Mani was the place where the Greek uprising against Ottoman rule actually started and not in Kalavryta on March 25th, 1821 – as is often believed, according to the greekreporter.com
Even though that date was later designated as the day of revolt and the beginning of the War of Independence, revolutionary acts took place in several areas across the Peloponnese as early as March 17th of that year. Mani was the first area on the Peloponnesian Peninsula to declare an open revolution, and they did so on March 17, 1821.
Based on written testimonies, the elites of the region – which had been granted privileged status by the Ottomans — including the appointment of the Bey — asked their leader to be the very first to declare war against the Ottomans.
Their bold declaration was in line with the plans of the secret revolutionary society Filiki Eteria.
At the call of Petrobey (Petros Bey) Mavromichalis, all the Maniates chieftains gathered in Tsimova, today’s Areopolis, and decided to begin fighting against Ottoman rule.
This led to the lightning-quick liberation of Kalamata and the creation of the Messinian Senate.
However, none of the written testimonies recorded mentions an actual official gathering in Mani at which the proclamation of the revolution took place.
Impregnable Mani
Throughout the period of Ottoman rule in Greece, Mani remained virtually impregnable, despite repeated attempts by the conquerors to enslave it.
The area enjoyed a kind of independence via its alliance with Venice.
Its mountainous, barren terrain made it easy to defend it from attacks. It was only in 1776 that the area was declared a semi-independent tribal hegemony under the direct jurisdiction of Kapudan Pasha.
One of the area’s chieftains was appointed Bey and it was only he who was responsible for keeping law and order.
Previous to that, Mani had become “the biggest bully of the Ottomans and the refuge of the Greeks,” as local folklore has it.
Due to its peculiar status, there were continuous armed conflicts in the area between the Maniates and the Ottomans.
Read the full report here.
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