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July 4, 1822: The Battle of Splantzatranslated

July 4, 2026 · 1 min read

The Battle of Splantza was a military encounter between Greeks and Ottomans, in the context of the Revolution of 1821. It took place in Splantza or Spiatza Fanariou (present-day Ammoudia of Preveza) on July 4, 1822 and ended without a winner on the battlefield.

Before the Battle In mid-June 1822, Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis and Ioannis Razikotsikas, with a force of 500 men from Mani and Messolonghi, landed on the continental shores, by order of the President of the Executive (prime minister) Alexandros Mavrokordatos. Their mission was to reinforce the closely besieged Kiafa Souliotes. They were transported from Messolonghi by water ships, led by Nikolaos Vokos.

The small Greek force first occupied the port of Mourtos (today's Sivota in Thesprotia), where they burned the houses and captured 150 Turkish inhabitants of the area, whom they sent by ship to the Peloponnese. The amphibious action provoked the reaction of the English, who then occupied the Ionian Islands and defended the Ionian Sea. An English ship that arrived at Mourtos demanded that Mavromichalis leave the area immediately. The maniacal chieftain, because he was afraid of military action...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Anna Wilson

The part where the Maniots and Mesolongi men burned the houses at Mourtos and took 150 Turkish prisoners really stuck with me. It’s wild how quickly the English showed up and told Mavromichalis to clear out. Makes you wonder what would’ve happened if the British hadn’t stepped in right then.

Xenia Brown

The burning of those houses at Mourtos does sound harsh, especially with the prisoners sent off to the Peloponnese. I always wondered if the English were more worried about their Ionian protectorate getting dragged into the fighting than anything else. Did the article say what happened to the Maniot force after they pulled out?

Mary Thomas

The English intervention does feel abrupt, almost like they were more concerned with keeping their Ionian patch quiet than with the actual fighting. Mavromichalis had already sent those prisoners off on the ships, so pulling out of Mourtos must have left a bitter taste for the Maniots. Do you think that British pressure changed the whole landing plan, or was it just a temporary setback?

Irene Wilson

The prisoners being shipped off to the Peloponnese must have been a real headache later on. I didn’t realize the English got involved that fast after the landing at Mourtos. Do you think Mavromichalis would have pushed on toward the Souliotes if the British ship hadn’t shown up?

Thomas Taylor

The English were definitely jumpy about their Ionian protectorate getting pulled in, that much is clear from how fast the ship showed up. After they pulled out of Mourtos the Maniot force linked up with local Souliote bands but never really broke the siege at Kiafa. What do you make of Mavromichalis burning the houses though, was it just standard raiding or something more?