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Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1803)
Encyclopedia
The 1803 Ottoman Invasion of Mani was one of a series of invasions by the Ottomans to subdue the Maniots
. Mani
was the only region of Greece
that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of Maniots. The Maniots caused damage to the Ottomans by allying with the Venetians
whenever there was a war between Venice and the Ottomans and they also were pirates.
Zanet Grigorakis was appointed bey of Mani and had assumed the name of Zanetbey. He however in 1798 was plotting with French
agents who were sent by Napoleon to organise a Maniot invasion of the Peloponnese
while Napoleon attacked the Levant
. Once the Ottomans heard they had Zanet disposed and outlawed. Zanet however continued to communicate with the French and they sent him a shipment of weapons. Once the Ottomans heard of this, they sent an army under the command of the Capitán Pasha to lay siege to Zanet's island fort on Cranae
. After a short siege Zanet fled from the forts and hide inland. The Ottomans then returned to their base in Tripoli
.
had been a disaster for Mani and in 1780, the Ottoman bey of the Peloponnese, Hassán Ghazi with a large force of Turko-Albanians invaded Mani. Their army laid siege to the Grigorakis tower in Skoutari
which was garrisoned by fifteen men. The tower held out for three days until it was undermine and gunpowder was placed underneath of the tower which was then set alight and blown up.
The Ottomans then advanced to the plain of 'Vromopidaga' were they defeated by the vastly out numbered Maniots. Ghazi then lured the Maniots leader Éxarchos and had him hung. His mother then had the men of Skoutari under Zanet then tricked the Turkish garrison at Passavas
and sacked the city.
In 1784, Zanet was lured onto an Ottoman ship and was given the choice of his life or to accept the title of bey and Ottoman vassalage. For four years since the last Ottoman invasion, Zanet had refused offers to become bey but under the pressure of this threat he accepted. But in 1798 he was caught conspiring with French agents. He was disposed and outlawed but he continued to cause trouble for the≈ Ottomans from his fort at Cranae
. In 1803, a load of French weapons was delivered to his fort. Once the Ottomans found out, they decided it was time to stop Zanet
which was opposite Cranae. Zanet with his sons and loyal supporters were well equipped with the French weapons and could withstand a short siege. The Ottoman fleet blockaded the island and the Ottoman artillery caused severe damage to Zanet's cause. After a while Zanet slipped out of the fort during the night and fled inland. With Zanet gone the Ottomans abandoned the siege.
his reluctance to deal with his cousin Zanet caused the Ottomans caused another Ottoman invasion. The Ottomans also tried to invaded Mani in 1815
but it was repulsed. The Ottoman control over the rest of Greece
ended in 1821 when the Greeks declared their independence
.
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...
. 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...
was the only region of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of Maniots. The Maniots caused damage to the Ottomans by allying with the Venetians
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...
whenever there was a war between Venice and the Ottomans and they also were pirates.
Zanet Grigorakis was appointed bey of Mani and had assumed the name of Zanetbey. He however in 1798 was plotting with French
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...
agents who were sent by Napoleon to organise a Maniot invasion of the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
while Napoleon attacked the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
. Once the Ottomans heard they had Zanet disposed and outlawed. Zanet however continued to communicate with the French and they sent him a shipment of weapons. Once the Ottomans heard of this, they sent an army under the command of the Capitán Pasha to lay siege to Zanet's island fort on Cranae
Cranae
Cranae is an island off the coast of Gytheio connected to the land by a causeway built in 1898. According to legend, when Paris of Troy abducted Helen from Sparta they spent their first night in Cranae. When Gytheio became the major port of Sparta Cranae became a resting spot for traders...
. After a short siege Zanet fled from the forts and hide inland. The Ottomans then returned to their base in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
.
Prelude
The failed Orlov RevoltOrlov Revolt
The Orlov Revolt was a precursor to the Greek War of Independence , which saw a Greek uprising in the Peloponnese at the instigation of Count Orlov, commander of the Russian Naval Forces of the Russo-Turkish War...
had been a disaster for Mani and in 1780, the Ottoman bey of the Peloponnese, Hassán Ghazi with a large force of Turko-Albanians invaded Mani. Their army laid siege to the Grigorakis tower in Skoutari
Skoutari
Skoutari may refer to:*Skoutari, Laconia, a village in the southwestern part of the Laconia prefecture in the east of the Mani Peninsula...
which was garrisoned by fifteen men. The tower held out for three days until it was undermine and gunpowder was placed underneath of the tower which was then set alight and blown up.
The Ottomans then advanced to the plain of 'Vromopidaga' were they defeated by the vastly out numbered Maniots. Ghazi then lured the Maniots leader Éxarchos and had him hung. His mother then had the men of Skoutari under Zanet then tricked the Turkish garrison at Passavas
Passavas
Passavas or Las is situated on the Mani Peninsula. In ancient times Las was a Spartan possession and in 218 BC the citizens of the city fought and routed and group of Philip V of Macedon's army. Las became part of the Union of Free Laconians in 195 BC when it separated from Sparta. The Spartans...
and sacked the city.
In 1784, Zanet was lured onto an Ottoman ship and was given the choice of his life or to accept the title of bey and Ottoman vassalage. For four years since the last Ottoman invasion, Zanet had refused offers to become bey but under the pressure of this threat he accepted. But in 1798 he was caught conspiring with French agents. He was disposed and outlawed but he continued to cause trouble for the≈ Ottomans from his fort at Cranae
Cranae
Cranae is an island off the coast of Gytheio connected to the land by a causeway built in 1898. According to legend, when Paris of Troy abducted Helen from Sparta they spent their first night in Cranae. When Gytheio became the major port of Sparta Cranae became a resting spot for traders...
. In 1803, a load of French weapons was delivered to his fort. Once the Ottomans found out, they decided it was time to stop Zanet
The Invasion
After he was delivered the weapon, Zanet prepared his fort for a siege. The Capitán-Pasha advanced with a large force of Turko-Albanians advanced into Mani and set camp at GytheioGytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
which was opposite Cranae. Zanet with his sons and loyal supporters were well equipped with the French weapons and could withstand a short siege. The Ottoman fleet blockaded the island and the Ottoman artillery caused severe damage to Zanet's cause. After a while Zanet slipped out of the fort during the night and fled inland. With Zanet gone the Ottomans abandoned the siege.
Aftermath
Zanet's death came in 1808, while he was organising more raids into Ottoman territory. Antony Grigorakis became bey in 1802 and in 1807Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1807)
The 1807 Ottoman Invasion of Mani was one of a series of invasions by the Ottomans to subdue the Maniots. Mani was the only region of Greece that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of Maniots...
his reluctance to deal with his cousin Zanet caused the Ottomans caused another Ottoman invasion. The Ottomans also tried to invaded Mani in 1815
Ottoman Invasion of Mani (1815)
The 1815 Ottoman Invasion of Mani was one of a series of invasions by the Ottomans to subdue the Maniots. Mani was the only region of Greece that the Ottomans had not occupied due to the rough terrain and the rebellious spirit of the Maniots. The Maniots caused damage to the Ottomans by allying...
but it was repulsed. The Ottoman control over the rest of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
ended in 1821 when the Greeks declared their 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...
.