Battle of the Lerna Mills: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1825 battle part of the Greek War of Independence}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} |
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{{Infobox military conflict |
{{Infobox military conflict |
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|conflict=Battle of the Lerna Mills |
| conflict = Battle of the Lerna Mills |
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|partof=the [[Greek War of Independence]] |
| partof = the [[Greek War of Independence]] |
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| image= Maxi ton Milon tis Nafplias.jpg |
| image = Maxi ton Milon tis Nafplias.jpg |
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| image_size = 300 |
| image_size = 300 |
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|caption= |
| caption = |
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| date = 25 June 1825<ref name="Brewer1">David Brewer, ''"The Flame of Freedom: The Greek War of Independence, 1821-1833"'', (Greek edition), Publications ''Patakis'', 2020, pp. 336</ref> |
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|date=24 June 1825 |
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|place=[[Lerna]], [[Greece]] |
| place = [[Myloi, Argolis|Myloi]], [[Lerna]], [[Morea Eyalet]], [[Ottoman Empire]] (now [[Argolis]], [[Greece]]) |
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| coordinates = {{WikidataCoord|display=it}} |
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| map_type = Greece#Balkans#Mediterranean |
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| map_relief = yes |
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|combatant2={{flagicon|Egypt|Ottoman}} [[Egypt Eyalet|Ottoman Egypt]] |
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| map_size = |
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| map_marksize = |
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| map_caption = |
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|strength1= 350 soldiers<ref>Finlay George, History of the Greek Revolution, volume II, page 78-79</ref><ref>Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p.165</ref><br>50 warriors from Nafplion<ref>According to Makriyannis</ref><br>2 gunboats<ref>According to Makriyannis</ref> |
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| map_label = |
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|strength2=5,000 Egyptian soldiers |
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| casus = |
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|casualties1= |
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| territory = |
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|casualties2=c.50 dead<ref>According to Spyridon Trikoupis</ref> |
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| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ottoman Empire (eight pointed star).svg}} [[Egypt Eyalet]] |
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| strength1 = 350<ref name="Paparigopoulos">Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p.165</ref><br/>2 [[gunboat]]s<ref name="Finlay">Finlay, George. History of the Greek Revolution. Blackwood and Sons, vol. II, 1861 (Harvard University), pp. 78-79</ref> |
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| strength2 = 5,000<ref name="Brewer1"/><ref name="Mazower">Mazower, Mark (2021). ''"The Greek Revolution: 1821 and the Making of Modern Europe"'', (Greek edition), Publications ''Alexandreia'', p.295</ref> |
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| casualties1 = minimal<ref name="Brewer2">David Brewer, ''"The Flame of Freedom: The Greek War of Independence, 1821-1833"'', (Greek edition), Publications ''Patakis'', 2020, pp. 337</ref> |
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| casualties2 = 50 dead<ref name="Brewer2"/>{{efn|According to Makriyannis' [[memoir]]s, 500.<ref name="Makriyannis"/>}} |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Campaignbox Greek War of Independence}} |
{{Campaignbox Greek War of Independence}} |
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The '''Battle of the Lerna Mills''' was fought on June |
The '''Battle of the Lerna Mills''' was fought on [[25 June]] [[1825]], in [[Myloi, Argolis|Lerna]], [[Greece]] between the [[Egypt Eyalet|Egyptian]] forces of [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt|Ibrahim Pasha]] and Greek forces led by General [[Yannis Makriyannis]], [[Demetrios Ypsilantis]], [[Andreas Metaxas]] and [[Konstantinos Mavromichalis]].<ref name="Finlay"/> It was the first Greek success against Ibrahim and saved the city of [[Nafplio]], seat of the government, from capture.<ref name="Mazower"/> |
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==Before the conflict== |
==Before the conflict== |
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After the Greek army (led by [[Theodoros Kolokotronis]]) fled to [[Karitena]], Ibrahim's forces captured [[Tripolitsa]], which was completely abandoned. Immediately afterwards, Ibrahim |
After the Greek army (led by [[Theodoros Kolokotronis]]) fled to [[Karitena]], Ibrahim's forces captured [[Tripolitsa]], which was completely abandoned. Immediately afterwards, Ibrahim led an army of 5,000 soldiers to the plains of [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] to seize Nafplio.<ref name="Brewer1"/><ref name="Finlay"/><ref name="Mazower"/> When Ibrahim's forces approached the Mills of Lerna on [[24 June]] [[1825]], general Yannis Makrygiannis and Minister of War Andreas Metaxas organized a resistance force containing 350 Greek soldiers.<ref name="Paparigopoulos"/> General Demetrios Ypsilantis, Konstantinos Mavromichalis, Panagiotis Rodios and several [[philhellenes]] (such as François Graillard and Heinrich Treiber) volunteered in the defense of the garrison. Protecting Lerna was vital since the mills contained large quantities of grain that supplied food to Nafplio. The mills of Lerna were surrounded by a stone wall that was flanked by a deep pond and a marsh. Moreover, the garrison was supported by two gunboats that were anchored a short distance (or "musket-shot distance") from the shore.<ref name="Finlay"/> |
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The position was weak and they were very few compared to Ibrahim's army. Thus many were eager to leave using their horses or by |
The position was weak and they were very few compared to Ibrahim's army. Thus many were eager to leave using their horses or by boats but Makriyannis made sure all horses and boats were gone in secret.<ref name="Brewer1"/> This made everybody more resolute in defending the position and they started digging trenches.<ref name="Makriyannis">Makriyannis' Memoirs</ref> Admiral [[Henri de Rigny]] watched from aboard the helplessness of the Greeks and advised Makriyannis against defending the position but Makriyannis ignored him by saying: |
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"They are many indeed but we few have decided to die and have God on our side... And when the few decide to die, most times win... And if we die today we will die for our country and our religion and this death is a good one". "Tres bien" replied |
"They are many indeed but we few have decided to die and have God on our side... And when the few decide to die, most times win... And if we die today we will die for our country and our religion and this death is a good one". "Tres bien" replied de Rigny.<ref name="Makriyannis"/> |
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==Battle== |
==Battle== |
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The battle began |
The battle began during the afternoon of [[25 June]], and the Egyptians were able to enter the stone wall during their first assaults. In the ensuing combat, however, the Greeks managed to repel their opponents by concentrating their fire on their officers. The morale of the Egyptians collapsed, and the revolutionaries carried out a counterattack using their swords.<ref name="Brewer2"/> At the same time, 50 regulars under the command of a captain from Nafplio, Mitros Liakopoulos, arrived at the battle to help the defenders.<ref name="Makriyannis"/> Despite the constant reinforcements he received, Ibrahim was aware of the fact that the Greeks were prepared to staunchly defend the Lerna Mills and he eventually retreated to the plains of Argos. From there, Ibrahim took his army to Tripolitsa on 29 June,<ref name="Finlay"/> without attacking neither the Lerna Mills again, nor charging against Nafplio.<ref name="Brewer2"/><ref name="Mazower"/> The Greeks had minimal casualties, while the Egyptians had 50 dead<ref name="Brewer2"/> (or 500 according to Makriyannis).<ref name="Makriyannis"/> |
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As |
As soon as the Egyptian forces were repelled successfully, some French naval officers came ashore and congratulated Makriyannis,<ref name="Makriyannis"/> who had been shot in the right hand from musket fire but kept it secret until the end of the battle. He was taken to the French frigate of Admiral de Rigny to be treated afterwards.<ref name="Brewer2"/><ref name="Makriyannis"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[List of battles]] |
*[[List of battles]] |
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*[[Yannis Makriyannis]] |
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*[[Demetrios Ypsilantis]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{Notelist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
{{Reflist|2}} |
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*Finlay, George. ''History of the Greek Revolution''. Blackwood and Sons, 1861 (Harvard University). |
*Finlay, George. ''History of the Greek Revolution''. Blackwood and Sons, 1861 (Harvard University). |
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*[[Walter Alison Phillips|Phillips, Walter Alison]]. ''The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833''. Smith, Elder and Company, 1897 (University of Michigan). |
*[[Walter Alison Phillips|Phillips, Walter Alison]]. ''The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833''. Smith, Elder and Company, 1897 (University of Michigan). |
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* Makriyannis, Memoirs, IX Archived |
* Makriyannis, Memoirs, IX Archived October 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. |
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* Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p. 164-165 |
* Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p. 164-165 |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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{{Greek War of Independence|state=collapsed}} |
{{Greek War of Independence|state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category:Military history of the Peloponnese|Lerna]] |
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{{coord missing|Greece}} |
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[[Category:Battles involving Greece|Lerna]] |
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[[Category:Battles involving Ottoman Egypt|Lerna]] |
[[Category:Battles involving Ottoman Egypt|Lerna]] |
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[[Category:Battles involving the Ottoman Empire|Lerna Mills]] |
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[[Category:Battles of the Greek War of Independence|Lerna]] |
[[Category:Battles of the Greek War of Independence|Lerna]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1825|the Lerna Mills]] |
[[Category:Conflicts in 1825|the Lerna Mills]] |
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[[Category:1825 in Greece]] |
[[Category:1825 in Greece]] |
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[[Category:History of Argolis]] |
[[Category:History of Argolis]] |
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[[Category:1825 in the Ottoman Empire]] |
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[[Category:June 1825 events]] |
[[Category:June 1825 events]] |
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[[Category:Peloponnese in the Greek War of Independence]] |
[[Category:Peloponnese in the Greek War of Independence]] |
Latest revision as of 16:01, 23 June 2024
Battle of the Lerna Mills | |||||||
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Part of the Greek War of Independence | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
First Hellenic Republic | Egypt Eyalet | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Yannis Makriyannis (WIA) Andreas Metaxas Demetrios Ypsilantis Konstantinos Mavromichalis | Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
350[2] 2 gunboats[3] | 5,000[1][4] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
minimal[5] | 50 dead[5][a] | ||||||
The Battle of the Lerna Mills was fought on 25 June 1825, in Lerna, Greece between the Egyptian forces of Ibrahim Pasha and Greek forces led by General Yannis Makriyannis, Demetrios Ypsilantis, Andreas Metaxas and Konstantinos Mavromichalis.[3] It was the first Greek success against Ibrahim and saved the city of Nafplio, seat of the government, from capture.[4]
Before the conflict
[edit]After the Greek army (led by Theodoros Kolokotronis) fled to Karitena, Ibrahim's forces captured Tripolitsa, which was completely abandoned. Immediately afterwards, Ibrahim led an army of 5,000 soldiers to the plains of Argos to seize Nafplio.[1][3][4] When Ibrahim's forces approached the Mills of Lerna on 24 June 1825, general Yannis Makrygiannis and Minister of War Andreas Metaxas organized a resistance force containing 350 Greek soldiers.[2] General Demetrios Ypsilantis, Konstantinos Mavromichalis, Panagiotis Rodios and several philhellenes (such as François Graillard and Heinrich Treiber) volunteered in the defense of the garrison. Protecting Lerna was vital since the mills contained large quantities of grain that supplied food to Nafplio. The mills of Lerna were surrounded by a stone wall that was flanked by a deep pond and a marsh. Moreover, the garrison was supported by two gunboats that were anchored a short distance (or "musket-shot distance") from the shore.[3]
The position was weak and they were very few compared to Ibrahim's army. Thus many were eager to leave using their horses or by boats but Makriyannis made sure all horses and boats were gone in secret.[1] This made everybody more resolute in defending the position and they started digging trenches.[6] Admiral Henri de Rigny watched from aboard the helplessness of the Greeks and advised Makriyannis against defending the position but Makriyannis ignored him by saying:
"They are many indeed but we few have decided to die and have God on our side... And when the few decide to die, most times win... And if we die today we will die for our country and our religion and this death is a good one". "Tres bien" replied de Rigny.[6]
Battle
[edit]The battle began during the afternoon of 25 June, and the Egyptians were able to enter the stone wall during their first assaults. In the ensuing combat, however, the Greeks managed to repel their opponents by concentrating their fire on their officers. The morale of the Egyptians collapsed, and the revolutionaries carried out a counterattack using their swords.[5] At the same time, 50 regulars under the command of a captain from Nafplio, Mitros Liakopoulos, arrived at the battle to help the defenders.[6] Despite the constant reinforcements he received, Ibrahim was aware of the fact that the Greeks were prepared to staunchly defend the Lerna Mills and he eventually retreated to the plains of Argos. From there, Ibrahim took his army to Tripolitsa on 29 June,[3] without attacking neither the Lerna Mills again, nor charging against Nafplio.[5][4] The Greeks had minimal casualties, while the Egyptians had 50 dead[5] (or 500 according to Makriyannis).[6]
As soon as the Egyptian forces were repelled successfully, some French naval officers came ashore and congratulated Makriyannis,[6] who had been shot in the right hand from musket fire but kept it secret until the end of the battle. He was taken to the French frigate of Admiral de Rigny to be treated afterwards.[5][6]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d David Brewer, "The Flame of Freedom: The Greek War of Independence, 1821-1833", (Greek edition), Publications Patakis, 2020, pp. 336
- ^ a b Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p.165
- ^ a b c d e Finlay, George. History of the Greek Revolution. Blackwood and Sons, vol. II, 1861 (Harvard University), pp. 78-79
- ^ a b c d Mazower, Mark (2021). "The Greek Revolution: 1821 and the Making of Modern Europe", (Greek edition), Publications Alexandreia, p.295
- ^ a b c d e f David Brewer, "The Flame of Freedom: The Greek War of Independence, 1821-1833", (Greek edition), Publications Patakis, 2020, pp. 337
- ^ a b c d e f g Makriyannis' Memoirs
Sources
[edit]- Finlay, George. History of the Greek Revolution. Blackwood and Sons, 1861 (Harvard University).
- Phillips, Walter Alison. The War of Greek Independence, 1821 to 1833. Smith, Elder and Company, 1897 (University of Michigan).
- Makriyannis, Memoirs, IX Archived October 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- Paparigopoulos, K, History of the Greek Nation (Greek edition), vol. 6, p. 164-165
Further reading
[edit]- General Makriyannis, Ἀπομνημονεύματα (Memoirs), Athens: 1907 (preface by Yannis Vlahogiannis; in Greek).