Mavromichalis
Encyclopedia
Mavromichalis is maybe the main clan
family name
related to war events of Modern Greece. According to early twentieth century's sources forty nine members of this clan offered their lives in the various conflicts the Greeks were involved since the Orlof uprising to the Balkan Wars
.
tradition, confirmed by the May 31 1870 epitaph of Anastasios-Petros Mavromichalis (which may be found in the Metropolis of Athens
), the first members of the clan were refugees from the community of Kardias in Eastern Thrace who escaping from the Turkish attacks in 1452, resettled in Western Mani
.
The name "Mavromichalis" is said to derive from an orphan
boy named Michalis, since all orphan kids were called "mavros" which means "black" because of using dark clothes for mourning, so from this "mavro" Michalis future generations bore the name of "Mavromichalis" which simply means "Black Michael" but signifying "Michael the orphan".
Initially they established in Alica, but due to blood feuds and conflicts they moved to Tsimova
in the eastern part of the Messenian Gulf
and from there to their final destination in the seaside village of Limeni were they made their stronghold. After fortifying the village they took advantage of the port taxations during the Venetian
domination which eventually arranged their land's virtual autocephaly.
The first renowned Mavromichalis leader is the 18th. descendant of the orphan boy, who was named Georgios Mavromichalis and was the hegemon of a rebellion that took place in the Peloponnesus sponsored by Count Orlov
during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. Together with his sons Ilias-Pierros Mavromichalis and Ioannis "Skylogiannis" Mavromichalis he guided the warlike Maniots to events of glory defeating the Turks and Albanian allies.
Another relevant member of the family was a son of "Skylogiannis" who became a Turkish fleet admiral named Şükür Mehmet Bey. He was captured during battle and decided to embrace Islam
and become a renegade
. Although being a traitor to his motherland and religion Şükür was vital in making lobby for the appointment of his cousin Petros Mavromichalis
as the de facto head of state of the Beylik of Mani by the Sublime Porte.
Under the leadership of Petrobey as he was called, the most wonderful pages of glory would be written in the history of the clan and Mani. By the time of the uprising of the Greek War of Independence
, the Maniot state and the Mavromichalis family in particular were powerful enough to control the areas of southern Peloponnesus against both Greek rebels and Albanian raiders in behalf of the Sultan's request.
But Petros Mavromichalis was a patriot whose main goal was to free the rest of Greece from the Ottoman yoke. This way he voluntarily ceded the leadership of the rebellion in Theodoros Kolokotronis
and contributed with a vital contingent of troops that liberated Kalamata
and Tripolis
, and participated in the expedition of help to the Souliotes
where Petrobey's young brother Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
heroically found death fighting the Turks.
Plus, under the leadership of Petrobey, a remarkable commander like Ibrahim
was defeated during the Egyptian Invasion of Mani which attempted to put and end to the whole Hellenic uprising in general and to the Maniot soveraignity in particular.
for the provinces essentially the Peloponnesus that clashed against the Adamantios Korais
' principles of a homogeneous, western, united and centralized state which was developed by the Capodistrian government and developed in the involvement of Greece's first president assassination in Nafplion
.
In modern times, the most relevant member of the family was Kyriakos-Petros Mavromichalis
, grandson of Kyriakoulis
-the hero of the Independence- who was not a soldier this time but a lawyer and politician who became Prime Minister of Greece
.
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
related to war events of Modern Greece. According to early twentieth century's sources forty nine members of this clan offered their lives in the various conflicts the Greeks were involved since the Orlof uprising to 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...
.
Origin
According to the ManiotManiots
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...
tradition, confirmed by the May 31 1870 epitaph of Anastasios-Petros Mavromichalis (which may be found in the Metropolis of Athens
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Annunciation Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, popularly known as the "Mētrópolis", is the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece....
), the first members of the clan were refugees from the community of Kardias in Eastern Thrace who escaping from the Turkish attacks in 1452, resettled in Western Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
.
The name "Mavromichalis" is said to derive from an orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
boy named Michalis, since all orphan kids were called "mavros" which means "black" because of using dark clothes for mourning, so from this "mavro" Michalis future generations bore the name of "Mavromichalis" which simply means "Black Michael" but signifying "Michael the orphan".
Initially they established in Alica, but due to blood feuds and conflicts they moved to Tsimova
Areopoli
Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece. The word Areopoli means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. Areopoli was called Tsimova by the invading Slavs during the 7th century AD...
in the eastern part of the Messenian Gulf
Messenian Gulf
The Messenian Gulf is a sea that is part of the Ionian Sea. The gulf is circumscribed by the southern coasts of Messenia and the southwestern coast of the Mani peninsula in Laconia. Its bounds are Venetiko Island to the west and Cape Tainaron to the southeast...
and from there to their final destination in the seaside village of Limeni were they made their stronghold. After fortifying the village they took advantage of the port taxations during the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
domination which eventually arranged their land's virtual autocephaly.
Fame and Glory
Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov
Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov was a Russian soldier and statesman, who rose to prominence during the reign of Catherine the Great.Orlov served in the Imperial Russian Army, and through his connections with his brother, became one of the key conspirators in the plot to overthrow Tsar Peter III...
during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. Together with his sons Ilias-Pierros Mavromichalis and Ioannis "Skylogiannis" Mavromichalis he guided the warlike Maniots to events of glory defeating the Turks and Albanian allies.
Another relevant member of the family was a son of "Skylogiannis" who became a Turkish fleet admiral named Şükür Mehmet Bey. He was captured during battle and decided to embrace Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and become a renegade
Turncoat
A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party...
. Although being a traitor to his motherland and religion Şükür was vital in making lobby for the appointment of his cousin Petros Mavromichalis
Petros Mavromichalis
Petros Mavromichalis , also known as Petrobey , was the leader of the Maniot people during the first half of the 19th century. His family had a long history of revolts against the Ottoman Empire, which ruled most of what is now Greece...
as the de facto head of state of the Beylik of Mani by the Sublime Porte.
Under the leadership of Petrobey as he was called, the most wonderful pages of glory would be written in the history of the clan and Mani. By the time of the uprising 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...
, the Maniot state and the Mavromichalis family in particular were powerful enough to control the areas of southern Peloponnesus against both Greek rebels and Albanian raiders in behalf of the Sultan's request.
But Petros Mavromichalis was a patriot whose main goal was to free the rest of Greece from the Ottoman yoke. This way he voluntarily ceded the leadership of the rebellion in 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....
and contributed with a vital contingent of troops that liberated Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
and Tripolis
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....
, and participated in the expedition of help to the Souliotes
Souliotes
Souliotes were a warlike community from the area of Souli, in Greece, who became famous across Greece for their resistance against the local Ottoman Pashalik of Yanina ruled by the Muslim Albanian Ali Pasha...
where Petrobey's young brother 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....
heroically found death fighting the Turks.
Plus, under the leadership of Petrobey, a remarkable commander like Ibrahim
Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt
Ibrahim Pasha was the eldest son of Muhammad Ali, the Wāli and unrecognised Khedive of Egypt and Sudan. He served as a general in the Egyptian army that his father established during his reign, taking his first command of Egyptian forces was when he was merely a teenager...
was defeated during the Egyptian Invasion of Mani which attempted to put and end to the whole Hellenic uprising in general and to the Maniot soveraignity in particular.
Aftermath
With the advent of the Modern State of Greece, the Mavromichalis family were key members of the "military party", which advocated in the formation of a decentralized state with autonomyAutonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
for the provinces essentially the Peloponnesus that clashed against the Adamantios Korais
Adamantios Korais
Adamantios Korais or Coraïs was a humanist scholar credited with laying the foundations of Modern Greek literature and a major figure in the Greek Enlightenment. His activities paved the way for the Greek War of Independence and emergence of a purified form of the Greek language, known as...
' principles of a homogeneous, western, united and centralized state which was developed by the Capodistrian government and developed in the involvement of Greece's first president assassination in Nafplion
Nafplion
Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the peripheral unit of...
.
In modern times, the most relevant member of the family was Kyriakos-Petros Mavromichalis
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
Kyriakoulis Petrou Mavromichalis was a Greek politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who briefly served as Prime Minister of Greece....
, grandson of Kyriakoulis
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....
-the hero of the Independence- who was not a soldier this time but a lawyer and politician who became Prime Minister of Greece
Prime Minister of Greece
The Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
.
Sources
- Κ. Ζησίου, Οι Μαυρομιχάλαι. Συλλογή των περί αυτών γραφέντων, (K. Zisiou, The Mavromichalai. Collection of their own scripts, Athens,1903)
- Ανάργυρου Κουτσιλιέρη, Ιστορία της Μάνης, (Anargiros Koutsilieris, History of Mani, Athens, 1996)