Zafeirakis Theodosiou (1772 – 1822)

Zafeirakis Theodosiou (1772 – 1822)

From Naousa in Macedonia, he was a leader of the Greek Revolution of 1821 in Macedonia and an important chieftain.

Born to a wealthy family, he was thus afforded a good education, studying in Ioannina, where he spent most of his youth.

After rising in status himself, Zafeirakis became a vocal opponent of Ottoman rule and he began to challenge the Turk-Albanian ruler of Ioannina, Ali Pasha, resulting in a rise in tensions between the 2. Fearing Zafeirakis’ influence and another revolt, Ali Pasha forced Zafeirakis out of Ioannina and to Thessaloniki and then on to Mt Athos and then Constantinople.

It would be 12 years before Zafeirakis returned.

By 1821, Zafeirakis, as well as Anastasios Karatasos, Angelos Gatsos and Diamantis Nikolaou, were preparing revolts in Macedonia against the Ottomans. Having caught wind of these plans, the Ottomans began issuing arrest warrants against prominent Greek leaders in Macedonia. The aforementioned refused to surrender themselves.

February 1822, saw Zafeirakis Theodosiou lead the revolt in Naousa with a force of around 4000. Success here saw Naousa become the first liberated town in Macedonia during the Greek Revolution, however it was short lived.

The Ottomans besieged the town with some 20,000+ troops and went on to massacre the population and destroy the town and everything in its path.

After helping whatever remaining Greeks were left into safety, Zafeirakis Theodosiou remained, he was captured by the Turks and was then beheaded, with his severed head placed on a pike, for all the Greeks to see, as a warning not to revolt again.