- Spyromilios
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Spyromilios Born 1800
HimaraDied 1880
AthensAllegiance Greece
Service/branch Greek Army Years of service 1824-1854 Rank Lieutenant General Battles/wars Greek War of Independence Awards Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer
Cross of the War of Independence in SilverOther work Minister of Military Affairs Spyromilios (Greek: Σπυρομήλιος, 1800-1880) or Spyros Milios, was a Greek revolutionary, general and politician.
Contents
Early life
He was born in Himara[1], Northern Epirus, in modern southern Albania, then part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1810 he went to Naples in Italy, where he remained until 1819, studying military theory and learning Latin and French. In 1819, he returned to his homeland to prepare a geographic survey for his school, but was arrested by Ali Pasha, the ruler of Ioannina, who employed him at his court as a military adviser.
Greek War of Independence
In August 1824, after Ali’s death, together with his brothers Nikolaos and Zachos Milios, Spyromilios, he travelled south and joined the ongoing Greek War of Independence. In August 1825 he was fighting in the Third Siege of Missolonghi, at the head of a group of 250 armed Himariotes. Named General in September, he was sent as a member of a commission to Nafplion in January 1826, to ask the government for more effective aid to the besieged city. Little was achieved, and although Spyromilios tried to arrange for a British ship to evacuate the garrison, it was too late. Spyromilios was thus forced to remain a spectator of the garrison's disastrous attempt to sally and break through the Ottoman lines, during which his brother Nikolaos was killed.
Afterwards, together with his brother Zachos, he took part in military operations in Central Greece under Georgios Karaiskakis. Under Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias (1828–1829), Spyromilios was placed captain of the personal guard of Dimitrios Ypsilantis.
After Independence
After the end of the War of Independence, Spyromilios settled in Thebes, but as a known supporter of Kapodistrias, he was imprisoned for 9 months in the Palamidi fortress (September 1833-June 1834). Released and reinstated to the army, he became director of the Evelpidon Military Academy in 1840-1844. The first Greek to hold that post, he also wrote the Academy's first book of regulations. From this position he participated in the 3 September 1843 Revolution that led to the granting of the first Constitution of Greece. This led him to be considered as an enemy of King Otto, but he soon regained the King's trust. He was appointed General Secretary of the Ministry of Military Affairs in 1848 and adjutant to the King, and in 1850 he was appointed Minister of Military Affairs, a post he kept until 1853. Following the outbreak of the Crimean War, he supported Greek revolts in the Ottoman Empire, despite the neutrality forced upon Greece by Britain and France. His involvement in a revolt in Epirus (1854) led to his dismissal from his offices and his suspension from the Army.
Retired from the Army, he returned to politics from 1859, and served as Minister of Military Affairs in the several cabinets:
- 1859 under Athanasios Miaoulis
- 1862 under Gennaios Kolokotronis
- 1867 under Aristidis Moraitinis
- 1869 under Dimitrios Voulgaris
In 1864-1865, he was a member of the short-lived Council of State, while in 1872, he was elected speaker of the Greek Parliament.
In his memoirs (published in 1926), he gives detailed account of his life. They are an important contemporary document, especially regarding the Siege of Missolonghi.
References
- ^ Ivo Banac, John G. Ackerman, Roman Szporluk, Wayne S. Vucinich (1981). Nation and ideology: essays in honor of Wayne S. Vucinich. East European Monographs. p. 46. ISBN 9780914710899. http://books.google.com/books?ei=H1B6TIuMBo2OjAfK8LX1DA&ct=result&hl=el&id=4OBoAAAAMAAJ&dq=melios%2Bhimara&q=%22Cheimarriote+veterans+played+a+significant+role+in+the+Greek+War+of+Independence%2C+1821-1830.+Among+those+who+became+officers+in+the+Greek+insurrectionary+forces+were%3A+%22#search_anchor. "Cheimarriote veterans played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence, 1821-1830. Among those who became officers in the Greek insurrectionary forces were: ... The most notable of these officers was General Spyromelios.""
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature. Bruce Merry. Greenwood Press, 2004. ISBN 0313308136.
- Land and Revolution in Modern Greece, 1800-1881: The Transition in the Tenure and Exploitation of Land from Ottoman Rule to Independence. William W. McGrew. Kent State University Press, 1985. ISBN 0873383168.
- The Military in Greek Politics: From Independence to Democracy. Thanos Veremis. Black Rose Books, 1997. ISBN 1551641046.
- This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Greek Wikipedia published under the GFDL (contributors).
Northern Epirus & Greeks in Albania History Ancient Epirus (Chaones • Dassaretae) • Despotate of Epirus • Revolt of 1854 • Revolt of 1878 • Himara revolt of 1912 • Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus • Protocol of Corfu • Battle of Morava-Ivan • Northern Epirus Liberation FrontSociety and Culture Greeks in Albania • New Academy • Zographeion College • Himariote dialect • Laiko Vima • Polyphonic song of Epirus • Postage stamps and postal history of Northern EpirusSettlements Ancient: Phoenice • Vouthroton • Apollonia • Thronium • Amantia • Antigonia • Antipatreia • Dimale • Oricum
Modern: Gjirokastër • Korçë • Himarë • Delvinë • Sarandë • Dropull • Pogon • Tepelenë • Permet • Leskovik • Ersekë • Moscopole • Bilisht
Other1: Nartë • Vlorë • Berat • Tirana • Elbasan • Durrës • Fier • ShkodërOrganizations Omonoia • Panepirotic Federation of America • Panepirotic Federation of Australia • Unity for Human Rights PartyIndividuals Benefactors: Alexandros Vasileiou • Apostolos Arsakis • Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas • Ioannis Pangas • Georgios and Simon Sinas • Alexandros and Michael Vasileiou • Christakis Zografos • Literature: Theodore Kavalliotis • Katina Papa • Konstantinos Skenderis • Takis Tsiakos • Tasos Vidouris • Stavrianos Vistiaris • Andreas Zarbalas • Politics: Vasil Bollano • Georgios Christakis-Zografos • Vangjel Dule • Spiro Ksera • Military/Resistance: Kyriakoulis Argyrokastritis • Panos Bitsilis • Dimitrios Doulis • Konstantinos Lagoumitzis • Zachos Milios • Athanasios Pipis • Ioannis Poutetsis • Vasilios Sahinis • Spyromilios • Spyros Spyromilios • Sports: Pyrros Dimas • Sotiris Ninis • Panajot Pano • Leonidas Sabanis • Andreas Tatos • Clergy: Vasileios of Dryinoupolis • Panteleimon Kotokos Eulogios Kourilas
1 Cities and towns in Albania with Greek-speaking communities, outside the political definition of 'Northern Epirus'.Categories:- 1800 births
- 1880 deaths
- 19th-century Greek people
- Hellenic Army generals
- Ministers of Military Affairs of Greece
- Speakers of the Hellenic Parliament
- People of the Greek War of Independence
- Northern Epirotes
- People from Himarë
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