Battle of Doliana

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Battle of Doliana
Part of the Greek War of Independence
Date May 18, 1821 Location Doliana, Greece Result Greek victory
Belligerents
Greek Revolutionary Army	Ottoman Empire
Commanders
Nikitaras	Unknown
Strength
200	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	300 dead

The Battle of Doliana took place during the Greek War of Independence on May 18, 1821.

Battle

The Turkish army met up with a Greek force of 200 men under Nikitas Stamatelopoulos, better known as "Nikitaras". The Greeks, though outnumbered, managed to knock out the Turkish 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" (Turk-eater). Legend has it that after the battle his sword had become stuck to his hand and could not be removed.

Significance

The Battle of Doliana was a big morale booster for the irregular Greek army. It marked the last time the besieged Turkish army left Tripolis and it opened the way for the fall of that city and the firm establishment of the independence movement in the Peloponnese.

References

• This article uses text taken from Phantis.com, a GFDL wiki.