Fotos Tzavelas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Fotos Tzavelas 1770 |
| Died | 1809 (~ aged 39) |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Occupation | Fighter |
| Spouse | Despo Tzavela |
| Children | Nikolaos Kitsos Ioannis Konstantinos Fotini |
| Parents |
|
Fotos Tzavelas (1770 - 1809) was a Greek souliot fighter.[1]
Biography[edit]
The "Tzavelaioi" also "Tzavelates"[2] was a well-known fara from the region of Souli of Epirus, who played an important role in the struggles of the Souliots and during the revolution of 1821[3]. Fotos Tzavelas was the first-born son of Lambros and Moscho Tzavela. He succeeded his father in the leadership of the Souliotes, after the battle of Ḱafa and the defeat of Ali Pasha in which Pasha was forced to exchange the hostages that held since 1792 with important Arvanites who had been captured by the Souliotes. Thus he freed Fotos who returned to Souli, and, after his father's death, the Souliotes elected him their leader[4]. Despite the capitulation, Ali Pasha launched new attacks (1800 - 1803) against the Souliots. The battles of the Arvanitas of Ali against the Souliots did not bring any results, in the summer of 1800. That is why Pasha decided and built towers in the area around Souli, and besieged the Souliots with his askeri.[5] Fotos Tzavelas distinguished himself in these battles for his heroism and the spirit of the leader[6] [7]. He turned out to be a great warlord and showed so much bravery that the Souliotes swore ""by the sword of Fotos"". In December 1803, the Turco-Albanian lord occupies Souli. The Souliotes are forced to disperse. Fotos Tzavelas fled to Parga and then to Corfu, then part of the Ionian State under Russian and Ottoman rule, where, after all, many Souliot faras had taken refuge.
In Corfu he served as an officer in the military corps that had been created by the Russians, in order to protect the island they then occupied. Other Souliots, many thieves, local islanders and volunteers from the mainland of Epirus had joined the body in question.
In 1807 Corfu was occupied by the French. Fotos Tzavelas was designated by the French as the centurion of their Regiment. He died in 1809 from an unknown cause[1] and was buried in the monastery of Panagia Platytera, where his tomb is preserved to this day.
Family[edit]
With his wife, Despo, they had four sons, Nikolaos, Kitsos, Ioannis or Bakatselos and Konstantinos, who lived and took part in the Revolution. He also had a daughter Fotini, who married Gennaios Kolokotronis in 1828. [8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Γιώργος Καραμπελιάς, Συνωστισμένες στο Ζάλογγο. Οι Σουλιώτες, ο Αλή Πασάς και η αποδόμηση της Ιστορίας, Εναλλακτικές Εκδόσεις, β΄ έκδοση συμπληρωμένη, Αθήνα 2014, σελ. 129.
- ^ Στασινόπουλος, σελ 307
- ^ Στασινόπουλος, σελ 309
- ^ Στασινόπουλος, σελ 310
- ^ Στασινόπουλος, σελ 315
- ^ Πάπυρος Λαρούς Μπριτάνικα, τόμος 57, λήμμα Τζαβέλας (Φώτος), σελ. 147 - 148
- ^ "Ιστορία του Σουλίου και Πάργας", Χ. Περραιβός, τόμος Α'
- ^ Στασινόπουλος, σελ 316
Sources[edit]
- Πάπυρος Λαρούς Μπριτάνικα, τόμος 57, λήμμα Τζαβέλας (Φώτος)
- "Ιστορία του Σουλίου και Πάργας", Χ. Περραιβός
- Στασινόπουλος Χρήστος, Λεξικό της Ελληνικής Επαναστάσεως του 1821, τόμος Δ, (2021,ειδική έκδοση για ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ), Εκδόσεις Δεδεμάδη, Μάρτιος 1979