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→‎Family and early life (1788–1820): I have doubts that a source published more than 40 years ago is useful after being refuted by multiple RS of recent years.
age does not by itself negate a study's "usefulness" (see WP:AGE MATTERS) -- Johalas's analysis has not been proved false, it is ignored by sources that are either tangentially related to the subject at hand (Katsikas's book is on Islam & Greek nationalism, not the dictionary) or pseudo-scientific "storybooks" (as is Schuberth according to Albanologist Oliver Schmitt) -- Undid revision 1172792123 by Ktrimi991 (talk)
Tags: Undo Reverted
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==Family and early life (1788–1820)==
==Family and early life (1788–1820)==
Markos was born in 1790 in [[Souli]], the fifth child of [[Kitsos Botsaris]] from his first marriage with Chrysoula, one of the daughters of Papazotos Yotis, the priest of [[Variades]], a village of [[Lakka Souliou|Lakka]] (Tsarkovista).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=12}} {{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|pp=205,307}}</ref> The [[Souliots]] spoke Albanian originally, but during the eighteenth century they learnt to also use Greek via communication with their mostly Greek-speaking surroundings.<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=214}}</ref><ref name="Katsikas">{{cite book | last=Katsikas | first=S. | title=Islam and Nationalism in Modern Greece, 1821-1940 | publisher=Oxford University Press | series=Religion and global politics | year=2021 | page=40}}</ref> Marko's native language was a [[Souliotes#Language|dialect of Albanian]] and not Greek,{{sfn|Katsikas|2021|p=52|ps=: "Indeed, many supporters of the Greek War of Independence, including a number of major figures, such as Capt. Markos Botsaris, Capt. Kitsos Tzavelas, and the female naval commander Laskarina Bouboulina, were Arvanites whose native languages were dialects of Albanian, not Greek."}} as such, he was known by his Albanian name, Marko Boçari ({{IPA-sq|ˈmaɾko boˈtʃaɾi|IPA}}) rather than by Markos Botsaris, though he certainly also spoke Greek.<ref name="Schuberth">{{cite book |last=Schuberth |first=Richard |title=Lord Byrons letzte Fahrt Eine Geschichte des Griechischen Unabhängigkeitskrieges. |date=2021 |publisher=Wallstein Verlag |location=Göttingen |isbn=9783835345959 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F2IlEAAAQBAJ |quote=Doch bis dahin dominierte das albanische Element, und ihre Führer horchten eher auf die Namen Marko Boçari und Kiço Xhavella als auf Markos Botsaris und Kitsos Tzavelas, obwohl sie durchaus Griechisch sprachen. [Until then, however, the Albanian element was dominant and their leaders answered to the names Marko Boçari Kiço Xhavella rather than Markos Botsaris and Kitsos Tzavelas, although they did speak Greek.]}}</ref> Markos was born into the most powerful Souliot ''[[Albanian tribes|fara]]'', the Botsaris clan ({{lang-sq|fara Boçari}}, {{lang-el|γένος Μπότσαρη}}),{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=156}} which up until the end of the [[Greek Revolution]] was known in Greek as "Botsarates" ({{lang-el|Μποτσαράτες}}, {{lang-sq|Boçarenjtë}}).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=11}}: "Ο Μάρκος Μπότσαρης ήταν μέλος της σουλιώτικης φάρας, γνωστής έως το τέλος ακόμη της Επανάστασης, με το όνομα Μποτσαράτες. Υπήρξε, μέχρι το 1800, η πιο ισχυρή φάρα του Σουλίου. Πολυπληθής, η πρώτη φάρα σε δύναμη τουφεκιών και πλούσια."</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=554}}: "Μποτσαράτες (και: Μποτζαράτες, Μποτζιαραίοι), γένος Μπότσαρη)"</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ulqini|1985|p=210, n. 46}}: "Avec 425 familles et 20 lignées: les Boçarenj, les Zervenj [...]"</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=184}}: "μεγάλη φάρα των Μποτσαραίων"</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Pappas |first1=Nicholas Charles |title=Greeks in Russian Military Service in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries |date=1982 |publisher=Stanford University |page=115, 254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_XyAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> According to an unclear narrative recorded by [[Christoforos Perraivos]], which is considered implausible by contemporary historiography, the Botsaris clan came from the village of Dragani (today Ambelia), near [[Paramythia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=133, footnote 56, 134}}</ref> Botsaris clan were one of the oldest clans which settled in Souli. Their name may be related to the Albanian word [[wiktionary:buzë|buzë]] as hinted by written variants of the name in the 19th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=161}}</ref>{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=147}}<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=161}}</ref> The patron saint of the clan was [[Donatus of Euroea]]. The Botsaris had built a church dedicated to Saint Donatus in the areas of Souli they directly controlled.{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=165}}
Markos was born in 1790 in [[Souli]], the fifth child of [[Kitsos Botsaris]] from his first marriage with Chrysoula, one of the daughters of Papazotos Yotis, the priest of [[Variades]], a village of [[Lakka Souliou|Lakka]] (Tsarkovista).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=12}} {{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|pp=205,307}}</ref> The [[Souliots]] spoke Albanian originally, but during the eighteenth century they learnt to also use Greek via communication with their mostly Greek-speaking surroundings.<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=214}}</ref><ref name="Katsikas">{{cite book | last=Katsikas | first=S. | title=Islam and Nationalism in Modern Greece, 1821-1940 | publisher=Oxford University Press | series=Religion and global politics | year=2021 | page=40}}</ref> Marko's native language was a [[Souliotes#Language|dialect of Albanian]] and not Greek,{{sfn|Katsikas|2021|p=52|ps=: "Indeed, many supporters of the Greek War of Independence, including a number of major figures, such as Capt. Markos Botsaris, Capt. Kitsos Tzavelas, and the female naval commander Laskarina Bouboulina, were Arvanites whose native languages were dialects of Albanian, not Greek."}} as such, he was known by his Albanian name, Marko Boçari ({{IPA-sq|ˈmaɾko boˈtʃaɾi|IPA}}) rather than by Markos Botsaris, though he certainly also spoke Greek.<ref name="Schuberth">{{cite book |last=Schuberth |first=Richard |title=Lord Byrons letzte Fahrt Eine Geschichte des Griechischen Unabhängigkeitskrieges. |date=2021 |publisher=Wallstein Verlag |location=Göttingen |isbn=9783835345959 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F2IlEAAAQBAJ |quote=Doch bis dahin dominierte das albanische Element, und ihre Führer horchten eher auf die Namen Marko Boçari und Kiço Xhavella als auf Markos Botsaris und Kitsos Tzavelas, obwohl sie durchaus Griechisch sprachen. [Until then, however, the Albanian element was dominant and their leaders answered to the names Marko Boçari Kiço Xhavella rather than Markos Botsaris and Kitsos Tzavelas, although they did speak Greek.]}}</ref> Titos Jochalas interprets the presence of phenomena of Greek syntax in the Albanian phrases of a Greek-Albanian dictionary Markos co-authored as evidence either of Markos and his co-contributors having Greek as their mother tongue or of the great influence of Greek on the Albanian spoken in Souli.<ref>{{cite book|last=Γιοχάλας|first=Τίτος Π.|title=Τὸ ἑλληνο-αλβανικὸν λεξικὸν τοῦ Μάρκου Μπότσαρη (φιλολογικὴ ἔκδοσις ἐκ τοῦ αὐτογράφου)|year=1980|publisher=Γραφείον Δημοσιευμάτων της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών|location=Αθήνα|series=Πραγματείαι της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών|volume=46|page=53|quote=Ἡ παρουσία αὕτη φαινομένων τῆς ἑλληνικῆς συντάξεως εἰς τὸ ἀλβανικὸν ἰδίωμα τοῦ Λεξικοῦ εἶναι δυνατὸν νὰ ἑρμηνευθῇ κατὰ δύο τρόπους: α) Ὅτι μητρική γλῶσσα τοῦ Μπότσαρη καὶ τῶν συνεργατῶν του ἦτο ἡ Ἑλληνική, ἀφοὺ, ὡς γνωστόν, ἄνθρωποι περιωρισμένης παιδείας, ὡς οι «λεξικογράφοι» μας, σκέπτονται βασικῶς εἰς τὴν μητρικὴν των γλῶσσαν. Παρατηροῦμεν ὅτι συντακτικὰ λάθη δὲν ἐσημειώθησαν εἰς τὸ ἑλληνικὸν τμῆμα τοῦ Λεξικοῦ, οὔτε ἐπιδράσεις τῆς Ἀλβανικῆς εἰς τὴν ἑλληνικὴν σύνταξιν. β) Εἶναι ἐπίσης δυνατὸν ἡ ἐπίδρασις τῆς ἑλληνικῆς γλώσσης νὰ ἦτο τόσον μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀλβανικῆς τῆς ὁμιλουμένης πιθανῶς εἰς τὴν περιοχὴν τοῦ Σουλίου (πρᾶγμα τὸ ὁποῖον εἶναι ἐμφανέστατον εἰς τὸ λεξιλόγιον τοῦ Λεξικοῦ), ὥστε νὰ κλονίσῃ ἀκόμη καὶ τὴν σύνταξἰν της. Δυστυχῶς ο Μπότσαρης δὲν μᾶς παρέδωσεν ἐκτενὲς πεζὸν κείμενον εἰς τῆν Ἐλληνικὴν μὲ ἀντίστοιχον ἀπόδοσιν εἰς τὴν Ἀλβανικὴν, ὥστε να δυνηθῶμεν νὰ ἐλέγξωμεν εὐχερέστερον παρόμοιας φύσεως συντακτικὰ φαινόμενα.}}</ref> Markos was born into the most powerful Souliot ''[[Albanian tribes|fara]]'', the Botsaris clan ({{lang-sq|fara Boçari}}, {{lang-el|γένος Μπότσαρη}}),{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=156}} which up until the end of the [[Greek Revolution]] was known in Greek as "Botsarates" ({{lang-el|Μποτσαράτες}}, {{lang-sq|Boçarenjtë}}).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=11}}: "Ο Μάρκος Μπότσαρης ήταν μέλος της σουλιώτικης φάρας, γνωστής έως το τέλος ακόμη της Επανάστασης, με το όνομα Μποτσαράτες. Υπήρξε, μέχρι το 1800, η πιο ισχυρή φάρα του Σουλίου. Πολυπληθής, η πρώτη φάρα σε δύναμη τουφεκιών και πλούσια."</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=554}}: "Μποτσαράτες (και: Μποτζαράτες, Μποτζιαραίοι), γένος Μπότσαρη)"</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ulqini|1985|p=210, n. 46}}: "Avec 425 familles et 20 lignées: les Boçarenj, les Zervenj [...]"</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=184}}: "μεγάλη φάρα των Μποτσαραίων"</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Pappas |first1=Nicholas Charles |title=Greeks in Russian Military Service in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries |date=1982 |publisher=Stanford University |page=115, 254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_XyAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> According to an unclear narrative recorded by [[Christoforos Perraivos]], which is considered implausible by contemporary historiography, the Botsaris clan came from the village of Dragani (today Ambelia), near [[Paramythia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=133, footnote 56, 134}}</ref> Botsaris clan were one of the oldest clans which settled in Souli. Their name may be related to the Albanian word [[wiktionary:buzë|buzë]] as hinted by written variants of the name in the 19th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=161}}</ref>{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=147}}<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2006|p=161}}</ref> The patron saint of the clan was [[Donatus of Euroea]]. The Botsaris had built a church dedicated to Saint Donatus in the areas of Souli they directly controlled.{{sfn|Psimuli|2016|p=165}}


They were biggest of the Souliot clans which negotiated and eventually collaborated with Ali Pasha. Perraivos (1815) is one of the contemporary historians who recorded the collaboration with Ali Pasha since the spring of 1800. Perraivos attributes this shift to the "madness of greed" of [[George Botsaris (clan leader)|George Botsaris]] (grandfather of Markos Botsaris) whom he calls a "paid traitor". Other historians of the 19th century follow the same assessment. In modern historiography, the explanation of his political stance through "greed" is considered an oversimplification. Like all other Souliot clans, the Botsaris first and foremost worked for the interests of their own clan, and sought to improve the wealth and political position of their clan, hence the stance of George Botsaris and all Souliot leaders is interpreted in this framework. For the Botsaris clan, since 1799 when Ali Pasha took control of the villages of Lakka Souli which were previously under the sphere of influence of the Botsaris clan, integration in the Ottoman system was the only viable political option.<ref name="Psimuli2016411">{{harvnb|Psimuli|2016|p=411}}</ref> In 1800, George Botsaris received a large sum and the position of the [[armatolos]] of [[Athamanika|Tzoumerka]], and the Botsaris clan left Souli and settled in [[Vourgareli]] of Arta. This was the first time that a Souliot clan became part of the Ottoman political system. The departure of the Botsaris clan weakened Souli as they were a significant part of its force<ref name="Psimuli2016411"/> and Souli was led to surrender to Ali in 1803, after a three-year siege. Thirteen year-old Markos used his limited literacy to record his anguish for the besieged Christians of Souli in a remembrance note of November 3 on the book cover of a ''[[Menaion]]'' of a [[chapel]] of Palaiokatouna (Voulgareli).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=12}}: Δεκατριών ετών ο Μάρκος, εκείνη την εποχή, παρακολουθεί από μακριά όσα συμβαίνουν στο Σούλι. Με την ευαισθησία της ηλικίας του και τα λίγα γράμματα που γνωρίζει έχει ήδη καταγράψει την αγωνία του για την τύχη των πολιορκημένων Σουλιωτών, σε ιδιόχειρο σημείωμά του, σε κάλυμμα Μηναίου του παρεκκλησίου της Παλαιοκατούνας (Βουλγαρέλι): «1803 νοεμβρίου 3 κάνο θήμησι το καιρό οπου μπικε το ασκερι μεσα στο σουλι και καμαν απο τα ευγα του σεμτεμβρίου εος [...]βριου και ο θεος να καμη τα δηκα του δυατη εσταβροθικα οι χριστιανοι απο τη μπινα και ο θεος να τους βγαλι σε σελυαμετι του χριστουγενου εξ αποφασεος μαρκο μποτζιαρις»</ref>
They were biggest of the Souliot clans which negotiated and eventually collaborated with Ali Pasha. Perraivos (1815) is one of the contemporary historians who recorded the collaboration with Ali Pasha since the spring of 1800. Perraivos attributes this shift to the "madness of greed" of [[George Botsaris (clan leader)|George Botsaris]] (grandfather of Markos Botsaris) whom he calls a "paid traitor". Other historians of the 19th century follow the same assessment. In modern historiography, the explanation of his political stance through "greed" is considered an oversimplification. Like all other Souliot clans, the Botsaris first and foremost worked for the interests of their own clan, and sought to improve the wealth and political position of their clan, hence the stance of George Botsaris and all Souliot leaders is interpreted in this framework. For the Botsaris clan, since 1799 when Ali Pasha took control of the villages of Lakka Souli which were previously under the sphere of influence of the Botsaris clan, integration in the Ottoman system was the only viable political option.<ref name="Psimuli2016411">{{harvnb|Psimuli|2016|p=411}}</ref> In 1800, George Botsaris received a large sum and the position of the [[armatolos]] of [[Athamanika|Tzoumerka]], and the Botsaris clan left Souli and settled in [[Vourgareli]] of Arta. This was the first time that a Souliot clan became part of the Ottoman political system. The departure of the Botsaris clan weakened Souli as they were a significant part of its force<ref name="Psimuli2016411"/> and Souli was led to surrender to Ali in 1803, after a three-year siege. Thirteen year-old Markos used his limited literacy to record his anguish for the besieged Christians of Souli in a remembrance note of November 3 on the book cover of a ''[[Menaion]]'' of a [[chapel]] of Palaiokatouna (Voulgareli).<ref>{{harvnb|Ψιμούλη|2010|p=12}}: Δεκατριών ετών ο Μάρκος, εκείνη την εποχή, παρακολουθεί από μακριά όσα συμβαίνουν στο Σούλι. Με την ευαισθησία της ηλικίας του και τα λίγα γράμματα που γνωρίζει έχει ήδη καταγράψει την αγωνία του για την τύχη των πολιορκημένων Σουλιωτών, σε ιδιόχειρο σημείωμά του, σε κάλυμμα Μηναίου του παρεκκλησίου της Παλαιοκατούνας (Βουλγαρέλι): «1803 νοεμβρίου 3 κάνο θήμησι το καιρό οπου μπικε το ασκερι μεσα στο σουλι και καμαν απο τα ευγα του σεμτεμβρίου εος [...]βριου και ο θεος να καμη τα δηκα του δυατη εσταβροθικα οι χριστιανοι απο τη μπινα και ο θεος να τους βγαλι σε σελυαμετι του χριστουγενου εξ αποφασεος μαρκο μποτζιαρις»</ref>

Revision as of 11:08, 29 August 2023

General

Markos Botsaris
Μάρκος Μπότσαρης
Marko Boçari
A portrait of Markos Botsaris.
Native name
Marko Boçari (Albanian)[1]
Bornc. 1788
Souli, Pashalik of Yanina, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Died21 August 1823
Karpenisi, Sanjak of Inebahti, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Buried
Garden of Heroes, Missolonghi, Greece
Allegiance First French Empire
Greece First Hellenic Republic
Service/branch Imperial French Army
 Hellenic Army
Years of service1804–1823
RankGeneral of the Greek Army
UnitRevolutionary Army of Western Central Greece
Albanian Regiment (French Army)
Souliot Forces
Commands heldChieftain of the Souliot Forces
Commanding General of Western Central Greece
Battles/wars
ChildrenDimitrios Botsaris (son)
Katerina Botsari (daughter)
RelationsKitsos Botsaris (father)
Notis Botsaris (uncle)
Kostas Botsaris (brother)
Tousias Botsaris (cousin)
Other workAuthor of a Greek-Albanian lexicon
Signature

Markos Botsaris (Greek: Μάρκος Μπότσαρης; c. 1788/1790 – 21 August 1823) was a Souliot chieftain, general of the Greek revolutionary army and hero of the Greek War of Independence.[2][3] He played a key role in relieving the First Siege of Missolonghi in 1822–1823 and was awarded the title of General of Western Greece by the revolutionary Greek government. He was killed during the Battle of Karpenisi and was buried in Missolonghi with full honors. Today Botsaris is among the most revered national heroes in Greece.

Family and early life (1788–1820)

Markos was born in 1790 in Souli, the fifth child of Kitsos Botsaris from his first marriage with Chrysoula, one of the daughters of Papazotos Yotis, the priest of Variades, a village of Lakka (Tsarkovista).[4] The Souliots spoke Albanian originally, but during the eighteenth century they learnt to also use Greek via communication with their mostly Greek-speaking surroundings.[5][6] Marko's native language was a dialect of Albanian and not Greek,[7] as such, he was known by his Albanian name, Marko Boçari (IPA: [ˈmaɾko boˈtʃaɾi]) rather than by Markos Botsaris, though he certainly also spoke Greek.[8] Titos Jochalas interprets the presence of phenomena of Greek syntax in the Albanian phrases of a Greek-Albanian dictionary Markos co-authored as evidence either of Markos and his co-contributors having Greek as their mother tongue or of the great influence of Greek on the Albanian spoken in Souli.[9] Markos was born into the most powerful Souliot fara, the Botsaris clan (Albanian: fara Boçari, Greek: γένος Μπότσαρη),[10] which up until the end of the Greek Revolution was known in Greek as "Botsarates" (Greek: Μποτσαράτες, Albanian: Boçarenjtë).[11][12][13][14][15] According to an unclear narrative recorded by Christoforos Perraivos, which is considered implausible by contemporary historiography, the Botsaris clan came from the village of Dragani (today Ambelia), near Paramythia.[16] Botsaris clan were one of the oldest clans which settled in Souli. Their name may be related to the Albanian word buzë as hinted by written variants of the name in the 19th century.[17][18][19] The patron saint of the clan was Donatus of Euroea. The Botsaris had built a church dedicated to Saint Donatus in the areas of Souli they directly controlled.[20]

They were biggest of the Souliot clans which negotiated and eventually collaborated with Ali Pasha. Perraivos (1815) is one of the contemporary historians who recorded the collaboration with Ali Pasha since the spring of 1800. Perraivos attributes this shift to the "madness of greed" of George Botsaris (grandfather of Markos Botsaris) whom he calls a "paid traitor". Other historians of the 19th century follow the same assessment. In modern historiography, the explanation of his political stance through "greed" is considered an oversimplification. Like all other Souliot clans, the Botsaris first and foremost worked for the interests of their own clan, and sought to improve the wealth and political position of their clan, hence the stance of George Botsaris and all Souliot leaders is interpreted in this framework. For the Botsaris clan, since 1799 when Ali Pasha took control of the villages of Lakka Souli which were previously under the sphere of influence of the Botsaris clan, integration in the Ottoman system was the only viable political option.[21] In 1800, George Botsaris received a large sum and the position of the armatolos of Tzoumerka, and the Botsaris clan left Souli and settled in Vourgareli of Arta. This was the first time that a Souliot clan became part of the Ottoman political system. The departure of the Botsaris clan weakened Souli as they were a significant part of its force[21] and Souli was led to surrender to Ali in 1803, after a three-year siege. Thirteen year-old Markos used his limited literacy to record his anguish for the besieged Christians of Souli in a remembrance note of November 3 on the book cover of a Menaion of a chapel of Palaiokatouna (Voulgareli).[22]

After the surrender of Souli, Souliote clans chose divergent paths but many were ultimately led to move to the Ionian Islands and in south Greece. Kitsos Botsaris who had succeeded his father as armatolos of Tzoumerka became a target. Botsaris gathered his clan and 1,200 Souliotes who retreated to Agrafa. In January 1804, they were attacked by Ali Pasha's army under Beqir Bey with support from the local armatoloi Zikos Michos, Tzimas Alexis and Poulis. As the Botsaris clan was given the important armatolik of Tzoumerka, other armatoloi had targeted them. The Souliotes were besieged for 3 months on the grounds of the monastery of the Assumption of Mary. In the final battle, on 7 April, most Souliotes were killed and of those who survived many were taken hostage. About 80 escaped from this battle. Ali Pasha at the same time published a firman which targeted the Botsaris clan which was hunted down. Kitsos Botsaris and his family with a few others managed to escape to Parga and later settled in the Ionian Islands. He returned to the Pashalik of Yanina in 1813 when Ali Pasha gave him again the armatolik of Tzoumerka but as soon as he returned he was murdered by a Gogos Bakolas.[23]

Markos Botsaris lived since the age of sixteen in the Ionian Islands, in particular in Lefkada where the family resettled. In Lefkada he lived in the same household ( corporate household/extended patrilineage) like his father Kitsos who headed the household even after Markos was married, his father's third wife, his own wife (Eleni Karakitsou), his brothers and sisters, his deceased uncle's widow (Zoitsa Bakopani) and their housemaid. Kitsos was married three times and had in total 18 children; 12 of them survived into adulthood.[24] Markos was married for the first time in 1806 to the daughter of A. Karakitsos, Eleni. They were divorced a few years later ca. 1810. Botsaris accused his wife of cheating in the petition to get a divorce, she defended herself by claiming that her father-in-law (Kitsos) would have killed her as is the custom of the Albanians (nomos eis tous Alvanitas) if such an accusation was true. The real reason of the divorce possibly had to do with her not being able to bear children, which was seen as extremely important in Souliot society.[25]

At an early age, he joined other Souliotes who served in the Albanian Regiment of the French army for 11 years and became one of the regiment's officers.[26] In 1815 he returned to Epirus.[27]

Epirus (1820–1821)

Letter written personally by M. Botsaris, 1820, that contains orders to certain Souliote guardians to allow the free passage of sepherds.[28]

In 1820, with other Souliotes and his uncle Notis Botsaris, he came back to Epirus and fought against Ali Pasha and the Ottoman army at the Siege of Ioannina, but soon the Souliotes changed side and fought the Ottoman army together with the troops of Ali Pasha, in exchange for a promise of regaining their former region, the Souli.[29]

Botsaris, with about 300–350 men appeared on Mount Satovetza, opposite the sultan's camp, and attacked in December 1820. Then, he captured the fortress of Variades and fortified himself in it (7 December 1820). From there, at the head of 200 horsemen, he attacked a sultan's convoy at Kompsades (22 December 1820).[29] Immediately afterwards he occupied the position of "Pente Pigadia", a junction between Arta and Ioannina, where he crushed a force of 5,000 Albanians sent against him. Negotiations began with the Ottomans and continued until March 1821, when Christoforos Perraivos arrived at Epirus and informed the Souliotes about the existence of Filiki Eteria and the upcoming war of independence.[30]

Greek War of Independence

Flag raised by Markos Botsaris, in Souli, October 1820, depicting Saint George and with the words: Freedom-Religion-Fatherland in Greek.[31]

In 1821, Botsaris took part in the revolution against the Ottoman Empire. He and other Souliot captains, including Kitsos Tzavelas, Notis Botsaris, Lampros Veikos, and Giotis Danglis only enlisted fellow Souliot kin into their bands.[3] At the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, he distinguished himself by his courage, tenacity and skill as a partisan leader in the fighting in western Greece, and was conspicuous in the defence of Missolonghi during the first siege of the city (1822–1823).

Recognizing his bravery and excellent military skill, the Greek Government made him General of Western Greece. This infuriated the rest of the unranked Greek chieftains, so Botsaris responded by tearing his military diploma apart in order to show them that he did not care for ranks, but only for the greater good of his country.[32]

Death

On the night of 21 August 1823 he led the attack on Karpenisi by 350 Souliotes, against approximately 4,000 Ottoman troops who formed the vanguard of the army of Mustafa Pasha, the Pasha of Shkoder (modern northern Albania).[33] Botsaris' men ambushed the enemy camp and inflicted serious casualties, but Botsaris was shot in the head and killed.[34]

Botsaris was buried with full honors in Missolonghi. After the Ottomans captured the city, in 1826, his grave was desecrated by Ottoman Albanian groups.[35]

Family and companions

Many of his family members became key figures of the Greek political establishment. Markos' brother Kostas (Constantine) Botsaris, who also fought at Karpenisi and completed the victory, lived on to become a respected Greek general and parliamentarian in the Greek kingdom.[36] He died in Athens on 13 November 1853. His daughter, Katerina "Rosa" Botsari, was in the service of Queen Amalia of Greece. Markos's son, Dimitrios Botsaris, born in 1813, was three times minister of war Kings Otto and George I.[37] He died in Athens on 17 August 1870.

Evangelis Zappas, the renowned benefactor and founder of the modern Olympic Games, was the aide-de-camp and close friend of Markos Botsaris.[38]

Dictionary

Botsaris is also widely considered to be the author of a Greek–Albanian lexicon written in Corfu in 1809, at the insistence of François Pouqueville, Napoleon Bonaparte's general consul at the court of Ali Pasha in Ioannina.[39] The dictionary is of importance for the knowledge of the extinct Souliot dialect.[40] However, although the book is known as the Botsaris dictionary, scholar Xhevat Lloshi has argued in several works that Botsaris couldn't have possibly written that dictionary by himself, both because of his young age, and because of a note of Pouqueville that clearly says that the dictionary was drafted under the dictation of Marko's father, uncle, and future father-in-law.[41] The Albanian part is connected to the Tosk Albanian dialect with many archaic elements which are related to Arbëresh dialects of southern Italy. The dictionary of Botsaris belongs to the pre-ethnic phase of the history of the Balkans.[42] Titos Yochalas, a Greek historian, knowledgeable in Albanian, who studied and edited the manuscript, noticing that some Greek words are translated into Albanian in more than one way, believes that Botsaris was writing the Greek words and the elders were translating into Albanian. He thinks that many of the entries seem unlikely to be useful for the Suliotes or the Albanians of that time and circumstances, and as such the dictionary was composed after Pouqueville's initiative, possibly as a source for a future French-Albanian dictionary.[43] According to Doris Kyriazis, Botsaris transcribed the lexicon, but he was not the author of it.[44]

Legacy

Many Philhellenes visiting Greece had admired Botsaris' courage and numerous poets wrote poems about him. American poet Fitz-Greene Halleck wrote a poem entitled Marco Bozzaris, Juste Olivier also wrote an award-winning poem for him, in 1825.[45] The national poet of Greece, Dionysios Solomos, composed a poem titled "On Markos Botsaris", in which he likens the mourning over Botsaris' body to the lamentation of Hector, as described in the last book of the Iliad.[46] Markos is honoured in poems of Kalvos, Palamas, Balaorites as well as in plays of Zampelios, Alkeos and Soutsos.[47] In Greek music, the Zakynthian composer Pavlos Carrer composed in 1858 the opera "Marco Bozzari" to his honour. In 1858 excerpts from the opera were performed in Athens in the presence of King Otto.[48] The monthly periodical Apollon, based in Piraeus, published a poem in May 1889 in honour of the Princess Alexandra on the occasion of her engagement to the son of the Russian emperor, Alexander II. The 13-pages poem was written in Albanian, with the Greek translation placed in the adjacent column and with the following frontispiece: "I extol you in Albanian, in a heroic language, which was spoken by the admiral Miaoulis, Botsaris and all of Souli'".[49]

His memory is still celebrated in popular ballads in Greece. The Greek Vlachs also sing the heroic deeds of Markos Botsaris, in Greek language.[50] Another mid 19th c. Greek song from Epirus mentions Botsaris' widow lamenting the loss of her husband.[51] Also, there are several folk songs dedicated to Botsaris, like a Tsamiko from Central Greece, named (Song) Of Markos Botsaris (Greek: του Μάρκου Μπότσαρη),[52] and from the Greek minority of southern Albania (Καημένε Μάρκο Μπότσαρη).[53] Popular dramas and school plays were written soon after his death.[54][55] The Song of Marko Boçari is an Albanian folk song of the 19th century that narrates and laments his death.[56][57]

Botsaris was depicted on the reverse of the Greek 50 lepta coin of 1976–2001.[58] He often adorns posters in Greek classrooms, government offices, and military barracks, as a member of the Greek pantheon of national heroes.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Schuberth, Richard (2021). Lord Byrons letzte Fahrt Eine Geschichte des Griechischen Unabhängigkeitskrieges. Göttingen: Wallstein Verlag. p. 94. ISBN 9783835345959. Doch bis dahin dominierte das albanische Element, und ihre Führer horchten eher auf die Namen Marko Boçari und Kiço Xhavella als auf Markos Botsaris und Kitsos Tzavelas, obwohl sie durchaus Griechisch sprachen. [Until then, however, the Albanian element was dominant and their leaders answered to the names Marko Boçari Kiço Xhavella rather than Markos Botsaris and Kitsos Tzavelas, although they did speak Greek.]
  2. ^ Kitromilides, Paschalis M.; Tsoukalas, Constantinos (25 March 2021). The Greek Revolution: A Critical Dictionary. Harvard University Press. p. 409. ISBN 978-0-674-25931-7. Markos Botsaris was the most distinguished commander in chief of the Souliots, and one of the most renowned Greek warlords.
  3. ^ a b Brigands with a Cause, Brigandage and Irredentism in Modern Greece 1821–1912, by John S. Koliopoulos, Clarendon Press, Oxford. 1987. p. 53. ISBN 0-19-822863-5
  4. ^ Ψιμούλη 2010, p. 12 Ψιμούλη 2006, pp. 205, 307
  5. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 214
  6. ^ Katsikas, S. (2021). Islam and Nationalism in Modern Greece, 1821-1940. Religion and global politics. Oxford University Press. p. 40.
  7. ^ Katsikas 2021, p. 52: "Indeed, many supporters of the Greek War of Independence, including a number of major figures, such as Capt. Markos Botsaris, Capt. Kitsos Tzavelas, and the female naval commander Laskarina Bouboulina, were Arvanites whose native languages were dialects of Albanian, not Greek."
  8. ^ Schuberth, Richard (2021). Lord Byrons letzte Fahrt Eine Geschichte des Griechischen Unabhängigkeitskrieges. Göttingen: Wallstein Verlag. p. 94. ISBN 9783835345959. Doch bis dahin dominierte das albanische Element, und ihre Führer horchten eher auf die Namen Marko Boçari und Kiço Xhavella als auf Markos Botsaris und Kitsos Tzavelas, obwohl sie durchaus Griechisch sprachen. [Until then, however, the Albanian element was dominant and their leaders answered to the names Marko Boçari Kiço Xhavella rather than Markos Botsaris and Kitsos Tzavelas, although they did speak Greek.]
  9. ^ Γιοχάλας, Τίτος Π. (1980). Τὸ ἑλληνο-αλβανικὸν λεξικὸν τοῦ Μάρκου Μπότσαρη (φιλολογικὴ ἔκδοσις ἐκ τοῦ αὐτογράφου). Πραγματείαι της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών. Vol. 46. Αθήνα: Γραφείον Δημοσιευμάτων της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών. p. 53. Ἡ παρουσία αὕτη φαινομένων τῆς ἑλληνικῆς συντάξεως εἰς τὸ ἀλβανικὸν ἰδίωμα τοῦ Λεξικοῦ εἶναι δυνατὸν νὰ ἑρμηνευθῇ κατὰ δύο τρόπους: α) Ὅτι μητρική γλῶσσα τοῦ Μπότσαρη καὶ τῶν συνεργατῶν του ἦτο ἡ Ἑλληνική, ἀφοὺ, ὡς γνωστόν, ἄνθρωποι περιωρισμένης παιδείας, ὡς οι «λεξικογράφοι» μας, σκέπτονται βασικῶς εἰς τὴν μητρικὴν των γλῶσσαν. Παρατηροῦμεν ὅτι συντακτικὰ λάθη δὲν ἐσημειώθησαν εἰς τὸ ἑλληνικὸν τμῆμα τοῦ Λεξικοῦ, οὔτε ἐπιδράσεις τῆς Ἀλβανικῆς εἰς τὴν ἑλληνικὴν σύνταξιν. β) Εἶναι ἐπίσης δυνατὸν ἡ ἐπίδρασις τῆς ἑλληνικῆς γλώσσης νὰ ἦτο τόσον μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀλβανικῆς τῆς ὁμιλουμένης πιθανῶς εἰς τὴν περιοχὴν τοῦ Σουλίου (πρᾶγμα τὸ ὁποῖον εἶναι ἐμφανέστατον εἰς τὸ λεξιλόγιον τοῦ Λεξικοῦ), ὥστε νὰ κλονίσῃ ἀκόμη καὶ τὴν σύνταξἰν της. Δυστυχῶς ο Μπότσαρης δὲν μᾶς παρέδωσεν ἐκτενὲς πεζὸν κείμενον εἰς τῆν Ἐλληνικὴν μὲ ἀντίστοιχον ἀπόδοσιν εἰς τὴν Ἀλβανικὴν, ὥστε να δυνηθῶμεν νὰ ἐλέγξωμεν εὐχερέστερον παρόμοιας φύσεως συντακτικὰ φαινόμενα.
  10. ^ Psimuli 2016, p. 156.
  11. ^ Ψιμούλη 2010, p. 11: "Ο Μάρκος Μπότσαρης ήταν μέλος της σουλιώτικης φάρας, γνωστής έως το τέλος ακόμη της Επανάστασης, με το όνομα Μποτσαράτες. Υπήρξε, μέχρι το 1800, η πιο ισχυρή φάρα του Σουλίου. Πολυπληθής, η πρώτη φάρα σε δύναμη τουφεκιών και πλούσια."
  12. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 554: "Μποτσαράτες (και: Μποτζαράτες, Μποτζιαραίοι), γένος Μπότσαρη)"
  13. ^ Ulqini 1985, p. 210, n. 46: "Avec 425 familles et 20 lignées: les Boçarenj, les Zervenj [...]"
  14. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 184: "μεγάλη φάρα των Μποτσαραίων"
  15. ^ Pappas, Nicholas Charles (1982). Greeks in Russian Military Service in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries. Stanford University. p. 115, 254.
  16. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 133, footnote 56, 134
  17. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 161
  18. ^ Psimuli 2016, p. 147.
  19. ^ Ψιμούλη 2006, p. 161
  20. ^ Psimuli 2016, p. 165.
  21. ^ a b Psimuli 2016, p. 411
  22. ^ Ψιμούλη 2010, p. 12: Δεκατριών ετών ο Μάρκος, εκείνη την εποχή, παρακολουθεί από μακριά όσα συμβαίνουν στο Σούλι. Με την ευαισθησία της ηλικίας του και τα λίγα γράμματα που γνωρίζει έχει ήδη καταγράψει την αγωνία του για την τύχη των πολιορκημένων Σουλιωτών, σε ιδιόχειρο σημείωμά του, σε κάλυμμα Μηναίου του παρεκκλησίου της Παλαιοκατούνας (Βουλγαρέλι): «1803 νοεμβρίου 3 κάνο θήμησι το καιρό οπου μπικε το ασκερι μεσα στο σουλι και καμαν απο τα ευγα του σεμτεμβρίου εος [...]βριου και ο θεος να καμη τα δηκα του δυατη εσταβροθικα οι χριστιανοι απο τη μπινα και ο θεος να τους βγαλι σε σελυαμετι του χριστουγενου εξ αποφασεος μαρκο μποτζιαρις»
  23. ^ Psimuli 2016, pp. 451–52.
  24. ^ Psimuli 2016, p. 175.
  25. ^ Psimuli 2016, p. 180.
  26. ^ Zamoyski, Adam (2000). Holy madness: romantics, patriots, and revolutionaries, 1776–1871. Viking. p. 232. ISBN 0-670-89271-8.
  27. ^ Nikos Giannopoulos, "Markos Botsaris, the absolute exemplar of heroism", Military History, issue 138, 2008, page 11, Publications Periskopio
  28. ^ Vergos catalogue for auction June 9, 2021, Athens. Lot 116
  29. ^ a b Military History, issue 138, February 2008, p. 12.
  30. ^ Nikos Giannopoulos, "Markos Botsaris, the absolute exemplar of heroism", Military History, issue 138, 2008, page 12, Publications Periskopio
  31. ^ Χατζηλύρας, Αλέξανδρος-Μιχαήλ. "H Ελληνική Σημαία. H ιστορία και οι παραλλαγές της κατά την Επανάσταση – Η σημασία και η καθιέρωσή της" (PDF). Hellenic Army General Stuff. p. 12. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  32. ^ Nikos Giannopoulos, "Markos Botsaris, the absolute exemplar of heroism", Military History, issue 138, 2008, page 16, Publications Periskopio
  33. ^ Nikos Giannopoulos, "Markos Botsaris, the absolute exemplar of heroism", Military History, issue 138, 2008, page 17, Publications Periskopio
  34. ^ Dakin, Douglas (1973). The Greek struggle for independence 1821–1833. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780520023420.
  35. ^ Βαρβαρήγος, Ποθητός. Θρησκεία και Θρησκευτική Ζωή κατά τον πόλεμο της Ανεξαρτησίας (in Greek). University of Thessaloniki. pp. 73, 98. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  36. ^ University of Chicago (1946). Encyclopædia britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge, Volume 3. Encyclopædia britannica, inc. p. 957. Marco Botsaris's brother Kosta (Constantine), who fought at Karpenisi and completed the victory, lived to become a general and senator in the Greek Kingdom. Kosta died in 1853..
  37. ^ University of Chicago. Encyclopædia britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge. Encyclopædia britannica, inc., 1946, p. 957
  38. ^ The Modern Olympics, A Struggle for Revival, by David C. Young. p. 13. 1996 The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-5374-5
  39. ^ Markos Botsarēs, Titos P. Giochalas: To Hellēno-Alvanikon lexikon tou Markou Botsarē: (philologikē ekdosis ek tou autographou), Grapheion Dēmosieumatōn tēs Akadēmias Athēnōn, 1980, 424 pages.
  40. ^ JOCHALAS, Titos, To ellino-alvanikon lexikon tou Markou Botzari, Athens 1980.
  41. ^ Lloshi, Xhevat (2008). Rreth Alfabetit te shqipes. Logos. p. 107. ISBN 978-9989582684. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  42. ^ Kyriazis, Doris (2019). "Greek-Albanian and Albanian-Greek Lexicography during 18th and 19th centuries". Studies in Greek Lexicography. 1. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: 48. In reality, the lexicons composed by Kavalliotis, Moschopolitis and Botsaris belong to the pre-ethnic phase of the Balkans, which is also manifest in the way the term έθνος 'nation' is rendered.
  43. ^ Yochalas Titos (editor, 1980) The Greek-Albanian Dictionary of Markos Botsaris. Academy of Greece, Athens 1980 (in Greek). Γιοχάλας Π. Τίτος, Το ελληνο-αλβανικόν λεξικόν του Μάρκου Μπότσαρη (φιλολογική έκδοσις εκ του αυτογράφου), Ακαδημία Αθηνών, 1980.]
  44. ^ Kyriazis, Doris (2019). "Greek-Albanian and Albanian-Greek Lexicography during 18th and 19th centuries". Studies in Greek Lexicography. 1. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: 46. Markos Botsaris transcribed the Lexicon (but was not the author); we presume that the compilers were himself and the company of his friends who replied alternately to the questions submitted by Pouqueville (Γιοχάλας 1980, Lloshi 1995).
  45. ^ Poetry Archive – Marco Bozzaris
  46. ^ Mackridge, Peter, ed. (1996). Ancient Greek myth in modern Greek poetry : essays in memory of C.A. Trypanis (1. publ. ed.). London: Frank Cass. pp. xvii. ISBN 978-0-7146-4751-7.
  47. ^ Speake, Graham (31 January 2021). Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition. Routledge. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-135-94206-9.
  48. ^ A. Xepapadakou, "The Marco Bozzari by Pavlos Carrer, a 'national' Opera", in Moussikos Logos, 5, Corfu: Ionian University-Dept. of Music Studies, 2003, 27–63.
  49. ^ Milios, John (2023). Nationalism as a Claim to a State: The Greek Revolution of 1821 and the Formation of Modern Greece. Historical Materialism Book Series. Brill. p. 34. ISBN 9789004533523.
  50. ^ Lazarou Achilleas, Balkans and the Vlachs, in Greek. (Λαζάρου Αχιλλέας, Βαλκάνια και Βλάχοι, Εκδόσεις Φιλολογ. Συλλ. Παρνασσός), 1993, p. 339, footnote 1.
  51. ^ Αραβαντινός Παναγιώτης, Συλλογή δημωδών ασμάτων της Ηπείρου,, εκδιδόμενη υπό των υιών αυτού (Aravantinos Panagiotis, Collection of folk songs from Epirus, published by his sons) Athens, 1880, song No. 88, p. 76, 77. Panagiotis Aravantinos died in 1870. According to the publishers, the songs were collected 20 years before the publication (γ').
  52. ^ Antōnēs I. Phlountzēs Akronauplia kai Akronaupliōtes, 1937–1943. Themelio, 1979, p. 286 (Greek)
  53. ^ Nikolaos V. Dēmētriou, Eleutherios N. Dēmētriou. Voreios Ēpeiros: tragoudia kai choroi. Trochalia, 2000, p. 45.
  54. ^ Enangelides Tryfon, The education during the Turkish occupation, Athens, 1936, vol. 2, p. 79. A school play titled "Markos Botsaris" was played in Greece in 1825.
  55. ^ Alkaios Theodoros, The death of Markos Botsaris, published in Athens, undated. The author died in 1833.
  56. ^ American Folklore Society (1954). Memoirs of the American Folklore Society. American Folklore Society. Vol. 44. University of Texas Press. p. 173.
  57. ^ Pllana, Shefqet (1972). "Studies". Gjurmime Albanologjike:Folklor Dhe Etnologji (Albanological Research: Folklore and Ethnology). 15: 41. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  58. ^ Bank of Greece Archived 28 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Drachma Banknotes & Coins: 50 lepta Archived 1 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. – Retrieved on 27 March 2009.

Sources

External links

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