Odysseas Androutsos | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Androutsos entitledOdysseus Tritzo (Adam Friedel, 1830). | |
| Native name | Οδυσσέας Ανδρούτσος |
| Birth name | Odysseas Verousis Οδυσσέας Βερούσης |
| Nickname(s) | Kapudan Disava |
| Born | c. 1788[1]–1790[2] Ithaca |
| Died | 5 June 1825 (aged 37) Frankish Tower,Athens,First Hellenic Republic |
| Buried | Base of the north side of theAcropolis (1825–1865) First Cemetery of Athens (1865–1967) Central square ofPreveza (1967–present) |
| Allegiance |  Pashalik of Yanina (1805/1810–1820) Revolutionary Greece (1821) First Hellenic Republic (1822–1825)Ottoman Empire (1825) |
| Service |  Hellenic Army |
| Commands | Commander-in-Chief ofCentral Greece |
| Battles / wars | |
| Spouse(s) | Eleni Kareli |
| Children | Leonidas Androutsos |
| Relations | Andreas Verousis (father) Akrivi Tsarlampa (mother) Lambros Katsonis (godfather) |
| Other work | Member of theFiliki Etaireia |
Odysseas Androutsos (Greek:Οδυσσέας Ανδρούτσος; 1788–1790 – 1825; bornOdysseas VerousisΟδυσσέας Βερούσης) was a Greekarmatolos in easterncontinental Greece and a prominent figure of theGreek War of Independence.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Born inIthaca,[10] the son of anArvaniteklepht andprivateer fromRoumeli and aGreek mother[11] from a family ofnotables fromPreveza in theIonian islands.[12][13] He joined the court of his father's old friend,[14] the Ottoman Albanian rulerAli Pasha of the increasingly independentPashalik of Yanina, became one of his commanders and was appointedarmatolos ofLivadeia in 1816. In 1818 or 1820 he became a member of the Greek revolutionary organizationFiliki Eteria.[15][16][17][18]
WhenAli Pasha rebelled against the Sultan, Androutsos initially supported Ali, but he abandoned besieged Yannina for the Ionian islands in October 1820. He joined theGreek War of Independence in 1821, and he was distinguished as a commander in theBattle of Gravia Inn in May 1821. As a result of the battle, he was appointed military commander of eastern mainland Greece by the Greek revolutionary government. Androutos was twice accused by the Greek revolutionary government of treachery owing to his negotiating initiative with his Albanian enemies as a means of effective distraction when he could not repel them.[19] In 1824 Androutsos did not take sides in theGreek civil war. After falling out with the rebels in 1825, he asked for and received amnesty from the Imperial court, switching allegiances permanently and joining the army of the Ottoman Albanian rulerOmer Vrioni, pasha of Ioannina.[20][19] In a battle nearLivadeia, he was captured by the units of the revolutionary army and executed a few days later.
Scholars have variously described him as a hero or a traitor to the Greek cause in the Greek War of Independence.[21][3][22][23] In Greece he is today considered one of the most prominent heroes of the Greek War of Independence.
Androutsos born inIthaca between 1788 and 1790.[2] His father was Andreas Verousis (Greek:Ανδρέας Βερούσης,Albanian:Andruc Verushi[24]), anArvanite[25][26][10] andklepht fromLivanates, inPhthiotis prefecture, who sought to becomearmatolos ofLivadeia and later cooperated withAli pasha, became again a klepht and finally joinedLambros Katsonis (Greek:Λάμπρος Κατσώνης) as a privateer[27] in theGreek insurrection of 1770. He was raised by his mother Akrivi Tsarlampa (Greek:Ακριβή Τσαρλαμπά), a native ofPreveza.[11][12] His godparents were Maria Sofianou, Katsonis's wife, and Ioannis Zavos, anotable of Ithaca, who gave him a name that relates to the reappropriation ofantiquity byOrthodox Christians in the context of themodern Greek Enlightenment.[28]
Odysseas did not get to know his father, who was captured in 1792 and committed to an Ottoman jail, where he died.[13] He was raised by his mother's family of wealthynotables fromPreveza, who also moved inLefkada andIthaki.[13] In theIonian islands, ruled by Western powers at the time, he grew up in a social environment that receivedmodern ideas, including the reevaluation ofGreek antiquity by Greek Enlightenment scholars.[29] After his mother's family participated in the failed defense of Preveza against the attack of Ali Pasha in 1798, they sought refuge to Lefkada, where Odysseas was raised for two years along with future poet Ioannis Zambelios.[30]
As his family probably faced economic difficulties, influenced by his father's fame and, as per his biographers, due to his father's old acquaintance withAli Pasha, at a certain point between 1805 and 1810 Odysseas opted to follow a career as a man of arms and decided to join Ali's army in Ioannina, signifying a shift of his family's orientation towards the only stable power of the area.[31] Odysseas is recorded to have taken part and displayed his military qualities in Ali's campaign againstBerat,Gjirokastër and the Christians ofKardhiq.[31] Androutsos was among Ali's closest military personnel, who also became members of his personal guard.[32][33] In March 1814 he had become the leader of Ali's personal guard.[31] In Ali's court Androutsos became one of his distinguished armatoles.[34][35][36][37] Most of the armatoles had learned their military skills among the Christian AlbanianSouliotes and other Albanian groups who had a renowned tradition in irregular warfare.[38] Androutsos also managed to learn Albanian and Italian fluently.[39] Androutsos was influenced by Ali Pasha's political attitudes and behavior: as such Androutsos became later particularly notorious for his brutality, suspiciousness and personal ambition.[40] Androutsos was soon found in antagonism with Ali's men, as such Ali had ordered his execution but was saved after intervention by Alexis Noutsos.[39] While at Yanina, Odysseas, influenced by the religiously liberal environment of the city and probably in an effort to enter a support network, joined theBektashi order, as Ali pasha is also said to have. Religion was not a determinant factor for Odysseas and, even during the Greek Revolution, two of his most trusted lieutenants were Muslim.[41]
In 1816 Ali Pasha positioned him asarmatolos of Livadeia in eastern central Greece.[42] In a short time Odysseas managed to restore security in his region, with minor klephts, likeYannis Gouras, joining histayfa and stronger, likeDimitrios Panourgias, being forced to submit, and implemented Ali's policy and traditional armatole practice of raids in neighboring areas, namely Athens and Evia.[43] With Ali's support and using despotic methods, he came into conflict with Christian and Muslimnotables and succeeded in curbing their power.[44] While anarmatolos, he used his authority to increase his economic power, formed a close circle of trusted lieutenants, like Gouras andAngelis Govginas, amassed considerable mobile property, married Eleni Kareli, daughter of a notable ofKalarrytes, and emerged as the most powerful man of arms in eastern Central Greece.[45] It seems that he was promoted to general derven-aga of eastern Central Greece, a superintendent of the region'sarmatoloi.[45]
Along with Athanasios Diakos, Androutsos became a member of theFiliki Eteria, an organisation that aimed at the independence of Greece, in 1818[42] or 1820. At the time, the Eteria was drafting members without requesting full agreement to its revolutionary, military and political program, which, besides, had not been yet finalised.[15] In a council of Ali's armatoloi in spring 1820, when military conflict with the Sultan seemed impending, Androutsos was tasked with the defense of Livadeia.[45] In June 1820 Androutsos and other Ali Pasha's advisors urged him to convert to Christianity arguing that this would bind the Greeks more solidly to his cause.[46] When in June or July the Sultan's army reached Livadeia, Odysseas, whose course and interests were identical to those of Ali, sought to combat against the Sultan, but the armatoloi of his band and the local notables, who wished to get rid of his despotic rule, chose to submit and Androutsos lost thearmatolik of Livadeia toAthanasios Diakos, his thitherto first lieutenant, and went to Yannina.[47][48]
In late 1820, the Ottomans sent an army to remove Ali Pasha from power inYannina. Androutsos, who was aware of the plans of the upcoming Greek revolts, met on 1 September 1820 with Albanian commanders from Ali Pasha's court who had defected to the Ottomans – includingOmer Vrioni, Ali Pasha's steward. He condemned their betrayal of Ali Pasha and after negotiations they all signed an agreement, which stipulated that in the upcoming revolt in Greece they would not send their troops against the rebels, but revolt in favor of Ali Pasha.[49] When during autumn the Sultan seemed to gain the upped hand, Androutsos abandoned besieged Yannina for the Ionian islands in October.[50] In the January of 1821 Androutsos together with the other armatoli of Rumeli among them Georgios Varnakiotis,Dimitrios Panourgias,Dimitrios Makris,Georgios Karaiskakis, gathered atLefkada and agreed to join the upcoming Greek revolution.[51][52]
In March 1821 Androutsos went to western Continental Greece, where he tried to organise local chieftains, notables and Albanian agas against the Sultan and made a failed attempt to force the region's armatoloi to revolt by attacking Ottomans inTatarna ofEvritania.[50] In May 1821, Omer Vrioni, now the commander of the Ottoman army, advanced with 8,000 men, after crushing the resistance of the Greeks at the river ofAlamana and puttingAthanasios Diakos to death, headed south into thePeloponnese to crush the Greek uprising.[53]
With Diakos, his opponent, dead, the field was now auspicious for Androutsos to return to Livadeia and assume a leading position in eastern Central Greece.[50] With a band of 100 or so men, he took up a defensive position at an inn nearGravia, supported byPanourgias and Diovouniotis and their men. Vrioni attacked the inn but was repulsed with heavy casualties of over 300 dead. Finally, he was forced to ask for reinforcements and artillery, but the Greeks managed to slip out before the reinforcements arrived. Androutsos lost six men in the battle and earned the title of Commander in Chief of the Greek forces inCentral Greece.[53]
Androutsos sought to establish his power base in Attica and Euboea and sent his bands to the region in 1822. In April 1822, Androutsos, in cooperation with other revolutionary leaders, attempted to thwartDramali’s expedition inPhthiotis.[54] His plan failed, however, because the Greek Government did not provide him with the war supplies that he had requested. Androutsos's failure in Phthiotis was used as a pretext by the Government to degrade him, and two other revolutionaries,Christos Palaskas and Alexios Noutsos, were sent to replace him.[55] Palaskas was to relieve him of the military command and Noutsos was to take over the taxation apparatus, but Androutsos had both men killed.[56] The regional assembly, fearing for their lives, fled to other areas and the army ofDramali passed through his area of command virtually untouched. In the consequent clash with his political opponentIoannis Kolettis and theAreopagus of Eastern Continental Greece, he was accused of collaboration with the Ottomans and the government dismissed him from his commanding duties. However, he was soon restored and kept his command in Eastern Central Greece. In September 1822, at the insistence of the Athenian municipal authorities, Androutsos,Yannis Gouras, andYannis Makriyannis took control of theAcropolis ofAthens, which had been surrendered in June. To ensure the occupation he had a bastion built to protect the ancientKlepsydra spring, which had just been rediscovered by chance on the north-western slope of the rock.[57] Androutsos made himself general-in-chief ofAttica, and sent his men to plunder the wealthy villages of the region.[58]
In late 1822 Androutsos contacted the Ottomans and offered to sign a secret agreement under which he would recognize their authority if they gave him a hereditary title ofarmatoliki. Androutsos (referred to asKapudan (Captain)Disava in Ottoman Archival Documents)[48] explained his position in a letter to the Ottoman government in November 1822, where he presented the Greek revolt not as a national revolution, but as the result of social grievances which could be resolved if he was to be appointed to the right position.[59] In 1822-25 his military campaigns deteriorated and a series of military failures followed: the two sieges of Chalkis and the battle of Agia Marina. Those initiatives had not the appropriate support by the revolutionary government. His energy was consumed by the exigencies of the internal strife among the faction of the Greek administration however he retained his high profile as a warrior and his strong influence among the peasants.[60]
In his letters to the Greek chieftains and to thekodjabashis of Hydra, however, Androutsos claimed that the agreements made with the Ottomans were a ruse so that the revolutionaries would have time to transfer their people to more secure areas.[61] In a letter toDemetrios Ypsilantis, the president of the Greek Legislative Corps, Androutsos also reports that he attempted to lure the Ottomans under the command of Köse Mehmed Pasha into a trap, to no avail.[62] Eventually, Odysseas Androutsos completely paralyzed Köse Mehmed's operations in Central Greece.[63]
In early 1825, as the Greek Government still wanted to take the command and replace him, Androutsos, in anger,[53] began a correspondence with Omer Pasha of Karystos, offering to hand over the Acropolis if aided by Ottoman troops and placed in control of the districts of Livadia, Thebes, and Atalanti. Though the terms of their agreement are not preserved in Ottoman archives, Androutsos was sent a firman granting him amnesty on 31 March. In the following days, the locals from Livadeia, Thebes, and Atalanti asked for amnesty from the court.[48] He joined forces with the Ottoman army to defend the villages around Livadia. After promised reinforcements failed to arrive, he wanted to retreat towards Megara but was captured by Greek insurgents.[64]
The provisional government accused Androutsos of collaboration with the Ottomans and imprisoned him in theFrankish Tower of theAcropolis of Athens. He was not given a trial due to the belief that his democratic character could turn the people against the government.[65]
Once he was imprisoned, Androutsos was tortured and ultimately executed.[48] The execution came at the order ofIoannis Gouras, who was once Androutsos' second in command. His execution took place on 5 June 1825 and was carried out byIoannis Mamouris and two others. This treatment by Gouras is often viewed negatively.[65] Androutsos' body was thrown from the Acropolis and was buried at its base on the north side.
Androutsos' sister Tarsitsa Kamenou marriedEdward John Trelawny, who had commanded Androutsos' forces in his absence.[66]
In 1865, his body was recovered from the base of the Acropolis and given a proper funeral at theMetropolitan Cathedral of Athens. He was buried in theFirst Cemetery of Athens, where he remained for just over a century. On 15 July 1967, his bones were moved to an ossuary beneath a statue of himself in the central square ofPreveza.
Popular tradition in Greece considers him a tragic hero.[67] According to some scholars, Androutsos is listed among the main Greek military figures and heroes of the Greek war of Independence.[68][21] According to others, he was a traitor to the Greek cause.[22][23]
Among those who lived in the same period, Edward Trelawny who was married to his half-sister presents him as a noble figure, while Thomas Gordon calls him a "physically imposing man" who was "bloodthirsty, vindictive and as treacherous as anArnaut" and "guilty of barbarious acts".[69][56] Roessel says that through his connection with Trelawny, the traitor Androutsos became in England a hero of the Greek War of Independence.[70] According to Thanos M. Veremis, Androutsos was among those Greek freedom fighters who became heroes in a West lacking its own similar heroes at the time.[68] G. Finlay files him in his index as "Odysseus, a partisan of Ali's" providing for his character the description: "his ambition was to ape the tyranny of Ali in a small sphere".[69] Finlay called Androutsos' agreement with the Ottomans "the most celebrated instance of treachery among the Greeks during their Revolution".[70]
Many klephts, such as Androutsos, fought only when it suited them. As a matter of policy, they also made temporary agreements with the enemy. This was not considered treason to the infant Greek nation, because the notion of nationhood was not known to them.[71] Long-lasting negotiations with the Ottomans, that were conducted by Androutsos and many other chieftains during the revolution, had benefited the Greek cause multiple times and were often arranged for tactical reasons. Such negotiations were providing the revolutionaries enough time to save Christian populations from plunder and murder by the Ottoman armies, rally troops and, later, fight and defeat their enemies in numerous engagements.[72]
Apart from his military nature Androutsos also correspondent with representative of the modern Greek enlightenment such asAdamantios Korais andNeophytos Vamvas,[73] whom he invited in 1823 to come toAthens in order to "teach the children of the Greeks the virtue, the patriotism, and the wisdom of our ancestors."[74] Androutsos also founded a number of schools (1824–1825), started a charitable society and preserved Greek antiquities. His style generally displayed that of the noble brigrand.[73] According to Bruce Merry, in his speeches and letters Androutsos expressed extraordinary patriotic feelings for the Greek national cause.[73] According toWilliam St Clair, Androutsos' higher ambition was only to be a local chieftain and he certainly did not care for any concept of Greece, or regeneration, or the typical Greek and Philhellenic myths. As such St Clair states that Androutsos was a typical Greek of his time but his perspective was inconsistent to many Philhellenes who were struggling to comprehend the Greek political scene.[75] For them Androutsos had to be inserted into some philhellenic ideal because to them he was a "true Greek", who dwelled in the mountains and was a "colourful" and "powerful" figure with a prominent Greek-sounding name.Stanhope even viewed Androutsos as the hope of restoring a constitutional republic in Greece, which is probably the most misconstrued of all views of Androutsos' character.[75]
Androutsos has been held up as a symbol of innate Greek values and freedom, in particular by the Greek left wing in times of political repression.[76]
Poems dedicated to Androutsos have been written by various Greek poets: Georgios Zalokostas, Spyros Zampelios, Parashos,Kostis Palamas, Georgios Stratigis andZacharias Papantoniou.[73] InNikos EngonopoulosBolivar, a Greek poem (1944) Androutsos is the main protagonist together with southern-Central American revolutionary,Simón Bolívar.[77]
Odysseas Androutsos (1928) by Dimitris Kaminakis became the first Greek movie dedicated to events of the Greek War of Independence.[78]
The soccer team of the town of Gravia,Odysseas Androutsos F.C. is named after him, as is the cultural association of his ancestral village ofLivanates.
...Greek revolutionary Odysseas Androutsos
...and the Greek Odyseas Androutsos.
...Greek military commanders, such as Odysseas Androutsos
The Greek commander Odysseus Androutsos then built a bastion around the spring so as to enclose it within the fortifications of the Acropolis
Heroes of the Greek Revolution. Here is a partial list of the heroes. Odysseas Androutsos
That Odysseus Androutsos ended his days less a hero than a traitor is simply ignored
Many of the best Greek military commanders, such as Odysseus Androutsos and George Karaiskakis, had served as armatulai under Ali Pasha,
His top military commanders were men like the Muslim Omar Vryonis from Berat and the Greek Odysseus Androutsos
An incorrigible romancer Trelawny had three marriages — the second of which was to Tersitza [sic], sister of the Greek warlord Odysseus Androutsos, whose cause he had joined and whose mountain fortress he looked after when Odysseus was arrested.
...so did the feats of Greek heroes. Theodoros Kolokotronis, Markos Botsaris, Odysseas Androutsos, Kitsos Tzavelas, and other freedom warriors became the heroes of a West lacking at the time similar heroes of its own.
The revolutionaries were both blessed and cursed in their leadership. Among the klephts who bore the brunt of the land fighting were Odysseus Androutsos of Boeotia, Marko Bozzaris, and Theodoros Kolokotronis. Such men did battle only when it suited them, being inveterate guerrilla warriors. They also made temporary arrangements with the enemy as a matter of policy. This was not considered treason to the infant Greek nation, since the very concept of nationhood was itself foreign to the thinking of the klephts.
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