Lorentzos Mavilis

Lorentzos Mavilis (September 6, 1860 – November 28, 1912)

Born on the island of Ithaca, he was a poet, chess composer, lyricist, politician and soldier.

Of half Spanish origin, through his grandfather who was a former consul of Spain to Corfu, he studied literature and philosophy. It was at this time he discovered his love for and began writing poems, he is known as the greatest sonnet writer in Greece.

A firm patriot, he was a supporter of the Megali Idea, and dropped everything to fight in the mountains of Crete during the Cretan Revolt (1895-98) and in Epirus, with a group of volunteers from Corfu during the Greco-Turkish War (1897), where he was wounded.

In 1910 he was elected to Greek Parliament representing Corfu, he took an active part in the debates of the time on whether Greece should use Dimotiki or Katharevousa, with Mavilis preferring Dimotiki.

At 52, he once again joined the Greek Army at the outbreak of the Balkan Wars (1912-13), losing his life at the Battle of Driskos near Ioannina on November 28, 1912.