Battle of Doliana

Battle

The Ottoman army met up with a Greek force of 200 men under Nikitas Stamatelopoulos (Greek:Νικήτας Σταματελόπουλος), better known as "Nikitaras" (Greek:Νικηταράς). The Greeks, though outnumbered, managed to knock out the Ottoman artillery and spread panic among their enemies, who left 300 dead on the battlefield and much booty. Nikitaras, who had up to that point lived in the shadow of his uncle Theodoros Kolokotronis, earned a name for himself and the nickname "Tourkofagos" (Greek: Τουρκοφάγος) (Turk-eater). Legend says that after the battle his sword got stuck to his hand and could not be removed.

Significance

The victorious Battle of Doliana was a big morale boost for the irregular Greek army. It marked the last time the besieged Ottoman army left Tripoli, and it opened the way for the fall of the city and the firm establishment of the independence movement in the Peloponnese.