Ilias Mavromichalis

Ilias Mavromichalis
A portrait of Ilias Mavromichalis
Native name
Ηλίας Μαυρομιχάλης
Nickname(s)Bezande-Ilias
Μπεζαντές-Ηλίας
Born3 April 1795
Mani Peninsula, Morea Eyalet, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Died12 January 1822 (aged 26)
Styra, Euboea, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Allegiance Revolutionary Greece
Service / branch Hellenic Army
RankChieftain
Battles / wars
RelationsPetrobey Mavromichalis (father)
Fotini Dimitrakarakou (mother)
Panagiotitsa Mavromichali (sister)
Georgios Mavromichalis (brother)
Anastasios Mavromichalis (brother)
Ioannis P. Mavromichalis (brother)
Demetrios Mavromichalis (brother)
Other workMember of the Filiki Etaireia

Ilias Mavromichalis or Bezande-Ilias (1795 - 1822) was a fighter of the Greek Revolution of 1821 and scion of the historic family of Mavromichali. He went down in history as the "Fairyborn"[1] chieftain due to his beauty - which according to popular tradition he inherited from his grandmother (daughter of the Doge of Venice, Francesco Morosini).

Also known by the nickname "Bezande" (beyizade, son of the bey in Turkish) to distinguish him from his cousin of the same name, who was nicknamed Katsakos. His self-sacrifice at Styra in Euboea, on January 12, 1822,[2] had all the characteristics of the heroic death of an ancient Spartan warrior. It was the first loss of a high-ranking member of the Revolution from the Peloponnese.

  1. ^ Μπόπης, Δημήτριος (September 2021). "ΗΛΙΑΣ ΜΑΥΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΗΣ (1795-1822) - Ο «Νεραϊδογέννητος» Οπλαρχηγός". Στρατιωτική Ιστορία.
  2. ^ Οικογένεια Μαυρομιχάλη Archived 2011-08-10 at the Wayback Machine, από την ιστοσελίδα Mani.org.gr