You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (April 2015) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Sacred Band | |
---|---|
Ἱερὸς Λόχος | |
Active | February - August 1821 |
Allegiance | Revolutionary Greece |
Type | Infantry |
Size | 400 |
Engagements | Greek War of Independence |
Commanders | |
Founder | Alexandros Ypsilantis |
Commander | Georgios Katakouzinos |
Adjutant | Athanasios 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.