Battle of Karpenisi

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Battle of Karpenisi
Part of the Greek War of Independence
Marsigli Filippo - The Death of Markos Botsaris - Google Art Project.jpg
The death of Markos Botsaris
by Marsigli Filippo
Date21 August 1823
Location
Karpenisi, Sanjak of Inebahti, Ottoman Empire (now Evrytania, Greece)
Result Tactically inconclusive[3]
Belligerents

Greece First Hellenic Republic

  • Flag of Botsaris.svg Souliote Forces
  • Karaiskakis' men

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders
Flag of Botsaris.svg Markos Botsaris † Flag of Mahmut Pasha Bushatli - 1796.svg Mustafa Pasha Bushatli[1]
Flag of Mahmut Pasha Bushatli - 1796.svg Djelaledin Bey
Strength

450[3]

  • 350 Souliote forces[4]
  • ~100 men of Karaiskakis
 4,000[5]
Casualties and losses
minimal ~1,000 dead

The Battle of Karpenisi took place near the town of Karpenisi (in Evrytania, central Greece) on the night of 21 August 1823, between units of the Greek revolutionary army[3] and Ottoman troops.

Background[]

After the Ottoman failures of 1822, the Sultan devised a plan of invading Greece in 1823. An army was destined to invade Peloponnese by the west side of Central Greece and Patras. The leadership of this army was taken over by the pasha of Shkodra, Mustafa Bushati. Mustafa assembled his army at Ohrid and it consisted of 8,000 Albanian Ghegs[6] (according to others there were 10,000[1] or 13,000[3]) of which three thousand of them were Catholic Mirdites. These Mirdites also formed the advanced guard of Mustafa's army.[7]

The Greeks had made no preparations to oppose the Ottoman campaign. The President of Greece Alexandros Mavrokordatos had left Missolonghi and anarchy had spread over the Greek forces.[8] In addition, the general who oversaw operations in Western Greece, Markos Botsaris, left Missolonghi and marched with a small force of soldiers to stop Moustai, despite the fact that the rest of the Greek chieftains would not support him due to their envy and disagreement.[9]

Meanwhile, the advance of the Ottoman army became one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. Four thousand troops, consisting of both Catholics and Muslims, lead by Djelaledin Bey, encamped in the valley of Karpenisi, near a fountain abundant with spring water. The men could rest here before advancing further.[10]

Battle[]

Markos Botsaris led the attack against the Ottoman camp.

At midnight of 21 August 1823, Markos Botsaris assaulted the Ottoman Albanian camp with a force of 450 men, believing surprise would secure their victory over Mustafa's larger army. Mustafa's men were overconfident and had not taken proper defensive measures prior to the assault. The Souliotes took advantage of their vulnerabilities and managed to inflict severe casualties on the enemy's camp. The Ghegs and Mirdites, roused from sleep, ran from the battlefield leaving their weapons behind.[11]

Djelaledin Bey had pitched his tent inside a walled enclosure and the Souliotes rushed towards it in the hope of slaying him, but they retreated after Markos Botsaris was shot in the head during the skirmish. The Souliotes took up his body and left the battlefield before dawn.[12] The army of Mustafa had lost 1,000 men while the Greeks had minimal casualties.[3]

After the battle of Karpenisi, the Ottoman Albanian forces moved against Missolonghi and besieged it. However, they were finally defeated and Mustafa Pasha retreated to Albania (30 November 1823).

See also[]

  • Kostas Botsaris
  • Markos Botsaris
  • Second Siege of Missolonghi

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Bradford, James C. (2004). International Encyclopedia of Military History. Routledge. ISBN 9781135950330. ...an Ottoman force of 10,000 Albanian mercenaries led by Mustafa Pasha was routed by Markos Botsaris, who was killed in the Battle of Karpenisi (21 August 1823).
  2. ^ ÖRENÇ, Ali Fuat. ALBANIAN SOLDIERS IN THE OTTOMAN ARMY DURING THE GREEK REVOLT AT 1821 (PDF). Retrieved 29 October 2021. At this time, Sublime Porte decided to send Mustafa Pasha, the governor (mutasarrıf) of Alexandria to Akarnania and Misolongi with Gheg Albanians, while Omer Pasha, the mutasarrıf of Yanya, had moved for Athens with Tosk Albanians.
  3. ^ a b c d e Showalter, Dennis (2013). Imperial Wars 1815–1914. Amber Books. ISBN 9781782741251. Markos Botsaris' band of 450 Greek rebels made a night attack on an Ottoman Army of 13,000 men encamped near Karpenisi. The Greeks inflicted 1000 casualties almost without loss, but retreated...
  4. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, p. 10
  5. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, p. 10
  6. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, pp. 6–11
  7. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, pp. 6–9
  8. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, p. 9
  9. ^ Nikos Giannopoulos, "Markos Botsaris, the absolute exemplar of heroism", Military History, issue 138, 2008, p. 16, Publications Periskopio
  10. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, p. 10
  11. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, p. 10
  12. ^ Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, pp. 6–11

Sources[]

  • Paroulakis, Peter Harold. The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence. Hellenic International Press, 1984. ISBN 0-9590894-0-3.

Coordinates: 39°03′22″N 21°34′20″E / 39.0560°N 21.5723°E / 39.0560; 21.5723

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