Hero of the Balkan Wars (1861 – 1913)
Tagmatarch Ioannis Velissariou was a Major of the Greek army during the Balkan Wars, a man of immense bravery and virtue who fell on the field of battle in July 13, 1913 during the battle of Cresna, the last battle of the Second Balkan War. He used to be known as the “Black Rider” as he usually fought on a black horse and caused massive casualties to the opposing side.
As a polemologist, he had profound knowledge on the principles and tactics of war, combining them with his unparalleled courage. As such, he was distinguished as one of the greatest military figures in the history of Greece.
His first fighting experience was during the Graeco-Turkish war in 1897. He and his battalion were the only ones to retreat from battle only when he received a written request by the field marshal. With the outbreak of the 1st Balkan War in 1812, Velissariou was appointed major of the 9th battalion and partook actively in the liberation of the Greek lands from the Ottoman yoke. He played a protagonistic role in the 2-month Battle of Bizani and the siege of Ioannina, which resulted to the surrender of the Ottoman army and the liberation of Ioannina. To achieve this, he and his battalion infiltrated into three surrounding, occupied forts and cut the telephone and telegraph wires, ultimately blocking communication between Ioannina and Bizani. This resulted to the forfeit of the Ottoman forces who believed that the Greek army had occupied the areas outside Ioannina. Velissariou was the one who received the surrender from the Ottoman commander.
During the 2nd Balkan War, Greece fought against Bulgaria for the lands of Macedonia. Velissariou fought in the Battle of Kilkis-Lachanas and Battle of Doirane. Finally, he fought in the Battle of Cresna, 20 km outside Sofia, which was the most gruelling battle of the 2nd Balkan War. It was in this battle that Velissariou sacrificed himself in July 13, 1913 and passed down in history in the name of freedom as the “Hero of Heroes”. A hero whose virtues are found only next to those of the great heroes of Homer’s Iliad.
Bibliography