Tzavelas family

The Tzavelas, also spelled Tzavellas and known in Albanian as Xhavella, were a prominent Souliot family from Souli in Epirus, northwestern Greece. The family traced its ancestry to Dragani of Paramythia and identified Papa-Zachos as an early ancestor. Unlike a commercial brand, the Tzavelas family is a historical lineage remembered for military leadership, participation in the struggles of the Souliotes, and service in the Greek War of Independence and later Greek conflicts. The family’s most prominent early leader was Lambros Tzavelas, who led the clan during the late eighteenth century. In 1792, Ali Pasha of Ioannina summoned Lambros under the pretext of assistance in a campaign near Gjirokastër. Lambros, his son Fotos, and approximately seventy other Souliotes were instead detained. Ali Pasha attempted to use Lambros to pressure Souli into submission, releasing him while retaining Fotos as a hostage and ordering him to persuade the Souliotes to surrender. Lambros returned to Souli but reportedly rejected the demand and encouraged resistance. Ali Pasha then attacked Souli with a large force in July 1792. The Souliotes repelled the assault, although Lambros died from wounds sustained during the fighting. After Lambros’s death, his son Fotos Tzavelas became a leading Souliot commander. He continued the family’s opposition to Ali Pasha and gained a reputation as a skilled and courageous war leader. When Souli finally surrendered in 1803, Fotos led roughly 2,000 Souliotes through Parga to Corfu, then under French control. He served as a centurion in the French army’s Greek Legion before being assassinated in Corfu in 1809 by agents associated with Ali Pasha. His tomb remains at the Platytera Monastery in Corfu. Other members of the family were also associated with the armed resistance of the period. Moscho Tzavela, Lambros’s wife, is remembered for leading approximately 400 Souliot women during the fighting at Kiafa in 1792. Her defense against troops sent by Ali Pasha became part of Souliot oral and folk tradition. Zigouris Tzavelas, a brother of Fotos, returned from Corfu in 1820 and initially fought alongside Ali Pasha against Ottoman forces commanded by Hurshid Pasha. After Ali Pasha’s fall, Zigouris joined the Greek Revolution and was killed at the Battle of Kaliakouda in 1823. Fotos’s son Kitsos Tzavelas became the family’s most important nineteenth-century political and military figure. Raised in Corfu, he returned to Souli in 1820 and was appointed a captain at nineteen. During the Greek War of Independence he fought in central Greece and at Missolonghi, including the Battle of Kleisova in 1826 and the defenders’ breakout during the exodus of Missolonghi. He later participated in campaigns in Attica and held senior positions in the emerging Greek state. Ioannis Kapodistrias appointed him a military commander, while King Otto later advanced him to lieutenant general and made him an adjutant. Kitsos served as Minister of Military Affairs, was Prime Minister of Greece in 1847–1848, and returned to the military portfolio in 1849. The family’s military association continued into the twentieth century. Nikolaos Tzavelas served in the 1897 war, the Macedonian Struggle, the Balkan Wars, and the Asia Minor campaign; he was killed as a major at Kale-Groto in 1921. Kostas Tzavelas served as a general during the Greco-Italian War of 1940 and was killed at Përmet on 2 December 1940 after distinguishing himself in several engagements. The family is therefore principally significant as a historical military lineage rather than as an operating commercial organization.

The Tzavelas family emerged as a prominent Souliot lineage in the mountainous region of Souli, Epirus. Historical descriptions connect the family to Dragani of Paramythia and identify Papa-Zachos as an ancestor. Souli, a confederation of settlements known for its armed autonomy, became the setting for the family’s best-known resistance to Ali Pasha of Ioannina during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Lambros Tzavelas, born in 1745, became head of the clan. In 1792 Ali Pasha summoned him to assist in an ostensible campaign near Gjirokastër. Lambros, his son Fotos, and about seventy Souliotes were captured and taken to Ioannina. Ali Pasha tried to exploit Lambros’s position by holding Fotos hostage and sending Lambros back to persuade Souli to capitulate. Lambros instead returned as a defender of Souli. Ali Pasha’s subsequent assault in July 1792 failed, though Lambros was mortally wounded. Fotos Tzavelas, born in 1770, succeeded his father as a Souliot leader. His opposition to Ali Pasha made him one of the best-known commanders of the family. When Souli fell in 1803, Fotos guided approximately 2,000 Souliotes to Parga and then to Corfu, where French authorities controlled the Ionian Islands. He joined the French army’s Greek Legion as a centurion. In 1809, agents of Ali Pasha assassinated him in Corfu. He was buried at the Platytera Monastery, where his grave is preserved. Moscho Tzavela, Lambros’s wife, also played a military role. During the 1792 fighting at Kiafa she led about 400 Souliot women against forces sent by Ali Pasha. Her actions were preserved in folk tradition and songs, contributing to the family’s heroic reputation. Zigouris Tzavelas, Fotos’s brother, returned from Corfu in 1820 and fought first in Ali Pasha’s camp against Ottoman forces. After Ali’s defeat and the renewed fall of Souli, he joined the Greek revolutionary forces. He was killed at Kaliakouda in Evrytania in 1823. Kitsos Tzavelas, the son of Fotos, became the family’s leading figure during the Greek War of Independence and the early Greek kingdom. Born in 1801 and raised in Corfu, he returned to Souli in 1820 and became a captain at nineteen. He consulted with revolutionary supporters in Pisa and fought alongside Georgios Karaiskakis in campaigns including Ambliani. His later service included the defense of Missolonghi, the Battle of Kleisova on 25 March 1826, and the exodus of the city’s defenders. He subsequently fought in Attica and assumed senior command responsibilities after Karaiskakis’s death. Kapodistrias appointed him to high military office, and King Otto later made him lieutenant general and an adjutant. Kitsos also entered government, serving as Minister of Military Affairs in 1844, Prime Minister in 1847–1848, and Minister of Military Affairs again in 1849. He died in 1855. Kitsos’s brother Giorgos fought in several engagements, was wounded during the second siege of Missolonghi, survived the city’s exodus with Kitsos, and was killed during the Siege of the Acropolis in 1827. Later descendants continued to serve in the Greek armed forces. Nikolaos Tzavelas participated in the 1897 war, the Macedonian Struggle, the Balkan Wars, and the Asia Minor campaign before being killed at Kale-Groto in 1921. Kostas Tzavelas was a general during the Greco-Italian War and died at Përmet on 2 December 1940. Across these generations, the family’s historical identity developed around military service and resistance rather than commercial activity.

• 1940

  Death of Kostas Tzavelas in the Greco-Italian War

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  General Kostas Tzavelas was killed at Përmet on 2 December during the Greco-Italian War.

• 1921

  Death of Nikolaos Tzavelas in Asia Minor

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  Nikolaos Tzavelas, a major who had served in several Greek conflicts, was killed at Kale-Groto during the Asia Minor campaign.

• 1847

  Kitsos Tzavelas becomes Prime Minister of Greece

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  Kitsos served as Prime Minister during 1847–1848 after holding senior military positions in the newly established Greek state.

• 1826

  Kitsos Tzavelas at the Battle of Kleisova

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  Kitsos commanded 137 fighters at the church of the Holy Trinity during the Battle of Kleisova in the wider defense of Missolonghi.

• 1823

  Death of Zigouris Tzavelas at Kaliakouda

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  After joining the Greek revolutionary forces, Zigouris Tzavelas was killed fighting Ottoman forces at Kaliakouda in Evrytania.

• 1809

  Assassination of Fotos Tzavelas

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  Fotos, who had served in the French army’s Greek Legion in Corfu, was assassinated by agents of Ali Pasha and buried at the Platytera Monastery.

• 1803

  Fall of Souli and evacuation to Corfu

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  Following the surrender of Souli, Fotos Tzavelas led approximately 2,000 Souliotes through Parga to Corfu.

• 1792

  Lambros Tzavelas leads resistance to Ali Pasha

  [1]Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org

  After being detained by Ali Pasha and sent back to persuade Souli to surrender, Lambros returned as a defender of the community. Ali Pasha’s major assault on Souli was repelled, although Lambros died from his wounds.

A historical Souliot warrior family associated with resistance, military leadership, and Greek national history.

1. 1Tzavelas familyen.wikipedia.org