Battle of Gravia

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Gravia
partof=the Greek War of Independence


caption="The battle at the Inn of Gravia"
date=May 8, 1821
place=Gravia, Greece
result=Decisive Greek victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=120 fightersParoulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]
strength2=8,000 troops Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]
casualties1=6Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]
casualties2=300 dead,
800 woundedParoulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]

The Battle of Gravia Inn (Greek: Μάχη στο Χάνι της Γραβιάς) was fought between Greek revolutionaries and the Ottoman Empire during the Greek War of Independence. The Greek leader, Odysseas Androutsos with a group of 120 men defeated a Turkish army numbering 9,000 men and artillery under the command of Omer Vryonis.

Following his defeat of the Greeks at the Battle of Alamana and the execution of their leader Athanasios Diakos, the Turkish army under the command of Omer Vryonis, planned to attack the Peloponnese with an army of 9,000 men. However, his army was met by a Greek group numbering 120 men under the command of Odysseas Androutsos who had barricaded themelves inside an old inn. The Turks surrounded the area and attacked the inn but were thrown back with heavy losses. While the Turks paused their attacks to bring up the cannon, the Greeks slipped away and escaped through the Turkish lines.

This attack is considered important to the outcome of the Greek revolution because it forced Omer Vryonis to retreat leaving the Greeks to consolidate their gains in the Peloponnese and capure the Turkish capital of the Peloponnese, Tripoli.

Background

In May 1821, after crushing the Greek resistance at the Battle of Alamana and putting Athanasios Diakos to death, Omer Vryonis headed south into the Peloponnese from his base at Lamia, seeking to crush the Greek rebellion with an army of 9,000 men supported by artilery. However, as he was advancing, a Greek revolutionary soldier, Odysseas Androutsos together wth 120 men barricaded himself in an old inn near the centre of the road.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]

The other two Greek captains that had come with Androutsos, Panourgias and Duovounitis, took their men and assumed higher position on other side of the road. They did this because they assumed that Androutsos' stand would end up a disaster like Alamana and being up high would allow the to retreat. When Vryonis arrived he dispersed his men through the hills and surrounded the inn. He sent a Dervish to negotiate with Androutsos but when he was shot dead a the door, Vryonis ordered the attack.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]

Battle

As soon as Vryonis ordered the attack, a detachment of Albanian soldiers charged the building. As they entered the building they were met by a barrage of building. The Albanians were forced to retreated under heavy fire and have lost many casaulties to the concealed Greeks. The following Turkish attacks also met a barrage of fire and were forced to retreat.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]

Vryonis angered by the losses he was suffering ordered for the cannons to be brought. Androutsos, however, had guessed Vryonis' intentions and retreated with his men through the Turkish lines undrtected oly leaving behind his six dead countrymen.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.]

Aftermath

The casualties suffered by Vryonis were heavy with 300 soldiers dead and 800 wounded in a couple of hours of fighting. This battle shocked him into uncertainty and he decided to retreat to the island of Euboea, just off the coast of Attica where he would later combine forces with Kioshe Mehmet.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71-2.]

The Battle of Gravia was is considered to be an important event in the Greek War of Independence.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 71.] By forcing Vryonis to retreat, Androutsos allowed the Greeks in the Peloponnese to have more time to consolidate their gains as well as to capture the Turkish capital of the Peloponnese, Tripoli.Paroulakis, The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence", p. 82.]

References

ources

*cite book|first=Peter H.|last=Paroulakis|title=The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence|publisher=Hellenic International Press|year=1984|id=ISBN 0-9590894-0-3