Greek occupation of Makrinoros in 1829
Map of the northeast shore of the Ambracian Gulf
[ click image map for larger
view ]
This map was drawn by Captain Jochmus, a Bavarian officer, who was
the aide -de-camp to General Sir Rd. Church in 1828-9, and depicts the
positions of the Greek and Turkish army.
In an article published in 1908 in the Royal Geograhical
Society C. M. Church and J. L. Myres describe this area as the "Therrmopylae
of the western coast. Through these passes over the maointain, and
by the conrice road along the declivities above the shore, the Turkish
pashas of Ioannina from time to time poured their Albanians into Greece.
Twice in the war of Independence the Greeks held the passes successfully
against the Turks--first in 1821, at the outbreak of the revolution;
and in its last year, 1829, when the Greeks under General Church surprised
the passes, cut off the communication with the fortress of Mesolonghi
and Lepanto, forced the surrender of the garrisons, and the evacuation
of the provinces of Acarnania and Aetolia, and ultimately obtained the
inclusion of these two western provinces within the boundaries of the
Greek Kingdom in 1832."
