Georgios Karaiskakis was a famous Greek military commander and a leader of the Greek War of Independence.
Background
Karaiskakis was born on January 23, 1780 in a monastery near the village of Skoulikaria close to Arta. His father was the armatolos of the Valtos district, Dimitris Iskos or Karaiskos, his mother was Zoe Dimiski from Arta, Greece, who was also the niece of a local Monastery Abbot and cousin of Gogos Bakolas, captain of the armatoliki of Radovitsi.
Education
At a very early age Karaiskakis became a klepht in the service of Katsantonis, a famous local Agrafiote brigand captain. He excelled as a klepht - agile, cunning, brave and reckless - and rose quickly through the ranks, eventually becoming a protopalikaro, or lieutenant.
Career
Karaiskakis fought with the Greek chieftains of Agrapha against the Albanian leader Ali Pasha, who captured him at the Battle of Ioánnina (Janina) and made Karaiskakis his bodyguard. When Ali Pasha was defeated by the Turks, Karaiskakis escaped to the mountains and became the chief of a band of brigands. In 1822 he volunteered to join the Greeks and thus became a leader in the Greek revolution. He distinguished himself during the two sieges of Mesolóngion (Missolonghi) in 1823 and 1826. In 1826 he was given supreme command of the forces in eastern Greece, where he was successful in several battles against the Turks. Karaiskakis took part in the futile attempt to besiege Athens in 1827. He was killed in action near there on May 4, 1827.
Achievements
Connections
Karaiskakis was married to Engolpia Skylodimou, and had three children.