Christoforos Perraivos (1773 – May 4, 1863)

Christoforos Perraivos (1773 – May 4, 1863)

Born in the village of Palioi Poroi in Pieria, Macedonia, he was a fighter during the Greek Revolution reaching the rank of Major General and a writer, historian and politician.

By the 1790’s, he was studying at the Greek Academy of Bucharest and then in Vienna studying medicine, it was there where he became acquainted with prominent Greek Revolutionary, Rigas Feraios. This opened Perraivos’ eyes to revolutionary activities.

From there Perraivos found himself in Corfu for many years, where he was a teacher in the Greek schools there. In 1803 he wrote his 1st attempt of the history of Souli and Parga, finishing it by 1815.

Before the Revolution of 1821, he travelled to Odessa and was initiated into Filiki Etaireia. From there, Perraivos was sent to Epirus to coordinate the uprising with the Souliotes, whom he knew from his time on Corfu and fought with the Souliotes in various battles.

Perraivos also fought in Mani and Messolonghi and fought under Dimitrios Ypsilantis in his later campaigns against the Turks (1828-29).

He took part as a member during the 3rd National Assembly at Troizina and in the 4th National Assembly at Argos and was also known for his war memoirs.