Vassilios Romfeis
Encyclopedia
Vassilios Romfeis was a Greek
klepht
. He was born in Naousa, Imathia
in 1773. He became the main klepht in mount Vermio
. In 1795, Ali Pasha
, who had established an autonomous pashalik in Ioannina
, tried to seize Naousa. That led kapetan Romfeis and his lieutenant Anastasios Karatasos
to defend the town, which then enjoyed a status of semi-autonomy within the Ottoman Empire
. From 1795 to 1804 Ali Pasha's troops fought to enter Naousa; Romfeis and his troops defended the besieged town for five months until, after a final battle, they were defeated and forced to leave. Romfeis found shelter in Thessaloniki
, while his wife, son and daughter were imprisoned and transferred to Ioannina. Romfeis made extensive efforts to liberate his family, with no result. He finally became a monk in Agion Oros, where in later life he lost his sanity.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
klepht
Klepht
Klephts were self-appointed armatoloi, anti-Ottoman insurgents, and warlike mountain-folk who lived in the countryside when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire...
. He was born in Naousa, Imathia
Naousa, Imathia
Naousa or Naoussa is a city in the Imathia peripheral unit of Macedonia, Greece. Population 34,441.It is famous for its parks and for its ski resorts...
in 1773. He became the main klepht in mount Vermio
Vermion Mountains
The Vermio Mountains is a mountain range between Imathia and Kozani Prefecture in west-central Macedonia. The range is west of the plain of Kambania. The town of Veria, which is the capital of Imathia prefecture, is built οn the foot of these mountains...
. In 1795, Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
, who had established an autonomous pashalik in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, tried to seize Naousa. That led kapetan Romfeis and his lieutenant Anastasios Karatasos
Anastasios Karatasos
Anastasios Karatasos was a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence was born in the village of Dovras, Imathia Prefecture and is considered to be the most important revolutionary from Macedonia....
to defend the town, which then enjoyed a status of semi-autonomy within 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...
. From 1795 to 1804 Ali Pasha's troops fought to enter Naousa; Romfeis and his troops defended the besieged town for five months until, after a final battle, they were defeated and forced to leave. Romfeis found shelter in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, while his wife, son and daughter were imprisoned and transferred to Ioannina. Romfeis made extensive efforts to liberate his family, with no result. He finally became a monk in Agion Oros, where in later life he lost his sanity.