At the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in March 1821, Greeks from all over the crumbling Ottoman Empire rose up against their Turkish oppressors,
Unsung Heroes of the Greek War of Independence
“Karaouli” (guard), Theodoros Vryzakis. Public Domain
When one thinks of the Greek War of Independence, the first things that comes to mind are the names: Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis, Papaflessas, Bouboulina, Diakos, and Kanaris.
The next thing that springs to mind are the heroic battles at Gravia Inn, Alamana, Valtetsi, Dervenakia, Navarino.
Yet the 1821 Greek Revolution had many unknown heroes who fought alongside the legendary ones, or fought in their own battles for liberation from the Ottomans.
Some of them are honored, having streets named after them or statues in their birthplace. But many Greeks today have no idea where the name of this or that street comes from. It’s time that was rectified.
Νὰ τρέξ΄ ἀπὸ τὴν Μπόσνα, καὶ ὡς τὴν Ἀραπιά.
“We will light a flame throughout the Turkish lands
That will spread from Bosnia to Arabia.”
Rigas Feraios
It is fair to say that the Serbians had a stake in the Greek Revolution and the Independence of Greece, even prior to 25 March 1821, with leaders of the Serbian people and key protagonists in, or veterans of the Serbian revolt, such as Serbian revolutionary leader Karadjordje, becoming sworn members of the Filiki Etairia.
Indeed, when the Greek Revolution was proclaimed, not in Greece, but in Moldavia in February 1821, Prince Alexander Ypsilanti’s forces were comprised of mixed Greek and Serbian fighters. Some of these were known for their ferocity. Captain Milenko Stojković, was renowned for having killed the Ottoman notables Aganlija, Kucuk Alija, Mula Jusuf and Mehmed Focic, responsible for the killing of Serbian Princes that triggered the First Serbian Uprising, arrived in Moldav