page_title: Battle of Maniaki
section_title: Battle
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Maniaki / Battle
caption_attribution_description: English: Adam de Friedel. The Greeks, Twenty-four Portraits of the principal Leaders and Personages who have made themselves most conspicuous in the Greek Revolution, from the Commencement of the Struggle, London, Adam de Friedel, 1830.
context_page_description: The Battle of Maniaki was fought on May 20, 1825 in Maniaki, Greece between Ottoman Egyptian forces led by Ibrahim Pasha and Greek forces led by Papaflessas.
  The battle ended in an Egyptian victory, during which both Greek commanders, Papaflessas and Pieros Voidis, were killed in action.
context_section_description: After the Greek defeat in Sphacteria and the fall of Neokastro, Papaflessas decided to repulse the Egyptians himself. With a force of 3,000 Greek soldiers, Papaflessas marched south to offense Ibrahim and chose to position his troops near Mount Malia in order to acquire a decent view of the plain near Navarino. From that entrenched position, Papaflessas awaited Ibrahim's forces, even though he had not military quality. During the night of 19 - 20 May, many Greeks from within Papaflessas's ranks deserted after seeing Ibrahim's enormous armies. Only half of the Greek forces remained in their positions with Papaflessas and Pieros Voidis.
  Ibrahim, in person, advanced towards the Greek position leading a force of over 6,000 soldiers. (Phillips calls the Egyptian force 'innumerable'). Papaflessas provided an eloquent speech that enhanced the morale of the remaining Greeks that decided to stay and fight. As the Arabs in Ibrahim's army attacked, the Greeks held their positions staunchly but were eventually overwhelmed. Ultimately, a large part of the remaining Greeks, of 800 or 1,000 men, including Papaflessas and four hundred Arabs perished in the aftermath of the battle.  The head and body of Papaflessas were recovered and placed upright on a post; not in dishonour, but as a mark of respect for a valiant foe. Legends say that Ibrahim even kissed his head and said "If all Greeks were like him, I would not take charge of this campaign".
caption: Papaflessas, after his death, became a great exemplar of heroism to the Greeks.
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