Konstantinos Smolenskis
Konstantinos Smolenskis or Smolents (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Σμολένσκης/Σμόλεντς, 1842–1915[1]) was a Hellenic Army officer who distinguished himself in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.
He was born in 1842 in Athens,[2] the son of general Leonidas Smolenskis, a Greco-Polish officer who had come to Greece as a volunteer during the Greek War of Independence.
He enrolled in the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating in 1862 as an Artillery Warrant Officer. He later served as a professor in the Academy and in various positions, including field command of the 1st Infantry Division during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, two tenures as Minister for Military Affairs, and Member of Parliament.[2] His successful resistance during the Battle of Velestino in 1897 was the only Greek success in the war, and helped to catapult him to the status of a national hero, as well as a field promotion to Major General.
He retired on 27 March 1912 with the rank of Lt. General, and died on 27 September 1915.[2]
References
- ↑ Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική και Ναυτική Εγκυκλοπαιδεία. Τόμος Στ′: Σαράντα Εκκλησίαι – Ώχρα [Great Military and Naval Encyclopedia. Volume VI]. Athens. 1930. p. 87.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nikolaos Tsamados |
Minister for Military Affairs 21 September 1897 – 30 October 1898 |
Succeeded by Georgios Korpas |
| Preceded by Ioannis Konstantinidis |
Minister for Military Affairs 6 December 1903 – 16 December 1904 |
Succeeded by Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis |