Kitsos Tzavelas

Kitsos Tzavelas (Greek: Κιτσος Τζαβέλας) (1800 - 1855) was a Greek War of Independence fighter and Prime Minister. Tzavelas was born in Souli, Epirus in 1800, the son of Fotos Tzavelas and grandson of Lambros Tzavelas both of whom were famous for their roles in the Souliot struggles against Ali Pasha, the Turkish governor of Epirus. He grew up in exile in Kerkyra.

Tzavelas played a leading role in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, alongside Georgios Karaiskakis, distinguishing himself especially during the siege of Messolonghi. After the arrival in Greece of Ioannis Kapodistrias, during the latter part of the war, Tzavelas was responsible for liberating a large part of Central Greece. He was a long-time rival of fellow Souliot Markos Botsaris.

After indepedence, Tzavelas became a supporter of Kapodistria and eventually a leader in the Russian Party which was the conservative and arch-Orthodox political faction in the period of King Otto. Accused of planning a revolt against the king in 1834, Tzavelas was imprisoned by the Regency Council head by von Armansperg along with other politicians of the Russian Party. When King Otto reached the age of majority and took over the reigns of government, Tzavelas was released and later was named aide-de-camp to the king. He was subsequently appointed Minister of War in 1844 and, in 1847-1848, Prime Minister. Kitsos Tzavelas died on March 21, 1855.

Notes and references

*John A. Petropulos; "Politics and Statecraft in the Kingdom of Greece"; Princeton University Press, 1968

ee also

*Greek War of Independence
*History of Modern Greece
*List of Prime Ministers of Greece