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Ypsilantis Alexander

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description Ypsilantis Alexander Overview

Alexander Ypsilantis (1792–1828) was a Greek aristocrat who served as an officer in the Russian Imperial Army and became a leader of the Greek independence movement. As head of the Filiki Eteria, a secret society dedicated to Greek liberation from Ottoman rule, he launched a military campaign in the Danubian Principalities in 1821. The revolt was defeated at the Battle of Drăgășani later that year. Ypsilantis was subsequently imprisoned by Austrian authorities and died in Vienna in 1828.

help Ypsilantis Alexander FAQ

Why did Alexander Ypsilantis begin the revolt in Moldavia instead of Greece?

Ypsilantis crossed the Pruth into Ottoman-controlled Moldavia in 1821 because the Danubian Principalities offered an existing Greek political network and no permanent Ottoman garrison. He also hoped, incorrectly, that Russia would support the uprising.

Did Tsar Alexander I support Ypsilantis's campaign?

No, the tsar publicly disavowed the revolt and removed Ypsilantis from Russian military service. That decision deprived the campaign of the great-power backing on which many participants had counted.

What happened to Ypsilantis's Sacred Band?

The Sacred Band was a volunteer force composed largely of young Greek students. It suffered a devastating defeat against Ottoman forces at Dragashani in June 1821.

Why did Alexander Ypsilantis die in Vienna rather than Greece?

After his campaign collapsed, Ypsilantis entered Habsburg territory and was imprisoned for several years. He was released in poor health in 1827 and died in Vienna in 1828, before the establishment of an independent Greek state.

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