Battle of Karpenisi

The Battle of Karpenisi took place near the town of Karpenisi (in Evrytania, central Greece) on the night of 8 August 1823 between units of the Greek revolutionary army[1] and Ottoman troops.

Battle of Karpenisi
Part of the Greek War of Independence

The death of Markos Botsaris by Marsigli Filippo
Date8 August 1823
Location
Karpenisi, central Greece
Result Tactically incoclusive[1]
Belligerents

Greek revolutionaries

 Ottoman Empire

  • Ottoman Albanian mercenaries[2]
Commanders and leaders
Markos Botsaris † Mustai Işkodralı Pasha[2]
Strength
450 10,000
Casualties and losses
36 dead c.1,000 dead

Battle

The leader of the Greeks, Markos Botsaris, assaulted the Ottoman camp with a force of 450 Souliotes. The opponents, that consisted of 10,000 Albanian mercenaries under Mustai Işkodralı Pasha,[2] were overconfident and had not taken proper defensive measures.

The sleeping soldiers suffered many casualties as the Souliotes sneaked into their camp. Botsaris was shot at the head as he was scouting enemy positions, and he died immediately. The Souliotes retreated when they saw their leader's body being carried away to safety. The Ottoman army had lost 1,000 men while the Greeks had lost several men.

See also

References
  1. Showalter, Dennis (2013). Imperial Wars 1815–1914. Amber Books. ISBN 9781782741251. Markos Botsaris' band of 450 Greek rebels made a night attack on an Ottoman Army of 13,000 men encamped near Karpenisi. The Greeks inflicted 1000 casualties almost without loss, but retreated...
  2. Bradford, James C. (2004). International Encyclopedia of Military History. Routledge. ISBN 9781135950330. ...an Ottoman force of 10,000 Albanian mercenaries led by Mustai Pasha was routed by Markos Botsaris, who was killed in the Battle of Karpenisi (21 August 1823).

Sources
  • Paroulakis, Peter Harold. The Greeks: Their Struggle for Independence. Hellenic International Press, 1984. ISBN 0-9590894-0-3.

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