Dimitrios Makris

Dimitrios Makris
Born	1772 Gavalou (now Evrytania), Aetolia, Ottoman Greece
Died	1841 Gavalou (now Evrytania), Aetolia-Acarnania, Kingdom of Greece
Allegiance	Greece
Years of service	1821–1840
Battles/wars	Greek War of Independence, Third Siege of Missolonghi

Dimitrios Makris (Greek: Δημήτριος Μακρής, c. 1772–1841) was a Greek chief klepht, armatole military commander and fighter of the 1821 revolution. He was a member of Filiki Eteria and one of the most powerful chieftains in West Central Greece.

Early life

Dimitrios Makris was born in 1772 in Gavalou Evrytania. His father was Evangelos Makris, who had taken part in the Greek revolt in 1770. After his death Dimitrios became Captain in the district of Zyghos.

Greek War of Independence

He was originally a klepht under Captain Georgios Sfaltos, and took after the death in battle over the body. Appointed Armatolos he never collaborated with Ali Pasha. He had acquired much wealth by plundering the Turks at Vrachori. He was initiated into the Filiki Eteria just before the revolution launched in Western Greece on May 5, 1821. He participated in many battles against the Ottoman Turks including the Exodus of Missolonghi. During the siege Dimitrios Makris married Eupraxia, daughter of the cities notable Samos Razi-Kotsikas. He later fought in Agrinio and Aitoliko and with the collaboration of Georgios Karaiskakis troops attacked and repulsed a body of Albanians. Soon after he joined the troops of Alexandros Mavrokordatos. In 1823 he took a diploma in the army. He was participated as a representative in the Convention of 1831. After the establishment of the Greek kingdom Dimitrios chose to remain outside the political and military honors. He returned to his hometown where he eventually died in 1841.

Historical relics

Numerous weapons of Dimitros Makris are preserved in the City town Hall of Missolonghi including the sword which he used in the Exodus of Missolonghi, which belonged to his ancestral family and dates back to the old fighters of 1732. The museum also hold his famous silver rifle, the Liaros, imortalised by Spontis a poet of the 1821 revolution.

See also

• Alexandros Mavrokordatos