On This Day: The Assassination of Panos Kolokotronis, Son of the "Old Man of Moria"

Panos Kolokotronis, born in 1798 (some sources say 1800) in Leontari, Arcadia, was the eldest son of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a key leader of the Greek War of Independence, and Aikaterini Karousou.

Spending many years on Zakynthos, Panos was among the most educated fighters in the revolution. Photakos, in his work "Lives of Peloponnesian Men," describes Panos as a highly learned man, proficient in ancient Greek, mathematics, Italian, and some French, comparing him favorably to the renowned scholar Georgios Sekeris.

At the outbreak of the revolution, Panos and his brother Ioannis (known as Gennaios) landed in the Peloponnese and participated in the uprising against the Ottoman-Albanian Lalaioi forces in Elis (April 1821). He subsequently fought in the Battle of Valtetsi (May 12-13, 1821), the siege and capture of Tripolitsa (September 23, 1821), and the repelling of Dramalis' army at Dervenakia (July 26-28, 1822).

In 1822, he was named chiliarch and became the first mayor of Tripolitsa. He married Eleni Boubouli, the youngest daughter of Laskarina Bouboulina, in Nafplio in December 1822. They did not have children. Promoted to general in 1823, he was appointed commander of Nafplio by the Second National Assembly.

During the first Greek civil war (Autumn 1823 - July 1824), Panos sided with the "Anti-Government" forces led by his father. He refused to surrender Nafplio, and after an amnesty was granted (July 1824), he marched towards Patras to reinforce its siege, but was recalled to Arcadia to confront the "Government" forces during the second civil war.

On November 13, 1824 (some sources say November 21), while marching towards Sylumna where his father was camped, Panos learned of the capture of Staikos Staikopoulos, a prominent "Anti-Government" figure. Attempting to free him, Panos was attacked and his men scattered. Only his aide, secretary, and attendant remained.

Around 4 p.m., near the villages of Thana and Besiri (present-day Pallantio), they were ambushed by a group of 25 Bulgarians serving the "Government" forces. Panos was fatally shot in the head. According to eyewitnesses, the Bulgarians looted his body, leaving it naked, before returning to Tripolitsa to report their success. Panos was buried the next day in Sylumna.

Key details:

• Panos Kolokotronis' skull, with bullet holes, is preserved at the Museum of the Historical and Ethnological Society.
• Eleni Kolokotronis later married Theodorakis Grivas.
• Theodoros Kolokotronis named his illegitimate son, born in 1836, Panos in memory of his deceased son.

Statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis in Nafplio illuminated