Dimitrios Doulis
Encyclopedia
Dimitrios Doulis was a Greek
military officer, from Nivica in modern southern Albania
(Northern Epirus
).
His father was Kitsios Doulis, hero of the Greek War of Independence
(1821–1830). At 1883 he enlisted in the Army, while at 1897 he fought in the following war against the Ottoman Empire
, in the Epirus sector of operations, in which the Greek Army was defeated.
As a Major he took part in the operations in Epirus
front during the Balkan Wars
of 1912-1913. During these, the Greek army occupied the region of "Northern Epirus", and Doulis was appointed military commander of Argyrokastro (Gjirokastër
). In December 1913 however, with the Protocol of Florence, the Great Powers decided to award the region to the newly formed Albania
n state. This decision was highly unpopular among the local Greek, who decided to form their own government and military in order to secure their autonomy. Doulis resigned his commission in the Greek army and joined the autonomists.
With the official declaration of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
, in 1 March 1914, he was received the post of Minister of Military Affairs. From the first days he managed to mobilize an army consisting of more than 5,000 volunteer troops, and organize local gendarmerie
units (called "Sacred Band
s") in order to secure the region. Until May 17, when the Protocol of Corfu
was signed, the autonomist Epirote forces managed retain their positions and push back the attacks of Albanian irregulars and gendarmerie, which was under the command of Dutch officers.
When the World War I broke up the Greek forces after approval from the Triple Entente
Powers, reentered Northern Epirus. At the following national elections Dimitrios Doulis was elected as member of the Greek parliament for the Argyrokastron Prefecture.
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....
military officer, from Nivica in modern southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
).
His father was Kitsios Doulis, hero of the Greek War of Independence
Greek 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...
(1821–1830). At 1883 he enlisted in the Army, while at 1897 he fought in the following war against the Ottoman Empire
Greco-Turkish War (1897)
The Greco-Turkish War of 1897, also called the Thirty Days' War and known as the Black '97 in Greece, was a war fought between the Kingdom of Greece and Ottoman Empire. Its immediate cause was the question over the status of the Ottoman province of Crete, whose Greek majority long desired union...
, in the Epirus sector of operations, in which the Greek Army was defeated.
As a Major he took part in the operations in Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
front during the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
of 1912-1913. During these, the Greek army occupied the region of "Northern Epirus", and Doulis was appointed military commander of Argyrokastro (Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
). In December 1913 however, with the Protocol of Florence, the Great Powers decided to award the region to the newly formed Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n state. This decision was highly unpopular among the local Greek, who decided to form their own government and military in order to secure their autonomy. Doulis resigned his commission in the Greek army and joined the autonomists.
With the official declaration of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
The Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was a short-lived, self-governing entity founded on February 28, 1914, in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, by the Greeks living in southern Albania ....
, in 1 March 1914, he was received the post of Minister of Military Affairs. From the first days he managed to mobilize an army consisting of more than 5,000 volunteer troops, and organize local gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
units (called "Sacred Band
Sacred band
The term Sacred Band, also Sacred Company or Sacred Squadron can refer to one of the following military units:In the ancient world:* Sacred Band of Thebes* Sacred Band of Carthage...
s") in order to secure the region. Until May 17, when the Protocol of Corfu
Protocol of Corfu
The Protocol of Corfu , signed on May 17, 1914, was an agreement between representatives of the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized the area of Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Albanian state...
was signed, the autonomist Epirote forces managed retain their positions and push back the attacks of Albanian irregulars and gendarmerie, which was under the command of Dutch officers.
When the World War I broke up the Greek forces after approval from the Triple Entente
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907....
Powers, reentered Northern Epirus. At the following national elections Dimitrios Doulis was elected as member of the Greek parliament for the Argyrokastron Prefecture.