Kitsos Tzavelas
Kyriakos “Kitsos” Tzavelas (Greek: Κυριάκος “Κίτσος” Τζαβέλας; 1800–1855) was a Greek fighter in the Greek War of Independence and later Hellenic Army General and Prime Minister of Greece.
General Kyriakos Tzavelas | |
|---|---|
| Κυριάκος Τζαβέλας | |
 A portrait Kitsos Tzavelas by Karl Krazeisen | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Prime Minister of Greece | |
| In office 5 September 1847 – 4 March 1848 | |
| Monarch | Otto I |
| Preceded by | Ioannis Kolettis |
| Succeeded by | Georgios Kountouriotis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kyriakos Tzavelas (Κυριάκος Τζαβέλας) c. 1800 Souli, Pashalik of Yanina, Ottoman empire (now Greece) |
| Died | 21 March 1855 (aged 55) Athens, Kingdom of Greece |
| Resting place | First Cemetery of Athens |
| Political party | Russian Party |
| Spouse(s) | Vasiliki Tzavela |
| Relations | Lambros Tzavelas (grandfather) Zigouris Tzavelas (brother) Georgios Tzavelas (brother) Nikolaos Tzavelas Kostas Tzavelas |
| Parent(s) | Fotos Tzavelas (father) Moscho Tzavela (mother) |
| Occupation | Revolutionary Politician |
| Nickname(s) | Kitsos (Κίτσος) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} First Hellenic Republic.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Kingdom of Greece |
| Branch/service |  Greek Revolutionary Army
 Hellenic Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Greek War of Independence |
Early years and Greek War of Independence
Tzavelas was born in Souli, Epirus in 1800. the son of Fotos Tzavelas and grandson of Lambros Tzavelas, both of whom were famous for their roles in the Souliot struggles against Ali Pasha, the Pasha of Yanina. He grew up in exile in Kerkyra. He played a leading role in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, alongside Georgios Karaiskakis, distinguishing himself especially during the siege of Missolonghi. After the arrival in Greece of Ioannis Kapodistrias, during the latter part of the war, Tzavelas was responsible for liberating a large part of Central Greece. He was a long-time rival of fellow Souliot Markos Botsaris.
After Independence
After Independence, Tzavelas became a supporter of Kapodistrias and eventually a leader in the Russian Party which was the conservative and arch-Orthodox political faction in the period of King Otto. Accused of planning a revolt against the king in 1834, Tzavelas was imprisoned by the Regency Council along with other politicians of the Russian Party. When King Otto came of age and took over the reins of government, Tzavelas was released and later was named aide-de-camp to the king.
He was subsequently appointed Minister of War in 1844 and, in 1847-1848, Prime Minister. In February 1854 he became the leader of the Epirus revolt, with the revolutionaries demanding union with Greece.[1]
Kitsos Tzavelas died in Athens on 21 March 1855.
He is buried in the First Cemetery of Athens.
References
- Baumgart Winfried. Englische Akten zur Geschichte des Krimkriegs. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2006. ISBN 978-3-486-57597-2, p. 262
Sources
- John A. Petropulos; Politics and Statecraft in the Kingdom of Greece; Princeton University Press, 1968