- Battle of Vromopigada
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of Vromopigada
partof=Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1770)
caption=A map of the Mani.
date=1770
place= Vromopigada
result= Maniot victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1= Exarchos Grigorakis Zanet Grigorakis
commander2= Hatzi OsmanKIA
strength1= 7,000Kassis, p. 36.]
strength2= 16,000Kassis, p. 35.]
casualties1= -
casualties2= 10,000Kassis, "Mani's History", 36] The Battle of Vromopigada was fought between the Ottoman Turks and theManiots ofMani in1770 . The location of the battle was in a plain between the two towns ofSkoutari andParasyros . The battle ended in aManiot victory.Prelude
Following the Venetian defeat to the
Ottoman Empire in theTurkish-Venetian War (1714-1718) , the Peloponnese once again returned to Ottoman hands. However, the autonomous Mani, who had refused to accept Ottoman sovereignty in the first Ottoman occupation of the Peloponnese once again refused to accept the Ottoman yoke. TheManiots through an agent they had in Russia began conspiring withCatherine the Great and CountAleksey Grigoryevich Orlov . In 1770, terms were agreed and a Russianfleet sailed into theAegean Sea and landing in Mani en rout destroying an Ottoman fleet at theBattle of Chesma .After initial success, the
Orlov Revolt ended in failure. Arguments betweenAleksey Grigoryevich Orlov , theRussia n leader and John the Canine, the Maniot leader led to the separation of the armies. John's army suffered a devastating defeat at Rizomilo inMessenia against the Ottoman army with only John surviving. Meanwhile, the Russian army having made no long term gains retreated. The Ottomans had meanwhile, unleashed a horde of Turko-Albanians, - who were known for their cruelty - onGreece . They pillaged their way throughAttica before attacking thePeloponnese where they massacred Greek civilians.They launched several incursions into Mani but they were all beaten back with heavy casualties. This string of defeat aggravated the Ottoman
Pasha in the Peloponnese, Hatzi Osman and he mustered an army of 16,000 men and invaded Mani. He was held back for twelve days at Kastania but after capturing the towers he advanced down the coast toSkoutari , where he was once again delayed by a tower. This tower was garrisoned by fifteen men who held back the Ottoman army for three days until the tower as undermined and blown up.Battle
Meanwhile, a Maniot force consisting of 3,000 men and 2,000 women under the command of Exarchos Grigorakis and his nephew Zanet Grigorakis had mustered in the hills above the town of Parasyros, which were known as Trikefali, and had fortified themselves. Hatzi, meanwhile, had advanced with his army to Agio Pigada (a plain that lay between Parasyros and Skoutari) and from there sent envoys demanding the surrender of the Maniots. However, the Maniots were hesitant in sending envoys back because if the answer was negative, Hatzi would have the envoys executed.
Three old men, two priests and a layman volunteered and went to the Turkish camp. When they reached the camp, they went to the pasha and without bow they asked him what they wanted from the poor and free Maniots. The pasha demanded that the Maniots give "...ten captains' children as hostages. All your guns and every year a poll tax for your head because you attacked against the
Sultan with the Russians, our enemies". The Maniot envoys replied: "We prefer to die than give you our guns and freedom. We don't pay taxes because our land is poor". Hatzi, infuriated by their answer, had them decapitated and mutilated before planting their heads on stakes.When the Maniots saw the fate of their envoys they decided how to defeat the Ottomans. During the night, a force of 1,500 Maniots outflanked the Ottoman positions and approached from the Turkish rear. Meanwhile, the main Maniot force attacked the Ottomans as they slept. The Ottomans, surprised by this night attack started to flee but where cut off by the Maniots at their rear. The remaining Turks managed to retreat to
Mystras .References
ources
*Peter Greenhalgh and Edward Eliopoulos. "Deep into Mani: Journey to the southern tip of Greece". London: Trinity Press, 1985. ISBN 0-571-13524-2
*Kyriakos Kassis. "Mani's History". Athens: Presoft, 1979.
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