Battle of Lidoriki, March 28, 1821

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

On March 28, 1821, Lidoriki in Phocis came under the control of Greek revolutionaries following the Siege of Lidoriki.

The Siege of Lidoriki

The siege was one of the earliest military engagements of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, aimed at liberating the region from Ottoman rule. The events unfolded in March 1821, marking the beginning of the struggle in Dorida.

Anagnostis Skalidis

Preparation for the Attack

On March 28, 1821, Captain Skaltsodimos, along with Anagnostis Lidorikis and his men, camped at Lidorikis' estate, between Lidoriki and Malandrino. There stood a small chapel dedicated to Saint Paraskevi. During the night, leading into the early hours of March 29, Papageorgis Politis from Sergoula conducted a liturgy and gave communion to the warriors. He then blessed the Cross flag and the weapons, and the Greeks swore an oath of loyalty to the cause under the motto "Freedom or Death."

Following the ceremony, Skaltsas divided his small force of fewer than 500 men into two groups. One, under his own command, moved toward Lidoriki, while the other, led by Chalvatzis, headed for Malandrino.

The Battle of Lidoriki

At dawn on March 29, 1821, Skaltsas' men entered Lidoriki, firing their weapons and shouting war cries. The Turks, caught off guard, barricaded themselves inside their homes and mounted a fierce resistance. The echoes of gunfire, the screams, and the cries of women and children reverberated through the surrounding mountains, heralding the outbreak of war.

The battle lasted two days. Unable to immediately overpower the Ottoman defense, the Greeks altered their strategy. Skaltsas ordered several houses to be set on fire, forcing the besieged to surrender. Seeing the flames and fearing total destruction, the Ottoman commander, Yusuf Efendi, raised the white flag. The brutal combat and the sight of Greeks holding bloodied yataghans convinced the Turks to lay down their arms.

After the surrender, the Greeks celebrated their victory. Holding high the Cross flag, they marched triumphantly through Lidoriki three times, playing trumpets, dancing, and singing hymns of freedom.

The Battle of Malandrino

While the battle in Lidoriki was nearly won, the Ottomans in Malandrino continued to resist fiercely, engaging in house-to-house combat. Chalvatzis’ forces were insufficient to subdue them, prompting Skaltsas to rush to his aid. Within two days, the Greeks overwhelmed the Ottoman resistance, securing Dorida’s liberation from Ottoman control.

The Temporary Liberation of Dorida

The siege of Lidoriki and the Greek victory marked the temporary liberation of the region. However, Ottoman rule was not permanently eradicated. Dorida fell back under Turkish control during the reprisals that followed. Its final liberation was achieved in 1828 when Greek forces, under Kitsos Tzavelas, expelled the Ottomans for good.

The Siege of Lidoriki remains a pivotal moment in the Greek War of Independence, demonstrating the courage and determination of the Greeks in their fight for freedom.