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(Redirected from Siege of Tripoli (1821))
The 'Fall of Tripolitsa' () to Greek rebels in the summer of 1821 marked one of the first victories in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, which had begun earlier in that year. At the same time, it is notable for the large-scale massacre of its Turkish population which occurred after the city's fall to the Greeks.
Tripolitsa (also ''Tripolitza'' and ''Tripolizza''), now Tripoli, was the administrative centre for Ottoman rule in the Peloponnese, making it an important target for the Greek revolutionaries.
The battle of Tripolitsa is commomorated in a folk song, called the 40 brave young men.
''Forty brave yuoung mn
from Lebadeia
are on their way to capture
Tripolitsa
On their way
they meet an old man
-Hello oldman
-Welcome children
-Where are you going to, you brave?
where are you going to, you children?
-We are going to capture
Tripolitsa
-Where are you going to, you brave young men?
where are you going to, you children''
Situated in the middle of Peloponnese, Tripolitza was the biggest town in southern Greece. Many Turks had taken refuge there at the time of the outbreak of the Revolution escaping from massacres in the country districts. Many rich Turks and Jews were also known to live there. [1]
Although the siege had been going on for several months its progress was slow. The Greeks were unable to maintain a continuous blockade and were often scattered by sorties of Turkish cavalry.[2] Kolokotronis and other captains began to negotiate with the Turks for a capitulation. The Albanians made a separate agreement and were allowed to leave for Epirus, thus greatly reducing the strength of the defenders. Greek leaders were constantly in contact with the Turks for negotiations. It is unknown whether or not a formal capitulation was signed, but on 5 October the Greeks broke in and the town was given over to the mob.
For the massacres that occurred following the capture of Tripolitza, Alison Phillips noted that :
There were about a hundred European officers who were present at the scenes of atrocities committed in Tripolitza. Based on the eye witness accounts and descriptions provided by these officers, William St. Clair wrote as follows:
:"Upwards of ten thousand Turks were put to death. Prisoners who were suspected of having concealed their money were tortured. Their arms and legs were cut off and they were slowly roasted over fires. Pregnant women were cut open, their heads cut off, and dogs' heads stuck between their legs. From friday to sunday the air was filled with the sound of screams...One Greek boasted that he personally killed ninety people. The Jewish colony was systematically tortured...For weeks afterwards starving Turkish children running helplessly about the ruins were being cut down and shot at by exultant Greeks...The wells were poisoned by the bodies that had been thrown in..."[4]
Up to 30.000 Turks had been killed in Tripolis[5] Besides, whole Jewish population was wiped out. [6]
1. William St. Clair, p. 43
2. St. Clair, p. 43
3. W. Alison Phillips, The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833, London, 1897, p. 61.
4. William St. Clair, That Greece Might Still Be Free The Philhellenes in the War of Independence, Oxford University Press London 1972 p.45 ISBN 0192151940
5. Bouboulina Museum, Spetses Greece (Publisher: Greek Island Spetses; Accessed: 2007-04-18).
6. [1].
★ Navarino Massacre
The 'Fall of Tripolitsa' () to Greek rebels in the summer of 1821 marked one of the first victories in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, which had begun earlier in that year. At the same time, it is notable for the large-scale massacre of its Turkish population which occurred after the city's fall to the Greeks.
| Contents |
| Background |
| Folk-Song |
| Siege of Tripolitsa |
| Massacre of Civilians |
| References |
| See also |
Background
Tripolitsa (also ''Tripolitza'' and ''Tripolizza''), now Tripoli, was the administrative centre for Ottoman rule in the Peloponnese, making it an important target for the Greek revolutionaries.
Folk-Song
The battle of Tripolitsa is commomorated in a folk song, called the 40 brave young men.
''Forty brave yuoung mn
from Lebadeia
are on their way to capture
Tripolitsa
On their way
they meet an old man
-Hello oldman
-Welcome children
-Where are you going to, you brave?
where are you going to, you children?
-We are going to capture
Tripolitsa
-Where are you going to, you brave young men?
where are you going to, you children''
Siege of Tripolitsa
Situated in the middle of Peloponnese, Tripolitza was the biggest town in southern Greece. Many Turks had taken refuge there at the time of the outbreak of the Revolution escaping from massacres in the country districts. Many rich Turks and Jews were also known to live there. [1]
Although the siege had been going on for several months its progress was slow. The Greeks were unable to maintain a continuous blockade and were often scattered by sorties of Turkish cavalry.[2] Kolokotronis and other captains began to negotiate with the Turks for a capitulation. The Albanians made a separate agreement and were allowed to leave for Epirus, thus greatly reducing the strength of the defenders. Greek leaders were constantly in contact with the Turks for negotiations. It is unknown whether or not a formal capitulation was signed, but on 5 October the Greeks broke in and the town was given over to the mob.
Massacre of Civilians
For the massacres that occurred following the capture of Tripolitza, Alison Phillips noted that :
" For three days the miserable inhabitants were given over to lust and cruelty of a mob of savages. Neither sex nor age was spared. Women and children were tortured before being put to death. So great was the slaughter that Kolokotronis himself says that, from the gate to the citadel his horse’s hoofs never touched the ground. his path of triumph was carpeted with corps. At the end of two days, the wretched remnant of the Mussulmans were deliberately collected, to the number of some two thousand souls, of every age and sex, but principally women and children, were led out to a ravine in the neighboring mountains and there butchered like cattle." [3]
There were about a hundred European officers who were present at the scenes of atrocities committed in Tripolitza. Based on the eye witness accounts and descriptions provided by these officers, William St. Clair wrote as follows:
:"Upwards of ten thousand Turks were put to death. Prisoners who were suspected of having concealed their money were tortured. Their arms and legs were cut off and they were slowly roasted over fires. Pregnant women were cut open, their heads cut off, and dogs' heads stuck between their legs. From friday to sunday the air was filled with the sound of screams...One Greek boasted that he personally killed ninety people. The Jewish colony was systematically tortured...For weeks afterwards starving Turkish children running helplessly about the ruins were being cut down and shot at by exultant Greeks...The wells were poisoned by the bodies that had been thrown in..."[4]
Up to 30.000 Turks had been killed in Tripolis[5] Besides, whole Jewish population was wiped out. [6]
References
1. William St. Clair, p. 43
2. St. Clair, p. 43
3. W. Alison Phillips, The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833, London, 1897, p. 61.
4. William St. Clair, That Greece Might Still Be Free The Philhellenes in the War of Independence, Oxford University Press London 1972 p.45 ISBN 0192151940
5. Bouboulina Museum, Spetses Greece (Publisher: Greek Island Spetses; Accessed: 2007-04-18).
6. [1].
See also
★ Navarino Massacre
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