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The Kasos Massacre:
The Kasos Massacre:
In 1824, Sultan Mahmud allied with Muhammad Ali of Egypt to suppress the Greek Revolution. Muhammad Ali’s son, Ibrahim, mustered a large expeditionary force and fleet. After putting down the rebellion in Crete, the Egyptians moved against Kasos, a strategically located maritime island that had assisted the Cretans’ revolt. The Greek government was unable to send its fleet due to lack of funds, leaving the island undefended.
On the night of 28 to 29 May, the Egyptians staged a feigned attack on the northern coast of the island, while a small disembarkation force managed to land unobserved at another site. The Kasians fought heroically but were, inevitably, defeated. A terrible massacre ensued; the island was devastated, over 2,000 people were killed or enslaved. The destruction of Kasos was one of the most tragic events of the Greek Revolution.
Bank of Greece 5 Euro Commemorative Silver Coin, Designed by G. Stamatopoulos, Numismatic Programme 2024, The National Mint - IETA
Along with the destruction of Psara that followed, it was a serious setback for the Greeks, who now also had to fight the Egyptian navy.
After devastating the island of Psara in June and retiring to Lesbos, Grand Admiral Hüsrev Pasha led the Ottoman fleet against Samos, sailing off on 28 July. With two squadrons, led by Georgios Sachtouris and Andreas Miaoulis, the Greek fleet moved to block their way forward.
After skirmishing for several days, the two fleets fought the decisive battle on 5 August, off the island of Samos. The Greek fireships, commanded by Konstantinos Kanaris, managed to burn three enemy ships. Under heavy cannon fire from the Greek ships, Hüsrev Pasha was forced to retreat. The battle of Samos, along with the battle of Gerontas that followed on 29 August, saved the islands of Samos and Icaria and was a major victory for the Greeks.
One of the Kasian sailors of Georgios Sachtouris, a man named Georgios Zizzis fathered a son during those battles who would go on to become Arconte Theodoros "Haji" Kassotis, the ruler of the islands of Icaria and Fourni and the founder of the Icarian branch of our clan. And thus our family was born from the ashes of Kasos and the Greek Revolution.
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