Battle of Kastella
Battle of Kastella | |||||||
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Part of Greek War of Independence | |||||||
![]() Yannis Makriyannis defending Piraeus (painting by Peter von Hess) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
2.000 Klephts and |
About 3.000 (infantry and cavalry) 4-6 cannons | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
60 dead | 300 dead and wounded |
Battle of Kastella was a military engagement during the Greek revolution of 1821 with a victorious outcome for the Greeks, in the context of Reşid Mehmed Pasha’s expedition in Attica which had as its ultimate goal the occupation of the Acropolis.
Developments in Roumeli and the landing of the Greeks in Κ astella
[edit]By the end of 1826 and the beginning of 1827, the Greeks, thanks to the winning battles of Karaiskakis, had succeeded in liberating the whole region of Roumeli, except for Messolonghi, Nafpaktos and Vonitsa.[1] However, despite these victories, Mehmet Resi Pasha (Kioutachis) had not finished his expedition, being determined to conquer the Acropolis of Athens. The Greek government, considering that the loss of the Acropolis would entail the loss of the whole region of Central Greece, sent reinforcements to the military camp of Eleusis. After that event, the Greeks camped in Kamatero. There, however, in the homonymous battle, they suffered a severe defeat by Kioutachis, as a result of which 300 Greeks were killed.[2] On 24 January, a group of 2,000 men of irregular army and 400 men of regular army based on Salamis, under the British army officer and later historian Thomas Gordon, landed in Faliro and afterwards headed to the hill of
Kioutachis's reaction and the Greeks’ preparations
[edit]After his victory at Kamatero, Kioutachis had been trying for two days to persuade the besieged on the Acropolis to surrender. Irritated by their refusal, he moved against Gordon’s positions in Kastella, with his forces currently estimated at about 3,000 men (Gordon reports 4,000) and a few cannons.[3]
The Greeks were well prepared for battle with cannons they had raised from their ships, and placed them in the center and to the left of their formation. The right end of the rebels (the coast of Piraeus) which was the weakest, would be covered by shots from ships. Makrygiannis with the Athenians would cover the right end, Dimitris Kallergis the left and in the center were the forces of Ioannis Notaras.[3]
The battle of Κ astella
[edit]On the night of 29 January, many Greeks, deeply affected by the defeat in Kamatero, were intimidated and began to leave. For this reason, the Greek ships were ordered to leave the coast. According to Makrygiannis, Gordon himself and other officers lost their courage and were about to leave, but the prevailing view was that, if the Turks won, no one would be spared.[3]
On 30 January, Kioutachis's forces marched against the Greek fortifications.
Their raids lasted for five hours but were repulsed by the Greeks, who were greatly helped by
The battle of Kastella was followed by the battle of the Three Towers, on February 20, where the Greeks under Gordon won again, but they were unable to relieve the besieged of the Acropolis.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ History of the Greek Nation, Volume XII: The Greek Revolution (1821 - 1832) (in Greek). Athens: Publications of Athens. 1975. pp. 442–443.
- ^ a b History of the Greek Nation, Volume XII: The Greek Revolution (1821 - 1832) (in Greek). Athens: Publications of Athens. 1975. p. 443.
- ^ a b c d e History of the Greek Nation, Volume XII: The Greek Revolution (1821 - 1832) (in Greek). Athens: Publications of Athens. 1975. p. 444.
Bibliography
[edit]- Dionysios Kokkinos,
Η Ελληνική Επανάστασις, τόμος 5ος,σ ε λ . 594, 597. Αθήνα: Μέλισσα. 1974. - History of the Greek Nation, Volume XII: The Greek Revolution (1821 - 1832), Athens: Publications of Athens, 1975