November 24, 1826 | Karaiskakis crushes the Turks in Arachova and rekindles the revolution

Defence Redefined

Published on 24/11/2020 at 14:37

The battle in Arachova, Boeotia, took place between November 18 and November 24 1826, between the Greek revolutionaries and the forces of the Ottoman Empire, under the leadership of Moustambeis. 

During the campaign of Georgios Karaiskakis, in November 1826, in the “worshiped” areas of Central Greece, for the revival of the morale of the Greek revolutionaries, Kioutachis was forced to mobilize forces against the Greek chief. These forces came from his camp in Athens, which besieged the Acropolis, with the result that this camp was weakened. That was the goal of Georgios Karaiskakis. 

On November 17, Karaiskakis occupied Arachova, before the Turks occupied it, as the area was of strategic importance. The Turks, knowing the presence of the Greek army in the area, sent Mustambeis from Livadia with 2,000 selected Turkalvans and 200 cavalry. Mustambei’s force was fortified in the countryside, on the hills of Mount Parnassos around Arachova. 

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On November 18, the Turks launched attacks against the Greek revolutionaries, however, despite their first successes, they failed to overthrow the Greek positions. In fact, the location where Mustambeis was located was attacked and by pure luck he escaped death.

The end of November 18 found the Greeks in an advantageous position and the Turks besieged. The adverse weather conditions were added to the hardships of the Turks, while the Greeks enjoyed the protection offered to them by Arachova. 

At the end of the day, the situation of the Turkish troops came to a standstill as they were exhausted and immobilized due to the snowfall. Proposals were then made to the Greeks to let them go, in exchange for their animals and luggage. Karaiskakis also asked them to surrender their weapons and leave Salona (Amfissa) and Livadia. The Turkalvans considered Karaiskakis’ terms humiliating and rejected them.

Unable to find another solution, Mustambeis suggested leaving the Greek troops on the night of the 23rd, but he was killed by Greek fire the same night, while preparing to leave. 

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The Turks discussed new conditions for their departure but the negotiations once again collapsed. So, they would only resort to this. After noon on November 24, the Turks with their scimitars left their fortified positions and headed towards the peaks of Parnassos. The Greeks noticed them and rushed at them.

A fierce chase ensued, which was stopped only by the snowstorm, on the last slopes of Parnassos. Only 1,200 afflicted Turks managed to reach the tops of the mountain, of whom only 200 survived with severe frostbite and illness. From the Greek side, the losses were only 4 dead and 9 injured. 

The day after the battle, November 25, Karaiskakis, following the old horrific custom of the Turks, set up on a hill, visible from the Oracle of Delphi, a trophy in the shape of a truncated cone with 300 heads of his enemies and the inscription: “Trophy of the Greeks against the barbaric Ottomans, erected in 1826, November 24 in Arachova.” At the same time, he sent the heads of Mustambeis and Kehayabey, as well as 12 captured Turkish officers, to the government based in Aegina.

The victory in Arachova rekindled the revolution in Roumeli, which was at a critical point due to the operations of Kioutachis and revived the morale of the besieged Greeks on the Acropolis of Athens.

Also read: 1821-2020| Greek Independence Day 25th of March – History Timeline

With information from: sansimera.gr