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

, 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

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). Andreas Londos Flag 1821

On 23 March 1821, he and 400 Greek fighters marched on

. 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