Andreas S. Londos ( el, Ανδρέας Λόντος, 1786–1846) was a
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
military leader and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
. Born in
Vostitsa
Aigio, also written as ''Aeghion, Aegion, Aegio, Egio'' ( el, Αίγιο, Aígio, ; la, Aegium), is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, on the Peloponnese. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipalit ...
in 1786, he was initiated into the
Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends ( el, Φιλικὴ Ἑταιρεία ''or'' ) was a secret organization founded in 1814 in Odessa, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek state. (''ret ...
in 1818, and was one of the first military leaders to raise the banner of revolt in the Peloponnese during the
Greek War of Independence.
On 26 January 1821, under the ruse of a land dispute between landowners, Londos and other leading landowners, primates and bishops of the
Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends ( el, Φιλικὴ Ἑταιρεία ''or'' ) was a secret organization founded in 1814 in Odessa, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek state. (''ret ...
, including
Andreas Zaimis
Andreas Asimakis Zaimis ( el, Ανδρέας Ζαΐμης; 1791 – 4 May 1840) was a Greek freedom fighter and government leader during the Greek War of Independence.
Biography
Born in Kalavryta, in the northern Peloponnesos, Zaimis was a pri ...
and
Germanos of Patras
Germanos III of Old Patras ( el, Παλαιών Πατρών Γερμανός Γʹ; 1771–1826), born Georgios Gotzias, was an Orthodox Metropolitan of Patras. He played an important role in the Greek Revolution of 1821, having diplomatic and ...
, met
Papaflessas at the Monastery of Archangels Michael and Gabriel in
Vostitsa
Aigio, also written as ''Aeghion, Aegion, Aegio, Egio'' ( el, Αίγιο, Aígio, ; la, Aegium), is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, on the Peloponnese. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipalit ...
to discuss plans for an uprising against the Turks. At first, skeptical of
Papaflessas's rhetoric for general uprising, Londos and the other leaders eventually raised the banner of independence on 10 March 1821, at the Monastery of
Agia Lavra
Agia Lavra ("Holy Lavra") is a monastery near Kalavryta, Achaea, Greece. It was built in 961 AD, on Chelmos Mountain, at an altitude of 961 meters, and can be described as the symbolic birthplace of modern Greece. It stands as one of the oldest ...
. It was after the Bey of Tripoli imprisoned and threatened to execute several leading Greek Bishops.
[Paroulakis, Peter H. ''The Greeks: Their Struggle For Independence''. Hellenic International Press (1984). ]
On 23 March 1821, he and 400 Greek fighters marched on
Vostitsa
Aigio, also written as ''Aeghion, Aegion, Aegio, Egio'' ( el, Αίγιο, Aígio, ; la, Aegium), is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, on the Peloponnese. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipalit ...
. Hearing rumours of a general insurrection, the Turks fled across the Gulf of Corinth and took refuge at
Amfissa. The Greeks captured the town without a fight. Leaving 200 men as a garrison, Londos then marched on
Patras to join the siege of the city's fortress.
[Brewer, David. ''The Greek War of Independence''. The Overlook Press (2001). ]
In July 1822, at
Akrata, a force of Greek fighters under Londos, Zaimis and Petimezas surrounded and attacked a group of 4,000 Turks marching to
Patras after their defeat at the
Battle of Dervenakia. Only a few were lucky to escape, while Yusuf Pasha sent ships to take them to Patras.
Andreas Londos along with his friend and ally, Andreas Zaimis were later embroiled in the political intrigues surrounding the claims of two factions to the legitimacy of government. At first, siding with the government (then led by
Georgios Kountouriotis
Georgios Kountouriotis ( el, Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης) (1782 – 13 March 1858) was a Greek ship-owner and politician who served as prime minister from March to October 1848.
Life
He was born in 1782 on the Saronic island of ...
), Londos later joined the Peloponnesian leaders against the government of
Ioannis Kolettis
Ioannis Kolettis (; died 17 September 1847) was a Greek politician who played a significant role in Greek affairs from the Greek War of Independence through the early years of the Greek Kingdom, including as Minister to France and serving twic ...
and was subsequently on the losing side of the civil war of 1824.
Following Greek independence, he became involved in the
September 3 Movement that finally secured a constitution for the people of
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
.
Andreas Londos died in 1846 in
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Londos, Andreas
1786 births
1846 deaths
People from Aigio
Ottoman-era Greek primates
Ministers of the Interior of Greece
Ministers of Military Affairs of Greece
Ottoman Greece
Members of the Filiki Eteria
Greek military leaders of the Greek War of Independence