Battle of Doliana

The Battle of Doliana took place during the Greek War of Independence on 18 May 1821.

Battle

The Ottoman army met up with a Greek force of 200 men under Nikitas Stamatelopoulos (Greek:Νικήτας Σταματελόπουλος), better known as "Nikitaras" (Greek:Νικηταράς). The Greeks, though outnumbered, managed to knock out the Ottoman artillery and spread panic among their enemies, who left 300 dead on the battlefield and much booty. Nikitaras, who had up to that point lived in the shadow of his uncle Theodoros Kolokotronis, earned a name for himself and the nickname "Tourkofagos" (Greek: Τουρκοφάγος) (Turk-eater). Legend says that after the battle his sword had become stuck to his hand and could not be removed.

Significance

The Battle of Doliana was a big morale booster for the irregular Greek army. It marked the last time the besieged Ottoman army left Tripolis, and it opened the way for the fall of that city and the firm establishment of the independence movement in the Peloponnese.

References

• This article uses text taken from Phantis.com, a GFDL wiki.