Constantin Denis Bourbaki
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Constantin Denis Bourbaki , (1787 – February 8, 1827) was a Greek officer educated in France, and serving in the French military. He fought in the last phases of the Napoleonic Wars
, and after 1825, joined the Greek War of Independence
. He was killed in 1827 following his defeat at the Battle of Kamatero
. He is the father of French General Charles Denis Bourbaki
.
extraction who was forced to relocate to Cephallonia. Thanks to his father's influence with Napoleon
, he was able to join the military academy at Fontainebleau
(which was later relocated to St Cyr
). He graduated from the academy in 1804.
to Joseph Bonaparte
, who had been appointed King of Spain by Napoleon. However, following the Emperor's exile to Elba
, he resigned his commission in the military. After Napoleon's return to France, he resumed active duty with the rank of colonel
, but he resigned again after the defeat at Waterloo
and the Bourbon
restoration in 1815. In the following years, he left France for Spain due to a duel, but was expelled soon afterwards for his anti-monarchist views. He retired to the town of Pau, in the French Pyrenees
.
in 1821, Bourbaki initiated contact with the philhellenic
groups of Paris
. In 1825, he was involved in an attempt to secure the Greek throne for the Duke of Orleans
. In 1826, he was sent to Greece as the head of a number of French volunteers, and placed himself under the command of Georgios Karaiskakis
.
He received a negative reaction from the anglophile government in Nafplion
. Nevertheless, he recruited a body of 80 men at his own expense, and joined Greek chieftains Vasos Mavrovouniotis
and Panayotis Notaras. The three bodies advanced in unison into Attica
in January, 1827, with the intent of relieving the Greek garrison besieged at the Acropolis
in Athens
.
The force, numbering about 500 hundred men in total, and under the command of Bourbaki, advanced to Eleusis in February, and faced the Turks at the Battle of Kamatero
on 8 February (27 January in the Julian
calendar). Bourbaki insisted on facing the Turks in an organised formation, despite opposite opinions by the Greek chieftains, and his force was decimated by the Turkish cavalry. He was captured, and beheaded later the same day.
is named after Bourbaki in honour of his heroic death on the town's premises. Moreover, the municipality has occasionally held games in his honour, called the Vourvachia , with varying success.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Constantin Denis Bourbaki , (1787 – February 8, 1827) was a Greek officer educated in France, and serving in the French military. He fought in the last phases of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, and after 1825, joined the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
. He was killed in 1827 following his defeat at the Battle of Kamatero
Battle of Kamatero
The Battle of Kamatero was fought on the night of February 5, 1827 in Kamatero, Greece between the Ottoman forces of Reşid Mehmed Pasha and Greek irregulars led by French Colonel Denis Bourbaki ....
. He is the father of French General Charles Denis Bourbaki
Charles Denis Bourbaki
Charles Denis Sauter Bourbaki was a French general.He was born at Pau, the son of Greek colonel Constantin Denis Bourbaki, who died in the War of Independence in 1827...
.
Early life
Bourbaki was born on the island of Cefalonia in 1787. He was the son of Konstantinos-Sotirios Vourvachis, a Greek of CretanCrete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
extraction who was forced to relocate to Cephallonia. Thanks to his father's influence with Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, he was able to join the military academy at Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
(which was later relocated to St Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
). He graduated from the academy in 1804.
Career prior to the Greek War of Independence
Following his graduation, he took part in several conflicts of the Napoleonic Wars, and was appointed aide-de-campAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
, who had been appointed King of Spain by Napoleon. However, following the Emperor's exile to Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
, he resigned his commission in the military. After Napoleon's return to France, he resumed active duty with the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, but he resigned again after the defeat at Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
restoration in 1815. In the following years, he left France for Spain due to a duel, but was expelled soon afterwards for his anti-monarchist views. He retired to the town of Pau, in the French Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
Service during the Greek War of Independence
Following the outbreak of the Greek RevolutionGreek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in 1821, Bourbaki initiated contact with the philhellenic
Philhellenism
Philhellenism was an intellectual fashion prominent at the turn of the 19th century, that led Europeans like Lord Byron or Charles Nicolas Fabvier to advocate for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire...
groups of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1825, he was involved in an attempt to secure the Greek throne for the Duke of Orleans
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
. In 1826, he was sent to Greece as the head of a number of French volunteers, and placed himself under the command of Georgios Karaiskakis
Georgios Karaiskakis
Georgios Karaiskakis born Georgios Iskos was a famous Greek klepht, armatolos, military commander, and a hero of the Greek War of Independence.- Early life :...
.
He received a negative reaction from the anglophile government in Nafplion
Nafplion
Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the peripheral unit of...
. Nevertheless, he recruited a body of 80 men at his own expense, and joined Greek chieftains Vasos Mavrovouniotis
Vasos Mavrovouniotis
Vasos Mavrovouniotis was voivode from Montenegro, who played a significant role in the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.-Life:...
and Panayotis Notaras. The three bodies advanced in unison into Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
in January, 1827, with the intent of relieving the Greek garrison besieged at the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
The force, numbering about 500 hundred men in total, and under the command of Bourbaki, advanced to Eleusis in February, and faced the Turks at the Battle of Kamatero
Battle of Kamatero
The Battle of Kamatero was fought on the night of February 5, 1827 in Kamatero, Greece between the Ottoman forces of Reşid Mehmed Pasha and Greek irregulars led by French Colonel Denis Bourbaki ....
on 8 February (27 January in the Julian
Julian
Julian is a common male given name in Britain, United States, Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, France , Spain, Latin America and elsewhere....
calendar). Bourbaki insisted on facing the Turks in an organised formation, despite opposite opinions by the Greek chieftains, and his force was decimated by the Turkish cavalry. He was captured, and beheaded later the same day.
Memorials
Vourvachis street in KamateroKamatero
Kamatero , is a suburb northwest of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero, of which it is a municipal unit...
is named after Bourbaki in honour of his heroic death on the town's premises. Moreover, the municipality has occasionally held games in his honour, called the Vourvachia , with varying success.