Konstantinos Lagoumitzis (1781 – 1851)

Konstantinos Lagoumitzis (1781 – 1851)

From the village of Hormovo in Northern Epirus, he was a Greek fighter and revolutionary during the 1821 Greek War of Independence.

Lagoumitzis in particular, served with distinction during the 3rd Siege of Messolonghi (1825-26) and during the Siege of the Acropolis (1826-27).

His specialty was the digging and construction of tunnels and trenches, he would dig beneath enemy lines and positions, where arms could be smuggled or bombs placed under the enemy and then be blown up. He could also defuse enemy mines and bombs by using the same methods, these feats of his were legendary, hence he was given the name Lagoumitzis, meaning sapper.

Following the Greek Revolution of 1821, Lagoumitzis was also part of a group of veteran Greek rebels from 1821, that would lead a revolt in 1843.

The rebels, demanded the granting of a constitution and the departure from Greece, of the Bavarian officials that dominated the government. The revolution succeeded, ushering in the period of constitutional monarchy and universal suffrage in Greece.