Sacred Band (1821)

Sacred Band
Ἱερὸς Λόχος
Flag of the Sacred Band
ActiveFebruary - August 1821
AllegianceRevolutionary Greece
TypeInfantry
Size400
EngagementsGreek War of Independence
Commanders
FounderAlexandros Ypsilantis
CommanderGeorgios Katakouzinos
AdjutantAthanasios Tsakalov

The Sacred Band (Greek: Ἱερὸς Λόχος) was a military force founded by Alexander Ypsilantis at the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, in the middle of March 1821 in Wallachia, now part of Romania. It was formed by volunteers students of the Greek communities of Moldavia, Wallachia and Odessa. It was the first organized military unit of the Greek War of Independence (1821) and of the Greek army in general. Ypsilantis thought that these young people could become the soul of his army. That was the reason that he borrowed the name of the Sacred Band of Thebes.