The 198th anniversary of the departure of the Areos revives the historical memory of the Martian Brick. Owned by Hydraios Anastasios Tsamados (1774-1825), she was built in 1807 in Venice1 and was destined to become a legend in world maritime history when she left the Bay of Navarino on May 26/8 (d/n), 18252. “Areos” is considered an insurmountable feat of the ship, where the indomitable courage of the crew and the skill of ship maneuvers allowed 56 enemy ships, bays and barons to leave the blockade bay continuously with their total number of 708 guns and guns captured the island of Sfaktiria. The release of “Areos”, a feat unique and unsurpassed of its kind in the world’s naval annals, is the glory of the 21-year-old fighters and their virtues, and the meaning of their sacrifices is reflected in the saying “nature calls us to live, but virtue calls us to sacrifice”3 .

On April 18/30, 1825, the Turkish-Egyptian fleet sailed to Methoni and landed 4,000 soldiers and enough ammunition and food for Ibrahim to capture the strategically important Sphacteria and the New and Old Navarino Castles. Sphacteria, under the command of Stavros Sakhini, defended the Bay of Navarino and its castles with eight cannons, 800 Greek and Philhellenic defenders, assisted by the secretary of the executive, Al. Mavrokordatos, Minister of War Ch. Anagnostara, security guard of Neokastro Dim. Shakturi, the governor of the barge “Aris” An. Tsamados, as well as the governor Nick. Votsis and Philhellenic Santore di Santarosa, as well as naval vessels of four of the eight ships anchored in the defended bay4.

On April 26/May 8, 1825, the Turkish-Egyptian fleet blockaded the bay, organized into two naval squadrons. The first NW of Sfaktiria, to prevent the approach of Andrey’s flotilla. Miauli and the second to the south, to control the bay and confluences, to strengthen the defense of two castles and Sphacteria, eight Greek ships, including the brikion “Aris”. Before noon, the southernmost squadron of 56 “forward” ships approached Sphacteria, firing 700 guns continuously and landing 2,500 Ottomans at Sphacteria. The heroism of the Greeks and Philhellenes did not prevent the sacrifice of 400 of them and the subsequent fall of Sphacteria and the glorious death of St. Sahini, cr. Readers, Governor of “Areos” Ana Tzamadou and Philhellenes Santarosa5. Eight guns of the occupied Sfaktiria and 700 guns of the enemy squadron that approached the bay forced the immediate withdrawal of the Greek ships so as not to fall into a trap inside the bay and not be subjected to crossfire by at least 47 Turkish-Egyptian ships and the occupied Sfactory. The Greek ships lagged far behind the Ottomans due to their smaller caliber guns, range, and low deck height, which consequently prevented ramming. The sea sense of the Greeks coped with the numerical superiority of the enemy. Unfavorable navigational weather and the shallow waters of the area emphasized the seaworthiness of the crews of the first six brigs, who set sail in a timely manner and neutralized three enemy ships.

Among those rescued from Sphacteria was the governor of Areos, Nick. Watsis, Al. Mavrokordatos and Dim. Shakturis taking on board the Aris. The Areos government passed to N. Votsis. [προγόνου/πάππου του κυβερνήτη του τορπιλοβόλου Τ-11 που βύθισε (18/10/1912) το τουρκικό θωρηκτό «Feth-i Bulend» στον λιμένα της Θεσσαλονίκης]. N. Votsis put the crew “in the order of salvation” after they bowed to the icon of the Mother of God and offered her gold if they were saved6. The Ares sets sail in the first post-meridian hours through the only exit from the bay (3/4 nautical mile wide). It is not known whether the signal “The captain of the ship is dead”7 was brought to the raid mast (ironically, only the signal log of An. Tsamados provided for such a case).

In 1825, the sea blockade of dozens of ships of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, loaded with hundreds of guns, was broken in Sphacteria.

The devotion of the crew to the heroically deceased Captain An. triumphantly emerged from an already hostile bay, losing two sailors, seven wounded and now sailing towards Kalamata with broken sails and cracked masts. The three-thousand-year-old naval history of Greece is an inexhaustible chapter of heroic deeds of unparalleled courage and self-sacrifice.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the battle was sadly “honored” in 1921 by the sinking of the Aris in the naval base8. Historical memory dictates the name of the newly created shock part as “Mars”.

(1) “The ships of P.N. 1829-1999, Vice Admiral K. Paisi-Paradeli, Astraia edition.

(2) Difference of 12 days in 100 years from 12/3/1800 to 12/3/1900.

(3) Speech by Elder Antonio, Professor I.M. Yoseva, “Forms of Khoseva”, p. 289, Archimandrite Konstantinos, Professor I.M. Joseva, published by Eptalofos, February 2021

(4, 5, 6) “The Navy in the History of the Greeks”, Volume 4, Part VIII, “The War of Liberation”, M. Simps, Athens, 1982.

(7) Sematologion A. Tsamadou, op. 4, 5, 6.

(8) ibid. 1.

* Mr. Panagiotis Hinofotis – Admiral (retired) PN, Honorary Head of GITHA, Former Member of Parliament – Deputy Minister of the Interior.