Markos Drakos

Markos Drakos
Markos Drakos
Replace this image male.svg
Nickname Lykourgos
Born May 22, 1930
Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus
Died January 18, 1957
Solea
Allegiance Cyprus
Unit Astrape

Markos Drakos ("Μάρκος Δράκος" in Greek) was a Cypriot guerrilla fighter who was killed in the EOKA struggle (1955–1959) against the British. His nom de guerre was Lykourgos.

He was born in Lefkosia, on September 24, 1932 and studied accounting. He worked for the Hellenic Mining Company in Cyprus until 1954. When EOKA was formed, Drakos was among the first to join, training others in the use of arms and recruiting members. Drakos was mild-mannered and enthusiastic to learn about military operations, as well as being devoutly religious, and EOKA commander Georgios Grivas "Dighenis" quickly took a liking to him. He saw great potential in Drakos as a leader, and he was quickly promoted to a senior position in EOKA.

On April 1, 1955, considered to be the first day of the struggle, Drakos and his "Astrape" ("Lightning") team blew up the radio station of Athalassa, destroying it completely. With his squad, he would go on to co-ordinate several other operations.

On June 30, 1955, Drakos was arrested by the British with 14 other EOKA members and imprisoned in Kyrenia Castle but famously managed to escape 3 months later, by tying blankets together and abseiling out of the windows. A bounty of 5,000 pounds was placed on his head but that did not deter him from taking part in more battles and acts of sabotage.

Finally, on the night of January 18, 1957 the British forces attacked Drakos and his men at their hideout in Solea. Drakos fought in the rain and hail storm, almost single-handedly, allowing his comrades to escape. His body, with 40 bullet-holes, was recovered and interred by the British in the Imprisoned Graves in the Central Jail of Nicosia. The Bible which Drakos carried with him at all times was never recovered at his scene of death.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Marcos (given name) — Marcos is a male given name, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Mark. Markos in Greek. Marcos may refer to: Contents 1 Sports 2 Radio 3 Politics …   Wikipedia

  • EOKA — Not to be confused with EOKA B. EOKA Participant in Cypriot struggle for Independence Active 1955–1959 …   Wikipedia

  • Nikos Sampson — de facto President of the Republic of Cyprus In office July 15 – 23, 1974 Preceded by Makarios III …   Wikipedia

  • Central Jail of Nicosia — The Central Jail of Lefkosia is located just to the west of the walled part of the Cypriot city of Lefkosia and just south of the Green Line.It is known primarily for the Imprisoned Tombs where 13 heroes of the EOKA struggle against the British… …   Wikipedia

  • Dimitrios Kamberos — (Greek: Δημήτριος Καμπέρος, 1883 1942) was the first military aviator in Greek history. His name was spelled variously in contemporary foreign sources, including Camberos and Cambères. Kamberos was originally an artillery officer, and one of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Souliotes — Suli redirects here. This is also a suborder in the Pelecaniformes, containing gannets, boobies, cormorants and darters. The Souliotes (or Souliots, Suliots; Greek: Σουλιώτες) were the inhabitants of Souli, a historic mountain settlement 73 km… …   Wikipedia

  • Armatoloi — (pronounced ar ma to LEE ), (Greek plural Αρματολοί; singular Armatolos Αρματολός; also called Armatoles in English) were Greek Christian irregular soldiers, or militia, commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan s authority within an… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste Des Prénoms Grecs — Sommaire 1 Origine des prénoms grecs 2 Attribution des prénoms 3 Fêtes 4 Transcription et translittération …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Liste des prenoms grecs — Liste des prénoms grecs Sommaire 1 Origine des prénoms grecs 2 Attribution des prénoms 3 Fêtes 4 Transcription et translittération …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bataille de Phalère — Débarquement aux Trois Tours Informations générales Date 6 mai 1827 (24 avril 1827 julien) Lieu …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”