The sinking of the Ottoman (Turkish) flagship in the Spetses Naval Battle in 1822 will be re-enacted in the Spetsian harbor on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 8, in the annual "Armata" anniversary celebration, combined with the celebration of the feast of the island's Panaghia Armata (the Virgin Mary of the Armata).
Spetses is one of eight European cities participating in the European Network of Historical Reconstructions (re-enactments). In each of the participating cities -- Brussels (Belgium), Dublin and Cork (Ireland), Bailen (Spain), Slavkov (the Czech Republic), Tewkesbury (Britain), and Hydra and Spetses (Greece) -- the reproductions are considered historic events.
The Battle of Spetses was fought on the night of September 8, 1822, during the Greek War of Independence, and is re-enacted on the same day each year on Spetses.
On 8 September, 1822 the Ottoman navy set sail from Monemvasia to bring supplies to the Ottoman fortress of Palamidi in Nafplion, which at the time was under siege by the ground forces of Alexander Ypsilantis and the naval forces of Laskarina Bouboulina. The plan also included attacks on the rebelling Greek islands of Spetses and Hydra en route to Nafplion.
As it neared the islets of Trikeri and Spetsopoula, the Ottoman navy faced the naval forces of the islands of Spetses, Hydra and Psara under the command of Andreas Miaoulis, who ordered the Greek navy to sails towards the Argolic Gulf and lure the Ottoman navy away from the islands. However, in fear of putting Spetses' security at risk, most of the ships' captains ignored Miaoulis' command and instead opened a direct attack against the Ottoman navy.
The battle between the small Greek naval force and the huge Ottoman navy was fierce. Spetsiote captain Kosmas Barbatsis heroically manoeuvred his ship next to the Ottoman flagship and burned it down. Most of the Ottoman fleet was burnt or sunk in the battle, and the remaining Ottoman ships retreated. As a result, the Ottoman navy never reached Nafplion, which was liberated by the Greek freedom fighters two-and-a-half months later, on November 30.
The re-enactment of the sinking of the Ottoman flagship is the climax in a week of cultural and other events commemorating the Battle of Spetses and celebrating the Panaghia Armata.
The events, which open on Monday, September 3 and conclude on Sunday, September 9, include an exhibition of traditional folk costumes from the Aegean, an exhibition of photographs by D. Papadimos titled "From Egypt to Spetses", an exhibition of paintings by Al. Tsironis and D. Tassoulis, a children' s choir concert, shadow theatre, Latin dances by a local dance troupe, a rock concert by the group Soul-less, and other musical performances. (AMNA)
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