Zacharias (klepht)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zacharias Barbitsiotis or as he was more commonly known Zacharias (22 October 1759 - July 20, 1804, Greek: Ζαχαρίας Μπαρμπιτσιότης) was a Greek klepht in the Peloponnese operating during the time of Ottoman Greece, with most of modern Greece being part of the Ottoman Empire. He is described by Kyriakos Kassis as the best thief of Taygetus.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early Life and career

Zacharias Barbitsiotis was born on 22 October 1759 in the town of Gortinia, Arcadia. His father's named was Theodoros and his mother's name is unknown. In 1775, his brother, Pantelis was murdered by the Turks. Zacharias wanting revenge went to the town of Loggastra in northern Laconia where he joined a klephtic group under the command of Captain Matzari.[2]

The next year during the Battle of Rekitsas, Zacharias charged at the Turks with out orders. The other klephts followed him and they chased after the Turks. This incident won Zacharias recognision from his comrades for his bravery. However, Matzari was angry with Zacharias as he had not followed orders and Zacharias left the group and founded his own group of sixty men under his own flag.[2]

[edit] Rise to Power

Zacharias' fame grew even more when he defeated the Turks at the Battle of Salesi in Arcadia. A. Kontakis who was the leader of the village of Agios Petros in Arcadia who at first an enemy and later a friend of Zacharias described in his memoirs:

“ There are many things about him to describe, and during his era he was constantly fighting tyranny. One would need to write a whole book about it. Kapetan Zaharias was very fast, with a flexible body, average height, strong back, round and handsome face, brown eyes and a scar above his upper right eyebrow, which made him even more handsome. His hair was brown and curly. He had a strong and powerful voice, with a strong will. He was very independent, in which he would never submit to anyone and would never recognize anyone superior to him. He would also never carry money or a wallet wherever he went.[2] ”

In 1787, Zacharias invited all the leaders of the klephtic bands of the Peloponnese to a meeting and they formed a kleptho-armatoloi federation of the Peloponnese. This federation brought more power to Zacharias who was made the commader-in-chief of the federation. Meanwhile, he had constructed his own fortress, Barbitsa in the mountains of Mani and from there he launched his raids on the Turks. It was widely thought that Zacharias' aim was for the Turks to met his demands, however, in reality what he wanted was the liberation of the Peloponnese from the Turks.[2]

Meanwhile, the renowned klepht captain, Androutsos - father of Odysseas Androutsos - was expelled by the Turks from his base in Aegina and escaped on the ship of Lambros Katsonis, an equally renowned pirate captain. They landed in Mani, where they were greeted by Zacharias and a young Theodoros Kolokotronis - a future Greek hero - and took him to his base.[1][2]

[edit] Death

In 1804, the Turks extended their efforts to capture Zacharias as well as the former Bey of Mani, Zanet Grigorakis, who retreated to the mountains after being desposed and after the events of the 1803 Ottoman Invasion of Mani. The reason for this increased interest into Zacharias' capture was because it had been revealed that together with Zanet and other promient Maniots, he had been conspiring with Napoleon Bonaparte, who had sent them French weapons. In charge of the attempt to capture Zacharias was Seremet, who had been instructed to capture Zacharias and had him over to the higher authorities.[1][2]

Seremet, knowing that capturing Zacharias without any casualties was nearly impossible, decided to assassinate him. The Turks approached a Maniot by the name of Koukeas and organised the assassination attempt with him. Koukeas went to Zacharias and told him that a Turkish fleet had appeared off Kitries. When Zacharias went to investigate this himself, he was assassinated near Kardimili.[1][2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kassis, "Mani's History", 37
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Roumelioti, Kapetan Zaharias"[1]"

[edit] Sources