Battle of Valtetsi
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Valtetsi was fought on May 12, 1821 in Valtetsi
between the Ottoman
army and Greek
revolutionaries.
officially broke out on March 25, 1821. The city of Tripoli in Arcadia
, central Peloponnesus, became a prime objective of the Greek revolutionary army. Theodoros Kolokotronis
' task was to build an army but Greek men had as weapons only knives, spits and very few carried guns. Most of them were inexperienced because during Ottoman occupation
no slaves had the right to ride a horse or to have weapons.
Only the independent warlike Maniots
were experts in the art of battle. Besides them, klepht
es who lived in mountains, as well as the armatoloi
, who had for centuries been hired by the local Ottoman authorities initially to guard the mountain passes and later for the general keeping of law and order were able to make a coherent force.
During April 1821, the initially small Greek forces in the area were slowly augmented by men from the nearby villages who declared Kolokotronis as Archistratigos
, the man for overall command.
Immediately, he established armed camps near the villages of Levidi
, Piana
, Chrysovitsi, Vervena and Valtetsi
who were former rebel's dens that now became headquarters for the preparation of the final assault against the Ottoman stronghold taking advantage of the absence of Hursid Pasha
(governor of Morea
) who was leading a full expedition against the apostate Ali Pasha
of Janina under the Sublime Porte's special command.
garrison, set out with a force of 4,000 men to achieve a coup de main
and capture the rebel camp at Valtetsi
which was defended by a small force under the Maniot
leader Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
.
Initially, Kehayabey's effort would have been successful (as he managed nearly to seize the whole village) if it had not been for Dimitrios Plapoutas' unexpected arrival so as to hit the Ottoman force
from the rear, taking them by surprise and forcing the Ottoman
armies to retreat back into Tripolis.
A couple of weeks later, a stronger combined Turkish and Albanian force of 12,000 men, under the command of Kehayabey Mustafa, was departed to destroy the Greek positions at Valtetsi
on May 12, 1821. Its main section, under Rubi bey, was sent directly to assault the Greek camp now defended by 2,300 revolutionaries.
The defensive strategy was to fortify 4 tower houses in the area following the pyrgospitia Maniot pattern: Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
as field-commander defended the first tower with 120 men. Ilias Mavromichalis was in charge of the second one with 250 men. Ioannis Mavromichalis with 350 men commanded the third tower and the old septuagenary Mitropetrovas with 80 men stayed in the last one.
Rubi bey ordered to storm the place, while a small force was to move behind the village itself to cut off the Greeks' expected retreat to the mountain paths. He demanded the rebels to surrender their weapons but, when refused, began his full assault. The Turkish and Albanian forces managed to capture some positions including the water supply but a fierce resistance obliged them to demand for Kehayabey's reinforcements.
In the mean time, more Greeks, numbering 700 men, under Theodoros Kolokotronis
, arrived and attacked the Ottomans on their flanks weakening their operational power. Once again, another contingent under Dimitrios Plapoutas, made a significant entrance in the battle so as to give vital support to the exhausted rebels, balancing the actions.
Against Ottoman expectations, Greeks maintained their positions as the Ottoman cavalry became useless when trying to attack on rocky slopes. All Turkish and Albanian attacks were repelled and finally Rubi bey ordered retreat which turned into a route after the Greeks abandoned their defensive attitude under the fortified positions and violently counterattacked, completely breaking the enemy lines.
According to an old Maniot folk tradition, when watching the Turkalbanians in retreat Captain Kyriakoulis is said to have shouted:
«Που πας βρε κερατόμπεη,
και συ σκυλαρβανίτη;
Δεν είν’ της Κόρθος τα χωριά,
τ’ Αργίτικα κορίτσια,
εδώ το λένε Τρίκορφα,
εδώ το λεν’ Βαλτέτσι».
"Where are you going you cuckold
Bey
,
and you Albanian
dog ?
These are neither the villages of Corinth
nor the Argive
girls.
This place is called Trikorfa,
this place is called Valtetsi
."
The Greeks achieved a decisive and total victory capturing huge amounts of gun pieces and material, mainly cannon
s and ammunition
that would be vital for the following events
.
The battle itself lasted for nearly 24 hours. The casualties were also unexpectedly heavy for the Ottoman army: 600 dead compared to the 150 dead rebels.
Kolokotronis, according to his memoirs, said to his compatriots: We must render up thanksgivings for this day, which should be kept holy for ever, as the day upon which our Motherland achieved her freedom.
Valtetsi (village)
The village named Valtetsi is located in the Central Peloponessus at a distance of 12 km. west of Tripolis and an altitude of 1.050 mts...
between the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army and Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
revolutionaries.
Background
The Greek War of IndependenceGreek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
officially broke out on March 25, 1821. The city of Tripoli in Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, central Peloponnesus, became a prime objective of the Greek revolutionary army. Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
' task was to build an army but Greek men had as weapons only knives, spits and very few carried guns. Most of them were inexperienced because during Ottoman occupation
Ottoman Greece
Most of Greece gradually became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until its declaration of independence in 1821, a historical period also known as Tourkokratia ....
no slaves had the right to ride a horse or to have weapons.
Only the independent warlike Maniots
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
were experts in the art of battle. Besides them, klepht
Klepht
Klephts were self-appointed armatoloi, anti-Ottoman insurgents, and warlike mountain-folk who lived in the countryside when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire...
es who lived in mountains, as well as the armatoloi
Armatoloi
Armatoloi , were Greek Christian irregular soldiers, or militia, commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan's authority within an administrative district called an Armatoliki...
, who had for centuries been hired by the local Ottoman authorities initially to guard the mountain passes and later for the general keeping of law and order were able to make a coherent force.
During April 1821, the initially small Greek forces in the area were slowly augmented by men from the nearby villages who declared Kolokotronis as Archistratigos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
, the man for overall command.
Immediately, he established armed camps near the villages of Levidi
Levidi
Levidi is a small town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. The village sits on the eastern part of the slope of the Mainalo mountains. The pine forests are...
, Piana
Piana Arkadia
Piana is a historical village of Arcadia and one of the most beautiful traditional Greek villages of Peloponnese. It is built at the Mainalo mountain, near the ruins of the ancient city Dipaia ....
, Chrysovitsi, Vervena and Valtetsi
Valtetsi (village)
The village named Valtetsi is located in the Central Peloponessus at a distance of 12 km. west of Tripolis and an altitude of 1.050 mts...
who were former rebel's dens that now became headquarters for the preparation of the final assault against the Ottoman stronghold taking advantage of the absence of Hursid Pasha
Hursid Pasha
Hurşid Ahmed Pasha was an Ottoman General and Grand Vizier during the early 19th century. He was of Georgian descent.- Early life :...
(governor of Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
) who was leading a full expedition against the apostate Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
of Janina under the Sublime Porte's special command.
Battle
On April 24, 1821, Kehayabey Mustafa, who was in charge of the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
garrison, set out with a force of 4,000 men to achieve a coup de main
Coup de main
A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense defines it as:The literal translation from French means a stroke or blow of the hand...
and capture the rebel camp at Valtetsi
Valtetsi (village)
The village named Valtetsi is located in the Central Peloponessus at a distance of 12 km. west of Tripolis and an altitude of 1.050 mts...
which was defended by a small force under the Maniot
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
leader Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis (military commander)
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis He was born in Limeni in the Mani Peninsula, the son of Pierros Pierrakos with Katerina Koutsogrigorakos and was the baby brother of Petrobey. He died fighting in Splantza in 1822....
.
Initially, Kehayabey's effort would have been successful (as he managed nearly to seize the whole village) if it had not been for Dimitrios Plapoutas' unexpected arrival so as to hit the Ottoman force
Military of the Ottoman Empire
The history of military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years between 1300 and 1453 , the classical period covers the years between 1451 and 1606 , the reformation period covers the years between 1606 and 1826 ,...
from the rear, taking them by surprise and forcing the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
armies to retreat back into Tripolis.
A couple of weeks later, a stronger combined Turkish and Albanian force of 12,000 men, under the command of Kehayabey Mustafa, was departed to destroy the Greek positions at Valtetsi
Valtetsi (village)
The village named Valtetsi is located in the Central Peloponessus at a distance of 12 km. west of Tripolis and an altitude of 1.050 mts...
on May 12, 1821. Its main section, under Rubi bey, was sent directly to assault the Greek camp now defended by 2,300 revolutionaries.
The defensive strategy was to fortify 4 tower houses in the area following the pyrgospitia Maniot pattern: Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis (military commander)
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis He was born in Limeni in the Mani Peninsula, the son of Pierros Pierrakos with Katerina Koutsogrigorakos and was the baby brother of Petrobey. He died fighting in Splantza in 1822....
as field-commander defended the first tower with 120 men. Ilias Mavromichalis was in charge of the second one with 250 men. Ioannis Mavromichalis with 350 men commanded the third tower and the old septuagenary Mitropetrovas with 80 men stayed in the last one.
Rubi bey ordered to storm the place, while a small force was to move behind the village itself to cut off the Greeks' expected retreat to the mountain paths. He demanded the rebels to surrender their weapons but, when refused, began his full assault. The Turkish and Albanian forces managed to capture some positions including the water supply but a fierce resistance obliged them to demand for Kehayabey's reinforcements.
In the mean time, more Greeks, numbering 700 men, under Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
, arrived and attacked the Ottomans on their flanks weakening their operational power. Once again, another contingent under Dimitrios Plapoutas, made a significant entrance in the battle so as to give vital support to the exhausted rebels, balancing the actions.
Against Ottoman expectations, Greeks maintained their positions as the Ottoman cavalry became useless when trying to attack on rocky slopes. All Turkish and Albanian attacks were repelled and finally Rubi bey ordered retreat which turned into a route after the Greeks abandoned their defensive attitude under the fortified positions and violently counterattacked, completely breaking the enemy lines.
According to an old Maniot folk tradition, when watching the Turkalbanians in retreat Captain Kyriakoulis is said to have shouted:
«Που πας βρε κερατόμπεη,
και συ σκυλαρβανίτη;
Δεν είν’ της Κόρθος τα χωριά,
τ’ Αργίτικα κορίτσια,
εδώ το λένε Τρίκορφα,
εδώ το λεν’ Βαλτέτσι».
"Where are you going you cuckold
Cuckold
Cuckold is a historically derogatory term for a man who has an unfaithful wife. The word, which has been in recorded use since the 13th century, derives from the cuckoo bird, some varieties of which lay their eggs in other birds' nests...
Bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
,
and you Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
dog ?
These are neither the villages of Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
nor the Argive
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
girls.
This place is called Trikorfa,
this place is called Valtetsi
Valtetsi (village)
The village named Valtetsi is located in the Central Peloponessus at a distance of 12 km. west of Tripolis and an altitude of 1.050 mts...
."
The Greeks achieved a decisive and total victory capturing huge amounts of gun pieces and material, mainly cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s and ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
that would be vital for the following events
Siege of Tripolitsa
The Siege of Tripolitsa or the Fall of Tripolitsa to Greek rebels in the summer of 1821 marked an early victory in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, which had begun earlier in that year....
.
The battle itself lasted for nearly 24 hours. The casualties were also unexpectedly heavy for the Ottoman army: 600 dead compared to the 150 dead rebels.
Aftermath
The Battle of Valtetsi was the first decisive Greek victory in their struggle for freedom. Its effects were as follows:- It proved that an organized rebel force could face and defeat the Ottoman military machine.
- It strengthened the morale and self-confidence of the Greeks, which encouraged them to continue their task to free their homeland.
- It proved that real Ottoman control in central Peloponnesus remained within Tripolis' walls.
Kolokotronis, according to his memoirs, said to his compatriots: We must render up thanksgivings for this day, which should be kept holy for ever, as the day upon which our Motherland achieved her freedom.