Nikolaos Trikoupis
Encyclopedia
Nikolaos Trikoupis was a Greek
general and politician.
Born in Mesolongi in 1869 to Themistoklis Trikoupis, he entered the Greek Army Academy, which he graduated in 1888 as an Artillery Second Lieutenant. He furthered his studies in France
, where he remained from 1889 to 1895. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics
, held in Athens
in the military rifle and the free rifle
events. He came third in the first with a score of 1,713, after hitting the target 34 times out of a possible 40. His place and score in the second event are unknown, except that he did not finish in the top five.
In the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, he participated as chief of staff of the 1st Division. He fought in the Balkan Wars
as the chief of staff of the 3rd Infantry Division. After the wars he was placed as chief of staff of the III Army Corps and then as Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff
. From 1917, he fought in the Macedonian front
of the First World War where he distinguished himself and was promoted to Major General. During the Asia Minor Campaign, he was placed a CO of the 3rd Division in March 1921, and in June 1921 he was promoted to commander of the Northern Corps, composed of the 3rd and 9th Divisions. In September he was moved to command of II Corps and in December to I Corps in the area of Afyon Karahisar.
During the Turkish offensive
in August 1922, Trikoupis was the senior Greek commander, having 5 divisions at his disposal. Having neglected to provide for adequate reconnaissance, his command was surprised by the Turkish attack. In order to avert the collapse of the front held by the 1st and 4th divisions, he ordered a retreat to the second line of defence NW of Afyon on the 13th. The successful Turkish attacks however and the surrender of parts of I and II Corps a few days later sealed the fate of the Greek Army, which began a hasty withdrawal to the Aegean shore. On 29 August, while at Karaja Hisar (also known as Ali Veran (Greek: Ἀλῆ Βερὰν), modern Allioren, Turkey) near Kutahya, he was attacked by Turkish cavalry and surrendered along with slightly more than 5,000 men and 300 officers. His captors led Trikoupis and General Digenis (CO of II Corps) to Mustafa Kemal
, who informed him that he had been appointed as commander-in-chief of the Greek Army in Asia Minor, an episode highlighting the level of confusion in the Greek command.
He returned to Greece in 1923 as part of the prisoners of war exchange, but unlike other senior officers and politicians, who were charged for their role in the disaster in the Trial of the Six
, he was never prosecuted. In 1927, he was even recalled to active service and promoted to Lieutenant General, although he retired soon after. In 1928-1930, he served as prefect
of Attica
-Boeotia
. He died in 1956.
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....
general and politician.
Born in Mesolongi in 1869 to Themistoklis Trikoupis, he entered the Greek Army Academy, which he graduated in 1888 as an Artillery Second Lieutenant. He furthered his studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he remained from 1889 to 1895. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
, held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in the military rifle and the free rifle
Shooting at the 1896 Summer Olympics - Men's free rifle
The men's free rifle was one of the five sport shooting events on the Shooting at the 1896 Summer Olympics programme. The second rifle event and last of the shooting events, the free rifle was begun on 11 April. Each marksman fired 40 shots, in four strings of ten. 25 men entered the event,...
events. He came third in the first with a score of 1,713, after hitting the target 34 times out of a possible 40. His place and score in the second event are unknown, except that he did not finish in the top five.
In the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, he participated as chief of staff of the 1st Division. He fought in 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...
as the chief of staff of the 3rd Infantry Division. After the wars he was placed as chief of staff of the III Army Corps and then as Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff
Hellenic Army General Staff
The Hellenic Army General Staff is the general staff of the Hellenic Army, the terrestrial component of the Greek Armed Forces. It was established in 1906 as the Army Staff Service . Since 1950, the HAGS is subordinated to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff...
. From 1917, he fought in the Macedonian front
Macedonian front (World War I)
The Macedonian Front resulted from an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915, against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The expedition came too late and in insufficient force to prevent the fall of Serbia, and was complicated by the internal...
of the First World War where he distinguished himself and was promoted to Major General. During the Asia Minor Campaign, he was placed a CO of the 3rd Division in March 1921, and in June 1921 he was promoted to commander of the Northern Corps, composed of the 3rd and 9th Divisions. In September he was moved to command of II Corps and in December to I Corps in the area of Afyon Karahisar.
During the Turkish offensive
Battle of Dumlupinar
The Battle of Dumlupınar Muharebesi or Başkumandanlık Meydan Muharebesi; literally "All-out battle of Supreme military commands") was the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War...
in August 1922, Trikoupis was the senior Greek commander, having 5 divisions at his disposal. Having neglected to provide for adequate reconnaissance, his command was surprised by the Turkish attack. In order to avert the collapse of the front held by the 1st and 4th divisions, he ordered a retreat to the second line of defence NW of Afyon on the 13th. The successful Turkish attacks however and the surrender of parts of I and II Corps a few days later sealed the fate of the Greek Army, which began a hasty withdrawal to the Aegean shore. On 29 August, while at Karaja Hisar (also known as Ali Veran (Greek: Ἀλῆ Βερὰν), modern Allioren, Turkey) near Kutahya, he was attacked by Turkish cavalry and surrendered along with slightly more than 5,000 men and 300 officers. His captors led Trikoupis and General Digenis (CO of II Corps) to Mustafa Kemal
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
, who informed him that he had been appointed as commander-in-chief of the Greek Army in Asia Minor, an episode highlighting the level of confusion in the Greek command.
He returned to Greece in 1923 as part of the prisoners of war exchange, but unlike other senior officers and politicians, who were charged for their role in the disaster in the Trial of the Six
Trial of the Six
The Trial of the Six or the Execution of the Six was the trial for treason, in late 1922, of the officials held responsible for the Greek military defeat in Asia Minor...
, he was never prosecuted. In 1927, he was even recalled to active service and promoted to Lieutenant General, although he retired soon after. In 1928-1930, he served as prefect
Prefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
of Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
-Boeotia
Boeotia
Boeotia, also spelled Beotia and Bœotia , is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. It was also a region of ancient Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, the second largest city being Thebes.-Geography:...
. He died in 1956.