with the hundred which he brought with him the rest of his troops having gone away and

Kanelos
hundred.
caused

Deligianni
I

was
I

sent

also

with

another

two

remained

behind to

by those

whom

the vacancies fill up had sent away to Koumeli,

174

KOLOKOTBONES,
six

having about

thousand altogether.

put down thresh-

ing-floors to lay the currants on,

and ordered the Greeks

to harvest the currants in order that they might be rewarded for their exertions, as we took the currants under a sense of national justice so the Greeks came and
;

applied themselves to the work.

The Turks
would
be

in the fort
of the

were

much
of

distressed for water,

their

and on account

extent

sufferings

they

obliged

to

surrender before a month was out.

About a thousand Turks were

were
in consequence of

killed

in

the different

skirmishes which we had with them, and as

ill

many more
;

(Kanelos was made a general secretly by the Executive the great battle of Saravali took place on the 7th and 8th of
received.

wounds

March.)
levies.

sent Koliopoulos to Karytaina to raise fresh

Now, however, when the Parliament and Executive suddenly heard that Dramales had come over to Trikala

met and despatched Krebata to Mistra one thousand soldiers, in order to carry on the with campaign in Eastern Greece. Soter Notaras was also
in Thessaly, they
to take the Corinthian force to

Eastern Greece, and with

him were

associated Zaimes, Soter Charalampes with the

Kalavrytians, and Anagnostes Deligianni with two hundred Karytainans, all of whom were ordered into Eastern Greece. " The order ran thus Whoever disobeys, and does not
:

follow these

commands, the same

is

to

forfeit

to

the

nation one-third of his estate."

When
different of

I received the

captains,

commands of the rulers, I sent to who were with me at the siege

all

Patras,

that

we might
"
It is

assemble and pass over

orders,

together.
told

The captains showed me these

when

not befitting that we raise the plainly, siege of Patras at this time, as the Turks will then go

them

forth

and lay the

districts waste.

The

fall of

Patras

is

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

now imminent."
They
"
replied,

175

We

dare not stay behind

because the order expressly says that if we do not obey we shall lose one-third of our possessions." "If that
be so," I answered, " give me a writing to the effect that I do not discharge you, but that you go away of your own free will and God be with you " So they gave me such
!

a writing.

This was in the middle of June.

The

soldiers

went away, and I was left with only six hundred men, and the consequence of this was that the Turks came
little,

I fought with them a quarters. but at noon the same day I moved off to Gastouni. The intention of the Government was that I should not
it

down and burnt our

take Patras, and therefore

resources as

sought to weaken

my

military

much

as possible.

that he shut himself

different

Whilst I was at Gastouni, Sissines became so alarmed up with three hundred men in houses belonging to him. I therefore sent a " to him with the following message Sissines, if it
:

man

be true that Dramales

is

come,

my

opinion

is

that we

should all assemble the Corinthian armies into one

body

and await him

at Dervenia,

and thus be

really looking

after the affairs of the nation."

Whereupon
I

Sissines at

once agreeing with me, said, when I receive your next

"I am
of

ready, and will act

sent

orders."

general

commands

to

all

the

districts

Arcadia,

Phanari,

Leontari, and Messenia to collect their soldiers and go

to Tripolitsa.
I

then moved on towards Karytaina, and

at

and night till I arrived gathering soldiers as I went along.

walked

day

Demitsana,

Having reached Demitsana, a special messenger came to me with an order from the minister of war, which was worded thus " Most brave general, Theodoros Kolokotrones, receive here the orders of the Government, namely, that you are
:

176

KOLOKOTBONES,
and gatherThe Government is

to strike at once with your usually powerful arm,

ing your forces, go directly to Patras. much disconcerted because you have raised the siege of
Patras, and
it

has taken the necessary measures for the

safety of Dervenia."

also took a writing to K. Anagnostes, * well-born take

At the same time the courier who brought me the above which said "Most
:

Greater

Anagnostes, your forces and go to because Dramales has come into Dervenia,

Kyr

Thebes."

And
with

at

this

time

Lankadia

his

servant.

Kyr Anagnostes was in The Government sent

Ehegas Palamedes to Greater Dervenia with eighteen hundred Corinthians and Tripolitsans.
Loukopoulos gave a thousand gold
to be divided
pieces,

which were
not

among

the Maniotes,

who would

move

a step forward without money. I arrived in Tripolitsa with two thousand men, and the Senate happened to be there at the time but some of the senators were so frightened
;

on account of

my

going there that they fled away.

I,

how-

ever, as soon as I got into Tripolitsa, put in others from their own districts, and in this way strengthened the Senate.
It so

happened that the Senate had not heard anything

I

about the coming of Dramales.

therefore

sent foot-

messengers to all the districts with orders to make themselves ready. I remained four days in Tripolitsa, when men came from Argos informing us that Dramales
arrived; but to myself, who was then in the Government wrote not one word, neither Tripolitsa, did it send the six thousand men it had promised to

had

really

Dervenia.
direct, I did

Since I heard nothing from the Government not forward any soldiers, for I thought that the
lies.

report was probably nothing but

ever, I sent

In

my anxiety,

howlet

two horsemen to Agio-Georgio, who were to

* Abbreviation of Kyrie.

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR*

me have
them
all

177

the information that they could acquire, bidding

to go to Corinth, Dervenia,

and even

to Thebes,

and
for

to seek out Ypsilanti

and Niketas, and thus procure

me

true

and

reliable information concerning all that

was

going

had gone away in January with Zapheiropoulos.) As soon as these horsemen approached Corinth they came up with some Turks, and it was with
on.

(Niketas

great difficulty that they escaped being captured returned.

so they

Ehegas was at Dervenia, and when the Turks were moving from Megara thither he abandoned the two or three flags
there, and fled without firing off one gun. the Turks saw the flags displayed they made sure that there was an army somewhere, and began to slacken in

which were planted

When

their advance, but

when they found

that there really was

no army, the Turkish cavalry made a movement to get nearer the Greeks, some of whom fled directly to iEgina,

The Turks slew a few Greeks. Ehegas paused to take breath when he got to Argos, where he gave out that Dramales had brought up sixty thousand men to Dervenia just as if he had stopped to count them.
and others
to Sophikos.

has become of your army? "they asked. "All The Governare destroyed only I myself have escaped."
;

"What

ment had kept a monk named

Turks approaching,
fled

Achilles,

literature, in the citadel of Corinth,

who was a teacher of and he, when he saw the

along with the soldiers. The soldiers

before they took to flight killed Kiamil Bey. Dramales then took possession of the deserted fortress and sent forty-nine

cavalry

news to Nauplia. a month before had made an agreement Nauplia only with the Government whereby the Turks were to give up the
to carry the good
castle,

men

and ten Turkish

officers as hostages, to thirty of

our own people, with a promise that we would send provisions to the fortress until they could be taken away in 13

178

KOLOKOTBONES,
after

Greek boats,

which the

spoils

were to be divided

accordiDg to rule. The Government, however, when it saw the Turks arriving, and bringing to the fort the joyful news that Dramales was coming to their aid, fled and

embarked on the boats belonging

the

to the

members, whilst

army stationed there dispersed. The two horsemen whom I had sent out brought me word that Dramales had
embarked
but
it

for the Peloponnesus, and had reached Corinth, was not yet known that the fort was in the hands of the Turks, and we hoped to bring it help.

messenger came on

foot

an hour before sunrise.

Upon

the receipt of the letter he brought me I went to the Senate and said, " As many among you as have any acquaintance with letters, let them come hither." Then we sat down

and wrote
to gather

all

through the night and sent to every

together
as quickly as

district

men

possible, because

Dramales had come into the Feloponnesus. I gave an " injunction to the Senate to remain: Stay here and help
the armies, and

us with food and ammunition, and I will go forward with if I see that I can do nothing towards
I will

crushing the enemy,

send you word, and you can then

depart." In the morning I addressed the soldiers.

"

Greeks," I

"
cried,

do not fear the Turks

we have

killed so

many

of

the native Turks in battle, that

why

should we not do the

There are not so many Turks either as have been told. Let us go and fight and slay them you far away from our children and our families do not take
?
;

same by these

with you either mules or capotes, they will bring you those things."
I

all

directed Koliopoulos and Anton Kolokotrones with seventeen hundred men to march to Agio-Georgio, and to

go opposite and fire off two or three volleys, so that the Greeks who were in the fort of Corinth might be em-

KLEPET AND WABBIOB.

fort

179

boldened when they heard them, because I hoped that the was still standing out. I myself marched on with only

three hundred men, because I

six

knew

that there were five or

I took with

thousand soldiers

at Argos,

whom

me when

reached that place, and then went forward to meet the at Dervenia. Upon reaching Partheni I met Ehegas with Kolios the Dareiote. I asked them to tell me what
I

Turks

they knew, and they told

me

that sixty thousand Turks had

met them, and that only he (Ehegas) was saved. I scolded him right well, and bade him not to carry such tales to
He, however, had scarcely got into Tripolitsa before he spread this report all over the city, and every one
Tripolitsa.

immediately

fled,

only the Senate remaining behind.

The
little

soldiers also

whom

had assembled around me

lost heart

when they heard this, so in order to put a confidence in them I began to sing. Lower down I
Krestinites with fifteen

met Lycurgus

men, and asked them whither they were going. Their answer was that they were
going to Pyrgos, but that they should come back. The Maniotes got out of Argos and fled. I met them on the road and asked them whither they were going. They all said,

"We

are

ill,

so

we are
ill,

obliged to return."

" One or two At

among you may be

Tavouli
in the
I

but not

all

of you," I said.

met

Ypsilanti, Krebata,

my

son Panos,

who was

Senate, and Mavromichaeles.

"
I asked.

going
eyes
?

" Where are you " Can see the Turks with your open you
tell

" "

No, but they

us that

fifty

troops of cavalry

have gone to Nauplia." " And whither go ye ? Have we no fort to go to ? Have we no force to march forward ? Are " And in this way I the Turks to enslave the world ?
restrained
I

them from
called

going.
for

then

out

Petro Barbitsiotes,
<$

Theodoros
take

Zacharopoulos, and Anton Koumoustiotes.

possession of the fort of Argos," I said,

Go and
hold
it

"and

with

180

KOLOKOTRONES,

a hundred men, and, having got possession of the fort, make a light to show that the fort is being held." They all " We will go, but we shall be lost men." answered, "I " I cried will be answerable for you." Go," They accordingly went and exhibited a light. Imme;

diately afterwards I sent

fifty to seize

Panos with another hundred and

Mylos, and to give orders that the vessels of his mother-in-law (Bouboulina, the heroine of Spetsai) should

come near
if

might help him with their cannon there should be a battle. We stopped at Achladokabo
so that they

for three days,

and wrote

for the

when

the Agiopetriti and the

armies to move forward, Mistriotes arrived under

Zapheiropoulos, and we made together some thousands. I then ordered Petro Bey and Ypsilanti to go also and occupy Mylos, and send help to Argos thence, whilst I would march
over to Corinth and see what the Turks were doing there, or whither they had gone. I formed them into two columns,

one to go to Vasilika, and the other to Argos.

to,
;

These went

Mylos Panos and Georgakes Beyzade passed over to Argos, and were shut up there I marched towards Corinth
;

and met with Koliopoulos at Skenochori Anton was at Agio-Georgio, and the Turks were preparing to make a
;

descent upon Argos.

at Charvati,

Koliopoulos encountered some Turks

and killed twenty of them. Koliopoulos had a single combat with one of their cavalry and slew him, after which he returned to Skenochori. Many of them

came out

of the fort of

with the Turks

who were

Argos and skirmished and fought arriving from Corinth, and about

The Koumountouraioi and Sissinos remained with Anton Bey who was also lying in wait
ten were killed.
at Agio-Georgio
for

the

Turks who were expected to

The day

and they slew about seventeen* two thousand came up in a and iought with him, when he was repulsed and some body
arrive

from

Corinth,

after that occurrence

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

houses were burnt.
others
to Mylos, I

181

For myself, when

had sent forward

haste to get to Corinth, and I sought out going by Skenochori, Koliopoulos, when he in-

made

formed
the

me
of

way

Malandrino

that Anton had departed from Agio-Georgio by we met ten of the Turkish cavalry, ;

who, seeing us coming, shut themselves up in a house, and as they would not surrender we burnt the house and them
inside
it.

One of our
The

soldiers seeing a
it.

the door took possession of

Georgio.
seized
village

gun standing against then marched on to Agioand other things.

I

was

full of oil

upon the village, and as I advanced further I saw that the Turkish forces were moving from Corinth in the
Argos and Nauplia. When the Turkish armies had arrived they at once laid siege to the old fort of Argos. There were two Pashas among " Here lie the these and said to the soldiers
direction of
troops,
:

they riches of the world if Nauplia is ours, we all the rest," and they began the siege.
;

will

soon have

There were quite

Koliopoulos, with

five

thousand

men assembled

at Mylos.

his Phanarites and Karytainans, and were shut up in the old fortress there. Deligianni also, They sent word to me that I must go to their aid because

the fortress was surrounded, and they had no provisions. The following day Antonaki Mavromichaeles was made general of the army that was in Mylos. As he was made

a general he wished to have a battle with the Turks, and did not warn Koliopoulos, who was just on their side, so the engagement was forced and took place at the end of the
vineyards,

when the Turkish

cavalry, ten thousand strong,

fifty of

broke the Greeks, and a hundred and

them were

slain. As they were losing the battle they sent a note to me bidding me even if I were eating my bread to leave but I was at Agio-Georgio, it and go to their assistance
;

therefore the country suffered,

182
I lost

KOLOKOTRONES,
I left

and

no time, however, in moving up a hundred soldiers, Anton Kolokotrones at Dervenaki with some

I reached Mylos I found all the Argive and despondent on account of the battle of the day before, in which many of the army had been killed. I did not fail to speak to them, and tried to en-

thousands.

When

soldiers sorrowing

courage them by saying, that

if

the Turks had killed a

hundred and

fifty,

we had

slain our thousands,

and that

we would

yet avenge those others, with

many

other things

of the kind to put

them

in heart again.

I very strongly

upbraided them, however, for the undisciplined conduct of the engagement, and for their not communicating with
Koliopoulos.

Mavromichaeles and Krebata were

at the

Aphentikos

Mills. The next day twelve hundred Arcadians came up. The Turks threw bombs into Argos, and placed' two

cannon on a rock, in order

fortress.

to lay close siege to the old

They who were shut up

there
for

had nothing with

of provisions.

them, and were much distressed

want

On
all

the 20th of July, the festival of St. Elias, I

summoned

the regiments to the Argive Mills, and harangued them " We must for the space of two hours. fight," I said ;

" we must relieve those who are shut up there

are all

the Turks

mere

ballast."
;

Turks in the evening on all sides for no one could get through to communicate with the I therefore besieged, but we depended entirely on signals.
I decided to attack the

ordered the different districts to attack the

enemy each

from the position it held, and I placed Koliopoulos and the Arcadians in the centre to make for the Turks holding the

The Arcadians, as I was going round in the evenguns. ing, attacked on different sides, rose and destroyed their
breastworks, knocking

them down with

their feet,
;

and

left

them because the other Greeks did not .move

they re-

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

mained shut up
in the old fort.

183

The next day, becoming very anxious about the besieged, I had recourse to a stratagem I decided that we should all go right round to the other side, and while discharging a couple of musket shots make
;

lights so that they

to sally out.

who were

in the fort

might

find

means

In this way we approached the fort, and the whole of them were able to come on without loss to the
Mill of Argos
*
;

the only provisions

left in

the fort being

a skinful of cheese.

The Turks went to the fortress at daybreak and found It was told to them that we had all moved nothing. away and whither, so a force of about ten thousand cavalry rode
off to

the Argive Mills to see the truth of the matter.

When the cavalry were seen approaching I formed my own men into two columns at the base of the hill, and also sent
had come
into

out twenty horsemen to skirmish on the plains, as the Turks to reconnoitre, not to fight. They then turned

the vineyards where the grapes were showing and gathered them. I instructed the soldiers at the Argive Mills
to

occupy that place, and to light about twenty fires, and I threw the Tripolitsan force on the heights opposite, and gave
orders to do the same. Koliopoulos, with his army,

them

was

to be at Skenochori,

The Turks seeing

near the roads leading to Tripolitsa. so many fires all round decided that

they could not pass through Tripolitsa. They were lacking supplies, because Tsokres had burnt the plains of Argos
beforehand.

They

therefore

resolved to turn back to

Kortho, and, crossing through Vostitsa to go to Gastouni, in order to obtain provisions, as they had none. I summoned
all

" The Turks

the captains to a meeting at the Argive Mills, and said, will turn back towards Kortho they see that
;

from
here,

this place they are not

and

I will

you remain the Turks go and occupy Dervenaki, which

able to cross
;

r See Note D.

184
will

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

endeavour to pass over." I left Giatrakos with the main body which was at the mills. They did not desire
this

arrangement

told

them they must

they asked that I should stay there. I I marched on with all haste to go.
certain

Dervenaki,

being quite

myself that the enemy

would pass thence and not by Tripolitsa. " Kolokotrones has gone to the hills to become a Klepht again," said Petro Bey. I moved on and reached AgioGeorgio. On the 26th of July, the festival of St Paraskevy, a sentinel of Anton spoke with three hundred men,

who

told

him
I

that the

Turks were advancing

in

two

columns.

immediately made

my

arrangements at Agio-

Georgio and commanded the Tsaousadoi to collect all the supplies and to place them in four different houses,
with this direction, that
if

proaching

would give a

saw the two columns apsignal, upon which they were

I

to set fire to

them

all,

so that they should not fall into the

hands of the Turks, and with the other part of my force I then occupied Dervenaki. I had sent Niketas, Pappa Phlessas,

and Ypsilanti with five hundred men to occupy Kinari, a The advance guard strong village on the road to Corinth. of the Turks came up to Anton, and when they saw the
road

Greeks in front of them, the Turks ordered them to leave the free. They wanted to pass behind into Eoumeli, our
place.
I sent

own

a foot-runner to Skenochori, where Kolio-

poulos was, to tell him to come and bring us all the aid he could. The distance between Dervenaki and Kinari was

was two hours from Agio-Georgio where Niketas was stationed, whilst Pappa Nika with the Corinthian soldiers was in another village. I sent to them
six hours' journey,
it

and

all to

come with reinforcements.

got to Dervenaki I picked out eight hundred
into four columns,

When I

men,

made them

and sent them

to the post

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

chief

185

which was being held on the rock, whilst Anton, who held the command, was in front. The Turks meanwhile had left
fort,

and the foremost ranks waited until the whole had assembled. As soon as the Turks began to move I threw down all our flags and capotes upon a height, and brought
the
hither
all our animals, piling them up so that they might think that there was a large body of soldiers ready to come

down, and for that reason would not attempt to mount to the positions to rout us. I stayed on the top with ten men,

my

adopted sons with the mules in line. A foot messenger belonging to Niketas told me that the Turks were on the

move, but that they were not going to pass by Dervenaki.

Koliopoulos was six hours' it would be night before a journey off in a straight line man on foot could reach him. About three o'clock the
dispersed.
:

The Corinthians

whole of the Turks were gathered together, the Pashas being in the hindmost flanks.

The

six

thousand

men who were

and see
if

at the mills

had no

Argos was evacuated, so that they might advance nearer. I had ordered that the four columns should not begin the battle until they heard
sentinels to look out

ten shots, and that then they were to stand. When the entire forces of the Turks were met together, a

Pasha ordered the advance guard 'to move forward, and therefore the Turks galloped to take the position and As moved on with the baggage. Anton was entrenched. soon as the Turks advanced within a hundred paces, Anton attacked them, and held about ten Turks engaged. The force
turned their flanks and made for Agio-Sosti. Streams of water at that place, however, prevented their passage, so that the whole Turkish host ascended the rocks. Antonaki
did not throw himself

upon them

in

close quarters, but

taking a banner with thirty

before them,

men he

reached Agio-Sosti

The Turks now formed

into three

columns

186

KOLOKOTBONES,

one behind, then the Pashas, another in the middle, and

the third was opposed to Antonaki there were ten thousand men opposed to Antonaki but he and his thirty killed

very many, only two of them being slain, and those two were my nephews.

The whole

of the

and there made a stand.

hearing of the

Turks who remained passed at Kourtesa Niketas, Ypsilanti, and Phlessas,

at

conflict, arrived

Agio-Sosti and took

The middle possession of the most powerful post there. where the Greeks had been slaying also made for body
upon Niketas, when a thousand men were killed. This column succeeded in crossing into Kourtesa and united with the others but the Pashas who were left behind were not able to pass over, and night was
that place, and
fell
;

coming on.
"

What

They then opened a colloquy with the Greeks. " captain have you forward ?
"

Kolokotrones." pappas from Chrysovitsi answered, "Ask him," answered the Pashas, " to allow us the means whereby we may pass, and we will give him whatever he

may

choose to ask."

Pappas Demetrius sent a person to speak with me, and as soon as I received this information I prepared to
go on at once, for I was planning in my mind how I should be able to delay them, so that in the morning we might
destroy them.

We

had some horsemen with us

there

one other nephew of mine.

were Photakos and Speliopoulos, Kotsos Boulgaros, and These galloped forward, and

the Pashas, seeing these horsemen of ours, thought we had a large body of cavalry, so they turned back towards Tiryns

they had, for night was at hand, and we could just see the dust that rose as they went. When day dawned Koliopoulos with two thousand and

and

left all

Deligianni

with

his

Phanarites
spoils

came up.

Our

own

men had

fallen

upon the

and gone

to the hills.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

The Turks, who were

187

at Kourtesa, tried to learn what had happened to the Pashas, and sent out a thousand men, who were to go to Agio-Sosti and find out what had become of them. Our own men were lying in wait for them, and after firing some volleys drove them back

The Pashas who had gone on stopped when they reached Tiryns, and Niketas marched on to Agionori with Pappa Phlessas, and was the first to arrive at AgioSosti. Dervenaki is at the side of the tomb of Agaagain.

memnon.
day dawned Koliopoulos and ourselves mustered four thousand at Dervenaki. Giatrakos and Tsokres soon
arrived also at Dervenaki, and I asked them,

When

"

Where

are

the other armies ?

"

They are at Koutsopodi and Charbati," they answered. " the Pashas who are in Tiryns Well, then," I said, will soon prepare for a campaign in Corinth you therefore
"
;

"

must take your

soldiers,

and go

to a village

on the road

leading from Agionori to Corinth, and there you must station yourselves and make your observations so that the Turks shall not get to Agionori. If they come on to us

you must then advance on the rear, and we them in front you are to come up on the rear
;

will
if

await

they try

to pass near us, so that

alive
j

we may

if

they act as I
will

am

upon the Pashas now describing, give some

seize

signal

and we

come

to

your assistance."

These
the

men
fled

did as I said, and went to their army, and

away, going off to the Aphentikos Mills (it appears that Giatrakos urged them to go). Giatrakos, when his army departed, certainly did not inform me of

army

it,

but I hoped that he would go whither

consequently I

him, and
I expected

remained

had directed waiting, and had

I

which placed sentinels everywhere to look out for the signal

them

to

make.

188

KOLOKOTBON&S,

marched

The Turks went forward, and the Pashas and the army The advance guard of straight to Agionori. Niketas, however, came upon them, and his advance guard began the battle, when Niketas himself went forward
and they were not able to sustain the combat, but the whole army turned back and took possession of the village. The Turks fought all the way to the ex-

to reinforce them,

The Turks had no intention of tremity of the village. engaging with Niketas; their sole intention in the first
instance was to pass through Klenia
;

but when the Turks

began to descend upon that place, Niketas went forth with the inhabitants and even the women to oppose them. At
that point Niketas gave me information at Dervenaki of the occurrence, and when I heard of the battle I sent

Demetrius Koliopoulos with two thousand men to occupy Klenia. Niketas threw himself upon them in close conflict

at Klenia,

and about

five

hundred

of

them were

killed,

a Pasha. They got possession of all their camels and baggage. Koliopoulos did not arrive in time
to

among whom was

mills

occupy Klenia. When the forces which were at the saw the Turks in flight, they advanced somewhat nearer, but they did not engage in the battle. So much for
Giatrakos.

The Turks who were

left

endeavoured to

reach Corinth.

When

heard that the Turks and the

Pashas^ had resolved to get to Corinth, I was persuaded that they would pass by the Black Bocks, and through Vostitsa and Patras, in order to procure supplies ; so I

immediately ordered all the soldiers to follow me, and went forward and occupied Vasilika. Our army numbered seven thousand.

In the evening, as darkness was coming on, I warned the soldiers to light ten or fifteen fires, for where we were

was

directly opposite Corinth, so that all the hills were

lighted up,

and the Turkg in consequence thought that

WABBlOB*

189

we had many thousands of soldiers. In the morning the Turks made a movement with fifteen thousand to- try to
we attacked them vigorously, and they were unable to pass us a few were killed and in the evening they returned to Corinth. As they were going thither they were attacked on the roads by the Greeks, and
cross over, but
;
;

several skirmishes
sallied forth

took place. One day two thousand again with the object of fighting their way

across. The Greeks obstinately opposed their passage, but their cavalry made a rush and broke through the

Greek breastworks, destroying them tions, and thirty of the men were

to their very foundakilled,

among whom

were Anagnostes Petimeza and his son, who was com-

mandant, and also a pappas, a man of some importance, from Mistra. The other breastworks being broken down helped the fugitives. The Turks returned the same day
without having done much. Dramales chose out four hundred Turks and
left

them

with rations for six months with a commandant at Palamedi, with orders that none of the other Turks were to go He made a resolution not to send them

either in or out.

any reinforcement.
inactive with

The main body remained

for a time

the exception of a few skirmishes. The Corinthians had previously asked me to send them a commandant, which I did, and he put the Corinthians

under

discipline,

and harassed the Turks.

An

order

now

came
fore

to
I

me from
left

the Senate to go to Tripolitsa, and thereGennaios and Anton Kolokotrones in the

(I

Vasilikan district.

had

also a regiment at Klenia.)

CHAPTEK VI

FBOM Senate.
whilst
it

Corinth I went to Tripolitsa to The chiefs were envious of

support the

my

successes

with Dramales, and the Senate also was envious even

When I routed Dramales at Dervenaki the army voted me to be the commander-inchief, and the Senate sent me a diploma as generalissimo.
upheld

me.

The members and the executive had no power and used no

exertions at that crisis.

(Kanakares even said,

let

" Let us

save the Archives

and

the nation

perish."

What

madness !) The chiefs

tried all they could to have an assembly, with the view of overturning the Senate (which had done the

greatest service),

and

its

generalissimo, and for this pur-

pose they
I

made every

effort to call

a meeting.

Whilst

was in

Tripolitsa, I learnt that

two hundred loads of

ill

had gone from Dervenaki into Nauplia. I was was much annoyed. Within five or six days afterwards ten thousand men with four hundred baggage loads came over and occupied Agio-Sosti, and,
supplies
at the time, but I

sending the supplies on to Nauplia, remained there until they who took them should return. I had left Niketas,

When I Panos, Gennaios, and others at Dervenaki. heard that provisions had been sent down twice, I marched

KOLOKOTRONES, KLEPEtT AND WABBIOB.

following letter to the Beys

191

forward to the Aphentikos Mills, and wrote thence the

and Pashas who were in

to evacuate Nauplia, I will

Nauplia.

"

If

you are willing

embark you all, and you can go whither you will, wherever you can have supplies, but if you are not, and, out of mere despite, stay on with your families and your children, I shall not hereafter treat with you, and you need not more supplies from Corinth, because I am going expect any
in person to Dervenaki,
to pass
;

and

shall not allow

any provisions

so

if

ment

will fall

you do not now listen to me, the punishupon your own heads."
I

From Mylos

went

to Dervenaki.

Klenia, and another at Stephani, which was

had a regiment at an hour's

journey in a straight line from Agio-Sosti. Hadji Chrestos was at Stephani, Zapheiropoulos at Klenia, the
brother of Giatrakos at Agio-Georgio with three hundred Mistriotes, and Niketas with the Kranidiotes was at AgioSosti. Alexis Kolios was commander of the Tripolitsans.

had brought with me to Agio-Sosti masons, who built me up a tower and breastworks, so that no supplies should be transported that way. Gennaios and Panos with the
I

Karytainan army were above Dervenaki, and

rear.

was in

their

When

the Turks went over to Nauplia, taking supplies

thither, and afterwards returning, the Naupliotes accompanied them back, and went with them to Corinth, with

the

expectation

of

their

being despatched back again

The resident Turks knew the with further supplies. and ten thousand made a move to pass locality, through Agio-Sosti. They sent five hundred in advance to fall upon Niketas, and the baggage and supplies remained behind on the height above Agio-Sosti. The
engagement began
:

they
rear,

who were on
our soldiers

the

flanks

fell

upon them

in the

were broken, and

192

KOLOKOTUONES,
killed.

Pappas Arsenios
tower.

Niketas was surrounded in the

assistance and pressed

Chrestos

now came up with

upon the flanks. The Turks were broken, and Niketas came out of the tower (the tower saved him), and in conjunction with our
assailed,

own men

the

enemy was

slain, and they were effectually hindered from taking on the supplies. After this the

and followed up about forty of them were

for the

vigorously space of two hours ;

to carry provisions into because we held every post. Moreover, Giamsakes Nauplia, and Apostolus Kolokotrones in the space of one month had

Turks made no further attempts

made raids and collected more than three thousand horses. The Turks at Nauplia were now getting much distressed. Autumn had arrived. On the 26th of November Dramales died. All the other Pashas who were left were weak and exhausted. Death and slaughter encircled them on every side, and they were now very few. Twenty-seven died in the month of December from huuger alone. I had left my nephew Nikolas to be commander at the One day the Turks made a siege of the fort of Nauplia.
was some when Staikos became
sally; there
fighting,

and Nikolas was

killed,

Before long the Turkish came as far as Astro, but our vessels frightened squadron driven out by the it with their fireships and it was
leader.

Spetsiotes.

On

the

26th of

December the Turks had

a communication with Staikos, when they asked him to send for Kolokotrones to enter into a treaty with them, and Staikos sent it on to me by his brother. I wrote " You ask for a it is thus will
to

them

treaty

my

that you

deliver

up

all

the forts;

that you leave your

property behind you; I will then embark you on Greek for vessels, and will send you whither you desire to go
:

this

you from you must give hostages. "When Mylos I told you that you could go and take your things
I

wrote to

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

with you
;

193

but now, a-hungered and wearied out though you be, you must go as you are. Such is my will, and if you do not listen now, in ten days the whole of the Turks at
Corinth will have gone, and the armies will return and will come hither and will take you by assault, when you
will all

be put to the sword."

few

so weakened at Nauplia, I left very there with Staikos, and guarded and strengthened Dervenaki so that no help could get to them from Corinth.

As the Turks were

men

gave the above

letter to Staikos,

and he summoned the

Turks, and delivered the writing to them on the evening of the 27tb. As soon as they had received the letter

they

a meeting in the village, and called for and other of their principal men who were to Teztaraga take the answer to Palamedi. They left nine men at the

summoned

redoubts in Beziera, and about ten others with two or

three Albanians at the Giour redoubts.
I

had

left

so few
fear of

men

at Palamedi, that those at Nauplia

had no

the Greeks, because they were so small a number. Two Albanians dropping down from the redoubts went to Staikos,

and

told

him

that the Turks had gone

down
fort,

to the village,

and that they could go and take the

do not
tell

"
adding,

If

we

false, kill

you the truth, keep one of us here, and if it be us." Staikos upon this took some soldiers, and

sprang over. The Turks who were in the other redoubts went down into the village also.

Daybreak was the festival Cannon was fired off, and I knew directly I galloped there immediately, that Palamedi was taken. and as I was on the road I met a foot-runner who was sent by Staikos to give me the information. I had left Panos,
This happened at midnight.
of St.

Andrew.

Gennaios, and

others

with the regiment.

to carry the

sent the

messenger on

to the

army

news

to the others.

As soon

as I

had got to Palamedi I found that Staikos 14

194

KOLOKOTRON&S,
it

purged

from the Turks.

I

that our

men had

saw that

went into Palamedi, and found planted fifty cannon there. As soon as I ordered them to be turned round and directed to
I

the village and Its Kale. I then sent to the village and invited the Turkish chiefs to a parley. The Beys came to Palamedi, and with them was Albanites, a leader of Albanians. I
said to them, "
all

What will you do now ? Deliver up to me and arms, and I will save your lives and those your of your children. You must take with you only two of raiment, and I will embark you in Greek changes
forts

vessels to go whither

you

keys to

me

I shall

put

When you give up the my own men in possession, and

will.

give you a body of soldiers who will conduct you in safety, and put you on board at the Five Brothers (Penta Adel-

phia).*

The Albanian answered

our arms.

to this,
will

"We

will not give

up

We

will fight,

we

burn up the country, and

I

we

will not

leave

one stone upon another."

said to

him, thus

"You
?

wretched Albanites, to whom do you speak Let us once fight on horseback, and you will see.
it

As we

to

burning up the country which our forefathers made,

again, but as for you,

shall rear

we

will

put you

all

to the sword."

The Beys
is

called out,

"

Do

not listen to him, because he

a single
will

man

treat only with us

to you,

we
to

come down
will

we

will

you,

we

put our signatures to

;

who have families make a contract with it, and we will send it
;

you with the keys you on your part must do the same, and give us your oath upon it." They then went down and made an agreement, and sent me the bond that they had signed, and also the keys at
the same time.
Ali

because they dreaded the wrath of

*

and another Pasha did not sign the Sultan, and

firs.

it

A name

given frequently to plantations of

KLEPHT AND WARRIOB.

therefore

195

accepted prisoners of war.

them with

forty-five

other

lives

as

Three or four days after the

feast of St.

Andrew

I de-

spatched some soldiers to occupy Its Kale, the Five Brothers, and the redoubts both on the seashore and on the land,
gather together the Turkish properties and put them in the mosques. I also wrote to Hydra and Spetsai
to

and

to send boats,

which they

did.

had shut up the

I sent also to all

fort

in order to prevent

any

excesses.

our

own
'

forts

and

to the forces wherever they were stationed,

for

and embarked the Turks

Smyrna.

The Senate had

fall of

likewise been

summoned

there to be
spoils.

present at the

Nauplia, and the division of the

I realized, at a

bazaar which was held in the ships, a hundred and ten thousand grosia. Whatever articles that

remained were put back into the mosques, and the Greek There was only a moderate soldiers seized upon the rest.

amount of money found at Nauplia, because the besieged had spent so much in procuring provisions. There were a good many silver vessels and also clothing, and these I gave as freight money for the ships. After three days had passed I went down to the houses of Aga Pasha in
disposed of for the public benefit, and every district and each island had its allotted portion. By this means I preserved Nauplia from the

Palamedi.

The

spoils

were

all

consequences of any inadvertence. During this time the Turks who were

left

at Corinth,

and who numbered something like three thousand men, had heard of the fall of Nauplia, and leaving four hundred men in the fortress they prepared to go to Patras. The
Kalavrytians were quarrelling among themselves. Zaimes, Charalampes, and the Petimezaioi made ready to attack,

but when they heard of the Turks they forgot all their dissensions, and falling upon them, routed them, and

196
laid siege to

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

them at Akrata. When Panos and Gennaios had left with the army at Dervenaki learnt that the Turks had fled from Corinth they also came to Nauplia,.

whom

but as soon as I found that the others were being besieged

at Akrata, I equipped Niketas, Panos,

and Gennaios

in

sent

order to despatch them to their aid. The chiefs, however, me word to send them war material only, and not to

forward an
division
of
for

army
the

(they were thinking about the probable

spoils).

Akrata

two months.

and made several

Turkish
vessels,
off

They had been laying siege to The Turks were much distressed, agreements without fulfilling any. The
Out
of the thirty-two

brought them reinforcements and took

safety to Patras.

them

all

in

thousand

men and

the

seven
orrfy

Pashas which Dramales

brought over, there

were

saved the four thousand who

were in Athens and Euboia, and these two thousand at Akrata who were taken away to Patras. I asked Ali and

some other of the chief Turks (prisoners of war) about it, and they said that the number of those who entered the Peloponnesus was twenty-eight thousand, with twenty
thousand saddle horses, thirty thousand baggage mules, All these were left in the and five hundred camels.
Poloponnesus, and thus the Greeks became possessed of

many very

costly

weapons and other treasures.

That army

was very rich, because it had seized upon the valuables of Ali Pasha when they were besieging him.
represented to the Russians and the as to the English) that I had conFrench (as templated the revolt of the Peloponnesus, not because I limited the movement to that place alone, but because
I

had

often

well

at that time,

as there

enterprise could

not

at

was no general information, the once become national, because

I

the people were not prepared.

saw a

little

about what
to

means were

available,

and

my

plan was,

first,

make

KLEPHT and WABBIOB.

19?

the Peloponnesus free, and when that was done we should have a basis for operations, which we could carry on outside the Peloponnesus
:

for the

Peloponnesus was

like

an

island,

and it was easy to defend it. Between the epochs of 1805 and 1821 there was a very
difference.

great

When
seize

I first

took refuge in Zante in

fifty

1806, the Turkish Power offered

thousand grosia
deliver

to

Eussia

if it

would

Kussian consul sent

upon me and me word about

me

up.

The

this,

and

told

me

to

hide myself; and in consequence I kept myself concealed for a month, whilst he told the Turks that Kolokotrones

had

fled, for

he could not be found in Zante, and therefore

he must have gone away. At one time AH Pasha * sought me, and made me a thousand grand promises to induce

me

to go to

Juannina

but I never paid any attention to

them.
* See Note E.

CHAPTEE

VII.

AS
I

the districts were preparing to send representatives to the second assembly which was about to be held,

better to hold

wrote to them to say that I considered it would be The chiefs, as a body, did not it in Nauplia. and wish to go there because it was a fortress first,
: ;

Koliopoulos commandant there, and went to Tripolitsa to join the Senate and Mavromichaeles, and we made an agreement that the
secondly, because I held
it.

I left

Senate and the

office of

in the forthcoming assembly.

generalissimo should be retained We took oaths that we would

It

retain the existing order of things.

was

at last settled
,

that

it

sentatives

should take place at Astros, and part of the repremet there. They wrote thence to Mavromi-

chaeles, telling

him

that they would appoint

him

president

as soon as he arrived.

Then Mavromichaeles forgot the oaths that we had taken, and so did Pappa Phlessas and I went also to Astros, and then I saw clearly that others. we were divided into two parties, one of which might be
called the Primates' party,

and the other the party

of

Kolo-

kotrones.

The most

of

them were

for the Primates.

There

were a hundred and

fifty

representatives

and

six

thousand

soldiers, Odysseus, Mourtzinos with eight hundred men, and forty nther representatives were with me.

They brought

soldiers to support their opinions

by

force,

KOLOKOTBONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

and
I also

199

We

use of force to overturn their opinions. established ourselves in a tent at Melegitika, and the other party was at Agiannetika a gun-shot off. They had

made

a sitting, but we did not attend

voted that
fifty

They desired and they generals should be made, and also a hundred
it.

and fifty more deputies. This excess

not please

me

at all,

of a governing power did because this excess was with a view of

destroying our power, which it would have done, for they thought that by voting for fifty generals my influence must certainly be demolished. They also voted for alienating

the land, with the purpose of reimbursing themselves for whatever they laid out just as they willed, and by such a course the land would suffer loss, and the people, whose

only hope was in the earth, would be left destitute. The people then became of my opinion in this matter, for they saw how evil a blow this alienation would cause, and they
obliged
cajole

them

to

my

friends

expunge that article. They then began and supporters, and won them over

to to

their side one

by one.

upon me to go to them, and I went to a wherein their assembly was held and thus addressed garden them: "Keverend assembly, the votes which you have

They

called

made

are not good, for

it

is

not well to have so

will bring
is

many

generals and members, because they many expenses and many cares, for the nation
is

upon us poor and

out,

not able to pay for so

many
once

unnecessary politicians and

rose

soldiers."

Zaimes

at

up

and

called

Kolokotrones, Kolokotrones, it is in thy hands whether Greece shall be ruined, or be made free if thou wilt unite

"

with us."

with

me

"

and gave
evil

my

" Does it rest then asked him three times, " with thee." I then went " Yes," he replied, " Look to and see if
signature, saying,
it,

does not ensue to our country from

this

plurality

of chiefs."

200

KOLOKOTBONES,
to Tripolitsa
all

Upon returning
commenced.
It

kinds of intrigues reto give

was evident that they intended

political or military,

every post, whether party and relations.

benefit of all Greece,

to

their

own

We

had

called

an assembly

for the

and they had employed it in the inI gave my terest of family connections and partisanship. " What is this which the ministers opinion upon it, saying,
propose that you should do ? Your assembly swore that you would regard the whole nation that was the proposed

and that you would put those people into office who would serve the country and be useful in times of miscondition,

you have elected representatives out of a party, and thus the politicians and the military will
fortune, but I see that

be disunited."

" They answered, If that occur we can rectify it." Both in word and deed it was their full intention to appoint their own people in order to weaken me. Seeing
that things were getting worse, I proposed to have a meet-

ing of

my own

adherents.
in the assembly that

vote

had passed

no strangers

should be elected, except Mavrokordatos, as minister for foreign affairs. Everything had been conducted at first in
but those things to which we had put our So when I got our meeting I signatures were forgotten.

a friendly

spirit,

said,

"What

is

this

which has now come about, patriots?

We

signed that certain acts should be done, and

we

see that

others have been substituted.

tical

We

said that both for poli-

and military offices the most worthy should be chosen, and they were all unanimous to nominate such, and now

they are doing the very opposite."

At noon the same day I went to the village Siliimna, an hour from Tripolitsa, and Ypsilanti was there also. Many
to join us. We there proposed and passed a resolution not to attend to any of their orders, but that as

members came

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

many among
Turks, whilst those

201

us as were soldiers should act against the who were politicians should provide us

with supplies, and in that way we would save our country ; and as for them, let them sit. I saw that their intrigues

aimed

at getting rid of

and weakening me.

of
cajolery,

Then they began a system

and

made

Anagnostes Deligianni the mediator. He was one who took the middle course till he saw who would be likely to conquer,, and he sent the professor Theodoros and Gianni

Eakos
self."

to ask

me

to return, in order that the

:

Government

"Come, and be the vice-president thyAs Anagnostes Deligianni urged me to do so in order to avert a civil war, I did return, just to see what would come out of such a Government. I went to the executive
department. On the first day of my appearance there I greeted Mavromichaeles and the others, when Petro Bey " said, So, then, art thou going to dance, Kolokotrones?" "As thou art singing," I replied, "I am dancing; cease
singing,

might not be ruined

and

my

dance ceases."

Civil

war began

*
;

they laid siege to Nauplia by sea and

;

land, they sent soldiers to Tripolitsa, they besieged us

we

were besieged for a whole month. Londos, Giatrakos, Notaras, and others conducted the siege. When they laid

we should give up the executives, Petro Bey, Soter Charalampes, and Metaxa.. We answered that it was not possible to do that, but if they liked we would take one or two of the executive and try them, and whichever was found culpable among them he
siege
to us they

proposed that

should be punished.
* Panos Kolokotrones

This they would not agree

to,

and

who had put

Tripolitsa.

was holding Nauplia at this time for his father, himself in opposition to the Government, and was at

202

KOLOKOTBONES,

Koliopoulos went to act as and Petro Bey promised to remain neutral and go mediator, to Mani, acquainting us that we could easily leave Tripolitsa, as there were no soldiers on the road either from one side
several skirmishes followed.

went from Tripolitsa to Karytaina, and Soter Charalampes went to Kalavryta. Nauplia was still and Niketas was in Bougiati he had some conbesieged,
or the other.

So

he, on his

proposed that " You should return but he replied, part, must communicate with my uncle, and if he unites with
ference with Kountouriotes,
latter

when the
;

own

the Government again, then I shall unite." I wrote therefore that I would go, and that we would talk the matter
over together, and Kountouriotes wrote to
Tsiveri with only fifty

me

to go to

men of my own, and then I was to on my journey with his men but I had my susproceed picions, and did not go.
;

"Whilst at Karytaina I got

I

many

soldiers to join me,

and

made some descents on

different parts

hundred prisoners, but no blood was shed. over to Tripolitsa and laid siege to them. Gennaios, Koliopoulos, and Niketas went to the help of Panos at Nauplia, and
returned to us afterwards.
confer with me, and

and took three I then marched

me

to write to
I

Then Andreas Zaimes came to we met outside Tripolitsa. He asked Panos and order him to deliver up the fort.

"No,"

answered, "I will not consent that he shall give up

the fort into the hands of adventurers like thyself ; if thou wert fit to hold it I would give it up to thee, but I have
three hundred grosia owing to

me

for

my

disbursements in

"
pay."

We

are

discharge all I wrote to Panos upon this, and told him to deliver up the fortress to the Andreides and not to the Government. I had
told

he answered, " and we will the outlay which you have been subject to."
fit

to hold it,"

it previously to put their own people in the fort of Palamedi, and not those wrong-headed people but they
;

KLEPBT AND WABBIOB.

placed Photomara there, and afterwards Grivas; arose all the after evils.

203

hence

Panos came to Karytaina. In regard to Panos there was an amnesty given, and therefore he received an order to go and besiege Patras, in consequence of which he joined

Zaimes and Londos, and they, being very much displeased with Kountouriotes, united with us. Pappa Phlessas was
sent to subjugate the districts of Arcadia, Phanari, and the

The loans that had been advanced by Kountouriotes strengthened the Government, and power made everything I wrote for Panos and Gennaios to come to legitimate. Karytaina and oppose Pappa Phlessas. The districts drove him out, and he retired to Nauplia. A force of eight hundred under Vasos was then sent, and the soldiers came
rest.

up with Panos, and he was killed. Zaimes had arrived, and we were going to The Tripolitsans were alarmed on account

Tripolitsa.
of

Panos

having been killed, and resisted. Kanelos Deligianni had The Government being strengthened by frightened them.
Kountouriotes sent into Eoumeli for Gkoura to come, and he, with the other captains of Eoumeli, went to Corinth
thence they went to Kerpeni, a village of Kalavryta, and surrounded Zaimes, whilst Karaiskakes and Tsavellas also going against Zaimes, he was defeated,
;

and routed Notaras

and with Niketas and Londos

conference

fled

into

Karaiskakes and Tsavellas wrote to

me

Western Greece. to stay and have a

it

upon their own heads if I should suffer any harm. I was no longer in Karytaina, however, for Koliopoulos had come to me, being sent by the Government, and he had told me that we must
with them, and they took

go to Nauplia in order to arrange matters there. We went to Tripolitsa; there was a committee there

composed of Skourtes, Mavrommates, and Zapheiropoulos, and they gave me to understand upon their oaths that I

204

KOLOKOTBONES,
they might
transact the

could go there safely, so that necessary business. I trusted

to Nauplia.

them

implicitly,

and went
under

There
all

saw that

in two or three days they

left

had driven away

my

men, and had

me

alone

They embarked us in the sloop Gorgo, Skourtes was also there, and took us to Hydra. We stopped there two days, and
then they sent us to the monastery of the prophet, St. Elias.* We remained there four months. Twenty days after we were seized, Ibrahim came into the Peloponnesus.

arrest, in fact, until they got hold of the others.

society

was formed directly by the people in Hydra

release.

demanding our

Kountouriotes

made himself ready

had got

to go to Patras, but

when he heard

that Ibrahim

as far as Mothokorona, he gave orders that the armies

should return to Neo-Kastro.

Tripolitsa,

Kountouriotes then went to

of all

and sent Skourtes forward as generalissimo

the forces.

He had

with him half a million of grosia.

The

Eoumeliote armies also marched forward, and went to NeoP. Giatrakos and G. Mavromichaeles were comKastro.

mandants

at that fort.

Ibrahim

laid siege to

Neo-Kastro

afterwards he disembarked at Navarino, where a thousand

Peloponnesians were shut up, and being

for

much

distressed
let

want

of provisions, they surrendered,

free.

and Ibrahim

them go

Among them were Tsokres and Tzametos.

Ibrahim bore himself most amiably just at this time, in order to get the Greeks to submit. The people began to " We won't fight unless you give us back our cry aloud,
chiefs."

The Eoumeliote and Souliote armies, and espe-

cially Karaiskakes and Tsavellas, appealed to the Government for our freedom, and all the soldiers framed a petition,

asking for our release, and presented it to Anagnostaras, who was the minister of war but he tore it up before
;

* See Note F.

KLEPHT AND WABR10R.

them, saying,
"

205

Do

not interfere in these matters, leave

his business to the

Government."

There was a battle at Kremydi, and our people were victorious. Karatassos fought a good battle. Then all the
Koumeliote leaders gathered together, preparatory to going over to help Koumeli, and especially Missolonghi, the siege of which had now commenced. They then went to Kountouriotes

and took

their pay,

Greece, and others went

to the

and some departed for Eastern Western districts. Ibrahim

made
as

a descent upon Sphakteria, and Anagnostaras as well Tsamados were killed many prisoners were taken at Sphakteria, and P. Zapheiropoulos was taken as a slave to Kremydi, and K. Zapheiropoulos, and Chrestos were also
;

captured.

Neo-Kastro was so sore distressed that

it

capi-

tulated and

The enemy permitted them to out as soldiers, only without their arms the officers go were allowed to retain their arms, and two only were
was given up.
;

detained as prisoners, namely, Georgakes Mavromichaeles and Panagiotes Giatrakos.

Kountouriotes, hearing that Neo-Kastro had capitulated, embarked at Almyro for Hydra. The time was now come
for

When they saw the dangerous position and the perseverance of the people who of the country, clamoured for our being set free, they set us free. We
our release.

went

and upon our arrival there, the members, the executive, and ourselves all went to church, and took our oaths that we would let all the past go, and forget in the it, and uniting together, would have no other idea our country. Then they future but how we could best serve
to Nauplia,

made me the national general. The executive assembled, and I went also.

deputies

and the

CHAPTEE

VIII.

AS

soon as the deputies and executive were assembled, they summoned me, when I thus addressed them
:

" Eevered Administration, will it please you to listen to the advice which I proffer to you ? Let no Turk be found anywhere in Patras, Korona, or Mothokorona let the

whole be Greek

but the

fort

of

Tripolitsa

we must

destroy, because it is not well in the middle of the Peloponnesus to have such a cradle where civil wars can be nursed,

when Ibrahim is in the Poloponnesus with thousand men, and holds the three forts of Messenia, fifty and is also keeping Patras, besides which he has won
especially now,

many

victories over the Greeks,

five

and has

killed Phlessas,

hundred men; and had Phlessas had a thousand men, he would have been killed he has also burnt Kalamata, and the armies have fled before him, he having conwith his
;

engagements. He will surely now come to Tripolitsa, and if he come to Tripolitsa, and seizes the fort, then the whole of the Peloponnesus is lost, because
quered in so

many

the fort

is

in its very centre."

There are no funds;" they answered. me permission," I replied, " and with the help of the people I will pull it down in five days, and then Ibra"

"

Give

him
I

will not find a place

can attack him from

all sides.

wherein he can make his nest, and If he takes Tripolitsa he

KOLOKOTBONJ&S, KLEPHT AND WARBIOB.

will not

207

need any other nest from which he can go forth and ravage the Peloponnesus, but if we destroy Tripolitsa, he will find no other nest, and I, with my armies, will
drive

him out

of the Peloponnesus.

The other armies

will

then join us, otherwise they

afraid

will not join us, for

they are

on every side."

They suspected that

(And was.) I had some hatred

it

so

to gratify

by

destroying the walls of Tripolitsa, and answered, " We will see." I went to Argos, and made an address similar
to that

listened
soldiers

I had made at Tripolitsa, but I was not Then I massed eight thousand soldiers the came at my bidding. The Argives came to Nauplia,

which

to.

I said to them, ''Hasten, Arabs make slaves of us; we shall have no help except from our own arms." Both men and women then joined in thanksgiving to the Most High. I then sent an order to all the districts, and thus, in three

and the Tripolitsans

to Argos.

brothers, lest these

days, I assembled eight thousand

I

men.

when the news came about Phlessas. The enemy had burnt Kalamata he was powerful, and ruled
was
in Tripolitsa
;

all

Messenia.

Leontari,

occupied Dervenia, and passed over to and built furnaces in order to cook food at
I

Dervenia
to fight

I also built a

breastwork strong enough

for

them

Ibrahim from.

He

also

had

his spies,

and he saw

that he could not pass over Dervenia without much loss. There was a Leontarian Turk, a captive at Bolianen, who

was a

fugitive to Ibrahim,

and he

told

him

"I know

way by which we can take the ranks through, and ascend I did not think that he would cross to the plain above."
by that narrow pass, which
stirred
hills,

hoped could never

be, yet it

me
I

to find that the Messenians were

moving

to the

and

hastened on myself to secure that very place by

of the place,

which he had already passed. Some captive Turks, who were natives

had

208
fled to

KOLOKOTBONES,
Ibrahim, and acted
to take possession of

as guides.
it,

had sent
to

my

nephews

and

moved on

pazika with eighty men, in order to raise

secure the positions.
village of

Samthe villages and

Day dawned when I arrived at the Akova, and more men came from other villages
this post.

so that

we might occupy

They

(the

enemy) did

not arrive until three o'clock that day, and by the help of bis Turkish guides, he (Ibrahim) took possession of the
hill before

we came up

there with our army.

Every one

who was
saw them
and

in the village,

occupied, scattered
flee

when they saw that the hill was and fled and I, who was on a cliff,
;

before me.
to Boliani, a village with two

The Turks went

fifty

hundred

The infantry set fire to the village, and the cavalry hunted up the children to make slaves of them the army was coming up on the rear. I fired off a, volley the Turks feared something, and the people there were saved. This was at noon. That hill whereon I remained was a strong post, so I sent word to Dervenia for the army to return and come to me, because the Turks had gone to Boliani, bidding them hasten so that the plain should not be taken. The army was six hours off, and night was coming on, so I stayed there like a watchman, to observe what the Turks would
inhabitants.
;
:

do.

On

receiving

my

message, G. Giatrakos brought up

led

eight hundred men, and the others drew nearer,

by

Gennaios, Koliopoulos, Deligianni, with the Arcadians and I went back an (Kolios had been killed.) Tripolitsans.
hour's journey along the road by which my own people came up. It was about sunrise when Giatrakos reached

me, and

made him occupy

;

a village called Dyrrachi, for

I suspected that the

He

left,

Turks would not pass through Mistra. and went thither I remained at the same post.
locality,

Anton Kolokotrones, who well knew the

passed

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

209

along a footpath and got before the Turks. Our armies came up in detachments. About a thousand arriving, I
sent a body of five hundred of

them to seize upon a height; them were Kanelos, Gennaios, and Papatsones. among Koliopoulos came nearer with his Arcadians and the other forces. The Turks came down upon us early in the mornbut not by Dyrrachi they met, but our own people ing, did not resist them, and made their retreat to me. Upon their coming to me, I made my resolutions accordingly, and despatched three thousand to the heights, that we might sustain the enemy there. The Turks came down straight upon Gennaios, and stood. He gave them no opportunity to advance, because they had left the main body in the rear. The battle began with Gennaios, Kanelos, and the others. Our own three thousand men built up breastworks, and the cannon was placed there but we could do
;

nothing against them. I went half an hour's space forward in order to- be opposite to the engagement, and I ordered Koliopoulos to take assistance to the base of that hill, the
top of which was held by Gennaios and Koliopoulos went thither and fought with the Turks, but Gennaios descended
;

and

"
said,

Uncle, leave this place, and go to

my

father, so

that you

may

strengthen his position.

"

So Koliopoulos

came

me, and the Arcadians also, and therefore we were a good force. Gennaios with his body was fighting throughout the whole day. Giatrakos, who was stationed in the
to
village,

when he heard

the battle going on sent a reinforce-

one part ; but the Turks were many, and they fell upon him and routed him. There was no possibility of our

ment

to

giving

him any

aid,

because rocks separated us.

Giatrakos

was wounded, and his force scattered. We expected help Gennaios, with the from the villages, but none came. above fought all through the night others on the heights but the Turks did not take the posts in front.
;

15

210

KOLOKOTBONltS,

The next day I sent the Arcadians to occupy a footpath, because I saw that the Turks had seized all the heights. The Turks, seeing that I had sent to take possession of that The Arcadians did not narrow defile, moved thither. oppose them when fighting commenced, but came to me. The Turks took the plains. The Turkish cavalry then

moved on
along.

to Leontari, burning the villages as they

went

of Gennaios,

About ten thousand were extended along the flanks on the plain. When I saw that our forces

were outflanked, I sent down Koliopoulos to a quarter a little distant from the Turks, to frighten them. The
battle never ceased for

two days and three nights.

saw

that I was not able to give them assistance there was_a brook near, but I could not give any care about their going I had neither to get water, because they were in flight

ammunition, food, nor water

fires,

so I

made a

signal

by lighting
five of

that they should retreat.

In that battle

our

own

men

Our people were killed, and of Turks a good number. fled to Tourkoleka, and thence marched to Dervenia.

a strong position. The Turks marched towards Tripolitsa, and entered it. When we were in retreat, I sent Tsokres in the evening to burn

We went on to Karytaina, which was

he did not succeed in doing so. He had begun to burn the city when Ibrahim arrived. Tripolitsa and all therein were taken.
Tripolitsa, but

the country.

For ten days the armies of Ibrahim never ceased burning During those ten days I got together KolioKanelos Deligianni, and Papatsones. Kolios was poulos,

killed

we made

on the night of the retreat, but not by the enemy altogether four thousand five hundred men. We
;

approached nearer in order to occupy certain positions, to prevent him (Ibrahim) from marching to Karytaina and laying waste the villages. Zaimes and Archontopoulos were The Mistriotes and at Torniki with two thousand men.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

Agiopetritai were with Zapheiropoulos.

211

Ibrahim did move

forward, but he went to Argos.

litsa

He

left

an army in Tripo-

and went to Glykeia (a garden belonging to Miaoules). As soon as we learnt that Ibrahim had gone to Argos, I

devised a stratagem, by which we, by going outside Tripolitsa, might fight with them, and spring over into it. I sent Koliopoulos with a thousand men to seize the upon

water source secretly; but his army was not to appear. Gennaios with two thousand was to go to Perithori, and

Kanelos Deligianni, Papatsone3, and the rest moved to the centre above the gate of St. Athanasius, where they were to be concealed, whilst I stationed myself in the centre.
Kanelos, who was among them, was to have fifty men with him. My idea was that the Turks, seeing so few, would
out, and in that case Koliopoulos and Gennaios, who were concealed, could enter Tripolitsa by means of the Leontarian gate. But my device was of no avail, for the

come

Turks within were few and never

left

the

fort.

There was

about an hour, when the Greeks, seeing that the Turks would not come out, showed themselves.
firing for

some

The Turks got possession of some redoubts. At the same time I received a letter from the Government which was at Nauplia. The Government sent me word that Ibrahim had gone to Akro-Corinth, and that I was to take my armies thither. We had neither ammunition nor provisions. We had been feeding upon old rams and green
corn, because the villages were deserted in consequence of
their fears.

The Turks

of Tripolitsa wrote to

Ibrahim

to

return.

As soon as

I received this letter

from the Govern-

ment,
I left

I directed

Demetrius Koliopoulos to go to the Aphen-

tikos Mills

and obtain ammunition and provisions for us* Kanelos and Papatsones with fifteen hundred men, and with another three hundred

just to terrify the Turks,

I went forward to obey the orders of the Government.

On

212

KOLOKOTBONES,
The men got

that day there happened to have been a great rising of the

water springs, and there was quite a

food from
their heads

flood.

many

villages,

and drank wine, which got into

so that they delayed going
to

and intoxicated them,

I

on

to Partheni.

sent Konstantinos Zapheiropoulos

number

the forces of Ibrahim from a nearer point, and I also

went myself. I marched forward, and about noon we arrived at Achladokabo. I went down to the Khan at
Achladokabo
on.
I

to

reckon up

all

our forces, and then moved

wrote to the Government to send

to the

me forthwith powder
I

and bread

Aphentikos Mills, so that

might go

to

Akro-Corinth.
to Argos and slept at Vrysaria the place had been dug out and ploughed. When we sent forward swift messengers, they came up with the advance guard of Ibrahim, and fled back to us, saying that the Turks were come. I organized the army to form into four columns, and sent
:

Ibrahim went

out Basil the trumpeter to make a reconnoissance. If the Turks were few in number, he was to blow his trumpet ;
if all

the force was present, he was to

fire off

a gun.

He
to

went, and he fired off his gun. Koliopoulos then went Gyra, and G. Alonistiotes to the place of embarkation
;

at

Begi Gennaios was to occupy the pass of Partheni, and I was to be on the heights. We saw all the force of Ibrahim,

numbering three thousand men, opposite to placed himself on the plain of Achladokabo.
his

us,

and he

He formed

men

into four columns,

and directed the greater part

of the cavalry to

move towards Gyra. The Greeks who were with me were broken because they

had no breastworks. I quite expected that we should be If we had received the news at night we could have made breastworks, and if Zaimes had come we should have had some good fighting. I was very anxious the army
routed.

was starving, and without powder

so, to save

the army,

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

I

213

Koliopoulos marched to the monastery which was a strong place. I blew my own trumpet so that Gennaios might move away but he did not wish to retreat. Ibrahim, seeing that he remained,
of St. Nicholas,
;

ordered a retreat.

threw column upon column on the wild position which he

held.
I

again ordered a retreat.

Going towards Partheni, accompanied by twenty cavalry, I went into a village at Pertsova to find some water to drink. Gennaios occupied the heights opposite this village, on the top of the hill, and had fifteen hundred men with
him.
I

went there

to

drink water, but found none

there

was a place excavated for a fountain, and I went thither to drink. The Turks were stationed in the vineyards of Pertsova until they all could assemble, and the Turkish
cavalry who were scattered over the plain came down upon us at the fountain. We fired off our guns and fled. We

continued to be fired upon for some distance, and then I went and waited opposite the place where Gennaios was
posted.

mained

in the vineyards

The other Turks did not take the field, but rethey saw Gennaios, but did not
;

attempt to ascend to him. In the twilight I summoned Gennaios with my trumpet to come down to us, and in the When they had rejoined us I said evening we met again. " Kanelos and to them, Papatsones are encouraging themselves with the idea that the Turks are few in number; let
us go forward and make them leave their positions so that they be not surrounded by the Turks." We reached them,

and they arose, and we all went to Alonistaina together. Ibrahim took up his quarters at Tripolitsa. I wrote to the different districts, and we assembled seven thousand men at Dervenia. Archontopoulos, Zaimes, and Londos
had two thousand
at Levidi,

and

had

five

thousand with

armies. Koliopoulos, Papatsones, and the Karytainan learnt from a Turk that his son-in-law had gone with a

We

214

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

reinforcement of soldiers to Mothon, which was to move

forward to give additional aid to Ibrahim. I then sent orders that Dervenia should be occupied, so that the reinforcement should not pass that way, and with this object,
I seized

on Yervena, and they were to come to our aid from Dervenia, whilst Zaimes was to go to Pano-Chrepa. I also sent Koliopoulos with two thousand men to seize on Valtetsi,

and despatched Gennaios to occupy Trikorpha. In the evening Zaimes came to Pano-Chrepa and The Turks saw the fires from Tripolitsa, lighted fires.
and suspected that the Greeks were going to Trikorpha so in the morning Ibrahim decided
;

seize

upon

to send one

men to secure Trikorpha during the night. Gennaios had gone forward, but he did not succeed in taking the whole of the breastworks, but about half of
or two thousand

them, and the other half was taken by Ibrahim.

battle
;

The

where the Kalavrybegan tian and Corinthian armies were posted, and Koliopoulos
I

was

at Pano-Chrepa,

endeavoured to take a reinforcement to Gennaios. Ibrahim

thereupon sent out his cavalry, who were gathering in the harvests on the plain. They went to Sylimna, and turned
Koliopoulos back ; it was a plain, and Koliopoulos was not able to oppose himself to them there. There were seven

thousand soldiers in Vervena

they heard the battle going

;

if they had on, and never went to render any assistance gone and given their aid, Ibrahim would not have sent his

entire force against Gennaios.

him

sent to Tripolitsa for aid, I also

As soon, however, as Ibrahad sent to get help

for our own people. The battle lasted from early morn until two hours after noon nine hours altogether. Cannon was brought opposite

from the other side

the breastworks of Gennaios.

Twice did Gennaios sally

forth from his breastworks to seize on the cannon, but he

found too great a force arrayed against him, and was forced

ELEPHT AND WABBIOB.

to return.

215

damage. two or three other chief men among us. Ibrahim's whole force amounted to twenty thousand men. Gennaios had no fears as regarded the breastworks, where
he placed himself, and when the Turks saw, that they could

The cannon of the enemy, however, did no Papatsones was killed in the breastworks, and

do nothing in that part, they extended themselves

to act

upon the wings.

of

Panagiotakes Notaras, who kept the flank Gennaios, went away, and Gianni Notaras then retreated amid great risk; the rear of Gennaios had been taken, and
as soon as they

saw

that, they fled

from the breastworks

The cavalry came up to them, and a hundred and eighty of them were lost, among whom were
to us.

and came

many

tiotes,

for instance, George AlonisKostas Boura, Tambakopoulos, Christodoulos, and others, and the rest of the Greeks were all picked men. There

distinguished officers

were a hundred and ten

men from
I

Karytaina, and seventy

from the other

districts.

had sent Michalaki Zaimes'

;

standard-bearer out with thirty men he maintained his position well against the Turks, and our own men saved

At night we went back to Alonistaina. When Ibrahim saw that there were Greek soldiers there, he occupied both Piana and Chrysovitsi, about a mile the
him.
one from the other, with the mills of Davia between. He left Souleiman Bey there with five thousand men, and built
twelve breastworks
so

as to guard

the mills.

Ibrahim

spread his
corn,

men

all

over the fields in order to harvest the

it

and

to carry

when reaped

into Tripolitsa, whither

to Alonistaina, but

he now went.
the Greeks
four
fell

hundred Arabs went

to escape,

upon them, and

killed all except tbree or

who managed

Tripolitsa.

When

and carried the news to Ibrahim found that we were at Alonisfive

taina, he moved the whole of his army forward in columns, both cavalry and infantry.

216

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
had an intention
of going to

We

Demitsana, but we

were not able to get there.

We left in the early morn, and Koliopoulos remained behind with a thousand men, but he was not strong enough to oppose himself to Ibrahim, who got to Vytina, and from
Vytina went on to Magouliana.

We

were not able to stand

up against him
for

and the army was dispersed. As the Karytainans, when Ibrahim reached that district,
there,

each one there thought about securing the safety of his family; the Corinthians dispersed; Londos himself got away.

remained myself, Zaimes, Kanelos Deligianni, Koliopoulos, Anagnostes Papastathopoulos, and Apostolus Kolokotrones. We went to Langadia.
this juncture there

At

Zachariades came to us with

letters,

an address in which we asked

for

asking us to sign the intervention of

England, because, on account of the position of affairs, we were not able to unite, and we were to sign this address.
I

and the

six others

put our signatures to

it.

We

were

all in

despair in this conjunction of affairs,

and therefore
sent with

we signed it, and gave it to the person who was it, who took it back to Zante.
Zaimes went away
to look after

my

to Kalavryta. Gennaios departed son Konstantine at Psathari. Kanelos

accompanied him, and they took their

families,

and carried

them

to Nauplia.

Koliopoulos departed for Palouba,

it

and

secured the safety of his family, and took

to

Monemvasia.
I

Thus this force was entirely disbanded, but with thirty men, and crossed over to Phanari.

remained

despatched my orders, and in three This days I found myself again with two thousand men. was what puzzled Ibrahim so much, that when he broke up
I

From Phanari

camps, in two days I set up another. Ibrahim now went to the district of Karytaina he also went to Kalavryta and Strezova, burning all before him,
one of

my

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

and making slaves everywhere.
one night

217
all

Having ravaged
and,

those

places he returned to Tripolitsa, and after stopping there

he went

to

Mistra,

having

enslaved

and despoiled that place also, returned again to Tripolitsa. Thence he went forth to Mbthokorona. I left two thousand men at Karya, and went myself to Vervena for the purpose
of preventing the five thousand who were assembled there from dispersing. They scarcely set eyes on the Turks before they were broken at Yervena many were sur;

rounded and shut up. Andreas, a son of Koutaki, fought When the Turks went back to well, and killed fifteen.

we went to Agio-Petro, and the army was disIbrahim had gone down to Mothokorona, and persed. attacked the army which I had left at Karya. He attacked them, but had no great success, and thence he passed to
Tripolitsa,

Korona.
Just see

Seventy Turks were

killed.

the beginning of this address for the intervention of England came about. I once took a letter to

how

Romas,* and he said that he would talk it over with Adam.t Adam asked him whether it would not be possible
to detach Kolokotrones

from the body of the

chiefs.

This

body was supposed

to be in opposition to

England, and

devoted to Russia, so the Mavrokordatoi gave out.

Romas
and

wrote to me, and said something to the same

effect,

asked

me

to give

him my opinion
neither an

in writing under

my
nor

own hand.

"

am

opposer of the English,

" but I am the a worshipper of the Russian," I answered, friend of whosoever is willing to do any good service for
for this to his country, and I will become a guarantee sentiments Excellency, Adam, and let Adam take my

my

to his court."

Adam
f

did send information about this to England, and

* Conte Eoma.

He

The English Lord High Commissioner

in Zante. belonged to a great Greek family of the Ionian Islands,

218
after

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
some time he sent
two days.

for Romas, and they were closeted The scheme of an address was then framed: one was sent to me for my signature, and another was sent to Miaoules. We signed it. The nation understanding this, called for an assembly, and the members and the executive signed as private persons, not as an

together for

administrative body. By the rule as it now stood the presidents both of the sea and land service were to execute it.

Thus

put

my
and

of Greece,

signature as president of the united districts also as the generalissimo of Greece, and

Miaoules as the president of the islands, and admiral of The nation ratified this the Greek forces on the sea.
action as regarded the address to be forwarded, in an

assembly held at Epidaurus and Troizenos.

I

again despatched

my summonses

to Mistra,

Monem-

vasia, and Agio-Petro, for troops, and gathered together ten thousand men, when I went and occupied Vervena. The old lady my mother (I had instructed Captain Chimariotes to take charge of her) went at this time to Giorgitsi,

and passed to the end of Mistra in order to go to Nauplia. We had also with us the two sons of Senetzim

Bey, hostages from Tripolitsa,

place

whom we

put into a safe

and guarded until we could exchange them for the two Zapheiropouloi who were with Ibrahim. I then took over the army to Vervena, and left it there, whilst I went
to visit

Petro.
litsa,

my family. It is two miles from Vervena to AgioMy troops saw a haze rising from the plain of Tripo-

and fancying that it was an army coming, thereupon I now saw dispersed, aud as I was returning I met them. that it was impossible to make them serve, and so I sent to
the

Government to enlist soldiers at Nauplia, and to give them to Londos, Gennaios, and Kanelos, and they were to be paid troops, when I, having the executive power,
would send
for

them, also myself collecting other soldiers.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

219

They came, and altogether we assembled four thousand men. Londos and Kanelos arrived, and in this way we

made up
I

the four thousand which were at Agio-Petro. immediately ordered Anton Kolokotrones and those
to

he had with him

to attack the

go and seize the shepherds, and

in every direction. also killed

enemy
and

He

did so,

and

got some

flags, many, bringing us their for which we paid the soldiers a dollar apiece. heads, This brought Ibrahim with all his force to Tripolitsa.

Leaving part of his army at Mylos, and part in Tripolitsa, he went on to Mistra with a force of thirty thousand. At
that time I happened to be at Nauplia on military business, in order to give my opinion to the Government in
respect to
of

quence

supplies of food and ammunition, in consewhich a commission was formed of Konstantine

Deligianni and another Eoumeliote of the same name, and also Anastases Londos, and sent to Astros to procure provisions,

and

to

pay the

chiefs

and stipendiaries who had

where
information was
I wrote,

received orders payable there. I then departed for Astros,

brought

me

that Ibrahim had gone to Mistra.

troops to

Mistra also, and I therefore, for my embarked myself in a boat to go to Levidi in search of And this is what happened. Whilst I was at soldiers.

move on

to

Levidi I succeeded in getting two hundred Levidiotes, and again going forward, 1 came up with some bodies of troops

under Zaimes, Londos, Gennaios, and Panagiotakes Notaras. Ibrahim again went forth, burning the country beyond Monemvasia, and afterwards returning to Apidia, he sent
out his son-in-law into the country with a thousand men, and he entering into a village in that district, we harassed

him

there,

ascended a

and four of his men were killed, after which he hill and signalled from thence for aid, when
to his assistance.

some regular troops were sent

220

KOLOKOTBONES,

The Turkish armies moved thence towards Gerald, and I ordered them all to cross over to Agio-Basil and to prepare for battle. The
our own force went to Kosma.

whole of the paid troops accompanied the baggage they were about three thousand in number, so we had only a
:

thousand

left

with us.

Ibrahim marched over

:

to

Mara-

thonesi, thence to Polytzaravon

there he

Maniotes,
repulsed.

who fought

a good battle,

was met by the and the Turks were

Our men were surrounded in many strong but they fought so well that the Turks gained positions, no advantage. The enemy then marched back to Tripolitsa,
and we returned
to

Vervena.

Zaimes

departed

for

Kalavryta, and Notaras went to Corinth to collect forces to oppose to the Turks if they entered those districts. Whilst
the

Corinthians were occupying Tsipiani, myself, with Gennaios and Londos, remained at Vervena. At this time Theodore Grivas came from Nauplia to
I

Doliana with three hundred men.

made my

resolves accordingly,

and taking two hundred

men

with me, went to the Mills of Davia.

When
I

I left

Gennaios, Londos, and Kanelos at Yervena,

said

to

round
me.

them, "In so many days you will see fires lighted up all have your sentinels in readiness, and as many fires
;

as you see, so

many thousands

of soldiers shall I

have with

that

You must then kindle the same number of fires, so we may understand that- you have seen ours. At dawn I shall then attack the Turks at the mills, and you, during the night, must seize upon Trikorpha and prevent
of

the possibility
Tripolitsa."
I

any assistance reaching

accordingly,

them from

went

to

Doliana

and brought thence

Theodore Grivas and his

crossed over to Tsipiana,

three hundred men, and

we

when

said

to the

forces as-

sembled there

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

"
If

221

you

see fires

on the

hills, let this

force go

and occupy

Pano-Chrepa."
I

departed to Alonistaina and sent a courier on foot to

Zaimes, who was at Kalavryta, writing him that he was come up with as many as he could get an hour earlier than was agreed upon. He brought six hundred men with
to

him, and as I had fourteen hundred, we had thus acquired between us a force of two thousand. It was my intention
to attack the Mills of Davia, so as
off all

by that means

to cut

food supplies from the enemy. I inquired of several Turks, whom the Greeks had captured, how many there

were at the Turkish breastworks, and the answer was that they numbered only about eight hundred.
the signals as concerted, and as soon as the dawned the different bodies went out and seized morning upon the positions which I had indicated. Theodore Grivas wished to go to the post which Hassan Bey was occupying, so I gave him guides, and he went thither. Basil AlonisI

made

tides with his

men went
five
if

to

his side.

I ordered

Anton

Kolokotrones to take
with instructions that

hundred

soldiers to Chrysovitsi,

the Turks should

for the

make any attempt

upon the entrenchments

purpose of carrying aid to other bodies of Turks, that they should fall upon them from above; and this was the same spot where Konstantine Anastopoulos, my sister's son, intended to make an attack.

Zaimes and myself, with two hundred men, stationed ourselves inside Piana, and we divided the Alonistainans among Thero is an old tower in Piana, and the five positions.
Turks had made
Turks were in
it
it.

it

into a fort,
I

and a hundred and

force to

thirty
to

had ordered the

draw near

during the night, approaching

or from the village.

other,

it either from the heights The distance from one post to the whence we were to get there, was only about ten

minutes' journey.

222

KOLOKOTBONES,

Konstantine and Lechourites went down at sunrise to

the village which had been destroyed by the Turks purposely that the Greeks should not take possession of it,

but there were two companies of Turks at the foot of the

village.

Firing was opened at Piana, and when we went forward to give them assistance those two companies came down

upon

us.

When the

Turks saw that we had ten

of the cavalry

with us they thought we were more numerous than we were, and retired. The Alonistainans came upon the lines of the
Turks, but Grivas did not stop to fight when he caught sight Anton Kolokotrones with Petimeza of Souleiman Bey.

rushed to seize Kephalovryso and the mills, but they were not able to pass the Turkish entrenchments.

My own

standard-bearer, and also that of Zaimes', drew

near to the wings of the Turkish army. -Zaimes' standardbearer was the first to break them, when he killed three with
the spear of his banner staff. The Turks fell into disorder, and out of those two companies only four were saved. We

The Turks who were took their flag and sixteen drums. shut up in the old tower were defeated, and the whole
of the

hundred and thirty were killed. The body of the Verveni went to the post vacated by the men of Trikorpha Londos, Giatrakos, Kanelos, and Gen;

naios were the leaders, and they had the cavalry. were twenty horsemen, and it was the first time that

There

begun

to

form regular cavalry.

Tripolitsa
fighting
;

we had The Turks came out of to go to the aid of those with whom we were they were attacked and driven back by our

Notaras then arrived at Pano-Chrepa, whilst from Tripolitsa and Sylimna came down upon GenA most naios at Trikorpha, which is opposite Sylimna. obstinate battle ensued, and the Turks took to flight.
cavalry.
forces

About seventy

of

them were

killed,

and they got possession

KLEPHT AND WABMOU.

of thirteen

223

drums
little

well as the

fort of

eleven breastworks were also taken, as Sylinma, On account of their

did

complete
Tripolitsa.

defeat

they

not

attempt

to

go

on

to

The Turkish leader sent four of his cavalry to carry the tidings to Ibrahim, who was then in Messenia making ready to go and waste the Soulimo district. Upon hearing the
state of affairs

Ibrahim pushed on to relieve the

men who

were shut up in Davia. Gennaios had no more ammunition or provisions. He went to Valtetsi and I to the vale of Alonistaina. On the third day I ordered Gennaios to take his force to the mills
below, near Sylimna.

hours,

when

there and fought for four he got possession of the fortifications and

He went

burnt the mills.

They
part,

killed about fifty

and seized upon

Kolokotrones,

the entrenchments.

On

the

other

we,

with

Anton

Kolphinos, Grivas, Tsokres, and others, destroyed all the rest of the mills, and shut up those who were in the old fort

was situated upon a rock which it was almost imposany one to ascend. We came to the opinion that the best plan would be to cut off the water from them, and
that
sible for

that in two days they would then be forced to surrender.

At
a

this juncture of affairs, however,

Gennaios showed

light, which gave us to understand that Ibrahim had arrived. Gennaios marched to Vervena.
;

Ibrahim brought up two thousand cavalry they went and released the Turks whom we had surrounded, and the
soldiers

We

went through, fighting all the way from the rear. passed through Vervena, and Notaropoulos and Tsokres

stayed at Tsipiana. the plain of Tavia

Tripolitsa.
different

We
;

destroyed eight or nine mills on and then the enemy went back to

The regular
five

Turks in three days, and in

places, lost

hundred men, twenty drums,

224

KOLOKOTBONES,
muskets,
.

many
officers.

four

flags,

and

great

number

of

We
trict

fought there; but in all parts and in every disthe Turks were continually being attacked, and not
I

a single day passed on which Turks were not killed.

am

writing here, however, only concerning the engagements at

which

I was present and in which I was the leader. This was the only way in which the Turks 'could be successfully attacked, since I was not able to systematize a
:

national campaign first, because I had no food supplies ; secondly, because there was no ammunition ; and thirdly,

because
the

for us to conquer a pitched battle on account of the overwhelming force of the enemy. I always, therefore, gave directions to attack the enemy from the front, from
it

was utterly impossible

in

Turks

the rear,

and from the

and
all

sides,

and

to

fall

upon

their

camp

at night,

I also

ordered that our

own

soldiers

our supplies when there was no means to them away, rather than leave them to be taken by the carry
should burn

Turks

and by

this

system

many Turks were

destroyed

without

much

loss to the Greeks.

There were not wanting some who called out upon this, and the Government had the same impression, writing to

me

to systematize a national
;

but none of campaign Turks had seized upon the

to

camp and carry on a national them knew our position. The centre, and we were never enabled

ten or fifteen thousand to oppose to the enemy's forces. Every district had to take measures for
centralize

its

Every part had become almost like a war had prevented all husbandry and tilling of the ground, and so we had no bread. The Government was a Government only in name, and never sent us
defence.

own

desert waste, for the

what we needed, because it had it not. For twenty and thirty days at a time we lived solely upon crabs, green corn, and

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

flesh {of rams).
If

225

carried on a national warfare, thousand of us had been destroyed, it was not possible to amass another force whereas if Ibrahim lost ten or fifteen thousand of his Arabs in a battle he could at once bring others into the field.

we had

and

five or six

In such a conjuncture of affairs many shepherds greatly helped us, because the whole camp was sustained by the products of the people. In these skirmishing wars all
assisted to the utmost of their power all, but especially Antonakes Kolokotrones and Korelas from Akrodoremma, with Pappas Demetrius from Chrysovitsi. These killed sometimes twenty, sometimes thirty, sometimes forty, and
;

sometimes even
itself to

fifty of

the enemy.

the

common

foe.

Every district opposed The Arcadians and the Konto-

all the Messenians went to Mothokorona and attacked the Turks and slew them, often carrying off twenty, thirty, and forty mules and in this way only could
;

vounesoi, and

because the Peloponnesians had no pay, and they could only live by the spoils taken from the Turks. The inexist,

habitants of

all

the districts fled to a hill

their places;
if

when the Turks

came down upon

1826.
After I

the Turks followed them

thither, they fled to another.

All these things were done in

had destroyed

his mills, Ibrahim

;

had no longer

any means

he therefore opened a road from Mothokorona to Tripolitsa, and sent beasts of burthen
for storing supplies

laden with supplies from Messenia. He took possession of In this manner he fed Issari and made a camp there.
Tripolitsa for

some time, and left there

five

thousand guards

whom he had collected from different Messenian forts. When I learnt from the captive Arabs whom the Greeks
had taken that Ibrahim was making ready
to pass over

from Gastouni to Missolonghi, I wrote to the Government, and I gave them my opinion, with two alternatives
16

226

KOLOKOTRONES,
either

namely, that they should

give

me

permission
else to go,

to go myself to Gastouni, or allow

some one

for the purpose of collecting all the provisions that could be

found in Gastouni, in order to embark them for Missolonghi and had they been but willing to listen to me, God knows how everything might have been changed, because Mis;

solonghi would not have fallen if there had been any more food in it. The Government had time there were twenty

Ibrahim I gave them information very early. the three forts with soldiers and provisions, and supplied himself moved into Gastouni. As to the Gastounians,
days

and

some took

to the hills,

and others shut themselves up in

burnt some provisions there, and the rest of the supplies he prepared to take with him on his

Chlomoutzi.

He

journey to Missolonghi, Thus the Gastounians who were shut up in Chlomoutzi had not the necessaries of life, for they had with them

many women and

hundred
the
of the

children, and very few provisions. Three Gastounians at Chlomoutzi, considering how they were thus surrounded, resolved to fall upon
of the enemy, to fall upon them very sudand after harassing their enemies, to return to the denly, fort. These attacked the Turks in this manner and

camp

destroyed many, but a spring of water had been occupied during the evening, and as they were returning they were enclosed in a village, and were all killed. They had slain as

many Turks

as they could, but they were lost themselves, and Chlomoutzi was given up. Michaelakes Sissines was there. Ibrahim now made ready to go to Missolonghi with his

army. What took place at Missolonghi is well known, and has been told in another history. He united himself to
Kioutahi.

bravery of Missolonghi.
there, Missolonghi

Another history also has taken note of the A very few days after he arrived

was

lost.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

When
the

227

round

to Missolonghi I went all and was able to find out the narrow Tripolitsa, road leading from Agiorgitika and Pertsova, and burnt the houses belonging to the Turks. I measured out the ground for the purpose of making an entrenchment there, for it was winter time, and going down to the national mills, I sent to the

enemy had gone

Government

to provide

me

with food

and ammunition
from which we
to Nauplia

might be able to collect soldiers in the villages within a mile or so of Tripolitsa,

in order that I

into Tripolitsa itself.

;

might find an opportunity for getting And my Government told me to go

but this was

my

answer

" This
will let

is

no time

for
I

me

to go to Nauplia, but

if

you

me

have what

have asked

for, I shall be able to

do some hurt to the enemy, here in Tripolitsa."

Upon
so,

this the

Government promised me that

it

would do

and began to send supplies, which village where I had made entrenchments.
assemble.

me

I stored

up in the

I transmitted despatches to all the districts to bid

them

In one part they collected soldiers, another part they gave provisions. At the same time they sent to me Konstantes Mavromichaeles, who was a member
of the executive, with a
interior of Achladokabo,

and from

hundred men, and I went to the and gave provisions both for that

The newspapers heard that food place and for himself. supplies had been sent to me to Tripolitsa, with the object
of

making an

assault
it

upon

it.

This got into the news-

papers, wherein

was

also stated that the national general

had made agreements with the Government whereby it engaged to supply him with rations and ammunition, in order that he might make an assault upon Tripolitsa. This was what the newspapers made public before I had made ready my designs. Whatever secrets they had were always
reported to the enemy.

228

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

In those days, whilst I was collecting troops, Petro Bey and his son Georgaki, who were in the Government, sent letters to Tripolitsa, by which an exchange of prisoners was effected. (We had given them up the two Pashas, and
they delivered back Georgaki Mavromichaeles and Giatrakos to us.) They sent Philemon from the mills with letters, and

he stayed a day and a night at Tripolitsa, until the Turkish commandant who was there should give him his answer
to carry back.

closed answer

was delivered

to

the same "

manner

as the letter sent, and he went to

him after embark

at the mills for Nauplia.

Where hast thou been ? " I asked him. " To with letters." Tripolitsa " Who sent thee ? " " The Government."
Then
I

I said,

"

am

collecting soldiers

and provisions,

the general, and yet the Government carries on and a secret correspondence with the Turks." I seized upon
his letters,

am

When

and tore them up, and thrashed Philemon. the Government heard of my proceedings it was

very displeased, and wrote I answered by saying that

lest I

me a
it

reprimanding

letter,

which

was

my

duty as a general to

know what transactions the Government had with the

enemy,
I

should be chastised," &c.

began my campaign by collecting five thousand men, and I ascended to the camp by ladders, and passed one day and because excavations it was near Christmas there

had been made by our own men from

the forces
of Mistra,

Tripolitsa, I divided

among

the leaders.
that

I sent

Gennaios to

of

Niketas to the gate Karytaina, Konstantes

Mavromichaeles

to the gate of Kalavryta,

and Panagiotes

and

Zapheiropoulos, with the Agiopetritai, to the gate of Sarai, I to the other gates I despatched other captains. the scaling ladders among the commanders who divided

NIKETAS THE TURKOPHAGE.

KLEPHT AND WAUUIOB.

were to mount the
fort,

229

and

bad a body of

men

with

me

who were

to render

any

assistance that might be needed.

When we

were

all

ready we marched forward, but when we

drew near to Tripolitsa some traitors (it was night-time) fired off two guns a signal to the enemy. Two Bulgarians had us who sent them I know not. The traitors had joined
;

given this information

"
:

To-night there will be an assault

children,

upon you."
to the walls

The Turks, men, women, and

and waited
for the

came

dawning.

Niketas threw

down the

ladders,

and we, seeing that we were betrayed,

the Turks saw that there were no

retired at daybreak.

When morning came

armies,

the body of Tripolitsans under Gennaios sent them a reinforcement, but ten of them were killed. Gennaios had perceived the position
Kiziotes.

and attacked

from Rizai.
traitors,

We

were unsuccessful on account of those

and

therefore, as

we were

unable to
together,

perform

any good service, we gathered our

back
I

men

and went

to the villages, when they all began to disperse. then went down to Nauplia in order that we might confer together upon the expediency of calling an assembly,

since the

Government had ruled

of its duration

for

a year in an unwilling

was approaching. "What " and then we I said treachery is this that is going on ? spoke of the imminent danger which threatened the counno military try. The Government had issued a decree that
mood, and the term
;

man

should go to Nauplia, because,

I

if

he

did,

he would not

be received.

As soon as
to

knew

of this decree I wrote to

Zaimes and

the districts that they had better gather themselves in Argos. together, and that we would hold an assembly

came to Argos, plenipotentiaries began their work, and and went there. and we agreed forthwith to go to Piada,

The

The representatives from the

islands of the iEgeau Sea

230

KOLOKOTRONES,

came, and also the Peloponnesians, and we framed our assembly. This assembly then abolished the rule of Ypsilanti.

Having

all

met,

we began our work: we placed the

executive power in the hands of Andreas Londos, and constituted the elder, Panoutsos, our president, because, as one

party wanted to throw out Petro Bey, and another desired to get rid of Zaimes, we thought the best way to put an end to this wrangling was to give the presidency to Panoutsos.

And
"

in these afore-mentioned" labours there

was a

party

the Koumeliotes, and Ypsilanti, on his side, do not agree with that appeal which you have said, " We sent to London." They answered with one voice,

among

We

have done that which the nation wished, and that cannot be made matter for his opinion." The Koumeliotes stood
I said,

by Ypsilanti. Whereupon " to drive out

rose

up

"It

is

not just,"

Ypsilanti from among

us,

because

it

that at the beginning of the rising you had a writing sent to you from his late brother and did we not

seems

to

me

make great use of that brother in the cause of Greece ? " And with other words I endeavoured to pacify them in

He has opposed you, that is true regard to him, saying, but let us look at the good work he has done." I succeeded in getting a remission, and the suppression of his
;

"

official

duties

was limited

to a year.

We
of

then went on

with our business.

On Palm Sunday the heroic people made a sally out of Missolonghi, through
thousands, through
all their

Missolonghi a host of many

and
the

their cavalry.

Two thousand

cannon, their entrenchments, only were saved, and

women and

children were sacrificed.

The news came

to us

on the Great Wednesday, at evening time, when the meeting of the assembly was over, and the shades of night

were closing round us. The news came to us that Missolonghi was lost. We were all plunged in great grief for
;

KLEPHT AND
half an hour there

WAtiBIOB.

23l

was so complete a silence that no one would have thought that there was a living soul present each of us was revolving in his mind how great was our
;

When I saw this great silence I rose to my and spoke some words to encourage them I told them that Missolonghi had fallen gloriously, and that her bravery
misfortune.
feet,
;

would be
to

remembered, but that if we gave ourselves we should bring upon ourselves a curse, up mourning and that we should be guilty of sinning against all those who were weak. They answered, " What can we do now, " " Kolokotrones ? What can we do " I cried, " why, we
for ever
!

have a meeting at daybreak, and decide upon a Government with five, six, or eight persons who can govern us, and we must choose persons who will resolve to correspond with foreign Powers (the Minister, Canning, had then gone to
will

Constantinople), the committee of the Assembly for Foreign Affairs must give their report to the Government, and to

the people, and all of us meanwhile must disperse to the districts, and take up arms everywhere, as we did on the
first

day

of the rising.

on the morning of the Great Thursday we assembled and chose eleven members for the Government committee, with Zaimes for President. We had Petro Mavromichaeles, Spiridon Trikoupes, and others and the

And

so

duration of this committee (this was the 26th of April) was to be until September, 1826, and then, if we were saved, we were to meet and finish the sitting.

CHAPTEB

IX.

WE
where

had Gennaios with us at Nauplia lest there should be any opposition. The new Government, however,

did not offer any opposition,

it

and departed
I

for Nauplia,

began

to attend to its business.

went down

to

Argos, and, collecting some

forward.
chief of the garrison,

troops, prepared to

The Government had arranged to and then afterwards

move them make Gennaios

it

desired that

Londos should be appointed. I said to Gennaios immedi" Let be, we must save our country, and whatever the ately,

Government wishes, let it be done." Gennaios therefore exerted himself, and I got together some thousands of men,
and occupied a
I

village in Bongiati, six miles

from Argos.
I

sent

out

men

to

collect

sheep

for

slaughtering.

wrote to the Corinthians to assemble, because Ibrahim Pasha was about to leave Missolonghi and go to Patras with the whole of his force, and I also told them what I
'

had heard, namely, that he was about to unite with Kioutahi, who was also coming; but this report was false, for Kioutahi had gone to Eastern Greece. When all his army had passed over to Patras for he
began to move immediately with the whole of his troops
the people of Patras, everyone of them, gathered together, and with their women, their children, and their effects,

took to the

hills.

There were among them two Pelopon-

KOLOKOTBONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

nesian Turks
it

233

who

fled

from the

hill

Chelmos, and betrayed

to

Ibraham.

Ibrahim went

to

Chelmos, and there was

not a shot fired at

him anywhere.

He made

slaves of

about two thousand

like the winds,

women and

gether four thousand captives. and there was a report that five thousand were killed. The Kalavrytians and the inhabitants of dis-

children, and took altoThe rest were scattered

Karytaina, Leontari, and Mani, fled horror filled the whole of the Peloponnesus, and Ibrahim passed- along and arrived at Tripolitsa, and I myself, when I received
tricts of
;

had two thousand men with me, and we went over opposite Tripolitsa in order that we might see whither he would direct his arms, and then we marched
this information, to the district of Karytaina.

Ibrahim took his forces

I

to the plain of Karytaina,

five

when

sent Gennaios

forward with

hundred men, and

he occupied Stemnitsa, in which, being a strong position, he could shut himself up if Ibrahim should come down

upon him. I meanwhile lay concealed with the rest of the army, so that if I saw that Gennaios was attacked by the Turks, I could fall upon them in the rear. Ibrahim

come down upon Gennaios, for he had learnt that the female children had been taken to Mani, and therefore he followed them thither, leaving his camp on the plain. The people, hearing that Ibrahim had gone to villages
did not

on the
until

rear,

his

burning all before him, took refuge in Mani, He marched through army turned back.

Messenia, and the Arcadians and Androusani, upon hearing of the ravages committed on the plain above them, also

hastened to Mani.

Wherever he went there was

enslavement.
Pie

slaying,

everywhere there was

then fixed his

camp

at Nisi, in

Kalamata.

When
erected

Ibrahim
a

had left Missolonghi the Maniotes breastwork at Armyro, where lie the strong

234

KOLOKOTRONfiS,
of the Kapetaniani.

homes
to the

It was built from the sea-shore and was quite an hour's march in extent. rock, Ibrahim went thither once, but the Maniotes attacked,

and
him.

after

About

soldiers to

a considerable number, repulsed same time I took three thousand Derveni, and leaving them all there except
killing

the

eighty

men, and marched

went with

this

body
the

into

Messenia,

over the whole of

heights

because

Ibrahim and his camp were stationed at Nisi, in Kalamata. As I was on the road I blew my trumpet, so that
everybody should know that I was there, and they knew me, and they were much cheered in consequence, and were encouraged to go back to their houses. And then going

down

to Armyro, I wrote to every part that the Peloponnesians had returned to their several districts, and there-

to their

upon they all came back, the women and children going homes, and the men going to the war. I stayed eight days there, lest Ibrahim might again
Ibrahim, however, marched away army might get a little breathing

attempt to go to Verga.
to the forts, so that his

time, and also to leave the captured women and children there. I sent many inspiriting words to encourage the

Maniotes, and
I

went to the

many gathered round me at Armyro, when army which I left at Derveni, and led it

to

Manesi, between Leontari and Mistra, and when we were all united with the Mistriote forces we numbered
four thousand.

At Mistra

I obtained

some

provisions.

Verga in Armyro and at the same time despatched a force to fall upon again, the same place in the rear. Upon hearing of this movement
of Ibrahim,

Ibrahim sent his lieutenant

to attack

time, they sent word to me,

and that he had gone to Verga for the second " The enemy is upon us, come
I

with a reinforcement."

moved forward

directly to their

assistance with two thousand men, but the distance was

KLEPHT AND WABRIOR.

great, for

235

it was ten hours' journey. The Turks marched towards the above place, but were re-attacked by the Maniotes, who again drove them back the Turks were at half-anhour's distance both from Verga and Kalamata. We had
;

and the Turkish forces were As we were advancing I blew my trumpet, that our forces upon I did not hearing it might act. expect that the Turks would hear the trumpet because it was cracked. As soon as the Turks heard my trumpet, which they did, they marched off an hour's journey to the
an hour from
us.

ourselves reached Giannitsa,

plain in the direction of the river of Kalamata.

If

we had

succeeded in getting in time to the place where the Turks were encountered by the Maniotes, we should have been
able to surround them, whereby

numbers

of

them would

have been

killed.

After two days had passed the Turks went over to Nisi.
I also

marched

to Manesi,

where I had

left

the other part

I

of the army, not being able to stay

any longer where

was on account

of a lack of provisions.

ten or fifteen days intention of going from

the coast of Tsimova.

In the space of Ibrahim took his cavalry with the

Armyro

to

Mani, and also

to

embark

his infantry in boats to be disembarked again at Vero on

The Maniotes, however, women as well as men, came out and arrayed themselves against them, driving the Turks into the sea, and causing a tremendous panic among them. They opposed themselves to the cavalry at Verga with the like fury, and
Ibrahim, seeing that he could have no successes in that
quarter,

marched away

to the

Messenian

forts.

I stopped ten days at Manesi, and whilst there I received a letter from the Eoumeliote captains who were at Nauplia, namely, Karaiskakes, Tsavellas, Kostas Botsares, and

Lambros Veikos, with Georgios Drakos, and the other leaders who had been at the fort of Missolonghi, and they

236

KOLOKOTBONES,
effect

wrote to the

that

we should

all of

us meet and

confer together

upon the

advisability of uniting,

and

of

our
to

taking measures simultaneously in an endeavour I left Georgaki Giatrakos overthrow the enemy.
all

as

my

lieutenant with the

army, and taking

fifty

men

I went to Argos forthwith. I sent word to and Karaiskakes, Tsavellas, and the rest came, Nauplia, .except Kostas Botsares and some others who held with

with me,

Zaimes, who did not wish the forces to unite.

The grapes* were now

getting ripe,

so

Gianni and

Panagiotes Notaras began to harvest them; the reason of their doing so was that they were in the district of
Corinth.

The greater part

its leader,

of that district wished to have

Panagiotes as

and

tried to prevail

but Gianni had got paid men, upon the district to choose himself

instead of Panagiotes, in consequence of which there was much discord between them.

The Government ordered me to go

that
I

we

to Nauplia. I answered could not go thither, but that if they would go to Areia would confer with them there, upon which Zaimes, Petros

Mavromichaeles, Boudoures, and other members came to Areia. They asked my opinion whether it would be desirable
for

Zaimes
civil

to go to

Corinth in order to put

an

war still going on there. I told them that I thought Zaimes had better not go, but that they should transmit one order to Gianni, and another to Panagiotes
end to the
" The couched in the following manner general of the nation has himself come hither, and you must obey what he enjoins and Zaimes as the president forbids you to do
:

any damage, or
follow
liotes

to erect

any camp."

my advice, and
I

made an encampment,

departing into whilst Zaimes prepared to go

at Argos.
to.

But they did not the interior the Koume-

to Corinth.

meanwhile remained
is

* The currant grape

here alluded

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

When
tioned above

237

Karaiskakes, myself, and the other captains menmet together, we swore to be wholly united, that thus we might conquer the enemy. We transmitted a

commission to Vostitsa and Corinth, and as many as they assembled there to go against the enemy were to be paid Ibrahim was now moving his forces towards Tritroops.
politsa,

by the way of Agio-Petro, and arrived

at Astros.

Panagiotes Zapheiropoulos gave I sent Niketas forward with two hundred men, and he shut himself up in Kastraki. The Turks swept over the whole of
Tsakonia, whilst I with a hundred

me

information of this, so

men went

to the villages

of Corinth, whither I had written for Gennaios and Koliopoulos to come. I sent Gennaios with a thousand men to the assistance of Astros, and when Koliopoulos came up with

another thousand, I sent him thither also. Kanelos Deligianni arrived with five hundred, he having despatched three hundred to help Panagiotakes Notaras (the reason of
the Deligiannis helping
father-in-law).

him being

that he was their coat the

Zaimes and Londos

same time aided

Gianni.

Zaimes and the other leaders at Klementokaisara, as Karaiskakes had gone for a campaign into Koumeli. Panagiotes had some of his men at
united, however, with

We

Sophikos, whither went Gianni, and in order to drive them thence he burnt the whole village, such was the way in

which they conducted themselves. We next had a talk about the currant harvest. The

soldiers

who had come from Missolonghi hoped to receive their pay out of the grapes, because we had no funds. I told them that we would appoint a commission to gather them in,
and that we would reckon up their value. We were now six thousand in number, so we wished to go nearer to the and enemy, and therefore I sent Gennaios, Koliopoulos, Niketas forth, announcing that when we had attacked the

238

KOLOKOTBONES,

served should receive his pay. They " did not oppose my counsel, they only said, We will stay here until we get our pay, and afterwards we will unite and go against the Turks." " Now," I answered, " now is the

Turks every

man who

time to
allow

act, whilst

them

the Turks are burning the villages if we " to be burnt, of what use is it to act afterwards ?
;

We
came
"

strongly opposed
to words.

Kyr

[Mr.]

Andreas Zaimes, and

Why

didst thou not send to thy

I said,

nephew Gianni, Kyr

Andreas,"

"to bid him not to burn Sophikos, which

"

was the

chief village in the district?

He answered me that he had not got a man to send. "What sayest thou, Kyr Andreas? Thou hadst four thousand men with thee, and yet thou couldst not send
one horseman to stop the burning of two hundred houses! Many were the other words which passed between us, when he called out before all the captains, " Kolokotrones, Kolokotrones, for six years thou hast been trying to unite
the armies, and neither have I
will
I let thee
let

"

thee unite them, nor

do so now/'

-No one

made any answer

; clapping my hands " " thou who wilt not have I cried, Bravo, good patriot If they were united Ibrahim could not the armies unite

to

him

"

burn the

villages

nor enslave the inhabitants

"
!

I saw that there was no use arguing with them. Zaimes then sent Kitsos Tsavellas and Notes Botsares and others

to

me, who said that

was

to take seventy

for

my

expenses
"

that

money being

thousand grosia the produce of the

receive seventy

currants.

"What!

I said,

"not only

will I not

thousand grosia, but I would not receive seventy millions, I have served my country so long if there were so many.
without pay, that I will serve her
still

to

the utmost of

my

strength."

KLEPHT AND WABBIOE.

I

239

days longer, and then deMichaeles and fifty cavalry with me. parted, having Hadji These remaining with me, they collected four hundred
five or six

remained there

thousand grosia, and divided the sum amongst themselves.

CHAPTER

X.

AS

soon as Karaiskakes reached Roumeli he wrote asking for assistance, when the Roumeliote captains moved

forward, and Gianni Notaras

came

to Phaleria.

This time

Ibrahim burnt all the villages of Agio-Petro and Prastos (the people saving themselves by fleeing to Levidi), and thence he went to Mistra, burning everything as he went
along on his way back to Tripolitsa. Gennaios, Niketas, and Koliopoulos did not, however, allow any opportunity to pass Gennaios for engaging in frequent skirmishes with him.
passed on to the villages of Corinth, and I sent Koliopoulos back to his old quarters again, so he went to Alonistaina. Thither also went Meletopoulos and Petimeza and
;

they had some very good skirmishing, when a good number

of

Turks were
is

which

Koliopoulos then occupied Atsicholon, situated near the country of Karytaina, in order to
killed.

I called upon prevent the Turks from going to Liodorai. to join me, and we went to Argos, and sent for Niketas Almeidas, who was the leader of about ninety of the regular

cavalry with about

fifty

irregulars besides.

went with

them

to

Agio-Petro and collected a force of about two

thousand of the Agiopetrians, Mistriotes, andJTripolitsans. The Turks who were in Tripolitsa had a habit of^ going
every day to the plains, and there they reaped and gathered

KOLOKOTRONfis, KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

in the corn.
I rose I sent out scouts to

241

watch them. One night up and divided the irregular cavalry, putting Hadji Michaelesat their head, and also Niketaras, who was put over
another thousand men, and they all passed along in secrecy, whilst Panagiotes Giatrakos had a force of a thousand men
likewise,

took four

and Captain Almeidas had his regular cavalry. I with me, and remained in the centre, with this agreement, that when I saw the Turks I would immediately

men

make

a signal for

them

to

go out of their ambush and

surround them.

On that day the Turks did not go to the place where we were expecting them. On the contrary, they sent out three hundred of the regular troops with the view of
scouring through
the
villages to ascertain
in

whether the

anywhere, ready to fall upon the large bodies of Turks who were reaping in the fields, because the Greeks had for some days
lying

Greeks

were

ambush

past been lying in ambush, and had killed five or six

Turks

every

day

and

gave
a

one

dollar

to

every

Greek
captive.

who brought me

either

head, a

gun, or a

The Turkish force went out to make their circuit and came to a village called Meimetaga. There was a tower
there, so in order that they should not be able to shut themselves

up in

until they

Then I was under the command

fell

it I made no signal, but left them undisturbed had spread themselves all over the village. gave the signal, when out flew the cavalry, which

of Niketas, and, with a

sudden

rush, upon the Turks. The Turks endeavoured to make a stand on the plain by forming a square, but when
in they saw our cavalry, and beheld the infantry pouring on all sides, they returned to the village. They were not able to reach the tower in order to occupy it, and so in

half

an hour only four out

of the three

hundred were able

17

242
to save themselves.

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
Never in

my

life

before

had

seen

such slaughter. The whole of the Turkish cavalry came to their assistance when they heard the battle raging, but none of them
got

away

alive.

had

told our troops

on the previous

evening that if I saw the Turkish forces coming down I would make a signal for them to hasten to the place which I held. I made a signal, but Niketas did not follow
out the orders which I had given him. The Turks, towards evening, advanced somewhat nearer, when Niketas, with thirty of his men, made a stand, and a Turk of distinction
retired,

was

killed,
all

and then the Turks drew back and

and we

at

Agio-Petro.

rejoined each other safe and sound The muskets and drums were sent to

Nauplia.
I went to Nauplia myself afterwards in order to obtain ammunition, and then I intended to return immediately for the purpose of continuing these ambuscades. The

Greeks were

much

inspirited,

and whenever we had cavalry

they went down to the plain. In that battle they all bore themselves with courage, but Theodoros Zacharopoulos was
especially noteworthy, because he fell upon a house wherein there were twenty Turks and killed them all. Stamates Metsas was wounded in the foot by a bayonet.

The regular cavalry now went back

promised

to Areia.

Almeidas

me

that he would return, but he received an

order to go to Damala, which he obeyed. Ibrahim marched away to Messenia.

He came

in the

month

of September,

and

in October I

went

to Nauplia in

we might have a conference respecting the Assembly. I told the commission of the Assembly to gather together because I wished to address them. They met accordingly, and I presented myself there, and spoke to them concerning the state of affairs in somewhat the
order that

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

following

243

manner

"
:

Now

is

the time for you to announce

(being the
potentiaries

Committee

who

are

Assembly) that the pleniknown to us should come together

is

of the

to complete the

meeting of the previous April, when we

only lost our time.

Now

the fitting season

it is

winter

Where fight, neither can Ibrahim." can the Assembly take place?" asked. "Let the they Assembly take place on the heights of the Peloponnesus. There we can keep Ibrahim in ignorance of all that is
going on,

and

\ve

cannot

"

and we can

give

military

help

upon

any

emergency, because we have the enemy at our own door." To this they replied, " Where can we find a secure place " " At there to hold an in ?
at Kastri," I answered;

Assembly Lenidi, at Kranidi, " and then there is Piada, and among

those four places you could take your choice." "We will ask the Administrative Committee," they said ; and so those two bodies met together and consulted, and deceitfully resolved

do according to their own wills as regarded the Assembly, being bent upon holding it either at Poros or iEgina,
to

when they would be

able to

embark any representative

whom

they desired, and whomsoever they did not desire to have they would also be able to decline to receive into the
island.

The committee

therefore replied to
I

me

in respect

had had with the other body of the Government, that the Assembly would be held either in Poros or iEgina. I, however, would not receive this proposition, and made my resolution known to them in the
to the conversation

which

manner I will not embark on the sea, for I took an oath when they had me in Hydra that I would act no more on the seas.
following
"
:

am not in the Assembly whom that would not injure.

If I

should be the one person

I have, nevertheless,
I

many

votes, and among the armies and the politicians others who would not wish to go thither."

have also

244

KOLOKOTBONES,

After this. I got up and went to speak with Kyi Andreas about the place of assembly, for he was the President of
the Executive Committee, therefore I went to his house and

had some conversation with him.

u This plan of having

an Assembly in the islands is not praiseworthy," I said to him, "and not well as regards the Peloponnesus, nor for
the whole
of

when we

sail

the nation generally considered, because away from the Peloponnesus, then the Pelo-

ponnesus becomes cold and indifferent, but as soon as we are on dry land again we give them all new hearts." Kyr Andreas sat down by the window looking out therefrom, and not looking at "

me

he kept shaking his

foot.

Kyr Andreas," I cried, I am discoursing to thee, and thou art looking another way Farewell, brother, I talk to thee no more on this subject."
!

"

immediately went to my own house, and afterwards galloped off and got Tsokres to join me with two hundred men, and, accompanied by Nikolaki Poneros and Anag-

So

nostakos, went

Agio-Demetri. As soon as I reached Hermione I assembled four hundred men. When the two
to

committees heard that

had gone
to iEgina
I

removed

at once

and went

to Hermione they and announced that

the Assembly was opened.

also,

at

the

same

time,

announced that we should open an Assembly at Hermione. I sent Nikolaki Poneros to Hydra, to Kyr Georgios, and
the other Hydriotes, and the Hydriotes

came straightway to our Assembly, and we had ninety representatives, whilst that one at iEgina with its two committees only had fifty.
This division was continued for three months.

At

this

time Hamilton came over and went to iEgina, and then he came to us to persuade us to unite, and to form one

We said in answer, " Let the iEgina Assembly only. people come hither, for we are the most numerous, and we " will receive them and they on their side said the same
;

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

thing.

245

quarrelling over the matter, and wrote as a committee to the Minister, and I wrote also, but as a

They were

private person.

They received their answer, and I received There was some rioting at Hydra about Hamilton, when some people were killed, and Hamilton was very
mine.
with the Hydriotes.

much annoyed
to

Hamilton came one

day camp which I kept at Hermione. He had Count Andreas Metaxa for his interpreter, as he did not know
the

our language. Hamilton said to me one day " I hear that it is the intention of your Assembly to send for Kapodistria." " Whoever has told you so has been joking," I answered,
-

"because Kapodistria was once the Eussian Minister of War, and as he did not lend us a finger to help us then, there is no reason why we should be induced to time will show us what to invite such a man over now do, because we are depending upon England, who has
;

promised us her protection." Hamilton then went away. In the month of March, when we had ninety representatives, we began our work, and made Sissines our president.

Cockrane* then arrived, and we at once voted him high admiral in the three departments of Spetsai, Hydra, and
Psara.

Churcht came about the same time. As the Assembly at iEgina had said that I, Kolokotrones, wanted

to

become generalissimo

all

over Greece, I resolved that they

should not find this disposition in me, and I threw aside the all personal ambition for the love of country, and
three islands also cast

down whatever ambition they

also

should be high might have had, and signed that Cockrane

admiral.

then coming to Poros he took Metaxa to when we conaccompany him, and I met him on board, decreed. versed upon everything which our Assembly had

Cockrane

* Lord Cockrane.

t Sir

Bichard Church.

246

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
also asked for the union of the two Assemblies,

He

and we

" Let the the same remark as formerly, Assembly at come here and we will receive it." I saw by the iEgina

made
style

of
of

his his

conversation

that

Cockrane
I

had

some

ideas

own, and therefore

answered him as a
too.

Greek,

who

also

had ideas

of his

own

We

parted and

went back to Hermione, and we had General Church at Hermione with us, and then Cockrane joined fellowship with Church, and they gave it as their opinion that they

would be able

to bring about a reconciliation.

letters

At that time

came from Athens that they were

want
of soldiers,

terribly distressed there for

and the Assem-

bly charged
I

me

to procure forces

despatched Gennaios to all days he went there with three thousand men, and the Assembly promised me that the Assembly itself, that is, the
nation, would give
content.

and send them thither; so the districts, and in twenty

them

their pay,

and so we remained

The two commanders by sea and land, who were desirous

two Assemblies, did so by finding a third place wherein they could finish the remaining business of the Assembly, and this place was Troizen, also called Damala.
to unite the

We made

answer

to this proposition of the leaders that

we

would go thither, but everything which we had made law must remain the same, and the forts must be in the same
hands, and
if

they ratified
to

all this

we would

go.

The

iEginetans ratified everything.

We

therefore rose, and the

two parties went

Troizen and became re-united there.

;

immediately began the required work all that we had done remained unannulled, and we prosecuted the business
in hand.
to act as a

We

We made

a resolution to vote in three persons

and

fifteen

Government Commission to overlook the army, for the Senate. When we voted, the greatest
fell

number

of votes

to

Georgaki Mavromichaeles, Marki,

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

and Nako.

247

There was to be a committee appointed at an date for the purpose of choosing a president. The early committee went to Poros, and the Assembly was left to
complete
its

business.

had some thought of sending for Kapodistria in the year 1827. They had all tried their hands at governing, and the whole nation was going from bad to worse on
account of our dissensions. So I spoke out openly, saying, " We have cast away all our personal ambition in regard to the army, and we have put the Englishman Church
over us, and our brave seamen have taken Cockrane
;

We

it

behoves you politicians also to throw aside your ambition, so that we may choose a president who can govern us,
for the

English have promised that we shall have our

independence." One of those days

Kapodistria to

saw that they wanted to invite the nation, and some of them came armed
I

to see if they could frighten us, so that they could take the matter in hand; the secretary, Speliades, was one. I perfectly understood with

They had a meeting

asked

at the

me
to

to attend it;

what view they came to me. house of Mavromichaeles, and so I went by myself, when they

talk to me about the Assembly, saying that could not perceive that any good had come forth they from it. I replied to them with some anger, that the nation had willed it, and whoever was not satisfied with

began

it,

let

him

try to

ruin

it

if

he were

able,

and went

away without saying another word.

Seeing that they had

no power by themselves, and that, if they had endeavoured to do anything, they would certainly be put to shame,
they dissolved.

Two days

after

we

had

finished

the

work

of

the

after dinner Assembly, we resolved in the morning that for Kapodistria, and so I went to we would sign a paper

248

KOLOKOTRONES,
tent

my

and ate some bread, and threw myself down to I looked up and saw Kyr Georgio Kountouriotes sleep. with Karakatsanes the Spetsiote, and Mark the Psarian,

coming to speak with me about the Kapodistria proposition, which we were to sign in the afternoon. They said
"

We
?

were to sign
do you ask

for Kapodistria this afternoon,

were

we not
"

Why

me ?

am

neither the president, nor

represent the nation. The President Sissines and the nation resolved upon that measure this morning." " It will be a good plan for us to send and ask for the

do

opinion of Hamilton,

who

is

at Poros, he having lately

come from Smyrna." " What shall we send some adventurer

!

to

him

to say

things quite opposite to those which he will report to us, and thus ruin the position of the nation ? Where will

you me,

find a suitable person to

I will

send?

If

you would trust

Three times

"We
.

go myself." do trust thee, we do trust thee!"

they called out,

"We

do trust thee

!"

Kountouriotes was of opinion, that as I had spoken to Hamilton, and as we had not at that time chosen
Kapodistria, that I might meet with some opposition on the part of Hamilton, but I answered him, " Go in peace."
I

then
of

made myself

ten

his

men
else

to

ready, and called for Metaxa, and come at noon, and as I did not

know any one

I sent for

who could go with me, except Niketas, and told him that he must behave himself him, with discretion, and not cause any scandal whither I was going. The Assembly wondered, but had no idea where I intended to go. We went to the river of Poros,
where the ships of Hamilton were taking in water; we embarked on a boat and drew near the frigate.

there

Hamilton received

me and we

sat

down

to converse,

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

'249

opened the subject by saying, "How does it appear to you now, since the Assembly has united and the sitting
is

your union you have done well." Captain Hamilton, we have come to ask your advice, for you have always counselled us best in our endeavour
rejoice at
;

nearly over?" " I

"

to

our freedom, and we know that, above all others, you are our greatest benefactor." " Place your opinion before me, and if I am able, I will answer you in accordance with that opinion."
acquire

"Captain Hamilton,

known the Greeks those who govern

for

have reflected that you have many years. We throw over all
I

us, for they never govern us as they ought, and seeing that we have no political man fit to rule us, we have come to ask for your advice, and because,

whatever

is

decided by the Assembly, we dismiss

to

it

has

been

decided

make

Cockrane

high

admiral,

and

Church generalissimo, and now we want a Will England give us a president, or a king?"
" "

politician.

No, that will never happen." May France give us one?"

<

" That's likely."

"Kussia?" "No." "Prussia?" "No." "The East?" "No."

"
Spain."
" Well, the kingdoms, I said, those Courts are not to give us a ruler, what
all

"No, that can't be." As I had mentioned

then,
if all

are "

we

to

do?"
find a Greek."

Look about and

250

KOLOKOTRONfiS,
have no Greek who
is

"We

sufficiently

worthy; we can

only choose Kapodistria." When he heard the name of Kapodistria he turned and looked fixedly at me. " Was it not you who told me that you would not have
Kapodistria because he had been in the Eussian ministry ?" "Yes, that was upon another occasion, but now it is
different,

because we have the protection of

right

England.

The sea is the an Englishman

is

hand

of Greece,

at the

head of

and we have put the navy; her left hand

her power on shore, and that we have also put under an Englishman. If England will now give us a politician

we

will take him, and then we shall no longer break our heads one against the other; but if this cannot be, as you say, we must then choose Kapodistria." " Take he or devil

Kapodistria

any other

you

like,"

replied, warmly, "for you are quite lost." I wanted to hear this from his own mouth, and

I did

way our conversation terminated, and I left immediately. I had lost a great deal of time on board the frigate, and the drum of the Assembly began
hear
it,

and in

this

to

beat.

When

the

plenipotentiaries
left

from the three

islands heard the

drum, they

Panagia, in order to go to with his glass and embarked in his cutter for the Panagia. As the representatives went on purpose to question him, Hamilton first put the question to them, saying, " How is it that you have left the Assembly?" " We were coming to ask your opinion." "I gave my opinion to Kolokotrones," he replied; "do

and went away to the Hamilton. Hamilton saw them

what he

you," and then he returned to his frigate. Panagia was half an hour distant from the Assembly. As soon as the Hydriotes returned they called for me,
tells

when

I related to

them

all

that had passed.

We

again

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

met together
Kapodistria.
finished
at

251

early morn,
letters

The

of invitation were

and signed an address to begun and

and sent away to three parts, and so that business was completed. We met the next day to resolve upon a president for the Senate, and the members voted for a

On the day following, rushing to the Assemone was for Zaimes, another for Basla, and another bly, for Piasa from Androusa, and there was a complete
presidency.
division. The next day succeeding that there was the same thing going on. Seeing how great was the division and caprice of every one around, I rose straightway to my

"Honourable Assembly," I cried, "we are sitting and quarrelling about a president of the Parliament,
feet.

whilst our country is in danger of being ruined. We have had an Assembly sitting for seven months, whilst Kioutahi is president in Eastern Greece, and the president
of the Peloponnesus is Ibrahim, and yet we are sitting and wrangling. May is now here, and Athens is in great danger, and the Peloponnesus is also imperilled: shall not one out of so many Greek representatives be spared that we

may make
who was

a President ?
I

Are we

still

to

go on sitting and

wrangling?"

looked around and saw a nice old

man

I did not know sitting amongst the Cretans. his name, nor did I look to see what it was, but sprang up in the middle of the Assembly, took hold of him, and leading

him in front of the seat of him on a stool. "This man

President Sissines, I put

is

worthy!"

cried;
is

and

with one voice the Assembly cried aloud,

"He

worthy,

he is worthy!" and there was great clapping of hands, and thus it was settled. They blessed the memory of my The father, but Pienieres seemed as if he were frightened.

Assembly was then dissolved. On one occasion I went to Nauplia and said to the * The Boumeliotes receive their pay, whilst Government,

252

KOLOKOTBONES,
all

the Peloponnesians are stripped of their and have not where to lay their heads

by Ibrahim,

why do you not

pay those who have lost so much ?" to form twelve thousand disciplined

They then resolved soldiers; this number

was

to be

reckoned as

fifteen

thousand, and with the over-

plus the proportion could be so reckoned as to afford thirty grosia a month to each. They told me that they would be required to serve three months beforehand, at the expiration
of

which they were to go and receive their monthly pay. Three months passed, and I sent to take the month's pay, when I received for answer that " a small donation of two
arid a half millions (of grosia)

has arrived, but the Govern-

ment had other necessary affairs to attend to, and they have used it. Your experience," it said, " will be able to
prevail on the soldiers to

have patience." Our rising was totally different from any which had The revoluever taken place in Europe before our day.

tions of

Europe had always been against their rulers they were civil wars. Our war was more just than any of them it was a nation it was rising up against another nation
a war with a people whom it never desired to acknowledge as ruling them to whom it had never taken oaths of
;

fealty, except

when made

to do so

by force

neither had

a Sultan at any time any inclination to regard the Greek people as his people, but only as his slaves. Once, when

we had gone to Nauplia, Hamilton came to see me. " You Greeks must have a treaty," he said, " and England will
act as mediator."

" with " This will never come to pass," I made answer; us it is freedom or death. Captain Hamilton, we have
never yet

made

some
the

of us, others they

a treaty with the Turks ; they have killed have enslaved by the sword but
;

rest, like ourselves,

have lived
killed,

generation.

Our king was

from generation to he made no bond, and his

free

ff/T->ji

no'j^fy ')

NOTES BOTZARES, A SOULIOTE CHIEF.

^N/VKS/TV
..
or

KLEPHT AND WABBIOE.

citadel

253

Las carried on a never-ending battle against the Turks and there are two fortresses which have never surrendered."

"Where
tresses ?

is

this

royal

"

garrison

which are your

for-

"Our royal garrison is with the bands called Klephts; the fortresses are Mani, Souli, and the hills." He said no more.
fools
first

The world said we were fools, because if we had not been we should not have made the rising until we had
got together our ammunition, our cavalry, our explo;

our powder magazines, and our stores we would have reckoned up our own powers as against the Turkish power. Now when we have conquered, when we have
sives,

successfully terminated our struggles,

we

are praised and

we are applauded been reviled and

if

we had not succeeded we should have

cursed.

We

are like a

small heavily-

laden boat which, lying in a harbour where fifty or sixty large ships are waiting with their cargoes, cuts herself
adrift,

spreads her

sails,

of a strong gale blowing

sells

and goes on her voyage in the face she goes on her errand, and she
;

her merchandise, makes a good profit, and comes back Then all the ship's captains who to port safe and sound.

were

left
;

man

" Here is a true behind, cry out aloud, saying, here is a pallikar ; and a wise one, unlike us, who

are sitting here idling and are full of fear captains are upbraided as being worthless but
!

"

And
if

those
little

the

boat had not been successful, then they would have said, " What an idiot to go out with such a burthen, in such a

wind

to be lost

"
!

The commandership of a Greek army was of necessity a perfect martyrdom, because he was made to be both leader, to him to judge, and adviser, and therefore they had to run and fro each day he had to hold his camp together by
;

254

KOLOKOTBONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

and promising tales to him was left the procuring supplies and ammunition, and no one listened until the
;

cajolery
of

leader called. In Europe, on the contrary, the commanderin-chief gave his orders to his generals, the generals to the

and the colonels to the majors, and so throughout. The general formed his plan of campaign, and it was carried out. If Wellington had given me an army of forty thousand, I could have governed it but if five hundred
colonels,
;

Greeks had been given to him to lead, he could not have governed them for an hour. Every Greek had his caprices

and

his hobby,

and

to get

any

service out of them, one

had

to be

menaced and

another to be cajoled, according to the

nature of the man.

CHAPTER

XI.

November, 1826, when I went down to Hermione for INthe Assembly, I left Gennaios behind, in order that

he should endeavour
Ibrahim was carrying

to on.

impede the devastation which The captains and chief men of

the district of Karytaina at that time made a proposition " If to him: you will build up the fort of Karytaina, Gennaios, Karytaina could be guarded on all sides as well
as Phanari and all the middle districts." Gennaios was " I must send himself persuaded of this, but he answered, and ask my father's opinion, and then we will see about
it."

So he despatched a foot-messenger to me with the proposal about a fort, and I gave him permission to build
it.

As soon as he received my permission he set about it earnestly, and paid for lime, and got four lime-kilns made,
also sent about to find out masons, so that the fort

and he

might be immediately commenced.

build they
filled

When

they began to

came

across four or five hollow places, which

with powder and exploded, and on account of this they it was said that cannon had been discovered, and so the He never allowed any one to go report spread about. his fort, because there was in every place a traitor to over be found, and therefore Ibrahim, having been told that

cannon had been found, and that they were

fired off daily,

256

KOLOKOTRONES,
to

made no attempt
happen
the
gates
built

go "thither

lest,

indeed,

that cannons were really

first

there.

might so Gennaios had

it

and then the

cisterns,
it

when he

commenced carrying up the fort as far as at the time. He at once had the furnaces
baked
biscuits,

was possible set to work and

for

which he sent
of

to

Demitsana in exchange

three or four loads

powder.

When

he happened to

have no

he sent into Zante and bought five or six hundredweight. He also purchased two cannons, which
lead,

were transported

to the fort, and then got carpenters to make gun carriages also, which were placed on the fort. The fort being thus strengthened, the districts of Phanari and Karytaina carried their property thither, and

deposited

it in the fort for safety. They worked at it throughout the whole winter until April came. They erected three caserns, and finished the interior, and at this time, at the

battle of Lala, he
lonia.

had the two cannons brought from Cephafixed

They were

up in one

place.

They were brought

over and put into the fort at considerable expense.

He

placed two hundred soldiers in it when it was completed. It was near two rivers, and whilst they were erecting it they

found some helmets that belonged to the Crusaders. Niketas had a sentinel on a hill near Tripolitsa, who,

when
all

as they did

the Turks went forth on their pillaging expeditions, in. every direction of Messenia making slaves

round

gave a signal that the Turks were out, and as

fort also

soon as this was known, the

made

a signal,

when

the surrounding families came to the fort, bringing in their animals. When the signal on the hill was seen the two

cannons were

fired off,

and thus

all

knew

that the Turks

were out again ravaging Messenia, and thus the people near the fort were protected. He had sentinels also at Derveni
of Leontari.

consequence

of

The people became more emboldened this, and the husbandmen began to

in
till

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

257

their fields again, as they were protected in this manner from any sudden surprise by the enemy. Before this they were dying of hunger, for if agriculturists owned any oxen

they did not dare to take them out to make use of them but now they could do so, being under the protection of the
;

fort.

The

sentinels were always at

work night and day

attending to the lights, so that throughout these districts

there was no

much
April.

inspirited,

more ravaging going on, and the people were and worked to help the masons until Gennaios was still carrying on this work when, in
of the

April, he received the order to go to Athens.

On

the part

Assembly

of

Troizen,

we

sent

Karaiskakes and Hadji Michaeles, with a hundred and twenty horses, and twenty-five thousand grosia and
cavalry.
I

was

freed from the

to Argos.

and went

Assembly in the month of May, The camp at Athens was broken up,
soldiers returned.

and the Peloponnesian

As soon as

reached Argos I sent orders to all the districts in which there were no Turks. I did not send to Messenia because
there were three forts there, and the Messenian armies

were therefore always impeded by the enemy.

Ibrahim.
I

I left the

troops of the surrounding country at Tripolitsa, for fear of

despatched, however,

my commands to Mistra,

where there was no apprehension concerning Ibrahim, as he was at Patras at this time and I also transmitted my
;

orders

both to

Agio-Petro and Monemvasia, and they

to build a

replied to

them by asking me

camp

for

them,

and then I might command them, and they would come. I marched over to Corinth. Grivas and all the rest of the Eoumeliotes were at the fort of Nauplia, and did not move at

my

summons, and Nikolas Tsavellas was

forts there,

at Corinth

they

were holding the

not leave them
;

namely, at Corinth,

and did
an

they seemed to look upon those 18

forts as

258

KOLOKOTRONES,
I

inheritance.

therefore found myself

on the

hill

of

Corinth (Agio-Georgio) with two hundred and fifty soldiers only but Zaimes had a force also, and he, with Panagiotes
;

Notaras, looked forward to fight with those malcontents

who were
" Leave
soldiers

in Corinth.

them

alone,"
for

said

" we

must
of

together

the

sole

purpose

gather aiding the

fatherland."

At

this very

time Ibrahim sallied out of Patras and

summoned Nevekos to submit, and Nevekos made his submission, when Ibrahim despatched him to prevail upon others to submit also, when two parts of the Kalavrytians submitted, together with the whole of Patras and some parts of Vostitsa. He then came to Kalavryta, two

hours beyond the capital Kalavryta, with the object of the whole of that part making its submission also.

Ibrahim now endeavoured to conciliate the people. A Turk was not permitted to cut or to burn the standing corn, and in consequence of this many were gained over,

and he gave papers

of

submission to numbers of them. The

whole of the captains submitted, and even the captains

belonging to the -chiefs also gave in their submission. The Petimezaioi and others formed themselves into a
force, the

others to

submitted people went to Megaspelaion, and the hills, among which they were shut up.
this,

and being incapable of doing anything, Basil Petimeza was one night, through some treachery, surprised, and barely escaped with his life.
Following upon

He immediately sent out his brother Nikolaki, who came " te me where I then was in the villages of Kortho. Hasten
to Spelaion,"

he

"
cried,

for Spelaion is betrayed,

and the

whole

district will

be lost."

I resolved to despatch

my

adjutant, Photakos, directly, and also

my

standard-bearer,

Karachalio> and gave them to Nikolaki Petimeza to go

KLBPHT AND WABRIOB.

259

with him to Megaspelaion. I got together the Corinthian forces, and they went to the monastery. In the space of three days I amassed fifteen hundred

men and
I

despatched them under Panagiotes and Georgaki

Cheliotes and their captains to the villages of Vostitsa, and

we

myself went to Agio-Georgio, in Phonia, and although did not get very near them, they were able to fall upon

the submitted soldiery and the Turks, and wholly ravaged Diakophto, taking many captives and also a good portion
of spoils.

On

their return they attacked the monastery,

and

killed there about sixty Turks, after

to the

which they went

fifty of his

camp cavalry and came but after making

his
to
glass,
it,

back

at Kalavryta.

Ibrahim took

opposite the monastery to reconnoitre,

a

good survey of the position through he saw that he could not possibly lay siege

as the place

was a most

difficult

one,

and therein

fore retired.
It

was through our prisoners that we

suffered

the

Peloponnesus. They were Turkish prisoners, who betrayed the Petimezaioi, at Chelmos.

Whilst I was at Agio-Georgio

wrote letters to Gen-

naios and Koliopoulos, who were together, and ordered them into Livartzi, a submitted district of Kalavryta. My " mandate was, "Fire and sword to those ivho have submitted !

And

so they passed over to Livartzi. Ibrahim now sent out spies to see where I was,

and what

was the amount of the force that I had with me, and he a Greek to learn gave three hundred pieces of money to fall down upon me suddenly. where I was, so that he might I seized the spy, however, and sent word to the public
authorities,

the town

and hung him at Kalavryta, two miles outside had him hung up with a paper upon him which
" a traitor
to his

detailed his crime

nation."

I sent

two

other

men whom we had

seized to the monastery of

Mega-

260

KOLOKOTRONfiS,
and then

spelaion, because they were not clearly traitors,

I

went to Spelaion myself. Ibrahim heard that there was an army of five thousand men gone into Livartzi, and that I was in another part
Spelaion
is

with two thousand.

about two hours distant

from

Kalavryta.

other body of

men

Koliopoulos with the were also about four hours off. Upon

Gennaios and

Ibrahim learning that the Karytainan armies had arrived, he marched with his forces towards Tripolitsa and Karytaina,

and sent

for Deli

Achmet Pasha, who was

to

march

into Patras with the submitted soldiers,

and they, going along the road, came across the man whom we had hung up, and he went up to him and read the paper fastened to
his breast

and on his shoulders, and he plucked

his beard,

and

terrified

the whole of Karytaina, and taking a force df

a picked force eight thousand cavalry aud infantry of chastising Akovo and went forth for the purpose

Langadia, and with an intention

of

burning the villages of

Demitsana, Zygovisti, and Stemnitsa, whence, it was said, the Greeks, who were with Gennaios, had gone. Gennaios

and Koliopoulos, when they heard that Deli Achmet Pasha had gone forth and would pass over to Patras, and that Ibrahim was on his way to Tripolitsa, turned back, and coming across the advance guard of Ibrahim, had a skir-

mish and

killed about fifteen.

Whilst Ibrahim was marching to Tripolitsa, his force, which had been sent to the villages, Akovo and Langadia, arrived at those places. Akovo and Langadia had already

been burnt, but what was left of them they burnt over again, and the Turkish army stationed itself on the plain
of Demitsana.

whither

it

Gennaios and Koliopoulos, not knowing had marched, Koliopoulos returned and went to
of

Heliodora, and Gennaios -marched by night, and with only

five

hundred men took possession

Demitsana and

built

KLEPHT AND WABRIOR.

up breastworks

261

to fight from, whilst the rest of the Karytainan forces dispersed to the hills where their families were, for the purpose of protecting those families. The Turks

arrived as they were passing over to go to their families, and passed the night on the plain of Demitsana, when the
soldiers below fell

upon them for plunder, and began to shoot them, and the soldiers on the hills sent for a rein-

forcement either from Gennaios or Koliopoulos. Gennaios not knowing that the Greeks were all round the Turks, and
seeing the Turks on the plain, resolved to attack them at night with his little body of five hundred soldiers, and

moving forward he arrived at the plain during the and when he got near the Turkish army he fired a
into them.

night,

volley

the other Greeks heard this volley they were at once convinced that Gennaios must be there, so

When

self opposite the

that every Greek fired off his gun whenever he found himTurks. When the Turks saw that they

were thus encircled they collected on the plain and passed

the night in camp, sending out some cavalry as scouts. The number of the Turks was eight thousand. Gennaios

marched forward and seized upon the road which led to Demitsana, so that when the morning broke the Turks would see that there was no way for them to depart, as if come up to the they tried to go into the country they would
breastworks which he had built up to fight from. When the Turks heard the volleys of the Greeks they

were convinced that they proceeded from the armies led by Gennaios and Koliopoulos. They were therefore much alarmed, and turned back towards Tripolitsa. Gennaios and his band advanced nearer to them, and the Turks

marched

to the vale of Alonistaina in order to

pass at

that place.

The Alonistainans came

to

in front of the vale

and drove them back

endeavoured
cross

into another road,

when the Turks

near to Akrodoremma, and then

262

KOLOKOTBONES,
who were approaching in that quarter, forced go in like manner to Trikorpha. In that pursuit
killed,

the Greeks,

them

to

many Turks were

and many horses were taken before

he marched

the Turks got back to Tripolitsa.

As Ibrahim had

his whole force in Tripolitsa,

out to go to the forts of Messenia, and Gennaios with four

thousand Karytainans went straightway into Messenia in

order that they should not be able, as they passed along, to make all the people slaves. Phourtzalokamara is about two

miles distant from Kalamata, and

naios took up his station.
sallied out

When

from Tripolitsa, I

was there that GenIbrahim had marched into the villages of

it

I learnt that

Kalavryta, which had submitted, and sent Basil Petimeza with fifteen hundred men to Agio-Vlasi, one of the sub-

mitted villages, to take from the inhabitants all their papers of submission and send them back to those who had
given them, and to
tell

them that

would give them in

exchange the papers of submission of the nation. Five hundred Argives came at the same time, and I sent them
also to Basil Petimeza.

Nezon, his wife's brother.

Tsokres was at their head, and Agio-Vlasi was seized, and the

papers of submission were sent to me. There were with me at Spelaion Londos, all the Petimezaioi, Lechorites, Soter Theocharopoulos, and Benizelos

Kouphos. Londos.
villages,

The vacated army

I

said to them,

and

of Gianni Notaras was with " Let us go to the submitted march on to Patras ? " They answered,

forward, to-morrow we will follow," and the four hundred remained at the monastery. I took my own men, and Kolphinos Petimeza his four hundred also, and we went together to a village called Petzakos. I sent word
to the submitted villages that

"

Go

papers of submission

if they would deliver up the which they had from the Turks I would give them papers from the nation. Before I moved

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

forward to those submitted
I

263
still

villages,

and whilst

at

wrote a letter to the Government asking Agio-Georgio them " to send me both soldiers and ammunition, because the country is in great danger from submission and if
;

you

know any invention by which an army can be If you should also know please forward it.
invention for

making gunpowder out

machine
also,

of

upon air, of any other earth, and lead out

it,

fed

of stones, send this

and we will use

I

for the

men
send

about here have not yet discovered such.

pray you

me

all these."

monk, and exhorted him to speak to the Government about the danger which was thus threatening the country. The monk went to Nauplia and told them to assemble the Parliament, as he was charged to read
I entrusted this letter to a

aloud to them that of which he was the bearer, and also

he had

fore assembled the

them somewhat from my part. They theremembers, and he read them the letter, and also delivered to them by word of mouth all that he was commissioned to say. One of the members said, " ammunition when he has only What can he want with " The monk assured them that I had four fifty men ? but they did not believe it. The Parliament sent thousand,
to tell

Anagnostes Zapheiropoulos from Zygovisti, and Anagnostes Papagiannakopoulos to see the condition of the armies

and
"

districts.

They came

to

Agio-Georgio.

said,

Our country is endangered." They on their side told me all which they had been charged to say to me, which was that I should go to Argos, in order that we might all unite our arms there, and then the whole force could move on
together.
If I

had

listened to

them and gone

to

Argos the

country would have been

lost,

because in that case the

have submitted directly greater part of the districts would to Argos. they heard that Kolokotrones had gone
II

Go back

to

them,"

I said,

"

and

tell

them by word

of

264

KOLOKOTBONES,

mouth that I will do according to their plan, that they also must send forth as many as bear arms, believe in Christ, and
love their country.
be, let

Cretans, or whatever kind of soldiers

them come, and we will meet this great they may danger, and I I will become of the smallest account amongst them all let them but send me ammunition, and as for provisions, we will do what we can with water and the bodies of sheep we may be able to manage."
;
;

They went back, but they sent me no reply neither ammunition, nor provisions, nor paper whereon to write despatches, and not even did they send one consolatory
;

and thus they abandoned both me and the Peloponnesus together. When I saw how great was their indifference I moved on to Megaspelaion and exerted myself as I have related before.
epistle to the districts,

Deli Achmet Pasha, going out from Patras with the submitted Corinthian soldiers, and part of the submitted
Vostitsanoi, pressed on to Agia-Paraskevy

a hundred Greeks
;

and killed about them were from Corinth, under The Pasha Cheliotes two good captains were also killed.
most
of

returned afterwards to Patras.

the

When

I arrived at Petzakos

men who had

submitted went to the Pasha and told him

that

Kolokotrones and Basil Petimeza had only a few soldiers with them, and that they could go and easily

destroy us. Deli Achmet fell in with this opinion and marched with six thousand submitted Greeks, Neketos

accompanying him with two thousand of the submitted Greeks. He came to Lapates, which was three hours from where Petimeza was stationed, and one hour distant from
myself.
I

had written

to

Megaspelaion for Londos, Theo-

charopoulos, Nickolas Petimeza, and Lechorites to come, and they sent word to-day or to-morrow, but they had not A captain of the submitted armies from the yet arrived.
village in

which I was, that

is to

say,

from Petzakos, went

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

o the Turks and said, " Kolokotrones
is

265

at Petzakos with

only four hundred men,

and we can

easily go

and attack

him."

When the Pasha heard these words of the captains, he immediately, that same evening, summoned all the captains to receive his counsel about going against me.

When
is

all the captains were gathered there the Pasha said, " Information has been brought to me that Kolokotrones

Petzakos with only four hundred men, and we will go and attack him." There was one captain present, one of those who had submitted, whose name was Stamates " We will not go to Botiotes, who, hearing this, called out, Petzakos, we have a king, and we will not go and destroy
at

down

addressed these words to the Pasha; and the Pasha laughed, saying, " Whom do you wish, then, that we

him."

He

" The same captain answered should go against and destroy ? " we will go against Petimeza, who is at Agio-Vlasi Why, So his resolution was taken, with two thousand men."

and

it

was agreed
brothers

to

go forth by night and attack Basil

Petimeza.

Two
came

deserted from the submitted ranks and

to us, saying,

"

They are coming upon you."

I did

not repeat this to the Greeks, but I left

my

adjutant and

Oikonomopoulos

from Stemnitsa, and

Karachalio,

my

standard-bearer. I left them in the village, saying to them " I for the village was a sball go out to sleep previously,

strong position to fight from, according to

I

my judgment.

If

am
;

outside, I thought, I can go to

need

but

if I

am within, and
I

any

aid to

me.

them to help in case of with them, they cannot bring went therefore to the heights of the

village, to a rock,

and I stationed a watch with ten men,

skirmishing,

remain there the whole of the night. At daybreak the Turks advanced upon Basil Petimeza and the Argives at Agio-Vlasi, and there was some little when our people departed. There was no blood

who were

to

266

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

shed either upon one side or the other. The Argives went away to Argos. Basil Petimeza did not see them, neither did I. So Basil remained in his post at Agio-Vlasi, and the

Turks with the whole

Patras.

of the submitted soldiers returned to

The next day Londos, Nikolaki * Petimeza, Theocharopoulos, Bouphos, and Lechorites, with the four hundred men who were in the monastery, came to me, and then I arranged to leave Petzakos, because I did not know who had submitted, and who had not, therefore I determined to
go to Kerpeni, which was a much stronger place for defence. Londos and the other leaders said, " Old chief, let us stop here all together." I answered, " You are untrustworthy, I shall go the whole of you, and I know not what to do
;

away and make an army for myself, and you can stay
instead.

Kerpeni I sent my adjutant, Photakos, to seek out Gennaios and Koliopoulos, and to bid them join me. Gennaios at that time was at
I

When

arrived

at

Phretzali,

and within the space of thousand men.

and Koliopoulos gathered the soldiers together, five days came to me with five
his

When Londos and

soldiers
I

company heard

that

my own

had arrived they went over

to Argos, not because

had got my own army again, but because they learnt that Deli Achmet Pasha had gone to gather in the currants, and having lost all hope of being able to get the currants for themselves (for which purpose they had been waiting), they
departed.
I

spread

my

soldiers all

over the submitted

villages, and made the following proclamation: ''Every village that does not return shall have all its houses burnt, its vineyards shall also be burnt, and I will sweep
it

from the face of the earth

*

but

if

any

of

them

shall

The termination aki

is

an addition frequently bestowed on names

out of familiarity or affection.

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

267

turn back to us, the nation will forgive it everything," and " If ruany'other threats,"as, for instance, you imagine that

Ibrahim
lages,

will give you five hundred men to guard your vilyou are deceiving yourselves, because he has no such force, and if you flee from one part to another for safety, we shall come down upon you nevertheless, and shall burn

and slay you all." When I distributed these proclamations " they were shown to Ibrahim, and he said, I will have a battle with this Kolokotrones." The submitted villages, however, did turn back, and we received from them their
papers of submission, and gave them in exchange those of the nation. So they returned and went back to their villages in order to save their houses from being burnt.
I

marched forward with

eight thousand

men, and we

took our way to Vostitsa, and upon reaching Vostitsa, so that we opposite the heights, we placed men there,
to might ascertain if the enemy were coming, in order that But the Turks had no intention of fighting at fight. there solely to harvest the grapes, and but had

time,

gone

had stationed cavalry at the extremities of the plain We stopped there so that we could not fall upon them. two days, and I challenged them to combat, but they had no mind for a battle. Seeing that it was useless to remain,
and having no provisions to allow of our staying there, I took Gennaios and half of the army with me and went and to Agio-Vlasi, and left Koliopoulos, Meletopoulos, of the Petimezaioi to look after Patras and the villages
Vostitsa.

When

I arrived at

the fort of

" her submission (I had left Niketas preparing to give in out of sheer in Messenia with an army, but his soldiers,

a letter from Agio-Vlasi I received " Messenia is thus Karytaina, which read
:

come to us as quickly as hunger, had left him), "only not have to suffer this." I left possible, that we may

268

KOLOKOTRONES,

Gennaios thereupon, and announced to Koliopoulos that they must stop and watch the movements of Deli Achmet
Pasha, and the submissions that were being carried on in Gastouni and Pyrgos, and that I should go forward with

two hundred of

my

body-guard.

troops at this time, and, joining to

The Pasha collected his them the submitted

bodies, left Patras to go against Koliopoulos in Kaukaria,

a strong place. Koliopoulos was there alone, for he did not send any information to Gennaios, who was six miles
farther on
,

because he had no idea that the Turks had

fell

any intention of going to attack him, and thus they

upon him unexpectedly; but he fought a good fight. A hundred and fifty Turks were killed, but among our men no harm was done. Chrestos Photomaras, Meletopoulos,
Nikolas Petimeza, and others were

among them

to the

number

of

two thousand

So Deli Achmet and Gastouni, and going down

the Turks were eight thousand. Pasha returned in the direction of Patras
:

to Divres, that

and the

neighbouring villages immediately submitted.

As soon as Gennaios, who was at Livartzi, heard about the Turks and the submissions, he encamped at Paralongous, about an hour distant from the Turkish

camp;

Chrysanthos Sisinopoulos and Thanases Koumaniotes were with him. When the Turks saw Gennaios they broke up their camp and went to Lala. Gennaios sent
different bodies against them, who attacked and harassed the Turkish rear, which was also attacked by a cohort

Nemouda. In this skirmish forty-five and five captured, three Greeks also were slain. The Pasha had made a forced march from Gastouni and Patras thither, and Gennaios turned with his arms to Divres for the purpose of chastising those who had submitted, as also to get them to go back to the Greek side, and in consequence of this they and all the
at

the bridge

of

Turks were

killed

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

villages

269

them, but they not only did not heed him, but persuaded the districts of Phanari to submit also. Wherefore Gennaios

round about came back to the bad submitted, and Gennaios wrote two

nation.
letters to

Pyrgos

was forced to go and take severe measures with them, and he burnt some houses by way of giving them an I example, and also that others might profit by it. marched forward, as I said before, and crossing over the
in

Kalavryta, Karytaina, and Leontari, arrived Messenia, and went to the village Zavazika, where Niketas was, two miles from Kalamata. I accumudistricts of

lated

many

soldiers

on

my

road, and

we mustered some

thousands of Arcadians and one thousand Androusani

in three days
;

to

two
for

the villages hundred dishes of

had no provisions for them, but sent for supplies, and in this way received
corn and a thousand animals
the

the

use

of

army.

The submitted people

part
of

of to

Patras,

Kalavryta,

and
took

Phanari wrote

Ibrahim.

Ibrahim

his

measures,

and

sent

his

lieutenant with a force of some thousands with weapons

and axes

into Messenia, with orders to go with fire

all

and
their

with hatchets through

not destroy by
hatchets.
fire

the district.

What

they did

they were to cut

down with

destroyed.

all Olives, fig-trees, and mulberry-trees were Five thousand of the cavalry were stationed

upon the
had

not go heights, so that the Greeks should

down
with

to the plain,

and do

battle.

"

said to
life
if

"

thy not to

Kehayas, any one be slain, because

thou

With thy shalt pay

I

life,"

Ibrahim
it,

for

fight,

but to burn and destroy."

send you thither He himself went

to

with the remaining part of his

army

Zacharo, and

ordered the submitted districts to assemble for the pur-

He gave his pose of going out to destroy Karytaina. the Messenians, lieutenant injunctions first to send to

270

KOLOKOTBONES,

calling
to
to

upon them to submit, and if they did not submit, begin his work directly. He gave this order in writing
slaves,

two captured Gastounian place where I was stationed.

who brought

it

to the

Upon
I

reading this decree, which was in

itself so terrible,

answered him, not on the part of myself, but on the " This action with which part of the people of Messenia, would terrify us, threatening to cut down and burn you

up our fruit-bearing

trees, is

not warfare

the senseless

trees cannot oppose themselves to

any one; men alone

who have

soldiers
;

to each other

not with trees

cut

and slaves can be arrayed in opposition and this is legitimate warfare with men, but we will not submit no, not if you
if

down every branch, not

you burn

all
!

our trees and

houses, nor leave one stone upon another What, and if do cut down and burn up all our trees, you cannot dig you up and carry off the earth which nourished them that
;

remain ours, and will bear them If only one Greek shall be left, we will still go again. on fighting, and never hope that you will make our earth

same earth

will

still

your own dismiss that from your mind." As soon as Kehayas received this answer he began his work in earnest with fire and axe. We endeavoured
to force his

incited

to

into a battle, but they were not to be but only to execute his work. Some battle,

army

Greeks during the night seized upon four Bulgarians, and had them under examination, when they told me that

their orders were, not to have a battle, but only to look

that this

work

of destruction

was carried

out.

then went

over to

Armyro and summoned the captains and other

Maniotes, bidding them find a boat so that we might send Ibrahim's letter to the admirals, and also the answer of
the people to him,
to

be

opened outside Messenia or

Captain Panagiotes Gian-

wherever they were met with.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOR.

271

neas had a schooner, and we gave fifteen dollars and the letters, and also another letter of my own, in which I said,
!

" Behold what the enemy of the Greeks has done " And she went, and was to return to us when she had found them. I then marched out, and I and Mourtzinos joined together,

What are you doing, brothers ? shall we not occupy Armyro with the thousand of Peloponnesian soldiers which I have?" Upon this they assembled again, both
I said,

when

"

Anastases Mavromichaeles and other captains of Mani, and all went to Armyro. On the very same day I received a
note from Basil Alonistiotes,

who was

" Phanari
measures."

at Karytaina, saying,
;

is

beginning

to

submit

only take

some

captains, myself, to go over to Karytaina and Leontari to collect an

immediately summoned Mourtzinos and the and Niketas also, and I took two hundred men
I

army
was

to take to Phanari, for I at

had an idea that Ibrahim

soldiers
also.

Zacharo

collecting

And

so

in

twenty-four hours I found myself at Karytaina, and sent forward soldiers to Phanari.

The schooner succeeded in meeting with the French squadron, and upon making a signal was reconnoitred by the three
admirals,

who read

the letters, but did not believe that

it could possibly be true that Ibrahim had done the things alleged, because they had sent to him strict orders that he

but that dog did not heed them, he showed the enmity and ill-feeling which and in this way he bore towards the Greeks. They then called for the late ever-to-be-remembered Hamilton, and a French and a

was

to cease all warfare

order that they if that might be able to ascertain with their own eyes which had been asserted was really true. When they

Bussian frigate

set sail for

Armyro

in

reached Armyro they disembarked, and found the captains who were still remaining there. From Armyro to Kala-

mata

is

that the only half an hour, and they saw truly

272
districts

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
had indeed been cut down and burnt, all that Ibrahim had done.
for

the

captains showed them

The three commanders embarked

in three cutters,

and

went as far as the river of Kalamata, which is about half an hour from Armyro, and summoned Kehayas to put an end " with fire and hatchet." And his answer to his work, was,
"

My

orders from his highness are to cut " The three Powers have sent him a

that he

must make an armistice,

is

down and burn." letter, telling him and now he has done

that which
"

contrary to

all

the laws of war, as well as orders from

contrary to humanity."
I

know nothing about

is

that

I receive

my

one who

above me.

Let the admirals and Ibrahim do

what they choose." The commanders upon this departed, and made sail, and went to the admirals, and acquainted them with all they had seen, and also what they had heard from Ibrahim's
lieutenant, Kehayas.

Following upon this, the most gallant Codrington and the gallant Eussian and French admirals went to NeoKastro,* and burnt his (Ibrahim's) fleet, so that if, when they arrived at Navarino, there had been two thousand

Greeks, they would have annihilated the fifteen thousand Turks, who were in this place, and were reduced to despair
at the burning of the fleet.

The burning

of the country

thereupon ceased, and he (the lieutenant) went to NeoKastro, and Ibrahim,

to go to Karytaina,

war now ceased. About that time Karytaina gave nine hundred thousand
grosia to the armies for their
service of

there, intending departed for Navarino. The rage of This was in the month of October.

who was encamped

pay during the

five

months'

Nothing was sent

June, July, August, September, and October. to me, however neither to the districts
;

* Neo-Kastro

Navarino.

KLEPBT AND WAHBIOB.

273

body-guard two hundred men, who had gone everywhere with me. I myself was ill through the amount of intriguing and cabal going on, my feet swelled, and if I had not had Agamem-

of Messenia, Leontari, Patras, Kalavryta, was there anything disbursed. I had had for six months a of

non with me,

I should have died.

That summer

had

used twenty reams of paper in letters and despatches. The Government had gone to iEgina, and took no care

about anything, and there it remained, resting all its hopes upon the mediation of Stratford Canning at Constantinople.
I

had
no

six secretaries,
avail.

and

wrote day and night, but

it

was

of

feared for

During the time when they were submitting all round I my country, but only then at no other time,

commencement of the struggle, nor in the time of Dramales, who came with a chosen army of thirty thousand men not even then but I did fear when all
not even at the
;

were giving in their submission. The whole of Roumeli had submitted, Athens had fallen, the Koumeliote

around

me

army had

dispersed,

two islands were

left to

and only the Peloponnesus and the Kioutahi had got his subus.
;

mission tickets with him

he worked hard

and Ibrahim was about

time, so that
if

to

to spread them, send them to Constantinople in

the minister of England, or of any other

Power, should have gone to the Sultan to mediate for Greece, he should have been able to answer, "What
Greece
papers
?

Greece has entirely submitted ; here are her there may be still a few evil-disof submission
;

standing out ; but see, all the others have given posed " and in that case the Powers would have had nothing in because, if I to answer, and we should have been ruined

men

had not exerted myself against the submission which was would also have subbeing carried on, the Peloponnesus
mitted, and then

what could Hydra and Spetsai have done?

19

274

KOLOKOTRONJES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

They would have been lost. I held everything up until the naval engagement at Navarino, after which the governor came, and the French expedition took place. In 1826 I
began to put them
all in

heart

when

I built

up houses and
"

if a fort outside the camp, for then every one said that our freeKolokotrones did not feel sure that we shall get

the national

dom, he would not build up houses, nor plant vineyards on " soil and when the people saw this, and saw
;

the houses that were being built, their hopes revived, and that was the way I gave them courage.

CHAPTEE

XII.

THE 6th
only.

governor (Kapodistria) arrived at Nauplia on the of January, and stayed there one day (Theodore

Grivas being commandant), and then went to iEgina. The Parliament and Executive received him as Kapodistria
I delayed going to iEgina, so

he wrote

for

me

to go.

had

just gone from Karytaina to Argos, where Gennaios

soldiers were, when the messenger who bore " the letter came to Gennaios. Give it to me, and I will

and the other

myself," said Gennaios, and brought it into my tent to me. After reading the letter I took two hundred
deliver
it

men, and went with the other captains to Epidaurus, and When I got there and presented myself, he received me at once, because we were known to each other since 1807 at that time when he came over from Kussia, and I had met him again at Corfu, when he
thence to iEgina.

came
went

to

to Pisa,

pay a visit to his father. Afterwards, when he and took a station there, many of our friends

in those years of the rising sent

some

letters to

him con-

taining matter against me, and there were I might lately when our king came), averring that possibly

false reports (as

have done some good to the country, but that I had also done more evil. His ear, therefore, had been filled with I had played the tyrant, lying representations, such as, that

276

KOLOKOTRONfiS,
like evil sayings, so that

and the

with any favourable eye. I " said when he came, Such a

he did not look upon me understood it, however, for I

and

far-seeing, will

have done good or

As soon as he began
nation, he

*****
know
in one or two
evil to

man

as he

is,

experienced
I

mouths whether

my

country."

to reorganize the

affairs

of the

made twenty regiments out of the Eoumeliote but not one from the Moreotes. When he resoldiers, turned from doing this I said to him, " Your Excellency, why have you made no regiment out of the Peloponnesus ?
what
what
will

will

become now of the armies result to them but of all

of the Peloponnesus ?

their labours ?

"

He

" " answered, Theodoraki" (he always spoke to me thus), you do not understand foreign affairs, nor why I do this. You

must know that the three Powers have only taken the part of the Peloponnesus and the islands thus far, and have no
intention of widening these limits.
I

am
but

acting in this

manner, so that the Koumeliotes

sessed of armies in their

may

find themselves posif I

own

districts,

form the
coadjutors the Pelo-

Peloponnesians into Peloponnesian armies, " will say, Why does the governor wish to

my
arm

ponnesians when the Peloponnesus is free ? He is looking forward to the strengthening of his own army, and does not regard us who were the defenders of Greece, and so I
should be doing harm rather than good. But tell the soldiers and the captains of the Peloponnesus that we shall see what time will teach us, and bid them be patient."

He

then gave

me

a letter to

all

the submitted parts of

Patras, saying that the

Government would forgive them and that they must separate themselves from everything,
In the month of

the Turks.

May

teen thousand, under Maizon, arrived with

the French army, a force of fourall the materials

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

for war, either

277

by sea or land. The governor (Kapodistria) went by sea to Petalidi, and when I, who was then in Karytaina, heard of it, I took a hundred men with me, and went to Messenia. Niketaras was also there.

The governor and General Maizon had some

together, in

conversation

consequence of which General Maizon sent letters to Ibrahim, saying that he had arranged with the
three Powers that he should go with his

army

into the
I

Peloponnesus, "and
vessels

so,

as

have now arrived there,

write to you to bid you gather

and

soldiers,
;

and march
if

up the remnant of your away from the PeloponI

nesus forthwith

and

come prepared

to fight

you do not march away, you both by land and by

am
and

sea."

And he threw
began
paration needed
to leave

the whole of his

army

into Petalidi,

to build works, with fascines,

for batteries.

and every other pre-

He

also asked the governor

him a general and two

or three guides, so that his

armies might have reliable people who knew the place. Niketaras was therefore left. He then despatched a part
of his forces to Koron,

Neo-Kastro.

and another body was For myself I went to Karytaina.

sent to

All this time, as

many Turks

as were at Koron,

some

two or three thousand, seeing the strength of the French

dearmy, and the corresponding weakness of Ibrahim, serted from Ibrahim, and marched forward for the purpose
of seeking a conference with me, so that they might be able to secure a safe passage for themselves through the

They came up to me on the frontiers Ibrahim heard that they were gone, When of Arcadia. and had learnt what their intentions were, he sent in purnarrows to Koumeli.
suit,

and there was fighting between them, in which about a hundred regular soldiers were killed. As they desired to have a meeting in order to procure an would allow them to pass, I agreement from me, which

278

KOLOKOTBONfiS,

accepted their proposals, and sent Gennaios and Koliopoulos into Derveni of Leontari to confer with them. They

consented in the
tives

first

place to set at liberty

all their

cap-

They then assembled on the plain of Karytaina, whither our own soldiers also came. The Beys also gathered together, and I met them there. Thence they marched towards Tripolitsa, and encamped outside it. They wanted to get possession of Gennaios and Koliopoulos, and to hold them as hostages, and I warned them both not to
and
slaves.

go to their camp, but Gennaios actually went there one day quite unattended (yet I would rather he should have

been killed than have been made a captive), and I rose up and went down to Tripolitsa, and there was some fighting
in

consequence.
said,

Greek spy had been to them, and

are

had

"You who

purposing to go to Derveni,

beware, for there are

pitfalls

dug there in order

to slay

you."

The Turks then turned back

and
I

to the plain to go to Argos,

took

my army

to Achladokabo.

in the rear of their flanks.

mills,

I always followed then went down to the They

and pitched their camp there. The French general who was with the governor at Mes" senia, said to him concerning this, Do not let the Peloponnesians kill the Turks, but send your brother there." The
governor, in consequence of these words, sent his brother to the mills, and he drew up a writing by which the Turks were to be allowed to pass over unharmed. Augoustinos

met me
to give

there,

and gave me the order which the governor

had written to procure boats, when I also sent Augoustinos them a safe conduct but I likewise said to him, " We have made a treaty with them to allow them to go, but they must first set free all their slaves."
;

"What you have

Whereupon
I

said, see that it be done,"

he

said.

summoned

the Beys, and told

them about

KLEPHT AND WARBIOB.

279

the agreement concerning the slaves, when they answered, " Send out your men; and as many children as they can
find, let
I

them take them.'

immediately sent out two captains, and they brought back eighty children who had been carried off by the and also a hundred and twenty women. There Turks, were three or four women who were dressed in male

garments
liberty.

these
I

Then

we took by force, and set them all at gave them guides, following them close

in the rear, Augoustinos also accompanying me, and we consented that they should pass by Corinth. They pitched their tents at Agio-Basil, when Augoustinos said to me " Let us go to the same place too."
:

not thy duty," I answered; "they might use some treachery. If they fell upon us, they could do whatis

"This

ever they willed, as our force

I

is

only four hundred."

then went to Agio-Georgio, which was about an hour's journey in a straight line, and on the day following the

Turks went down into the country. There was a Greek garrison at the fort, and the country was held by Greeks.

We
fort,

went along with Augoustinos, and had a tent below the because we always had some fears regarding them. We

also sent to Ypsilanti,

who was

at Eleusis, to

come with

we might speak together about the permission that the governor had given for them
his regiment to Lontraki, that
to go to Derveni,

request,

and

and pass by that route. He came at my and Augoustinos met him at Lontraki.
sent a corvette to see
if

Then the French

we were going

to

let the Albanians cross (from Patras), and also to observe our own movements. Ypsilanti wished that they should

arms and horses behind them, and then cross because we could press on them in the Peloponnesus ; over, but if we had wanted to kill them, we could have killed
leave their

them

in the Peloponnesus

but the order of the governor

280

KOLOKOTBONES,
I had given them The Turks seeing this of affairs, moved off with their hosdaybreak, and crossed from Vostitsa

was that they should pass

hostages
for

over,

and

their safe passage.

disorder in the state

tages one morning at to Patras. We followed attack

with our soldiers, in

order to

them because they transgressed the conditions by taking the hostages with them. If we had seized upon the Black Kocks no one could have passed.

me what
Patras
;

Captain Chrestos Alexandropoulos from Stemnitsa told " The Turks had outside follows
:

encamped

Deli

Achmet thereupon
had a conference.
'

sent a

man

with

whom

their leaders

you leaving Ibrahim

our pay.' with me.'
'

'

'Why,' he asked, 'are Because he does not give us

I will give you your pay if you will remain The Albanian Bey then went to persuade the Pasha to remain but the Pasha had no wish to stay with him, and struck him with his sword, upon which he called
;
'

out,

Strike

The name
After six
to

and drew his pistol and killed him." of the Bey who was killed was Mousam Bey. days the Albanians fled from Patras and went
not,'

me

and the hostages also fled. Upon this, Augoustinos and myself went to Trikala, and afterwards
Juannina,

returned to Nauplia, when Augoustinos persuaded the goveruor to raise the seat of government, and move to
Nauplia.

say that Ibrahim, that the French army had 1827,

I forgot to

when he heard in April, come over, went with his

it,

whole army to Tripolitsa, and utterly destroyed

pulling

down all the walls to their very foundations, and after that was done he sowed the place with salt. On his return he seized twenty-six of our own people, the Alonistainans, all of

whom

were our relations.

Ibrahim once charged me with avoiding coming to an engagement with him. I answered him that if he would meet

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

me

281

with five hundred or with as many thousands, and I had equal forces, we would then fight; or if he liked to come and engage with me in single combat, I should be most willing to do so but he did not answer this. If he
;

had been desirous

all

to

meet me,
if

would have done so with

if

my

heart, because I said to myself,

am

killed

well, then I am gone; but nation is saved.

he should be

killed,

my

CHAPTEE

XIII.

Nauplia on the 6th of January, and afterwards went to jEgina, where the opposition committee and the Parliament were sitting.

THE

governor

arrived

at

He went

where a thanksgiving service was held, but he would not take the oaths until he had made some
to church,

remarks.

"

If

you wish

me

to govern,"

he

said,

" the

Parliament must be dissolved, because I cannot be under it. Our country has enemies as well as friends but if
;

you do not wish this I will remain and will serve you as He told them that far possible as a private individual.
there were foreign causes that

rendered

this

measure
receive

necessary.

He
his

dissolved

the

Parliament himself, and

to

every

member

that

was discontented was

more than

pay. out governors to the districts he instituted commissions of inquiry and began a regular system, so that each might know his especial duties a military man what
;

He

organized the

State and sent

military duties were required from him, and a politician what was demanded of him as a politician. He systematized the Panhellenic union,

and placed
all

all

the chiefs;

Kountouriotes he made member

of the administration,

and

Zaimes
began
secret.

of the interior.

Upon

these things
in,

comments

to

although in Even before the governor arrived there were many

be made, and a reaction set

KOLOKOTRONJES, KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

283

who were prepared

that an orderly

Government was about to be systematized, when every one would not be able to do what he pleased.

[The governor had gone to Messenia.] Whilst he was in Messenia, Maizon (the French general) came to Nauplia,

*****
knew
that

to act against

him, because they feared

and

being in Karytaina, the governor sent

me

with a

hundred men into Derveni of Leontari to escort them to Nauplia. As it was Passion Week, and I did not know on what day he would come, I sent a scout to Derveni, who,

Maizon had arrived, was to send me information by signal, and then I would go to Leontari. The baggage belonging to the army of Maizon came to
Derveni,

as soon as he

when my men made

inquiries concerning him,

to

and were told that he had gone

on the morrow.

Ithome in Messenia in

order to see the ancient remains, and that he would come

He went

to these antiquities with the

had

utmost speed, and whilst they signalized to me that he arrived, he had passed over to Tripolitsa and had
tents
at

fixed his

the Nauplian gates,

and did not go

the country. I immediately, therefore, hastened forward and got near to where he was stationed, when, taking five or six men with me, I went to offer him my
into
apologies, saying that I
to receive

him

at Derveni in Leontari,

had been ordered by the governor and that my scouts

had deceived me, and so he had passed without my knowledge, again begging him to forgive me. "Oh," he
said,

"I
;

person

*****
did not
is

come as a

general, but

as a private

there

no harm done."

At

this time as

many

of those

who were

discontented

with the governor because they saw that he would not embroil himself with the state of affairs, met together to
concert a

new assembly with

the object of driving

away

284

KOLOKOTRON&S,
same anarchy as assembly and a
he
consequently
;

before.

the governor and reducing us to the The governor heard that an

constitution

were

talked

about,

and

arranged that an assembly should take place at Argos wherefore they immediately began to assemble. He sent
for

me, and

went down

arrived there, and

to Argos, and the governor also he stayed awhile in Tsokres' house.

We
a

garden,

were one day together, and the inhabitants showed us wherein it was proposed that the assembly
It

should be held.

was

in the beginning of

July,

and

they had been making a good

I

many

fires there,

and so

gave

it

as

my

opinion that the assembly ought not to

take place in the garden, but that we should build a " That means theatre near Panagia for the purpose. " Let the expense," he answered. expense be made," " I replied; they who come here from Europe to look at
those stones can defray the expense
for us to clean
:

it

will be

an honour

up those stones and show them, in order to have our assembly." Upon this he sent for wood and
other materials and erected a magnificent place for the meeting, and the entire body being assembled the work

began, and
Troizen,
of

it

ratified all the actions of the governor at whatever kind they were, the basis of the

assembly being a complete ratification of the opinions held

by the governor. At one of their

sittings there

was a question raised

about the Order of the Eedeemer, which I opposed; " the Cross is a sign of the enfranchisement of every one of us ; but if we succeed in getting a king he can do as he
likes regarding it."

So with the full consent and entire agreement of the Government we decided upon giving the governor the full powers bestowed on him by the three Powers, and that he

was

to render

an account

to the

assembly

of

what he

KLEPHT AND WARRIOR.

285

received and what he expended. The assembly expressed their satisfaction with what he had done, and also passed the same resolution on the festival of the Saviour. What could it do ? It gave him full powers, for he was the only
fit

man.

Klephts

again.

Klephts at Gastouni, Patras, Vostitsa, Kalavryta, and parts about Karytaina and Phanari in all the districts
together about a hundred and twenty. These went about the roads among them was a son of Kostantes, and one
;

of

Anagnostes

Petimeza

some from Soudena, Konto-

vounesios, the Perameresioi, the sons of Karales, about

fifteen

Gastounians, the Charilaioi from Patras, and three

or four from Phanari.

got abroad that there

On

account of these

men

scandals

taxing the herds, &c. Thirty men were sent to Katakolo, where there was one Phrangoundes,
of

They and the manner

was a great number of Klephts. arose on account of the collection for the revenues

a revenue

officer,

and seized him and

his family

and
also

all

that he possessed.

The

father of Lycurgus

was

an

abettor of Klephts at Pyrgos.

the governor heard of these disorders in the Peloponnesus, he gave a very severe order for me to carry

When

them, take them had been a prisoners, or to make them submit, for there out that they numbered from three to five report given hundred. I sent to the captains whom the governor had There in his service, and assembled them at Tripolitsa.
out

namely, that

was either

to kill

Captain Georgaki Driva from Tsakonia, Prastos, from Kranidi, Captain Georgaki and another captain Nikola Lambros, Stamates Metsa from Kastri, Tsokres
were

and Nezo from Argos, Captain Anagnostes from Nauplia, who was in the service, Georgaki from Korthos, Cheliotes,

286

KOLOKOTBONES,
others, so that
I

and

we mustered about a hundred

to Koliopoulos

officers

altogether.

gave an order

to

bring a

regiment Tsavellas' regiment of which was Gianoules, and

collect

to Kalavryta, at the
I

head
to

commanded Gennaios
and others.

Karytaina captains crossed over Langadia and Akovo and drove the Klephts from those parts; and Gennaios arranged that Thanos

the

of

These

Koumaniotes from Patras should go

whilst I

to the frontiers there,

moved forward with twenty

took from the cavalry at hand.
I

irregular

cavalry,

which

When

got to Phanari I seized two Klephts and im-

prisoned them in the same district. I afterwards marched on to Pyrgos, because there were two, three, or four

Klephts in Pyrgos on account of the father of Lycurgus being there. When he heard that I had gone to Pyrgos he tried to escape to Nauplia, but I sent four of the cavalry, who
seized
I

him at Tripolitsa and brought him back to Pyrgos. had learnt that he abetted the Klephts before he went to

Katakolo.

When the

Klephts heard that myself, with Kolio-

poulos and Gennaios, had arrived, they dispersed. I marched into Gastouni, drove the men into a corner there, and

imprisoned six of them. The people whose oxen and horses had been stolen made their complaints to me, and I, who

knew the Klephts, became

also their judge

for this the

position of affairs necessitated.

Then each man took back

what belonged to him. We then went by night to Patras, and on the frontiers of Patras we met with some merchants
of Pyrgos, who had been despoiled, and the Klephts who had robbed them were from Soubara. An order then came from the Government to the general of the commune concerning the despoiled frontiers, demand'

ing that he should call upon the surrounding villages to I at once searched all those vildeliver up the Klephts.
lages where the Pyrgiot merchants

had been robbed

to find

KLEPHT AND WABBIOR.

287

either the Klephts, or the ten thousand grosia which had been given out by the receiver who had bought the merchandise at Patras. The robbers came quite near to me
at Patras, for in those days

was sojourning there one Charmelas, who was among the Klephts, came into Patras openly, and as there were many there who had been
I

when

despoiled,
tion,

and who recognized him, they gave me informaand I sent and had Charmelas apprehended, when he

bore witness against others who were also in the same When the Klephts heard that Koliopoulos and place. Gennaios were on the heights they came down to the
frontiers of Patras,

and

sent

some

soldiers

and seized

them

also, and drove out others who went to Kalavryta. Koliopoulos with his regiment and with the half of the Petimezaioi pursued them and gave them an alternative when they surrendered. There were fifteen of the Petime-

zopoulai.

despatched a messenger to Nauplia to obtain advice as whether I should send to what I was to do with them
I

them more
if it

to Nauplia, or take sureties that they

follow the

same

practices.

I received

would not any an order that

as as

the sureties were reliable they should be accepted, but as

would be an act of

folly to forgive

them

all,

many

had no good
one

sureties should be sent to Nauplia.

There was

had seized in Patras, when I went there by at the night with three hundred soldiers, and waited for these Soubariotes had gone to place till daybreak

whom

the heights on account of the surrendering going on. I surrounded them during the night, and they were seized,

and

which had not been divided. The of the place, had gone to captain, who was not a native As soon as I went to Soumpara I find a dealer to sell it.
I took their spoil

resolved to

hang one

of

incensed with

me

lest I

them, and the captains were all should do so; therefore I took him

288

KOLOKOTRONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

I

and another away with me.

then arranged in the

several districts about the sureties,

and they gave

me

their

word and promise that they would be The sureties were their neighbours.

careful in the future.

decisions

hundred had been which, it, they carried to the lawyers, would have taken them three hundred years to decide upon and so I put the districts in order and quieted them. Of those two Soubariotes whom I took, the one escaped from me with his irons on, and the other, who was taken to Nauplia, was condemned to two
this expedition.
I
five

Thus terminated
in

made
if

the course of

years'

imprisonment
I

he was the brother of the

fugitive.
;

When

presented myself to the Government the manner in which I had pacified the people pleased the

returned

governor, and then he disbanded the captains.

CHAPTEE

XIV.
Argos formed the basis

THE a
of

votes of the

Assembly

at

constitutional Government.

When

the Senate
to

was chosen the governor organized a committee

pre-

pare the constitution. Many members were displeased, especially the Hydriotes, because the governor had not

immediately declared what he had spent upon the rising, and the Chiote3 because he asked for their accounts. He

was ill-spoken

of

by many literary men on account

of the

freedom of the press.

They asked

for a constitution,

and

yet the discontented united with the Hydriotes and others who were disaffected to overthrow the constitution before it

was made.

The Klephts being overthrown, and the districts at peace, the Hydriotes endeavoured to make the islands revolt and they promised that they would return to Hydra, for the
;

Hydriotes,

who had become

fleet

suspicious that the governor

against the Hydriotes, commissioned Miaoules to go and destroy it. He accordingly burnt two ships and set fire to the harbour, but some servants

would send the Greek

of the

Government succeeded
darkened

in quenching

it.

Miaoules

by

this deed

his reputation, for until

then he had
(of party),

not mixed himself up with any of the divisions

and

his

reputation was

spotless.

The

vessels were

the

property of

the nation, and not

20

of Kapodistria.

They

290

KOLOKOTBONfiS,
filling

succeeded in throwing down the masts and with the pieces, and there they remained.
as he

the sea

The governor was killed on the 27th of February, 1831, was going into church, by Konstantine and George Mavromichaeles. That family had poured out much of its
blood
in

the

cause of

our

a family which
assassinations.

always

had

independence, but it was a propensity to commit

The

late Elias killed his uncle,

Theodore

Koumoundouraki, whose wife was his

father's

own sister, and

Georgaki and Katsako invited Nikolaki Pierakos one day to have some conversation with them, and whilst they were talking together they threw themselves on him and wounded

him

in the belly,

and

it

was with

difficulty that

he was

saved.

Some
was

was, however, healed in six months. other events, however, happened before the governor

He

killed.

committee was sent from Speliotopoulos, and

others from

Hydra

to

Mani when

the constitution was

announced, and the Hydriotes also sent three vessels to supI was at Karytaina port the movements of the Maniotes. when I received a note from the Government bidding me
send soldiers to Kalamata to guard the city from any I sent Gennaios with a regispoliation of the Maniotes.

and many Peloponnesians. He went to Kalamata, and the Maniotes came and laid siege to Gennaios. The Eoumeliote regiment of Alexakes (Kostas

ment

of Eoumeliotes

was perfidious and turned to the Maniotes. Kikordos came, and the committee itself burnt two national boats, and Eikordos also captured a Hydriote vessel. I set out with four hundred cavalry, both regular and irregular, and got together about four thousand men from the districts. When the French learnt that I had been

was not

there)

gathering soldiers in order to subject the Maniotes they sent a regiment without any orders from the Greek

Government and occupied Kalamata, and proclaimed that

KLEPHT AND WABBIOE.

they should not receive either one side or the other.

291 I

went to

Nisi, and thither came a French regiment, and its commander told me that he had received a commission from his general to go to Nisi. I said, " If you have a

commission from your general I from my Government to occupy

receive

also
Nisi.

have a commission

If you like I will and give you anything you may require." you there, "It is ordered that you are to leave, and that we are to

enter into this place," he replied. also ordered by my Government to remain

"lam
"

if

you

wish, your general can write to the Government, and then

if

away." " If war is the conanswered. go away," they sequence, the burthen of it will be thine." " If I begin the war ^the burthen of it will be mine,"

the governor orders

me

to do so I go

We

will

I said,

"but

if

you begin

it

the burthen

is

yours."

They
away.

thought to intimidate me, and that I should

march

We

and
I

I told

them

stopped three days outside Nisi, when it rained, to go in and occupy a warehouse and write
if it

to the

Government, and leave directly, even from

Seeing that

sends

me an

order to leave

my own house, if such be the order.

to be compelled they all

we were not

marched

into Kalamata.

Gennaios had left Kalamata the Maniotes sacked and only spared the houses of some members of the it, Government. The Hydriotes saw that Kikordos had burnt two shops which belonged to the nation, and that the third, which was private property, he had left unhurt, and had

When

The Maniotes robbed the committee from sent from Hydra, and all the Hydriotes who had fled the ships, whom the French took care of and transported Mani back to Hydra. This commission when it came to and that Mani was announced a constitution and freedom,
taken possession
of.

not to pay more than one part in ten, and then

it

seized nine

292

KOLOKOTBONES,
Kalamata was to be mulcted in five such was the constitution it
of rapine.
I learnt that

parts out of ten, and

hundred thousand grosia

announced, a constitution

Kikordos

Armyro, and I moved thither with all my Kalerges was at the cavalry, both regular and irregular. head of the regular cavalry, and Hadji Chrestos com-

had then gone

to

met him and returned to Nisi, Eikordos went to Tsimova the mother of Mavromichaeles came to speak with him there, whence he moved to Nauplia.

manded

the irregulars.

Miaoules burnt the boats, all the nation murmured upon the injustice which he had committed in destroying

When

the national vessels.

effect

nothing either
kill

thereupon to

seeing that they could committees or revolts, resolved by the governor. At this epoch I received

Many men,

orders to go to Nauplia with my cavalry, both regular and irregular, and to take the infantry also, and leave it with

Gennaios at Messenia, in order

to

movements

of

the Maniotes,

lest

keep watch over the they should go and

fled secretly

ravage the place.

Petros Mavromichaeles had

from Nauplia during the winter in order to cross over to Zante, so as to reach Mani. After a space he came down

and Anagnostopoulos, the primate there, had him seized, and sent him back to Nauplia, where he was put into a prison sufficiently commodious, in which he was
to Katakolo,

He seized Gianni supplied abundantly with necessaries. Katzi and sent him to Palamedi, and Konstantine and George Mavromichaeles and Katsakos found themselves in
Katsakos escaped and Mani, and their constitutions were framed simultaneously with their designs for murdering the governor.
a prison in the village of Nauplia.
got to

Thousands
head, and

of
if

and other things had turned his had not been incited by very great they
dollars

promises it is certain that they would have been saved from this, and would never have attempted it.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

293

As I said before, the governor was entering the door of the church on Sunday morning early, when these men greeted the governor. He had only two persons with him, a one-

armed man and another.

door Konstantine fired
off

As he was going through

a pistol
at

the

his head, whilst

George plunged a knife into his belly, when the governor fell dead in the doorway. As soon as they had done
this they attempted to to
fly,

but Konstantine was wounded

by the one-armed man a Cretan, and He saw that he fled to the house of Valianos. Georgaki could not remain there, and then took refuge in Rouan's
the

death

house.

The mayor

of the

city did

not disturb himself

much at this crisis, because he was himself mixed up in the affair. Zerar also, who regulated the regular Greek
army, was in a position of cabal with his adjutant at Platonos, where the army then was, and he merely said, " It is nothing nothing keep quiet." Almetas, who was
the governor of the fort, having with him a sworn and faithful army, shut the gates ; he divided this force between the redoubts and the other posts of the city,

and divers other

saved.

citizens seized their

in

arms

was that Nauplia, which was

danger

of being lost,

and thus it was

The Senate and

secretaries

met immediately, and

:

pre-

of three namely, pared to form a committee and Koletes. Augoustinos had sent a mesAugoustinos of the death of the senger directly to give me information

of myself,

governor, and I went to Nauplia.

the time.

was

The Senate communicated

at Tripolitsa at to its

proposition

that he could not accept the Augoustinos, but he said had come and talked it over position until Kolokotrones from this mesI received the information with them. the effect of the same Sunday, to senger in the evening the Mavromichaeli, that the governor had been killed by

294

KOLOKOTRONES,
of

and that one

them was

also killed,
;

and that the other

had taken refuge in Kouan's house I knew nothing more. I then remembered that the governor had ordered that if
he should die suddenly, an assembly should immediately be held. I summoned Karores, the prefect of Tripolitsa,

and his

secretaries directly, and wrote despatches to the armies everywhere, to march forward with Gennaios, For myself I stating that I should remain in Tripolitsa.

did not at that time

do, for I

was

in ignorance of

but I sent letters to

to oblige

to march, or what to what had occurred at Nauplia, the cavalry and infantry in all parts

know whither

them

to

come

at

an

earlier date.

When morning
one closely

dawned on the Monday, two

foot regiments,

following the other, brought the news that the Senate had voted a committee of three, that the people were laying
siege to Georgaki

Mavromichaeles in the house

of

Eouan,

asking

Eouan

to give

him

up, that he

up, and that he was taken to

had delivered him Palamedi, and asking me to

go as soon as
I

it was possible. had kept it secret the evening before, and had not communicated the death of the governor to the city. At

daybreak,

when

the citizens of Tripolitsa heard of

it,

they

were

all like

dead

men

paralyzed
I sent

they

left

their work,

abandoned their employment, and wandered up and down

the roads like

madmen.

messengers bearing second

bidding them
I
all to

letters to every

one of the

districts,

remain

quiet,

and enjoining the

prefects to keep at their

posts and

to

continue their work.

gave them infor-

mation that a committee had been chosen to govern the place, and that the necessary measures would be taken to
ensure quiet and order in this
fects of the
critical

moment.

The pre-

town

to go to Nauplia,

us

We fear

came to and said to me, " What is to become of that we shall have to go through some trouble
of Tripolitsa

me

before I set off

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

here, because our city
is

295

to send out heralds to read out aloud

to

open and accessible." I told them what I had written

the other districts.

heralds,

and as the

citizens

They besought me then to send had assembled in the school,

go there and address a few words to them? I agreed to do so, and going to the school whither the citizens were gathered, I spoke to them for one whole
I

would

hour, and told

tell

them as many things them under the circumstances.

as

it

was proper

to

I put in Sisinopoulos with a hundred cavalry to ensure the peace of the place, and left, and in six hours I arrived
at Nauplia.
I had a hundred and fifty cavalry with me. The people asked permission, and the gates were thrown

open for my reception, at the spot where our king afterwards disembarked, and the inhabitants conducted me
thence to

my

house.

Some who met me were

;

weeping,

others were in a great frenzy

to all I said but one

word
them.
not
;

"Peace."
"
Greeks,"

When

I got

to

my

house

I turned to

I cried,

the power of God went to comfort Augoustinos,

go will take care of

"

to

your homes and

all

fear

things."
sitting

Then

who was

alone,

mourning, and when I went to him, we both consoled each " It is to thee that I cling, both I other, and at last he said, and the nation we will all do what thou judgest to be right." I spoke with Almetas, the comI then returned home.
;

mandant
cavalry,

of the fort,

who was

at the

head

x>f

the regular

and instructed him to send out heralds, and that and every one was to remain quite quiet in his own house, " Go the citizens were armed), and keep his arms (for all
on
in the

same way as thou hast borne

thyself in the last

" for the conservation of The few days," I said, peace. oaths faithfully, and have prevented regulars stand to their
fire

and slaughter make your oaths now to the committee, until we see how the affair will turn out."
;

296

KOLOKOTRONES,

The next day the Senate and secretaries met, and we took our oaths to abide by the powers over us. The
" Either people clamoured for the murderer Georgaki. kill the murderer, and seize his accomplices, or we shall
take our revenge ourselves, and we shall do what we can." We then resolved upon a court-martial, and condemned

him

to death,

and the

result

was

left to

Providence.

His

two servants and Kaklamanos were thrown into prison, because they knew of the society which had pledged itself
to
kill

the

governor.

We

forced

Zerar

to.

declaration, although

we

did not wish to convict

make his him as an

accomplice.

gave his testimony, and he was thrown into prison also as well as the son of Kalamodartes, and A number others who would not give in their declaration. of fools came to me, calling out, " Kolokotrones, revenge us kill all the murderers." I drove them out of my
;

He

house, saying,

"Go

to

your homes, this

is

no

affair

of

yours."

At Hydra they had scarcely heard that the governor was slain, before Speliotopoulos, Papalexopoulos, and others
rushed to Nauplia expecting to be able to do whatever they had a mind to, and so bring everything into disorder.

We

seized

them

at once,

castle.

All the districts

and put them in prison in the and islands with the exception of
Committee, and praising Those who were in Hydra sent
it.

Hydra

sent addresses, lamenting the death of the governor,

the.

acknowledging
a committee,

Executive

the action of the Senate.

but we did not receive

If

God had

enlightened the Senate, and it had chosen another man in the place of Koletes, we should possibly have done better.

We

directed affairs for three months,

and we announced by

proclamation that there would be an assembly inviting the nation to attend at Argos, and it met there. Others came from Western Greece, and by the help of the devil

KLEPHT AND WABBTOU.

Grivas made
quarrelling,

297

it up with Tsokres, with whom he was always and they all came together.

The whole nation having thus met together, I ran over my mind that if we constituted ourselves another government the foreign courts would consider that we were all in
in

agreement in regard to the murder of the governor; because by killing the governor, and changing the government in order to advance others, the world would plainly

we must be all governor was a tyrant.

see that

of one accord, or else that the

We

had

tried in past times the

government
better be

of the

many,

so I said that Augoustinos

had

the sole president, and that the Assembly should appoint a senate to consult with the president to

made

govern until such time that the Powers would send us a

king,
effect.

and

Koletes,

made a proposition when he heard of

in the

Assembly

to that

this proposition of mine,

was excepted, and began to Greece agitate, so that both Eastern and Western We had began deserting, and civil war was imminent.
well pleased that he

was not

made an assembly, and

potentiaries

the

tents

where

the

pleni-

and captains met were thrown down by the

tents

body of the nation. They actually began to divide the among them, and Grivas, fool as he was, built breastat the

works

tents,

and thus was the whole

society in

The Assembly took possession of the fort of parties. Kitsos Tsavellas, because they had an idea that they would come upon the Assembly and destroy it, but they did not.

Day

after

day our troubles increased, but

still

we always

carried on the Assembly.

to Koletes.

should be disunited
let

the Assembly finish

******
;

Augoustinos sent once or twice " that the nation " It is not well," he said,
let

there be

harmony and

peace, and

its

work."

At

last

we

learnt that the

King

of

Bavaria had consented

298
to

KOLOKOTBONES,
send his son Otho to us
representations
to

this

was in June.

then

made

the

three

Powers that Grivas

should be prevented from interfering, for Grivas had gone to Tripolitsa, and was trying to stir up a civil war. They
did not, however, attend to

my

request.

I therefore sent

a declaration to the Senate that we were bound to protect our honour, our lives, and our property, and that we must

not recognize a tyrannical government. This administration saw that it was powerless to control
the present state of affairs, and asked the three resident ministers to allow the French army to occupy Nauplia and
Patras.

What

tresses to foreigners to keep

a government to hand over national forGeneral Genek, therefore,

!

took a French force to Patras.

receive them,

Kitsos Tsavellas would not

and

said that he should deliver

up the

fort

If you want to take it by the king came, adding, force, you will first have a battle," and hoisted a flag. When

when

"

of Kitsos,

the French general saw the firmness and resolute bearing he retired, and the French went to Nauplia and

turned out the national regiment, and then shut themif the French had not selves up there, and occupied it
;

been invited Koletes must have

Juannina.

fled

to

his

own

place,

The soldiers who had gone against Kitsos Tsavellas formed themselves into an alliance with him, and said
that they would prevent any civil war, and had sent messengers to the governor of Nauplia to reorganize
matters.

These messeugers passed through Valtetsi where Gennaios was. As they were journeying along I met
I

them

and stopped to speak with them. had made a proclamation, and Arcadians, Phanarites,
at a certain village,

Karytainans, and
different

men from
to

points ravaged, and these also allied with them.

every district came to occupy prevent those districts from being

They passed

KLERHT AND WARRIOR.

over to Tripolitsa and conferred with Grivas and
Chrestos,

299

Hadji

they went to Nauplia, where they gathered together in order to form a new Assembly, and choose a committee to come to confer with ns also. When

thence

Grivas went to Tripolitsa very few of the inhabitants remained, the others were dispersed over the different districts because they were frightened when they saw the evil which he had wrought in Argos and Corinth. I sent a messenger

on

foot to Tripolitsa to

command them
I

not to
I

fight,

and

Grivas seized him, and had him beheaded.

then went

from Karytaina to Valtetsi. had something in view.

said to myself that they

Evangeles Kontogianni was at war at

this time with the

inhabitants of Agio-Petro and a part of the district of Mistra, and was in some danger. He had about three hundred men

with him, eighty of whom were Turks. Gennaios, when he heard of his position, went and saved him, and took him away with him to Tsiveri, where he left him, and then

proceeded to Eoumeli.
in Messenia,

Niketas had defeated Katsakos

and

if

and was besieging him in Phourtzalokamara, the French had not come up he would have taken
and despatched
order to
stop

him

prisoner, but he purged all this part Apostolus Kolokotrones to Kantela in

Karataso from making any progress

to Valtetsi I sent to Grivas to

there.

When

went

march

on.

The answer was,

to

"We will

have a battle."

then directed Gennaios to go

Mantzagra, when they came forth from Tripolitsa to besiege him there, whilst at the same time our own people went from
different districts to go to Tripolitsa.

Gennaios being at

the Mantzagra, and Grivas being opposed to him, I gave all the way signal for attack, and they went back fighting I there received word that it was not his to Tripolitsa. intention to destroy that city, and I had a personal interview with Hadji Chrestos, and as if I had allowed

300

KOLOKOTRONES,

arms in their hands the houses would have been ravaged, however much order might have been imposed by sentries. Grivas at last fled, along with
the soldiers to enter with
I Hadji Chrestos and the calvary, and got to Argos. went into Tripolitsa, and in five days all the scattered inhabitants returned to their homes. A few days after.

wards Tsavellas came.

zagra there were only
together,

In

all

the skirmishes at MantI

all

and
to

brought after the Koumeliotes had

fifty killed.

the
I

army
gave

left,

During all this interval discipline. I had daily correspondence with Zaimes, Metaxa, Koliopoulos, and others.

an address

them on

An order came from Trikoupes that Gennaios should take part in the commission which he had arranged to go to Bavaria to invite the king over, and accompany
him
to Greece.
I could

not give

my

consent that Gennaios

should go to a government where he was not known, and

I resolved to

position was

to be carried out.

go to Nauplia myself to see how this proI went to Astros, and

some information from Eikordos, who sent me to his frigate. I had scarcely arrived there in the evening, when Koliopoulos came to
there I
got

me

a cutter to bring

ask

my
so

me

permission that he himself should go. He pressed earnestly, saying that the English vessel which
to take out the
I

was appointed
to be gone.

commission was in haste

do more ?
I said,

So what could

"

Go

in

peace."

We reflected afterwards that we ought to have sent a commission from the whole nation to Bavaria, with an
armed body accompanying it, but the circumstances did not permit this if they had told me exactly how it was, I should have ordered Gennaios to go, and he would have gone. I saluted the two captains, English and French, and they asked me why I had not sent my son to Bavaria when
; ;

KLEPHT AND WARBIOB.

I

301

I did not know enough of the Administrative Commission to accept its proposition." Zaimes and Metaxa came, and we all conversed together in the frigate. My view was that the senate should be left free to choose

said,

"

a government from the different parties after the protocol

of

London.
I

returned to Astros and thence to Achladokabo, when

Tsavellas and other Eoumeliote officers

came

to us.

We

wrote with one accord to the different captains who were with the regiment to come and confer together at Tsiveri.

They came accordingly, and we went thence to Argos. We resolved upon a commission of the army, in order to diminish the existing evils, and we wrote to Grivas to go
Grivas went to Koutsopodi upon this, and committed great abuses there. We thereupon decided
out of the Morea.

upon forming a military commission, with a view of collecting the revenues, and dividing them in proportion and
according to rule, so as to prevent the great abuses which

had hitherto occurred. Zographos had written that discipline must be maintained, but who
to

to

them

listened

him

Whilst we were at Argos, the Senate wrote for me to go, and Zaimes and Metaxa with me, so that it might choose
a third member, in order that the place might be arranged upon where the King was to disembark. I did not agree
to this because there were so

many

officers there,

and we

were not in accord.

There were

soldiers in every district,

and they committed

many excesses, and there was therefore a great necessity for a commission to collect as much revenue as the disbe divided tricts were entitled to give, and which were to
among
the different officers for the purpose of getting
supplies,

and to establish a good

state of discipline de-

manded by

these anarchical circumstances.

Each went

to

302

KOLOKOTBONES,
Tsavellas and Notes Botsares were stationed at

his post.

Patras.

Myself and
to

Hadji

Chrestos went to Tripolitsa,

and the rest remained at Argos.

this resolved

A
in

occupy Argos, should disembark at Mylos. They moved forward from

French regiment upon order that the King

Messenia, and came to Tripolitsa; I paid them every attention that. could be offered, and then they went down to Argos. I
don't

know what they did there, but the men of Tsokres and fell upon them there was fighting, and more The than two hundred innocent lives were sacrificed.
Griziotes
;

French seized upon my son as a hostage, lest the Greeks should go and kill them all. The Executive sent a commission to

me

to see if I

had any information concerning

how
into

it it

came about. When they arrived they inquired and I wrote to the French general to themselves,

say that I could have no view in harassing the French, for if I had been so inclined, I should not have let them

pass through Tripolitsa, but should have awaited them at Derveni in Leontari, and that I had no cause to be the

enemy of soldiers who were my comrades in arms, asking them wiry they had seized my son as a hostage. If I had thought that it was needful for my country's weal
to attack them, I should
let

have done

so,

and

would have

them have

my

convinced that I knew

son for a hostage, but they were quite all about it, and the French thought

that I was their enemy, although I had never given them any cause to think so. Koletes and the opposite party had filled their heads with the idea that I was against them,

and that

was devoted

to Eussia.

Ten days

later on, the fleet

which carried our King came

to the Gulf of Argos.

Before this occurred, however, the

French had seized

upon the house of Tsamados, the President of the Senate, and treated him very badly. On account of this circumstance and other outrages which

KLEPHT AND WABRIOB.

Nauplia.
I

303

were committed on the senators, they resolved to go to

position in

had gone down to Astros to speak about the which we were placed. Many of the senators
of going to Astros also, in order to choose a

had an idea
call

fresh administration, consisting of three members, and to

upon Zaimes and Metaxa

to

make Kikordos a

pro-

visional
left

president until the King's arrival.

them

Argos, and suddenly one morning at I did not accept their proposal, arrive at Astros. for I said matters had better stand as they were until
the coming of the King, whereupon the Senate went to Spetsai, and remained there until the King's arrival.

The Senate daybreak I saw

When

the Senate went to Astros they ordered Konstan-

tinos to go to Nauplia

and make a convention.

to

By

this

convention

throw half their (military) they agreed into the several districts, a part of which would strength be composed of our men, and to regulate the accounts
of their

pay and other matters. Koletes was in accord with this, because he did not know anything outside the I Senate, and there was the difficulty for him, that
did not wish to accept all the propositions that were useful and abandon my senatorial comrades. to

myself only, These asked that

there

should

be

an administration

formed, without waiting until the arrival of the King, because they said that the King might delay his coming
for three or four

months

and

again, that

when the King

and did come, he would find these matters before them, take only those representatives whom that he could then

he found in their places, and by this way all the errors which had been already committed might be concealed, such as the
burning of the fleet, the stirring up were a and the murder of the Governor ; whilst, if there until new administration formed by the Senate, which, ministers and the King of Bavaria had
then, the resident
the districts to revolt,

304

KOLOKOTRONES, KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

full

considered legitimate, this new administration would give assurances regarding the deeds of those before them,
it

and

would know what kind of

and
the
secretaries

Koletes

men they were, and if should be left to consider

themselves an administration, the King would find two governments, and might not listen to either, but follow his

own way. No one in

the so-called

that the King on his

Government ever imagined arrival might not take him to his heart,
incline to

or that he would rather be indifferent to

thought that the King would who had been faithful to the only regular government, which the nation had had since the commencement of the
rising.

him

him, for each before those

Every one
those

of the senators

had such

ideas,

and in

fact

all

who were

in

any way connected with the

Government.
I was in Tripolitsa I had been in correspondence the military both of West and Eastern Greece as well as with the Peloponnesus and the islands, especially

Whilst
all

with

with Spetsai and Hydra, urging them to prepare proper representatives to go and welcome our King on his arrival.

My

view was that

and receive

them should assemble at Argos, the King there, and that each of them should
all of

have an address prepared, in which should be stated all the evils which had arisen from having so many conSince the Greeks had stitutional forms (so-called).
attacked the French at Argos, I had changed and I wished that he should land at Mylos.

my
I

opinion,
did not

at what time the King would come, and upon this account I did not compel the representatives to assemble.

know

The King came

to Nauplia.

CHAPTEE
is

XV.

now time
to

to speak of certain matters which have

my unjust prosecution. Thersius and other foreigners had made a tumult in Bavaria by saying that I was the leader of a Bussian party, and that I,
being the leader of a faction, did not wish for a king, and other things of the like kind. They were foreigners who
said so, although Koliopoulos

ITreference

had

fully

shown

to the

King

my sentiments in respect to a king, and Koliopoulos had told them that he himself would remain as a hostage in Bavaria until their son should arrive hi
all

and Queen

Greece.

On

Notwithstanding this they had some suspicions. the English boat where the King and the Eegency

there might possibly have been something on account of the impediment caused by Genbrewing, naios going away to Monaco. The King came first to

embarked

when he heard that the Senate had left Nauplia, and had left with bad intentions. He then reached Mani,
Corfu,

and there he heard that the French had been attacked by

the Greeks, and that those Greeks were the men belonging to Kolokotrones, and that Kolokotrones, with a force of ten
or fifteen thousand, wanted to prevent the disembarkation all these things excited in their minds a of the King
:

feeling against

me.

thus this was

all

was written to from Nauplia, and made known to me. I was very sorry to
I

21

306

KOLOKOTBONJES,
had been so successful
affairs.

see that the intriguers

in perverting

the truth, and I

left it to

time alone to make clear to the

I

King

all

about

men and

went to Eikordos on his

myself to the ask

frigate,

and said that

I desired to present
I

King and the Eegency, and

sent Koliopoulos to

permission for me to do so, when he brought me back for answer that the King did not receive any one yet specially, and that I should be informed concerning the place where
the King would disembark.

we

sat

down with the General

Eikordos gave a dinner, and of the Bavarian armies,

with the uncle of the King, and with Smaltz, but I saw that they were suspicious of me.

The day
with

for the

King's disembarkation arrived, and

Kountouriotes,
:

I,

Koletes

and

went down down to

meet him. The King came we ail went to Nauplia. There we were presented. Every day the committees met, but things were changed, there were no addresses nothing.

The King

said that the Greeks

;

had borne themselves with

bravery during the rising that he had left his parents and his fatherland to go to a new country that he intended to
;

work

for the welfare of Greece,

and

all

the kind of things

which kings are accustomed to say, and he also made a proclamation to that effect. After two or three days had
passed, I dismissed all
clerks,

my

old officers,

my
"

soldiers,

my

and

my secretaries, and

said to them,

Go

in peace,

stay quietly in your

when

the King

own homes until the hour shall arrive may wish to know about certain men, and

some doings on our part, in order to reward each according to his deeds and his past services." I then prepared an address, and offered the King the
fort of

I said in

Karytaina, which I had built at my own expense. my address that I had built the fort to be useful

in any necessities of

my

no longer,

wished him

country, but now, as I required it to accept it. My view was that I

KLEPBT AND WABBIOB.

should thus give an example to
built towers
all

30?

the others

who had
of the

and

forts to give
I

them

also,

on account

position of affairs.

received a gracious answer that he

would keep my building. As far as I could I had always done my duty to my country, and not only myself, but all

my family. I now saw my country free. I saw that which I, my father, my grandfather, and my whole race, as well
as
all

go to a

the Greeks had so long desired. I resolved therefore to garden which I had outside Nauplia. I went there,

and passed all my time in husbandry. I rejoiced greatly to watch the small trees which I had planted myself grow and flourish.
while I sent a sword to the King's brother, Prince Paul Louis.
little

After a

two months at Tripolitsa, because I was afraid of being ill from the great heat in Nauplia. I was at Tripolitsa, and went thence to a festival at Agia-Mone,
I left to pass

whither I went every year, because that was my own that property. When I returned to Nauplia I found
intrigues

had not been wanting

in their influence
false

upon

the Government, and that

as

many how Kolokotrones had himself made assemblies, Zographos, who was the prefect of Arcadia got abroad. he ought to have known if there had been any(and
and declared that thing of the kind), went to the Eegent, such reports were false. When I came back to all
went to pay my respects to the King and the but I did Regent, and I saw that they looked very gloomy, not understand anything about it.
Nauplia
I

statements, such

I
of

stayed

in

September,

garden. Kleopas, the

my

On

commandant,

the night of the 7th with forty

soldiers,

to Its cast

me

came there, and arrested me, carrying me off there, who Kale, and delivered me to the governor where I was six months into a secret
prison,

308

KOLOKOTRONES,
All those

without seeing one person except the gaoler.

six

months

who was
prison
;

knew nothing of what was going on, neither living, nor who was dead, nor why I was in for three days I did not know that I even existed,
I

everything seemed to
if

me

to be a

dream.

I often

asked

same man, or some other. I myself could not understand why they had shut me up. In time a thought came into my mind that perhaps the
I were really the

Government, seeing the credit which I had with the people, had confined me in order to cut off that influence, but I
never thought that
After six
*
it

would go such lengths as even to

procure false witnesses.

months the accusation was communicated to us that we had frequently made addresses opposing the whole Eegency, and again opposing the two members, and in favour of Armausberg, that we wished to make a rising, and with this view we had stirred up robbers. When these accusations were communicated to me, I immediately suspected that the hand of the Government was in it, and that they would destroy us. They brought
us before the tribunal
;

many unworthy men

us,

of no account

appeared there as false witnesses against

who

stated that

they had, seen the addresses, and other like falsehoods.

Honourable men came from

were bad characters

all

parts
lies,

householders,

who

said that all these things were

;

and that those men

but they would not listen to them,

they wished to see their aim condemnation carried out. I heard afterwards that Schinas, the Minister of J ustice,

had compelled the

president, Polyzoides,

and

Tertsetes,

with fixed bayonets, to sign it in the Court. They took us down, and read the sentence to us.
seen death near

had
it

me

so

many

times that

did not fear

not then
- ;c

better that I should

be killed unjustly than

Koliopoulos was

also arrested, as will presently be seen.

KLEPHT AND WABBIOB.

justly.
I

809

was sorry

for Koliopoulos, because

;

he had
I

large family.

We

ate in the evening

at

daybreak

made

After two will, and prepared for the hour of death. hours we learnt that the King had granted us our lives.

my

They took us to Palamedi as a more secure place, and we were kept eleven months. When the King came to the throne he gave orders that we should be released from prison, as it was an injustice. I went forth from Palamedi, and the reception which the people gave me
there

made me
passed.
for joy,

forget all

the troubles through which I had

I saw that some were weeping, others laughing " and they all shouted together, Long live justice " I stopped two or three long live justice and the King days at home, and then I went to Athens, and paid my
!
!

respects,

and expressed my gratitude Armansberg, after which I remained

until

to the King,

and

to

in peace

and quiet

now when

I relate all these events.

NOTES.

THE

false representations of Eussia that led to the disastrous rising of 1770, which, although it spread itself

over all Greece, was particularly felt in Mani, occasioned the Porte, who greatly miscalculated the strength of the
insurrection, to call in the aid of the Albanians.

When,

through the desertion of the Eussians, the revolt was successfully quelled, the Albanians who remained in the

Morea

carried on the

same

cruelties towards the submitted

people as they had exercised during the time when they were actively engaged in putting down the rebellion. For

nine years the whole of the Peloponnesus was ravaged and desolated by those savage and faithless hordes, who

became

so

emboldened that at

last

they threw

off

all

nominal allegiance to the Porte, and aimed only at securing To quell this outbreak, the whole Morea for themselves.
which threatened so greatly the safety of the Porte, the Kapitan Pasha, Gazi Hassan, was sent with a strong force This he to drive them entirely out of the Peloponnesus.
and Kostantes Koloand pursued them so relentlessly that the whole kotrones, Morea was cleared in a very short time, when the heads
effected with the help of the Klephts

312 of the

NOTES.
unhappy wretches who
fell

were devoted, some to adorn the court of the seraglio at Constantinople, and
others to build a wall at Tripolitsa.

B.

Hassan

Tzezairles, the Kapitan

Pasha or High Admiral

was undoubtedly one of the bravest of the This truly great brave, and as capable as he was brave.
of the Porte,

man, who is supposed to have been of Algerine extraction, was captured by the Turks when quite an infant, and being afterwards sold, became the property of a man who employed him for a long time in the capacity of an oarsman.
went
the

Fleeing from this service in the company of other fugitive slaves, he took service with a Greek, and thence
to

Smyrna, where he

enlisted

among

the recruits of

In the different expeditions in which he was engaged he suffered untold hardships, and upon two occasions being badly wounded, was left for dead
Prince of Algeria.

in the loneliness of a desert, exposed to all the horrors of

He a tropical sun, combined with hunger and thirst. with his life from these dangers, and escaped, however,
re-entered the service of the Prince, but the intrigues and

envy which surrounded him impelled him in the end to abandon it, when he took himself to Spain, and after
passing
into

through

many

vicissitudes,

travelled

to

Con-

stantinople, where, falling

under suspicion, he was cast

The Sultan Mahmoud happened to pay a inspection to the prison in which he was confined, when Hassan undauntedly appealed to him to the effect that he, being an innocent man and a foreigner, had been The unjustly thrown into a dungeon as a malefactor.
prison.
visit of

Sultan was impressed with his boldness and his general

appearance, and taking

him straightway from confinement,

NOTES.

313

vessels,

appointed him to the post of commander of one of his when he quickly rose to the highest post in the The Kapitan Pasha does not appear to have been fleet.

ill-disposed to the Greeks as a people.

There was a great

friendship between him and the celebrated Nikolas Mavro-

genes, the Hospodar of Wallachia, who, although he was in the service of the Porte, did not always forget that he

was himself a Greek, and possibly this friendship influenced Hassan. It is the opinion of the Greek historian Sathas
that Greece owes

much

to

him,

for it

was due

to his inter-

position that a wholesale massacre, by which the entire annihilation of the Greek race was to be effected, was not

decreed by the Divan.

score of

When

all

expostulations on the

humanity had
" If

failed to turn this purpose,

all

Hassan

simply remarked,

the Greeks are slain, where will

your taxes come from?" And this proved conclusive in its His measures against the logic, and so Greece was saved.
Albanians were too sweeping to be just, and he was almost disposed to be as inexorable towards the revolted Maniotes
in the
his
life.

following year

Besides the
title

when Kostantes Kolokotrones lost dignity of Kapitan Pasha, Hassan

had the
of

of

Gazi (conqueror), and, on account of his

luxuriant growth of moustachios, received also the cognomen

Mustakos.
C.

The promontory

of

Mani

is

considered by

many

writers

to be inhabited by descendants of the ancient Spartans, and until its submission to the Kapitan Pasha in 1779,

never to have been entirely subdued by either Frank or

rugged hills, its sterile soil, and its proximity to the sea conduced to make it in all ages the appropriate Its inhabitants and pirates. nesting-place for brigands
Turk.
Its

were indisposed to industrial pursuits, and were by nature

314

NOTES.
somewhat
that
fierce, whilst their

warlike and
incited

them

to lives of rapine

and plunder.
equally

extreme poverty It has even

been

stated

they were

impartial in their

incursions both

to

Christians

that their galleys by sea,

tains,

and Mohammedans, and and their bandits from the mounalike.

swooped down on both

The

coast, indented

with small creeks, was a safe hiding-place for the piratical row-boats, and the steep ridges of Mount Taygetus

were a safe refuge upon the invasion of an enemy. The very women were ready to fight, in order to repel a foe, as
is

seen in regard to Ibrahim Pasha's troops, whom they There were no attacked and prevented from landing.

Turks resident there, and they kept their own institutions, The districts were and were virtually self -governed.
divided between the chiefs or Kapetani, and the taxes were
sent to the Porte, being collected by themselves; but
it

need hardly be said that they were not always regularly paid, and from the inaccessible nature of the country, and
the determined character of the people, attempts at compulsion had always been unsuccessful. Mani only produced

acorns and

oil,

and these were almost a monopoly

of the

Bey. This wild, barren district has been called the nursery of the Eevolution, and its untamable sons its chief

promoters. Pasha.

After 1779

Mani was governed by the Kapitan

D. were shut up in the Acropolis of Argos one Karagianni, a Maniote who, in the midst of the was
universal panic occasioned, by the approach of Dramales,

Among those who

had displayed

hearing that the Turks left in Argos were enjoying themselves in supine ease as if they were having a holiday, fell upon them with
spirit
;

and courage

for he,

ten companions of the like

mind

as himself, and after

NOTES

315

slaying some, drove the rest forth and planted the Greek flag on the Acropolis. When Kolokotrones, upon their subsequently being besieged by the Turkish force, achieved
their rescue, as he narrates in his Autobiography, poor

Karagianni, worn out with fatigue and hardships, was asleep on the floor, and knew nothing of what had transpired until he was awakened by the voices and entrance of the Turks, who were seeking for spoils in the deserted
fort. The orave, quick-witted fellow started up, and seizing a large copper vessel which happened, fortunately, to be lying within reach, he put it over his head, and went out dancing as though he, a Turk, had chosen that for his

share of the booty.

E.

AH Pasha, whose name is inseparably connected with the Klephts and Armatoli of the close of the eighteenth century, was born about 1745 at Tepeleni, the son of one
Veli, the

most notorious

of the bandits of Albania at that

time, who, being devoted for a long period of years to the prosecution of his nefarious profession, amassed considerable wealth,
village.

and eventually became the Aga of his After a life of frightful crime and profligacy, he
quite a youth.

died
Ali

when AH was
at

Educated as a bandit,

an early age for his skill in shooting, for his ^swift running, and for his bold riding for all those acquirements, in fact, which were invaluable in a brigand.

was noted

He was

also inured to every toil

possession of these qualities the service of the Beys, and he made a good marriage. He was able and he was ambitious, and rose by successive

and hardship. From the he was at length attached to

and to the steps to the Pashalik of Trikala in Thessaly, This position post of Derven Aga, or inspector of roads. was the chief origin of his future power. He was as

316

NOTES.

crafty

and subtle as he was able and daring, and be managed to attract into his service many Klepbts and
Armatoli.
of

The

Porte,

becoming alarmed

at the large

body

men which he

attached to

him by good pay and

better

promises, was pacified from time to time by his representations that this force was required in order to suppress the
robbers.

By

his

expeditions of
posts

enormous wealth, acquired in his former rapine, he was enabled to purchase (all

being saleable at the Porte) the government of Juannina. Once established there, his next object was to
get rid of the

most dangerous of his enemies, the Klephts, and by cajolery, and gold, and protestations of his devotion to the cause of Greece, and his desire for her emancipation,
he succeeded from time to time in inveigling many brave but unthinking chiefs to second his designs. The manner
in

which he obtained possession of the persons of several of the most renowned of those brave men is told in the
introductory history of the Klephts. His dealings with the unhappy Souliotes, and his subsequent treason against the Porte, with his fall and decapitation when in extreme
old age, are matters of history.

F.

There

is

frequent

monasteries used for

monasteries of

mention in the Autobiography of The old garrisons or strongholds.

all

strong as to enable them to take the place of citadels in war time. Megaspelaion, in the north of the Peloponnesus, about two hours distant from Kalavryta, is the largest monasbuilt

Greece were

so

tery

in Greece, and the next in size about an hour and a half from Yostitsa.
fortress style in

is

Taxiarchi,

Besides the

which these

edifices are constructed,

they

are provided with natural defences from their situation,

NOTES.
especially the former, which

317

on one

side has a precipice of

four or five
teries of

hundred

feet.

There are

many

lesser

monas-

the

same

character scattered over the Morea,

of retreat.
It is

which were used by the Klephts as places

seen also
in order
Elias,

how Kolokotrones availed himself of their libraries The monastery of St. to make his cartridges.
of his colleagues

where Kolokotrones and some

of the

were

confined, was one

same character as the above.

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