The Battle of Doliana occurred on 30 May 1821 N.S. during the Greek War of Independence when Greek revolutionaries defeated the forces of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

Battle

After the Turkish defeat at the

battle of Valtetsi The Battle of Valtetsi was fought on 24 May (Old Style and New Style dates, N.S.), 1821 in Valtetsi (village), Valtetsi between the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman army and Greeks, Greek revolutionaries. Background The Greek War of Independence offici ...

, the Turkish leader Kâhya Mustafa

Bey Bey ( ota, بك, beğ, script=Arab, tr, bey, az, bəy, tk, beg, uz, бек, kz, би/бек, tt-Cyrl, бәк, translit=bäk, cjs, пий/пек, sq, beu/bej, sh, beg, fa, بیگ, beyg/, tg, бек, ar, بك, bak, gr, μπέης) is ...

decided to attack and destroy the Greek camp of Vervena where 2,500 armed Greeks had gathered. According to

Spyridon Trikoupis Spiridon Trikoupis ( el, Σπυρίδων Τρικούπης; 20 April 1788 – 24 February 1873) was a Greek statesman, diplomat, author and orator. He was the first Prime Minister of Greece (1833) and member of provisional governments of Greece ...

, it was believed by the Turks that the destruction of Vervena would seriously damage Greek morale. During the night of 17–18 May, an Ottoman force of six thousand men and two cannons marched from Tripoli to Vervena. The Turkish plan would only succeed if the Ottoman army could pass Doliana where

Nikitaras Nikitaras ( el, Νικηταράς) was the nom de guerre of Nikitas Stamatelopoulos ( el, Νικήτας Σταματελόπουλος) (c. 17841849), a Greek revolutionary in the Greek War of Independence. Due to his fighting prowess, he was ...

, a leader of the Greek revolutionaries, was positioned with approximately two hundred men. By the time the Ottomans reached Doliana, Nikitaras had established a fortified position utilizing ordinary houses. When the Turks arrived they were surprised by the Greeks and panicked. Meanwhile at Vervena, when a portion of the Ottoman army arrived it was forced to quickly retreat because the Greek revolutionaries had realized the impending danger and prepared for an attack by taking positions to flank the Turks. Due to the number of casualties, Mustafa Bey and the Turks retreated. The Greeks followed the Turks as they withdrew and continued to pursue their fleeing enemy to Tripoli. According to the Greek General Kolokotronis, the Ottomans lost seventy men and abandoned their cannons and materials on the battlefield. Nikitaras, who had up to that point lived in the shadow of General Kolokotronis, earned a reputation and nickname ("Tourkofagos" (

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 ...

: Τουρκοφάγος) (Turk-eater)) for himself. A legend of the time reported that after the battle of Doliana, Nikitaras' sword got stuck to his hand and could not be removed.

Significance

The victorious Battle of Doliana was a big morale boost for the Greek revolutionaries. It marked the last time that the besieged Ottoman army left Tripoli and opened the way for the fall of the city and the firm establishment of the independence movement in the Peloponnese.

Citations

References

* * {{Ottoman battles

Doliana Doliana ( el, Δολιανά) is a community of the municipality North Kynouria, in eastern Arcadia, Greece. It consists of the villages Kato Doliana, Ano Doliana, Dragouni, Kouvlis, Prosilia and Rouneika.Doliana Doliana ( el, Δολιανά) is a community of the municipality North Kynouria, in eastern Arcadia, Greece. It consists of the villages Kato Doliana, Ano Doliana, Dragouni, Kouvlis, Prosilia and Rouneika.Doliana Doliana ( el, Δολιανά) is a community of the municipality North Kynouria, in eastern Arcadia, Greece. It consists of the villages Kato Doliana, Ano Doliana, Dragouni, Kouvlis, Prosilia and Rouneika.Doliana Doliana ( el, Δολιανά) is a community of the municipality North Kynouria, in eastern Arcadia, Greece. It consists of the villages Kato Doliana, Ano Doliana, Dragouni, Kouvlis, Prosilia and Rouneika.1821 in Greece History of Arcadia, Peloponnese May 1821 events Peloponnese in the Greek War of Independence

Battle

Significance

See also

Citations

References