Kitsos Botsaris (; 1741 in
Missolonghi
Missolonghi or Messolonghi ( el, Μεσολόγγι, ) is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis ...
– 1813, in
Arta), was a leader of the
Souliotes
The Souliotes were an Orthodox Christian Albanian tribal community in the area of Souli in Epirus from the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century, who via their participation in the Greek War of Independence came to identify with the ...
, an autonomous community in
Ottoman-ruled
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
. He played a leading role in the aftermath of the
last war between the Souliotes and the Ottoman ruler of
Ioannina
Ioannina ( el, Ιωάννινα ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. According to the 2011 census, the c ...
,
Ali Pasha. He was the father of
Kostas Botsaris
Kostas (Kitsos) Botsaris ( el, Κώστας (Κίτσος) Μπότσαρης, it, Costa Bozzari, c. 1792–1853), also known as Constantine Botzaris, was a Greek general and senator. He was also a captain and a hero of the War of Greek Indepen ...
and
Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris ( el, Μάρκος Μπότσαρης c. 1788 – 21 August 1823) was a chieftain of the Souliotes and hero of the Greek War of Independence, and general of the Greek army.Brigands with a Cause, Brigandage and Irredentism ...
, who fought in 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 ...
.
At the war against Ali Pasha
K. Botsaris was a prominent figure of the ''Botsaris'' (or ''Botzaraioi'') Souliotic clan, who originated from ''Dragani'', or else ''Ampelia'' village, south of
Paramythia. He was the head of the Souliotes during the wars against Ali Pasha at the end of 18th century.
In 1792 Ali Pasha planned a second expedition against Souli. He tried to deceive and arrest the Souli warriors, pretending that he is going to attack
Argyrokastro and he needs their assistance. Ali sent a letter to K. Botsari written in Greek, which was published in its entirety by W. Eton in 1799:
:“''My friends Captain Bozia (Botsaris) and Captain Tzavella, I , Ali Pasha, salute you … As soon as you receive my letter assemble all your warriors and come to meet me against my enemies. This is the time that I need you … Your pay shall be double that which I give to the Albanians because I know that you are braver than them. I will not go to the war before you come….”'' (Eton, p. 384).
Botsaris understood the stratagem and professed to Ali that he could not help him because could not persuade his people (the Souliotes). Captain Tzavellas who did accept Ali’s offer was soon arrested with his 70 warriors by Ali Pasha’s army. After this incident Ali marched against Souli, which was under K. Botsaris’ general command. Soon Tzavellas managed to escape from Ali by offering his 12-year-old son as hostage, and joined the Souliotes.
Botsaris ordered the Souliotes to withdraw to inaccessible mountainous fortresses with provisions for 6 months. At the same time he poisoned the local wells so that the Ottomans had no easy access to water. After some battles, the main body of the Pasha’s army was lured into an ambush and was slaughtered. The rest retreated in panic to
Ioannina
Ioannina ( el, Ιωάννινα ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. According to the 2011 census, the c ...
and Ali himself escaped with difficulty, exhausting to death two of his horses while fleeing.
Eton William, A survey of the Turkish empire, 1799, pp. 382-399.
See also
* 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 ...
* Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris ( el, Μάρκος Μπότσαρης c. 1788 – 21 August 1823) was a chieftain of the Souliotes and hero of the Greek War of Independence, and general of the Greek army.Brigands with a Cause, Brigandage and Irredentism ...
* Kostas Botsaris
Kostas (Kitsos) Botsaris ( el, Κώστας (Κίτσος) Μπότσαρης, it, Costa Bozzari, c. 1792–1853), also known as Constantine Botzaris, was a Greek general and senator. He was also a captain and a hero of the War of Greek Indepen ...
* Souliotes
The Souliotes were an Orthodox Christian Albanian tribal community in the area of Souli in Epirus from the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century, who via their participation in the Greek War of Independence came to identify with the ...
References
*Sakellariou M. V
''Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization''
Ekdotikē Athēnōn, 1997. , p. 251
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botsaris, Kitsos
1741 births
1813 deaths
Souliotes
Macedonia under the Ottoman Empire
People from Missolonghi