Dimitrios Makris ( el, Δημήτριος Μακρής, 1772–1841) was a Greek
klepht and
armatolos who was one of the most powerful chieftains in West
Central Greece. He joined the
Filiki Eteria and became a revolutionary during the
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...
.
Early life
Dimitrios Makris was born in 1772 in
Gavalou
Gavalou ( el, Γαβαλού) is a town and a community in the municipal unit of Makryneia, Aetolia-Acarnania, Greece. In 2011 its population was 1,018 for the town, and 1,051 for the community, which includes the small village Kourtelaiika. The to ...
,
Evrytania. His father was Evangelos Makris, who had taken part in the Greek revolt in 1770. After his death Dimitrios became Captain in the district of Zyghos.
Greek War of Independence
He was originally a
klepht under Captain Georgios Sfaltos, and took over command of his band after Sfaltos' death. He was appointed an
armatolos at Zygos, and never collaborated with
Ali Pasha of Janina. He acquired much wealth by plundering the Turks at
Vrachori
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium'') is the largest city of the Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit of Greece and its largest municipality, with 106,053 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capi ...
. He was initiated into the
Filiki Eteria just before the revolution was launched in Western Greece on May 5, 1821. He participated as a representative of Zygos in the Assembly of Western Continental Greece in 1821.
He participated in many battles against the Ottoman Turks including the
Third Siege of Missolonghi. During the siege Dimitrios Makris married Eupraxia, daughter of the city's notable Samos Razi-Kotsikas. He later fought in
Agrinio and
Aitoliko and with the collaboration of
Georgios Karaiskakis troops attacked and repulsed a body of
Albanians
The Albanians (; sq, Shqiptarët ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Se ...
.
Soon after he joined the troops of
Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Alexandros Mavrokordatos ( el, Αλέξανδρος Μαυροκορδάτος; 11 February 179118 August 1865) was a Greece, Greek statesman, diplomat, politician and member of the Mavrocordatos family of Phanariotes.
Biography
In 1812, Mavroko ...
. In 1823 he was named a general in the rebel army. After the establishment of the Greek kingdom Makris refrained from accepting any political and military honors. He returned to his home town, where he eventually died in 1841.
Historical relics
Numerous weapons of Dimitros Makris are preserved in the City Hall of Missolonghi including the sword which he used in the Exodus of
Missolonghi, which belonged to his ancestral family and dates back to the old fighters of 1732. The museum also hold his famous silver rifle, the Liaros.
See also
*
Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Alexandros Mavrokordatos ( el, Αλέξανδρος Μαυροκορδάτος; 11 February 179118 August 1865) was a Greece, Greek statesman, diplomat, politician and member of the Mavrocordatos family of Phanariotes.
Biography
In 1812, Mavroko ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Makris, Dimitrios
1772 births
1841 deaths
People from Aetolia-Acarnania
Greek generals
Greek revolutionaries
Greek military leaders of the Greek War of Independence
18th-century Greek people
19th-century Greek military personnel
Members of the Royal Phalanx