Antonios Mavromichalis

Who was Antonios Mavromichalis?

Antonios Mavromichalis was a Greek revolutionary, military officer and politician.

He was born in Mani to Pierros Mavromichalis, of the notable Mavromichalis clan. He fought against Ali Pasha, and was captured and remained for years in Constantinople as a Turkish hostage. He managed to escape however shortly before the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, subsequently participating in various battles. In 1823 he was named general of the rebels' irregular forces.

In 1830, he led a Maniot rebellion against Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias. Under King Otto, he joined the newly created Greek Gendarmerie and later transferred to the regular army, reaching general rank. He served as Otto's aide-de-camp and was appointed a member of the Senate in 1847. In 1862, he was an MP for Kalamata.

He died in Kalamata in 1873. He had two sons, both Army officers: Periklis Pierrakos-Mavromichalis, and Georgios P. Mavromichalis, who was killed in 1897.