Christos Dagovich
Date of Birth: 01.01.1783
Country: Greece |
Content:
- Hero of the Greek War of Independence
- Early Life
- Greek War of Independence
- Military Career
- Capture and Return
- Later Years
Hero of the Greek War of Independence
Cristos Hadjihristos-Dagovic was a distinguished hero of the Greek War of Independence from 1821-1829. Born into a Bulgarian family, he is often referred to as a Bulgarian in Greek historiography.
Early Life
Cristos's father, Petros, and brother, Stavros, fought in the Serbian Revolution and perished during the Siege of Belgrade in 1806. Driven by Turkish persecution, Cristos and his mother, Anna, fled to Bosnia, Venice, Rhodes, Cyprus, and eventually Egypt. In Egypt, he served as a stable boy for Khurshid Mehmet Pasha.
Greek War of Independence
In 1820, Khurshid Mehmet Pasha was appointed governor of Tripolitsa, a Turkish stronghold in southern Greece. Cristos accompanied him. With the outbreak of the Greek Revolution in 1821, Tripolitsa was besieged by Greek rebels. After allowing 2,000 Albanian soldiers to pass through, the rebels massacred both armed and unarmed Muslims. Cristos either defected to the Greek side or saved his life by kissing the cross before General Nikitaras.
Military Career
Cristos led a cavalry unit composed of freed and volunteer Serbs and Bulgarians. He fought in the battles of Kourtesa and Dervenakia in 1822. However, he also participated in the Greek civil war on the government side in 1824.
Capture and Return
During the Egyptian invasion of Peloponnese in 1825, Cristos fought at the Battle of Kremidi, which ended in defeat for the rebels. He was captured during the defense of Palaiokastro and taken to Egypt as a slave. In 1828, he was exchanged for Turkish prisoners and returned to Greece.
Later Years
Appointed as a general, Cristos participated in the final two years of the war. He was instrumental in the siege and capture of Nafpaktos in 1829 and in several victories over the Turkish forces. After the war, he remained in Greece and continued his military service. With the establishment of the monarchy, General Hadjihristos-Dagovic became an aide to King Otto. He also represented Serbs and Bulgarians in the Greek National Assembly in 1843. General Hadjihristos passed away in 1853.