Dimitrios Panourgias

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Dimitrios Panourias

Panourias in Acrocorinth by Peter von Hess

Dimitrios Panourgias/Panourias (Greek: Δημήτριος Πανουργιάς; 1754-1834), a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence, was born Dimitrios Xiros (Greek: Δημήτριος Ξηρός) in the village of Dremissa, Phocis.

Early life[]

His parents originated from the village Agios Georgios in Phocis, although he was born in Dremissa. His family surname was Xiros (Ξηρός). The legend had that his godfather, who baptised him, thought he was a girl and named him with the female name "Panorea" (Πανωραία/very beautiful), and by that name, in the masculine form, he was by then being called.

Klepht and Armatolos[]

Panourias in early age took part in the Orlov revolt, against the Ottomans, under Lambros Katsonis. In 1790 he entered the armatoluk of Androutsos Verousis (father of Odysseas Androutsos) and for a short time became commander of the Salona armatoluk with the support of Ali Pasha, but quickly abandoned his position and turned himself into a klepht. In 1816, however he rejoined Ali Pasha and was once more appointed as an armatolos in the Salona district. It was there where he became a member of the Filiki Eteria.

Greek War of Independence[]

On March 24, 1821 he declared the Revolution in Salona and later collaborated with Athanasios Diakos and Diovouniotis in order to halt Omer Vryonis from advancing further into Roumeli. Panourgias with his band was to defend the hills of Chalkomata, near Thermopylae, but was seriously wounded during the fights and had to withdraw.

He participated in January, 1822 to the First National Assembly at Epidaurus as representative of Salona, and was the most important negotiator during the surrender of Acrocorinth to the Greek forces in 1822. He retired from military operations some months later, after he handed the leadership of his militia band to his son, . He died in 1834.

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