Background
He was born in 1842 in Athens, the son of general Leonidas Smolenskis, a Greco-Polish officer who had come to Greece as a volunteer during the Greek War of Independence.
General military minister politician Soldier Major
He was born in 1842 in Athens, the son of general Leonidas Smolenskis, a Greco-Polish officer who had come to Greece as a volunteer during the Greek War of Independence.
Hellenic Military Academy.
He enrolled in the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating in 1862 as an artillery warrant officer 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.
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.
