Konstantinos Smolenskis

Konstantinos Smolenskis
Popular lithograph of Smolenskis during the 1897 war
Born 1843[1]
Athens
Died 27 September 1915
Athens
Allegiance Greece Kingdom of Greece
Service/branch Hellenic Army
Rank Lieutenant General
Battles/wars Greco-Turkish War of 1897
Other work Minister for Military Affairs

Konstantinos Smolenskis or Smolents (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Σμολένσκης/Σμόλεντς, 1843–1915) was a Hellenic Army officer who distinguished himself in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.

He was born in 1842 in Athens,[2] the son of general Leonidas Smolenskis, who had come to Greece as a volunteer during the Greek War of Independence. His family of Greco-Aromanian descent originated from Moscopole and got their surname (spelled Σμόλεντς, "Smolents") during their ennoblement after Mount Smolikas.

He enrolled in the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating in 1862 as an artillery warrant officer. He later served as a professor in the Academy and in various positions, including field command of the 1st Infantry Division during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, two tenures as Minister for Military Affairs, and Member of Parliament.[2] His successful resistance during the Battle of Velestino in 1897 was the only Greek success in the war, and helped to catapult him to the status of a national hero, as well as a field promotion to major general.

He retired on 27 March 1912 with the rank of lieutenant general, and died on 27 September 1915.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
  2. 1 2 3 Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική και Ναυτική Εγκυκλοπαιδεία. Τόμος Στ′: Σαράντα Εκκλησίαι – Ώχρα [Great Military and Naval Encyclopedia. Volume VI]. Athens. 1930. p. 87.
Political offices
Preceded by
Nikolaos Tsamados		 Minister for Military Affairs
21 September 1897 – 30 October 1898		 Succeeded by
Georgios Korpas
Preceded by
Ioannis Konstantinidis		 Minister for Military Affairs
6 December 1903 – 16 December 1904		 Succeeded by
Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.