The Epirus Revolt

January 1854 – The Epirus Revolt

Following the end of hostilities of the Greek War of Independence in 1829 and the subsequent establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832. Only Attica, the Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada and the Cyclades Islands, came under Greek rule. Meaning several Greek regions with their millions of Greeks inhabitants, were left out and stranded and remained under Turk occupation.

Many revolts would break out in the ensuing years, throughout these regions after 1832, in January 1854 the Greeks of Epirus revolted, wanting its liberation and incorporation with the Modern Greek State.

The major leaders of this revolt, were veterans from the 1821 Greek Revolution with roots from Epirus, these included Spyridon Karaiskakis, Theodoros Grivas, Kitsos Tzavellas, Ioannis Ragos. Meanwhile several Greek Army officers of Epirote descent, such as Panagiotis Botsaris and Nikolaos Zervas, resigned from their posts to join in the revolt.

After initial gains in and around the town of Arta, over the next few weeks and months, the revolt soon spread all across Epirus and saw Greek gains in Ioannina, Paramythia and as far north as Heimarra.

The Turks sent in overwhelming re-enforcements, and with the British and French providing military support, as well as blockading several Greek ports, managed to suppress the Revolt, where by May and June it was put down.

Turk-Albanian reprisals in the aftermath, never diminished the Epirote Greeks spirit and wish for liberation and re-union with the Greek state, which would finally come some 60 years later.