Markos Botsaris

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Markos Botsaris, oil painting, National Historical Museum Athens
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Markos Botsaris, oil painting, National Historical Museum Athens
An oil painting on canvas of the Greek Leader Markos Botsaris - (by Jean-Léon Gérôme - 1874)
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An oil painting on canvas of the Greek Leader Markos Botsaris - (by Jean-Léon Gérôme - 1874)

Markos Botsaris (Greek, Μάρκος Μπότσαρης), known as Marko Boçari (in Albanian) (c. 1788 - 21 August 1823) was a Greek klepht leader who played an important role in the War of Greek Independence. Born in the region of Souli in Greece, he was the second son of Kitsos Botsaris who was murdered in Arta in 1809 by order of Ali Pasha. They came from the village of Dragani at Paramythia and according to Botsaris' family tradition their phara (Albanian for:seed) descended from soldiers of Skanderbeg's army.[citation needed] In 1803, after the capture of Souli by Ali Pasha, Markos with the remnant of the Souliotes, crossed over to the Ionian Islands, where he ultimately took service in a French regiment.

Tomb of "Markos Botsaris", created by French sculptor David d'Angers Messolonghi, Aitoloakarnania, Greece
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Tomb of "Markos Botsaris", created by French sculptor David d'Angers Messolonghi, Aitoloakarnania, Greece

In 1814 he joined the Greek patriotic society known as the Filiki Eteria, and in 1820, with other Souliots, made common cause with Ali Pasha against the Ottoman Empire. On the outbreak of the Greek revolt, he distinguished himself by his courage, tenacity and skill as a partisan leader in the fighting in western Hellas, and was conspicuous in the defence of Missolonghi during the first siege (1822-1823). On the night of the 21st August 1823 he led the celebrated attack at Karpenisi of 350 Albanian Souliots on 4000 Muslim Albanians who formed the vanguard of the army with which Mustai Pasha was advancing to reinforce the besiegers. Botsaris managed to take Mustai Pasha as a prisoner during the raid but he was shot in the head while leaving the encampment.

Many Philhellenes visiting Greece admired Botsaris' courage and numerous poets wrote poems about him. American poet Fitzgreene Halleck wrote a poem entitled MARCO BOZZARIS [1], Juste Olivier wrote an award-winning poem for Markos Botzaris in 1825.


His memory is still celebrated in popular ballads in Greece. Markos's brother Kostas Botsaris (Constantine), who fought at Karpenisi and completed the victory, lived to become a general and senator in the Greek kingdom. He died at Athens on the 13 November 1853. Markos's son, Dimitrios Botsaris, born in 1813, was three times minister of war during the reigns of Otto of Greece and George I of Greece. He died at Athens on 17 August 1870.

His daughter Katharina "Rosa" Botsaris was in the service of Queen Amalia of Greece. She was an admired young woman at European courts beauty of whom was immortalised by painter Joseph Stieler in 1841. The painting was part of the collection Schönheitengalerie commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria. The woman depicted in the painting posing in the attire named the "Amalia dress" is often mistaken for Queen Amalia herself. A Damask rose species bred in 1856 was named Rosa botzaris after her.

The death of Markos Botsaris. Painting by Ludovico Lipparini, Civico Museo Sartorio, Trieste, Italy
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The death of Markos Botsaris. Painting by Ludovico Lipparini, Civico Museo Sartorio, Trieste, Italy


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