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People
Greek War Of Independence (1821-1829)
Andreas Miaoulis (1769-1835)
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Andreas Vokos (Miaoulis) {Ανδρέας Βώκος (Μιαούλης)} (1769-1835) [Flags] [Konstandinos Kanaris] [Thomas Cohrane]. Born in Filla {Φύλλα} on Euboea {Evia ~ Εύβοια} but brought up on Idra {Ύδρα}, Miaoulis was so named because of the idiomatic way he called upon his oarsmen to row in unison and steady time by shouting "Mia ouli" ({Μία Ούλοι} = All together -- Miaoulis = The one who shouts "Mia ouli"). He was highly intelligent and unwaveringly decisive. He was able to impose order on unruly crews.
The most significant of the naval battles fought to save the island of Samos [Images] was that fought on August 29th, 1824, in the Bay of Geronda {Γέροντα}. The fleets of Hosref and Ibrahim Paşa together made a formidable armada of 400 ships with 2,500 cannons and 50,000 men. Miaoulis' flotilla, coupled with that of Sahtouris {Σαχτούρης}, constituted a strong force of 80 ships and 800 cannons under Miaoulis' command.
Having outmanoeuvered the stronger forces of the enemy as they tried to surround him, Miaoulis moved against the enemy ships. Well-aimed firing by gunners Matrozos {Ματρόζος}, Vatikiotis {Βατικιώτης} and Theoharis {Θεοχάρης}, and the blowing up of a large Egyptian brig (a light troop transporter) and a Tunisian frigate (a sailing battle ship) with all hands, obliged the united enemy fleet to withdraw to Kos {Κως} and Halicarnassus {Alikarnassos ~ Αλικαρνασσός}.
The enemy moved to attack Samos on September 5th too, but the Greek fleet blocked its path. Hosref left for the Dardanelles {Dardanellia ~ Δαρδανέλλια} while Ibrahim Paşa made his way back to Kos, but Miaoulis chased him further away to the Bay of Souda {Σούδα} on the coast of Crete {Kriti ~ Κρήτη} and his ships suffered a lot of damage. The Greek fleet also returned to base to repair damage sustained.
Kapodistrias [People] thought particularly highly of Miaoulis and gave him command of the Aegean {Egeon ~ Αιγαίον} fleet. But Miaoulis subsequently became one of the leading figures in the anti-Kapodistrian movement and even gave the order for the burning of the Greek ships in Poros {Πόρος} harbour; an action which seriously blotted his reputation.
He was appointed a member of the delegation which went to Munich to pledge the Nation's allegiance to King Otto [People], who was to appoint him Chief of Naval Command and General Surveyor of the Fleet.
Miaoulis was buried in Piraeus {Pireefs ~ Πειραιεύς}, in that part of the sea front which has borne his name ever since and is still known as Akti Miaouli ({Ακτή} = Coast).
Andreas Vokos (Miaoulis) (1769-1835)
04-23-2004