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Ilias Mavromichalis | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Ilias Mavromichalis | |
| Native name | Ηλίας Μαυρομιχάλης |
| Nicknames | Bezande-Ilias Μπεζαντές-Ηλίας |
| Born | 3 April 1795 |
| Died | 12 January 1822 (aged 26) Styra,Euboea, Ottoman Empire (now Greece) |
| Allegiance |  Revolutionary Greece |
| Branch |  Hellenic Army |
| Rank | Chieftain |
| Battles / wars | |
| Relations | Petrobey Mavromichalis (father) Fotini Dimitrakarakou (mother) Panagiotitsa Mavromichali (sister) Georgios Mavromichalis (brother) Anastasios Mavromichalis (brother) Ioannis P. Mavromichalis (brother) Demetrios Mavromichalis (brother) |
| Other work | Member of theFiliki Etaireia |
Ilias Mavromichalis orBezande-Ilias (1795 - 1822) was a fighter of theGreek Revolution of 1821 and scion of the historic family ofMavromichali. He went down in history as the "Fairyborn"[1] chieftain due to his beauty - which according to popular tradition he inherited from his grandmother (daughter of the Doge of Venice,Francesco Morosini).
Also known by the nickname "Bezande" (beyizade, son of the bey in Turkish) to distinguish him from his cousin of the same name, who was nicknamed Katsakos. His self-sacrifice at Styra in Euboea, on January 12, 1822,[2] had all the characteristics of the heroic death of an ancient Spartan warrior. It was the first loss of a high-ranking member of theRevolution from the Peloponnese.
He was born in Mani and was the eldest son ofPetrobey Mavromichalis and Fotini Dimitrakarakou. Ilias was one of the first in the Peloponnese to be initiated into theFiliki Eteria. He represented the Peloponnesians in the pre-revolutionary assembly of chieftains inLefkada. At the beginning of the war, he took part in the liberation ofKalamata where, as the leader of the Maniates, he succeeded in liberating the city without a fight, in theBattle of Valtetsi,[3] Arcadia (12-13 May 1821) where he distinguished himself, together with his uncleKyriakoulis, for his strategic virtues and boldness, he also took part in theSiege of Tripolitsa, the Siege of Acrocorinth, theSiege of the Acropolis and battles in Euboea, where he was sent with his uncle Kyriakoulis to assist Bishop of Karystos Neophytos and the chieftainsMavrovouniotis andKriezotis.
When he was appointed chief of the Arms of Attica, in November 1821, he was renowned as the warlord with the Doric style and Apollonian aspect. He went down in history as the "Fairyborn"[4] chieftain. According to popular tradition, he owed his extraordinary beauty to his grandmother - who was the daughter of the Doge of Venice, Francesco Morosini. His grandfather, Giorgakis Mavromichalis, had found her unconscious on the rocks of Mani, left there by a pirate ship with which her father had fled, because she was in danger from her stepmother.
The youthful enthusiasm, bravery and philanthropy that characterized Ilias Mavromichali were paid for with his own life. His death caused deep sadness, depriving the Revolution of a very important leader, gifted at the same time with excellent diplomatic skills, at only 26 years of age.Ioannis Filimon writes: "if Doris he lostAthanasios Diakos, Laconia also he lost Ilias Mavromichali".