Loukas Vagias (Greek:Λουκάς Βάγιας), also referred asLoukas Vaya, Lucas Bia,Lucca Vaya,Lluka (Luka) Vaja, was aGreek physician and participant in theGreek War of Independence.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He is remembered as the personal doctor ofAli Pasha, thePhanariot noblemanAlexandros Mavrokordatos, andLord Byron.[8]
Loukas was born in the village ofLekël inLunxhëri region, thenPashalik of Yanina,Ottoman Empire, todayTepelenë District,Albania.[9] He was the younger brother ofThanasis Vagias, chief commander of Ali Pasha. They had two other brothers, Yannis and Christakis.[9] According to some sources, Loukas' (and Thanasis') intrigues were the main driver forVangjel Meksi to leave Ali Pasha's cabinet and escape toCorfu.[6]
Loukas married the daughter ofAthanasios Psalidas, one of the main representatives of theModern Greek Enlightenment and member of Ali Pasha's council.[7] He is mentioned as an excellent doctor, studied inWien,Austrian Empire. Loukas Vagias joined theGreek Revolution and gave immense contribution during theThird Siege of Missolonghi. He was buried inArgos.[7]
...Having sent for his friendDr. Lucca Vaya...
...the fever had worsened and two more doctors were summoned: a doctorLoukas Vaya, who once had been physician to Ali Pasha,...
...Luka Vaja ishte dhe ai mjek i Aliut...[Luka Vaja was a physician to Ali...]
...After the collapse of the Pashalik of Ioannina, the Greek victory, he would become prime minister of Greece. His daughter married Luke Vaja, when both served in the Courtyard of Ali Pasha....
Two of the four brothers Vaja have served with dedication, as friends and activists of Ali Pasha. All were educated in colleges and universities all over Europe, but most particularly was Luke, Kristaq and Jani as well.