Zacharias Barbitsiotis or as he was more commonly known Zacharias (22 October 1759 - July 20, 1804, Greek: Ζαχαρίας Μπαρμπιτσιότης) was a Greek klepht in the Peloponnese operating during the time of Ottoman Greece, with most of modern Greece being part of the Ottoman Empire. He is described by Kyriakos Kassis as the best thief of Taygetus.^[1] is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1759 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Klephts (Greek κλέφτης, pl. ... Greece and the Peloponnese The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Peloponnesos; see also List of Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth. ... Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century until its declaration of independence in 1821. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... Taygetus or Taygetos (Greek: Ταΰγετος), also Taigetos is a mountain range of the Peloponnesus, Southern Greece, extending about 65 mi (100 km) north from the southern end of Cape Matapan in the Mani Peninsula. ...

Early Life and career

Zacharias Barbitsiotis was born on 22 October 1759 in the town of Gortinia, Arcadia. His father's named was Theodoros and his mother's name is unknown. In 1775, his brother, Pantelis was murdered by the Turks. Zacharias wanting revenge went to the town of Loggastra in northern Laconia where he joined a klephtic group under the command of Captain Matzari.^[2] is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1759 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about a region of Greece. ... Laconia (; see also List of traditional Greek place names), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. ... For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation). ...

The next year during the Battle of Rekitsas, Zacharias charged at the Turks with out orders. The other klephts followed him and they chased after the Turks. This incident won Zacharias recognision from his comrades for his bravery. However, Matzari was angry with Zacharias as he had not followed orders and Zacharias left the group and founded his own group of sixty men under his own flag.^[2]

Rise to Power

Zacharias' fame grew even more when he defeated the Turks at the Battle of Salesi in Arcadia. A. Kontakis who was the leader of the village of Agios Petros in Arcadia who at first an enemy and later a friend of Zacharias described in his memoirs:

In 1787, Zacharias invited all the leaders of the klephtic bands of the Peloponnese to a meeting and they formed a kleptho-armatoloi federation of the Peloponnese. This federation brought more power to Zacharias who was made the commader-in-chief of the federation. Meanwhile, he had constructed his own fortress, Barbitsa in the mountains of Mani and from there he launched his raids on the Turks. It was widely thought that Zacharias' aim was for the Turks to met his demands, however, in reality what he wanted was the liberation of the Peloponnese from the Turks.^[2] Map of Greece highlighting the Mani peninsula. ...

Meanwhile, the renowned klepht captain, Androutsos - father of Odysseas Androutsos - was expelled by the Turks from his base in Aegina and escaped on the ship of Lambros Katsonis, an equally renowned pirate captain. They landed in Mani, where they were greeted by Zacharias and a young Theodoros Kolokotronis - a future Greek hero - and took him to his base.^[1][2] Klephts (Greek κλέφτης, pl. ... For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation). ... Odysseas Androutsos (also Odysseus Androutsos, Greek: Οδυσσέας Ανδρούτσος) was a hero of the Greek War of Independence. ... Aegina (Greek: Αίγινα (Egina)) is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 31 miles (50 km) from Athens. ... Lambros Katsonis was a Greek naval hero of the 18th century; born in Ithaka. ... Monument of Theodoros Kolokotronis in Athens. ...

Death

In 1804, the Turks extended their efforts to capture Zacharias as well as the former Bey of Mani, Zanet Grigorakis, who retreated to the mountains after being desposed and after the events of the 1803 Ottoman Invasion of Mani. The reason for this increased interest into Zacharias' capture was because it had been revealed that together with Zanet and other promient Maniots, he had been conspiring with Napoleon Bonaparte, who had sent them French weapons. In charge of the attempt to capture Zacharias was Seremet, who had been instructed to capture Zacharias and had him over to the higher authorities.^[1][2] 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Bey is originally a Turkish[1][2] word for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. ... A map showing Mani. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français...

Seremet, knowing that capturing Zacharias without any casualties was nearly impossible, decided to assassinate him. The Turks approached a Maniot by the name of Koukeas and organised the assassination attempt with him. Koukeas went to Zacharias and told him that a Turkish fleet had appeared off Kitries. When Zacharias went to investigate this himself, he was assassinated near Kardimili.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Kassis, "Mani's History", 37
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Roumelioti, Kapetan Zaharias"[1]"

Sources

• Kyriakos Kassis, (1979). Mani's History. Athens: Presoft
• Poti Roumelioti. "Kapetan Zaharias". Retrieved on 2008-01-22.