Meletis Vasileiou (1778 – May 3, 1826)

Meletis Vasileiou (1778 – May 3, 1826)

From the north-western outskirts of Athens, he was a Greek Revolutionary and a leader of forces throughout Attica.

Vasileiou came from a poor rural family of farmers. At the outbreak of the Greek Revolution, the Turks made a fatal mistake, believing that Vasileiou, who had convinced them that he would be loyal to them, allowed him to recruit men, eventually going on to form a detachment. All initially armed with agricultural tools such as pickaxes.

Vasileiou along with his fighters fought in Evia, Sterea Ellada, but he would contribute the most in Athens and in the surrounding Attica region.

In April of 1821, Meletis Vasileiou and his group stopped a Turkish force arriving from Evia at the town of Kalamos in northern Attica. He also attacked the Turks in Athens, managing to capture the city, except the Acropolis. Even raising a flag with an official ceremony. What followed was an attack led by Vasileiou on the Acropolis (Siege of the Acropolis 1821-22), which would be unsuccessful.

Vasileiou’s poor rural roots came back to bite him, as he was deemed not prestigious enough, sparking a significant dispute on who should lead and hold onto Athens, attempts on his life were even made.

Vasileiou continued to fight at Marathon and Schimatari in Attica, eventually reaching the rank of Captain.

The previous disputes seemed to have been smoothed over after the intervention of Dimitrios Ypsilantis. Unfortunately, these leadership squabbles reared their head once again a few years later and Meletis Vasileiou was assassinated by his compatriots in May of 1826.