Georgios Karaiskakis (; 23 January 1782 – 23 April 1827), born Georgios Karaiskos (), was a Greek military commander and a leader of the Greek War of Independence.

Early life

Karaiskakis was a Sarakatsani. His mother Zoe Dimiski (from Skoulikaria, Arta) was the niece of a local monastery abbot and cousin of Gogos Bakolas, captain of the armatoliki of Radovitsi. The identity of his father is uncertain. His name was likely Demetrios Iskos or Karaiskos, a klepht of Valtos, and was from a famous Sarakatsani family that produced many military and political figures. There is some debate regarding the birthplace of Karaiskakis. Historians have generally put it either at a monastery in Skoulikaria in Epirus or a cave near the village of Mavrommati in Thessaly. A committee set up by the Ministry of the Interior in 1927 to resolve the issue concluded that Mavrommati was his birthplace. Nevertheless, in 1997, as part of the Kapodistrias reform, it was decided to give the name "Georgios Karaiskakis" to the newly established municipality of which Skoulikaria belongs to. In 2005, by presidential decree, a public holiday of local importance was officially established in Skoulikaria in honor of Karaiskakis, further intensifying the controversy regarding his birthplace.

At a very early age he became a klepht in the service of Katsantonis, a famous local Agrafiote brigand captain. He rose quickly through the ranks, eventually becoming a protopalikaro, or lieutenant.

Capture by Ali Pasha

At the age of fifteen he was captured by the troops of the Albanian ruler Ali Pasha and imprisoned at Ioannina, where he learned Albanian. Ali Pasha, impressed by Karaiskakis' courage and intelligence, released him from prison and had him serve as a member of his personal bodyguards.

During his service under Ali Pasha, he fought against another Ottoman warlord, Osman Pazvantoğlu, in 1798.

Karaiskakis served in the army of Ali Pasha in his war against the Ottomans (1820–1822), but after his defeat and death, Karaiskakis fled to Vonitsa.

Karaiskakis was famous among the fighters of the revolution for his tirade manner of speaking.

Karaiskaki Stadium in Neo Faliro, Piraeus is named after him as he was mortally wounded in the area.

Dionysis Savvopoulos wrote both the music and lyrics to the popular Greek song "Ode to Georgios Karaiskakis" (). Savvopoulos wrote the song for Che Guevara, but he chose this title to pass the censorship of the Greek military junta.

Family

Karaiskakis was married to Engolpia Skylodimou, and had four children: daughters Pinelopi and Eleni, and sons Spyridon and Dimitrios.

See also

  • Dimitrios Makris

References

Attribution

  • Greek Wikipedia Entry