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23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 1821
ΑΠΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΛΑΜΑΤΑΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΥΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΔΟΥΛΩΤΗΣ ΜΑΝΗΣ ΥΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΑΡΧΗΓΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧIΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΥ
ΠΕΤΡΟΜΠΕΗ ΜΑΥΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΗ ΗΓΕΜΟΝΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΝΗΣ
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ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΥΜΝΟΣ
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ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΝΗΣ
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ΠΕΤΡΟΜΠΕΗΣ ΜΑΥΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΗΣ
Ο ΑΡΧΙΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΥΜΑΤΩΝ
ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΗΡΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΥ\ΚΑΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΟΘΩΜΑΝΩΝ
ΤΗΝ 17 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 1821
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ΑΝΔΡΙΑΝΤΑΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΜΠΕΗ ΜΑΥΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΗ
ΣΤΗΝ ΑΡΕΟΠΛΗ
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ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΟ ΙΕΡΟΥ ΝΑΟΥ ΤΑΞΙΑΡΧΩΝ
ΣΤΗΝ ΑΡΕΟΠΟΛΗ
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ΕΔΩ ΕΓΙΝΕ Η ΔΟΞΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ
ΕΝΑΡΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΩΝΑ ΤΩΝ ΜΑΝΙΑΤΩΝ ΓΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΕΛΥΘΕΡΩΣΗ
ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ ΤΗΝ 17-ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 1821
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Από τις 17 Μαρτίου, όμως, οι πρόκριτοι της Μάνης, υπό την αρχηγία του Πετρόμπεη Μαυρομιχάλη, είχαν υψώσει τη σημαία της επανάστασης στην Τσίμοβα, σημερινή Αρεόπολη της Λακωνίας. ΄Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας της Μάνης όρκισαν και ευλόγησαν τα όπλα των καπεταναίων και των παλικαριών στην Εκκλησία των Ταξιαρχών. Οι πολεμιστές της ελεύθερης Μάνης κήρυξαν τον πόλεμον κατά των οθωμανών κατακτητών της υπόλοιπης Ελλάδος.
Οι Μανιάτες φθάνουν έξω από την Καλαμάτα στις 22 Μαρτίου και καταλαμβάνουν τους γύρω λόφους. Τότε μόνο ο αγάς της πόλης κατανοεί τι συμβαίνει. Είναι αργά για να διαφύγει στην Τριπολιτσά, καθώς η Καλαμάτα είναι ολόγυρα αποκλεισμένη και αποφασίζει να αντιτάξει άμυνα με τους Τούρκους της πόλης. Όταν το πρωί της 23ης Μαρτίου 1821 οι επαναστάτες εισέρχονται στην Καλαμάτα, ο Ηλίας Μαυρομιχάλης ζητά από τον Αρναούτογλου να παραδοθεί, τονίζοντάς του το μάταιο της προσπάθειάς του. Πράγματι, ο αγάς παραδίδει στους επαναστάτες με πρωτόκολλο την πόλη και τον τουρκικό οπλισμό.
Επακολούθησε σύσκεψη των οπλαρχηγών, που αποφάσισαν τη δημιουργία μιας επαναστατικής επιτροπής, την οποία ονόμασαν «Μεσσηνιακή Γερουσία», για τον καλύτερο συντονισμό του αγώνα. Η ηγεσία της ανατέθηκε στον Πετρόμπεη Μαυρομιχάλη, που έφερε τον τίτλο Αρχιστράτηγος του Σπαρτιατικού και Μεσσηνιακού στρατού. Την ίδια μέρα, η «Μεσσηνιακή Γερουσία», με Προκήρυξή της προς την ευρωπαϊκή κοινή γνώμη, γνωστοποιεί ότι οι πανελληνες ξεσηκώθηκαν για την ελευθερία τους. Το κείμενο της Προκήρυξης, το πρωτότυπο της οποίας σώζεται στα αρχεία του Foreign Office (βρετανικού Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών), είναι το εξής:
”Προειδοποίησις εις τας Ευρωπαϊκάς Αυλάς, εκ μέρους του φιλογενούς αρχιστρατήγου των Σπαρτιατικών στρατευμάτων Πέτρου Μαυρομιχάλη και της Μεσσηνιακής Συγκλήτου.
Ο ανυπόφορος ζυγός της Οθωμανικής τυραννίας εις το διάστημα ενός και επέκεινα αιώνος, κατήντησεν εις μίαν ακμήν, ώστε να μην μείνη άλλο εις τους δυστυχείς Πελοποννησίους Γραικούς, ει μη μόνον πνοή και αυτή δια να ωθή κυρίως τους εγκαρδίους των αναστεναγμούς. Εις τοιαύτην όντες κατάστασιν στερημένοι από όλα τα δίκαιά μας, με μίαν γνώμην ομοφώνως απεφασίσαμεν να λάβωμεν τα άρματα, και να ορμήσωμεν κατά των τυράννων. Πάσα προς αλλήλους μας φατρία και διχόνοια, ως καρποί της τυραννίας απερρίφθησαν εις τον βυθόν της λήθης, και άπαντες πνέομεν πνοήν ελευθερίας.
Αι χείρες ημών αι δεδεμέναι μέχρι του νυν από τας σιδηράς αλύσσους της βαρβαρικής τυραννίας, ελύθησαν ήδη, και υψώθηκαν μεγαλοψύχως και έλαβον τα όπλα προς μηδενισμόν της βδελυράς τυραννίας. Οι πόδες ημών οι περιπατούντες εν νυκτί και ημέρα εις τας εναγκαρεύσεις τας ασπλάγχνους τρέχουν εις απόκτησιν των δικαιωμάτων μας. Η κεφαλή μας η κλίνουσα τον αυχένα υπό τον ζυγόν τον απετίναξε και άλλο δεν φρονεί, ει μη την Ελευθερίαν.
Η γλώσσα μας η αδυνατούσα εις το να προφέρη λόγον, εκτός των ανωφελών παρακλήσεων, προς εξιλέωσιν των βαρβάρων τυράννων, τώρα μεγαλοφώνως φωνάζει και κάμνει να αντηχή ο αήρ το γλυκύτατον όνομα της Ελευθερίας. Εν ενί λόγω απεφασίσαμεν, ή να ελευθερωθώμεν, ή να αποθάνωμεν. Τούτου ένεκεν προσκαλούμεν επιπόνως την συνδρομήν και βοήθειαν όλων των εξευγενισμένων Ευρωπαίων γενών, ώστε να δυνηθώμεν να φθάσωμεν ταχύτερον εις τον Ιερόν και δίκαιον σκοπόν μας και να λάβωμεν τα δίκαιά μας.
Να αναστήσωμεν το τεταλαιπωρημένον Ελληνικόν γένος μας. Δικαίω τω λόγω η μήτηρ μας Ελλάς, εκ της οποίας και υμείς εφωτίσθητε, απαιτεί ως εν τάχει την φιλάνθρωπον συνδρομήν σας, και ευέλπιδες, ότι θέλει αξιωθώμεν, και ημείς θέλομεν σας ομολογή άκραν υποχρέωσιν, και εν καιρώ θέλομεν δείξη πραγματικώς την υπέρ της συνδρομής σας ευγνωμοσύνην μας.
1821 Μαρτίου 23 εν Καλαμάτα.
Εκ του Σπαρτιατικού Στρατοπέδου
Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης, αρχιστράτηγος του Σπαρτιατικού και Μεσσηνιακού στρατού”
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The Mani
The area of the southern Peloponnese known as ‘the Mani’ is a special place. Its location on the fringes of southern Europe, its turbulent history and its rugged, natural beauty all combine to give the visitor an unforgettable experience. The drive from Kalamata down into the Mani is stunning- something you will never forget.
Check out some of the various topics above to get an in depth idea of some of the area’s main characteristics as well as looking at options of where to stay, from the established resorts such as Stoupa orKardamyli, to a more off the beaten track location in the Deep Mani.
Who is this site for?
- Anyone looking around for a new destination for their holiday. We hope there is sufficient information to answer all questions an independent traveller requires to arrange a tailor-made itenary. Any unanswered questions you may have can be posted below.
- Anyone who has already booked to come to the Mani. Be sure to bookmark this site on your laptop/smart phone before you arrive to recieve up to date information on what’s happening in the area as well as reading the latest comments left by fellow visitors. Don’t miss out!
- Anyone who shares our passion for the area who merely wants to keep in touch from near or afar.
Who are we?
- Inside the Mani have been publishing guide books and an annual magazine since 2004. You can therefore trust the content on this site as being accurate- we know what we are talking about.
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In the last decade Areopolis has seen something of a boom. The central square, dominated by a statue of Petrobey Mavromichalis, has been repaved, a new police station and town hall built, a number of new bars and cafes have opened along with hotels to accommodate visitors and on the outskirts of the town are a number of recently built, huge stone shops and supply yards. However it has by no means lost its quality of an atmospheric gateway into Mesa Mani and no tour of Mani is complete without stopping here. At the very least it warrants a coffee stop or lunch. The main square is the centre of life in the town and is a great place to ‘people watch’. There is a market every Saturday, mainly selling fruit and vegetables, turning the square into a hive of activity. However, Areopolis deserves a little more time. Its narrow alleys and cobbled streets are a photographer’s dream and, being a historic town, there are a number of places worth visiting. There is a great bookshop on the square, next to the cake shop. Its owner, Georgios, is a real Mani enthusiast and has a good stock of maps, books and recently a DVD as well as his own Mani magazine (in Greek). A Byzantine museum is located in the restored tower next to the church of Ioannis O Prodromos. It promises to ensure that local treasures housed in locked churches will now be on permanent display beyond the grasp of unscrupulous thieves.
The Mani
The area of the southern Peloponnese known as ‘the Mani’ is a special place. Its location on the fringes of southern Europe, its turbulent history and its rugged, natural beauty all combine to give the visitor an unforgettable experience. The drive from Kalamata down into the Mani is stunning- something you will never forget.
Check out some of the various topics above to get an in depth idea of some of the area’s main characteristics as well as looking at options of where to stay, from the established resorts such as Stoupa orKardamyli, to a more off the beaten track location in the Deep Mani.
Who is this site for?
- Anyone looking around for a new destination for their holiday. We hope there is sufficient information to answer all questions an independent traveller requires to arrange a tailor-made itenary. Any unanswered questions you may have can be posted below.
- Anyone who has already booked to come to the Mani. Be sure to bookmark this site on your laptop/smart phone before you arrive to recieve up to date information on what’s happening in the area as well as reading the latest comments left by fellow visitors. Don’t miss out!
- Anyone who shares our passion for the area who merely wants to keep in touch from near or afar.
Who are we?
- Inside the Mani have been publishing guide books and an annual magazine since 2004. You can therefore trust the content on this site as being accurate- we know what we are talking about.
======================================================================= 
Areopolis
see map below
“The first is Tsimova (Areopolis), a handsome town and large, governed by a Captain named Mavromichali. The Tsimovites only are worthy men, their manners and good customs show it – in appearance merchants but secretly pirates”
Nikitas Nifakos circa. 1800
The town is of great historic importance to Greece as it was here that the war for independence against 350 years of Turkish occupation began. On 17th March 1821, a banner was raised and allegiance sworn under the motto “Victory or Death” by the various Maniat clan leaders assembled. They then marched to Kardamyli and on to Kalamata. The seven-year struggle had begun. In recognition of this role, the town was renamed Areopolis after Ares, the god of war, in 1836. Previously it had been known by its Slavic name, Tsimova.
In the last decade Areopolis has seen something of a boom. The central square, dominated by a statue of Petrobey Mavromichalis, has been repaved, a new police station and town hall built, a number of new bars and cafes have opened along with hotels to accommodate visitors and on the outskirts of the town are a number of recently built, huge stone shops and supply yards. However it has by no means lost its quality of an atmospheric gateway into Mesa Mani and no tour of Mani is complete without stopping here. At the very least it warrants a coffee stop or lunch. The main square is the centre of life in the town and is a great place to ‘people watch’. There is a market every Saturday, mainly selling fruit and vegetables, turning the square into a hive of activity. However, Areopolis deserves a little more time. Its narrow alleys and cobbled streets are a photographer’s dream and, being a historic town, there are a number of places worth visiting. There is a great bookshop on the square, next to the cake shop. Its owner, Georgios, is a real Mani enthusiast and has a good stock of maps, books and recently a DVD as well as his own Mani magazine (in Greek). A Byzantine museum is located in the restored tower next to the church of Ioannis O Prodromos. It promises to ensure that local treasures housed in locked churches will now be on permanent display beyond the grasp of unscrupulous thieves.
By following the map out of Areopolis on the road to Omales, it is possible to walk down to the pebbly beach of Pyrgos and then on the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. Once you come to the T-junction marked on the map of Areopolis, simply turn left and follow the road all the way down to the beach. The concrete gives way to a dirt road and as you near the sea, it swings right. To get to the beach you have to hop over the wall by the house and walk down some steps to get on to the rocks. You will see steps ahead of you on the other side of a very small beach that bring you out onto the tarmac road to the beach. It should take just over an hour to here from town. There is no café on the beach so you will need to take plenty of water. It is also possible to cut across the small headland at the far end of the beach to get to the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. An earth path runs around the back of the concrete hut – simply follow it for 5 minutes to get to the caves. The ticket office is 100m up the road
