Dimitris Plapoutas
Encyclopedia
Dimitris Koliopoulos Plapoutas (May 15, 1786 – July 1865) was a Greek
general who fought during the Greek War of Independence
against the rule of the Ottoman Empire
.
He was born on in Paloumba
, Arcadia
, the son of Kollias Plapoutas, an Armatolos
, being this the reason why Theodoros Kolokotronis
referred to him simply as "Koliopoulos" .
In 1811, he left Paloumba for the Ionian Islands
where he became an officer in the British army
. In 1818, he joined the Filiki Eteria
, which was planning to liberate Greece from Ottoman control.
During the revolution, Dimitris Plapoutas took part in the Siege of Tripoli
, the capture of the castle at Korinthos
, the Battle of Valtetsi
, the Battle of Maniaki and other battles.
After independence, in 1833, along with General Theodoros Kolokotronis
and General Kitsos Tzavelas
, Plapoutas supported Prince Otto of Bavaria
as the King of Greece. However, later he opposed the Bavarian-dominated regency during his rule. He was charged with high treason and on June 7, 1834 he was imprisoned at the Palamidi
along with Kolokotronis and sentenced to death. He was later pardoned in 1835. Plapoutas then became involved in Greek politics and served in Parliament (1844–1847) and in the Senate (1847–1862). He was made an honorary bodyguard of King Otto and was entrusted with escorting him to his new kingdom.
Plapoutas also had a brother, Giorgios, who fought alongside him in many battles and died in the Battle of Lalas. When he was around seventy years old, Plapoutas married a woman in her thirties and had one child, a girl named Athanasia. Plapoutas died shortly afterwards. His house still stands (albeit heavily damaged from an earthquake during the 1960s) in his home town of Paloumba
, Arcadia
.
Image:Ottobrunn Dimitris Plapoutas bust.JPG|Plapoutas bust in Ottobrunn (Germany)
Image:DimitrakisPlapoutas.JPG
Image:Plapoutas Bust ONly.JPG
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
general who fought during 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...
against the rule of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
He was born on in Paloumba
Paloumba
Paloumpa is a town in southern Greece, positioned on a balcony overlooking the plain of Elis towards the Ionian Sea. It was the seat of the former municipality of Iraia. The town is off the beaten track, but contains a post office and a KEP - Centre for Serving Citizens...
, Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, the son of Kollias Plapoutas, an Armatolos
Armatoloi
Armatoloi , were Greek Christian irregular soldiers, or militia, commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan's authority within an administrative district called an Armatoliki...
, being this the reason why Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
referred to him simply as "Koliopoulos" .
In 1811, he left Paloumba for the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
where he became an officer in the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. In 1818, he joined the Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria
thumb|right|200px|The flag of the Filiki Eteria.Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends was a secret 19th century organization, whose purpose was to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece and to establish an independent Greek state. Society members were mainly young Phanariot Greeks from Russia and local...
, which was planning to liberate Greece from Ottoman control.
During the revolution, Dimitris Plapoutas took part in the Siege of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, the capture of the castle at Korinthos
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, the Battle of Valtetsi
Battle of Valtetsi
The Battle of Valtetsi was fought on May 12, 1821 in Valtetsi between the Ottoman army and Greek revolutionaries.-Background:The Greek War of Independence officially broke out on March 25, 1821. The city of Tripoli in Arcadia, central Peloponnesus, became a prime objective of the Greek...
, the Battle of Maniaki and other battles.
After independence, in 1833, along with General Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
and General Kitsos Tzavelas
Kitsos Tzavelas
Kitsos Tzavelas was a fighter in the Greek War of Independence and later Greek Army General and Prime Minister of Greece.-Early years and Greek War of Independence:...
, Plapoutas supported Prince Otto of Bavaria
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
as the King of Greece. However, later he opposed the Bavarian-dominated regency during his rule. He was charged with high treason and on June 7, 1834 he was imprisoned at the Palamidi
Palamidi
Palamidi is a military fortress to the east of the Acronauplia in the town of Nafplion in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill, the fortress was built by the Venetians during their second occupation of the area .The fortress was a very large and...
along with Kolokotronis and sentenced to death. He was later pardoned in 1835. Plapoutas then became involved in Greek politics and served in Parliament (1844–1847) and in the Senate (1847–1862). He was made an honorary bodyguard of King Otto and was entrusted with escorting him to his new kingdom.
Plapoutas also had a brother, Giorgios, who fought alongside him in many battles and died in the Battle of Lalas. When he was around seventy years old, Plapoutas married a woman in her thirties and had one child, a girl named Athanasia. Plapoutas died shortly afterwards. His house still stands (albeit heavily damaged from an earthquake during the 1960s) in his home town of Paloumba
Paloumba
Paloumpa is a town in southern Greece, positioned on a balcony overlooking the plain of Elis towards the Ionian Sea. It was the seat of the former municipality of Iraia. The town is off the beaten track, but contains a post office and a KEP - Centre for Serving Citizens...
, Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
.
Gallery
Image:Ottobrunn Dimitris Plapoutas bust.JPG|Plapoutas bust in Ottobrunn (Germany)
Image:DimitrakisPlapoutas.JPG
Image:Plapoutas Bust ONly.JPG