Botsaris, Markos

Botsaris, Markos (bōzăr`ĭs, –zä`rĭs, Gr. bôt`särēs), c.1788–1823, Greek patriot. Exiled from his native Epirus in 1803, he joined Ali Pasha in 1820 and later was prominent in the Greek War of Independence, notably in the defense of Mesolóngion (1822–23) and at Karpenísion, where he defeated the Turks with a handful of men but died in battle.

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Botsaris, Markos 

Born 1790; died Aug. 21,1823. Hero of a Greek national liberation uprising during the years 1820–29. Born into an influential family in the mountain community of Suli.

During the war between Ali Pashe Tepelena and the sultan (1820–22), Botsaris commanded a detachment made up of inhabitants of Suli, which inflicted a number of defeats on the Turkish forces. Botsaris later took part in the defense of Mesolongion. On the night of Aug. 21, 1823, he led a small detachment on an attack on the significantly superior forces of the invaders near Karpenision. The Turks were routed, but Botsaris was killed in the battle.