Dimos Tselios

Dimotselios, a towering figure in the Greek War of Independence, was born in Spartochori, Meganisi, in 1785, to a family originally from Kefalonia. His life story is one of extraordinary resilience and patriotism, defined by early hardships, relentless dedication to the cause of Greek freedom, and enduring loyalty to his homeland, Meganisi.

​

Early Life and Influences
Dimotselios’s early years were marked by profound loss. At the age of one, his father was struck and killed by lightning, and by the time he was three, he lost his mother, who drowned during a perilous journey to Agia Mavra (modern Lefkada). Orphaned, he lived under the care of family in Lefkada Town until the age of 16, when he returned to Meganisi.

​

Initially, Dimotselios considered a maritime career, inspired by Meganisi's long-standing seafaring traditions and his brother, who owned a boat. However, his path took a decisive turn in 1804 when he encountered Zafeiris, a klepht (rebel), who introduced him to the world of resistance. Joining the group led by the legendary klepht leader Katsantonis, Dimotselios began his life as a freedom fighter.

​

Military Exploits During the Greek Revolution
Dimotselios played a pivotal role in the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), distinguishing himself in numerous battles and campaigns. His journey began with the Lefkada Corps, leading fighters to liberate Vonitsa and fortify Lesini, rendering it impervious to Ottoman attacks.

​

Key highlights of his military career include:

• The Battle of Peta (4 July 1822): Dimotselios participated in this significant yet disastrous battle for the Greeks against Mehmet Resit Kioutahi Pasha’s forces, where he was wounded.

• The Battle of Karochia Vonitsa-Xiromerou (25 December 1822): A victorious engagement alongside the forces of P. Mavromichalis, Giorgos Tsogas, and T. Grivas.

• The Battle of Skoulikargia Arta (3 June 1825): A successful confrontation against Tahir Abazi Dibralis’s forces.

• The Battle of Karvasaras (28 September 1825): Fought under Karaiskakis’s leadership, Dimotselios and his men inflicted a devastating defeat on the Ottomans.

• The Battle of Arachova (18–24 November 1826): This pivotal battle saw Dimotselios fighting alongside Karaiskakis in a critical Greek victory.

 

In total, Dimotselios took part in 12 campaigns, 12 sieges, and 39 battles, enduring wounds three times in the process. His exceptional bravery earned him promotion to Lieutenant General of Central Greece by 1824 and a position in the Provisional Government.

​

Collaboration with Kapodistrias and Beyond
Under Ioannis Kapodistrias, Dimotselios joined the Western Camp led by Richard Church. He played a critical role in the recapture of Western Central Greece, distinguishing himself in:

• The liberation of Vonitsa (15 December 1828 and 5 March 1829).

• The conquest of the strategic Nafpaktos-Mesolongi passage (13 March 1829).

• The battles culminating in the surrenders of Nafpaktos (23 April 1829) and Mesolongi (8 May 1829).

After the war, Dimotselios settled in Agrinio, continuing to advocate for Greece's freedom and sovereignty.

​

Struggles During the Reign of King Otto
Despite his immense contributions, Dimotselios faced significant challenges during King Otto’s reign. Appointed as major-commander of the 5th Light Sniper Battalion, a role he perceived as a demotion, he grew disillusioned. In 1836, he led an armed uprising in Aitoloakarnania, demanding the establishment of a constitution and the expulsion of Bavarian officials.

​

The rebellion was suppressed, forcing Dimotselios into self-imposed exile in Lefkada, which was under British occupation. For six years, he endured separation from his family, who suffered greatly in his absence—his home in Agrinio was looted, and he was struck off the Royal Army registers.

He was later rehabilitated in 1843, promoted to Major General, and became a member of the Royal Column.

​

Personal Life and Legacy
Dimotselios married twice and fathered five children. Throughout his life, he maintained an unbreakable bond with his birthplace, Meganisi, which he poetically described as "Paradise." He often reminisced about his childhood home, the island's idyllic beauty, and its role in shaping his values and identity.

​

He passed away on November 11, 1854, in Athens, at the age of 69. His final resting place is the Garden of Heroes in Mesolonghi, a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to the freedom of his people.

​

While most of his memoirs, recorded by Georgios Tertsetis, were tragically destroyed in the 1953 earthquake and fire in Zakynthos, his heroic deeds live on in history and folklore, earning him a place as one of the purest rebels of 1821.

​

From the Memoirs of Dimoselios

"My parents were from Komitata, my grandparents. My grandfather married my grandmother in Akarnania... My father took a wife from Zavitsa. I was born in Meganisi of Agia Mavra. A man named Metaxas came and settled there. Our grandparents, four Ferentinos brothers, also lived there. My father was killed by lightning; I was one year old. He was sleeping on a branch. My mother lived for two more years. She set out to go as a witness to Agia Mavra; on the way, there were 17 people, and 14 drowned, including a priest, two or three women, and my mother. After that, we were taken in for the soul of one in Agia Mavra...

I spent about ten years in Akarnania before I returned. I stayed there until I was 16 years old, living with Valianakis' mother-in-law. Then I moved to Meganisi, and I was 19 years old. Our home was in Meganisi. There were three clans living there—people from Ithaca, Xeromero, and Kefalonia. It is a crossing point from Mytikas, a beautiful island, as if it were in Paradise.

I decided to leave to find my brother, who was abroad. I set out to find my brother, who was on a ship. He was fortunate enough to make his own ship. I decided to go to Agia Mavra to meet him.

There, I met a man named Zafeiris, a klepht from Akarnania, who was staying in Agia Mavra. He said to me, 'Dimos, why are you looking to work on ships? Will you come with me to Karpenisi? You’ll also become a klepht.' He took me in July 1804.

[...]

That winter, we stayed in an olive mill on Meganisi with Karaiskakis and Odysseas. Karaiskakis told me about the Filiki Etaireia and that it would start in the spring. My family was in Meganisi. I left. We left. We were rewarded at Vonitsa. Odysseas went to Livadia. I stayed behind, taking care of my pairs.

We met before Easter with the elders of Karalis, Giorgakis... Christakis Staikos, Megapanos, Tzogas, and Varnakiotis. We decided to strike the Turks during Holy Week."

​

References
“Demostcellios,” Lexicon 1821, KENI. https://keni.panteion.gr/index.php/en/1821
Dinos Konomos, G. Tertsetis and his unpublished texts on the immortal epic of 1821, Athens, Hellenic Parliament, 1984.
“Δημοτσέλιος,” Κώστας Πάλμος, Πειραιάς: 1997.
“Μεγανησιώτικα,” Κώστας Πάλμος, Αθήνα: 1992.
Text: https://topoimnimis.keni.gr/index.php/el/​

Sp. Asdrahas-Tr. Sklavenitis, "Lefkada and its historians: general silhouette" in Tr. Sklavenitis (eds), Proceedings of the Conference. Lefkada and its historians, 19th-20th century, Athens 2009, pp.33-34​​