Marigo Zarafopoula (1796 – 1865)

Marigo Zarafopoula (1796 – 1865)

Born in Constantinople, she was a Greek spy, a member of Filiki Etaireia and an important Greek Revolutionary.

Brought into Filiki Etaireia by her brother, who would soon be beheaded by the Turks in Constantinople in 1821. Marigo Zarafopoula was recruited for her ability to gather information on the activities of the Ottoman authorities, after the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence.

One of her first assignments, was to confirm the betrayal and the outing of Asimakis Theodorou, a member of Filiki Etaireia who was discovered to be a traitor and who was feeding information about the organisation and the Revolution to the Turks.

Marigo Zarafopoula was also instrumental in the escape of several prominent Greek fighters, who were being imprisoned in Constantinople by the Turks.

After the Turks appeared to be closing in on her and her activities, she decided to leave Constantinople for the island of Hydra, bringing with her as much of her personal funds and belongings as she could.

She personally went on to fund several campaigns during the Revolution, such as in Crete, paying for arms and other supplies, as well as personally paying for and then herself delivering food to the fighters.

She dies destitute in 1865.