Page 408 - Beholding Liberty!

ΙΙΙ.4
The major general
of Roumeli
Georgios Karaïskakis or Karaïskos (ca. 1782-1827)
THERE ARE VARIOUS VERSIONS regarding the place of origin of Georgios Karaiskakis, the most probable being Mav- rommati of Karditsa and Skoulikaria of Arta. What is certain, though, is that he grew up in the mountainous provinces of Agrafa and Western Central Greece, where there was intense activity of armed klephts (bandits-fighters) and armatole groups. As a matter of fact, he served in the military regiments of Ali Pasha, who recognized his exceptional military abilities.
With the outbreak of the Revolution in Western Greece (May 1821), Karaiskakis raised the flag in the villages of Tzoumerka and joined the revolutionary forces. Until the middle of 1822 he had evolved into a dominant figure of the armatole district of Agrafa and a chiliarch of the revolutionary administration. Despite the fact that he had a clash of opinion with Alexandros Mavrokordatos over the leadership of the military operations in Central Greece, he collaborated with him in the first siege of Missolonghi (1822), sending a detachment of his military force to reinforce the defense of the city. During the civil wars he was accused by Alexandros Mavrokordatos of treasonous collaboration with the enemy and withdrew temporarily from active involvement. He returned in May 1825, to aid the inhab- itants of Missolonghi during the second siege of the city. In 1826 he was appointed commander-in-chief of Central Greece and tried to rekindle the Revolution in Roumeli, through the victorious battles at Domvraina, Distomo and Arachova.
In 1827 he hurried to help in the siege of Athens, however, on 22 April, in a small scale combat at Falero, Georgios Karaiska- kis was fatally wounded and died the following day, the 23rd of April, on his name day.
408 BEHOLDING LIBERTY!
ΙΙΙ.4.1
Karl Krazeisen (1794-1878)
Portrait of Georgios Karaiskakis, 1828
lithograph, 50 × 40.5 cm
signed: Hanfstaengl ft: 1828. (on the image, bottom right) Nach der Natur gez. v. Kraxeisen. (bottom left) Gerd. von Selb. (bottom right) signature of G. Karaiskakis (low centre)
inscribed: KARAISKAKIS. (low centre)
Ilia Boubouris Collection
THIS ENGRAVING is from the series of portraits by Karl Krazeisen [cat. no III.1.2]; it shows Karaiskakis at the Faliro camp in April 1827. It is based on the only portrait which was not signed by the sitter, since it was left unfinished: On April 22- 23, the Battle of Analatos would take place, with a disastrous outcome for Greeks; Karaiskakis would die after being injured near Faliro.
The hero faces the viewer with a direct, penetrating gaze, which almost seems to be filled with awareness of the impending doom on the battlefield. Krazeisen had already drawn Karaiska- kis’ facial traits, the ample hair and long mustache; he added the supplementary elements later, including the ornate vest and the gun belt.