Alexandros Ypsilantis (December 12, 1792 – January 31, 1828)

Alexandros Ypsilantis (December 12, 1792 – January 31, 1828)

With family roots from Trapezounta in Pontos, he was born in Constantinople, a Patriot, he became the Leader of Filiki Etaireia and was Major General of the Greek Forces, during the Greek War of Independence.

After accepting the post as Leader of Filiki Etaireia, in 1820 in Bucharest, he devised the general plan of attack for the Greek Revolution, with the participation of rebel captains from mainland Greece.

Ypsilantis began his campaign against the Ottomans in Wallachia and Moldavia, but from the outset, he and his forces were up against it, due to various factors (broken promises, poor planning, betrayal).

Following defeat at the battle of Dragatsani in June 1821, he sought refuge in Vienna, but was instead imprisoned by the Austrians, where he would spend the next 6 years.

He was only released in November of 1827 and in extremely poor health. He would barely live for another 2 months, dying in misery and poverty.

After his death in Vienna in 1828, per his wishes, his heart was removed from his body and sent to Athens.

Some 136 years after his death, his bones were brought to Greece in 1964 and were placed in his sarcophagus in Πεδίον Άρεως, one of the largest public parks in Greece.