At the heart of the Greek Revolution, an act of outstanding courage and strategic intelligence was meant to revive the spirits of the rebelling Greeks and deliver a deadly blow to the Ottoman Empire. Konstantinos Kanaris, a naval officer from Psara, became a symbol of heroism, by blowing up the Turkish flagship on the night from the 6th to 7th of June 1822 just off the Greek island of Chios.
Kanaris, leading a fire ship, together with Andreas Pipinos from Hydra, invaded the port where the Ottoman fleet was anchored. Maneuvering on the dark night, he managed to affix his fireship firmly to the Turkish flagship. Without hesitation, he gave the signal to fire, resulting in an explosion at the gunpowder hold that shook the port.
The Turkish flagship was completely destroyed, causing the death of many men onboard, including Admiral Kara Ali. Kanaris and his men, after accomplishing their goal, fled safely by the escorting ships, reviving the spirits of the rebelling Greeks.
The success of such an astonishing achievement went beyond what is a military victory. The explosion of the flagship became the symbol of self-sacrifice and determination. The news about this achievement inspired Greek fighters and spread admiration around Europe, encouraging the Philhellenic movement. Konstantinos Kanaris became a national hero, marking the Greek War of Independence by his action.
#ΕλληνικόςΣτρατός, #HellenicArmy
