Spyros Kagiales
A statue of Kagiales in Akrotiri
Native name
Σπύρος Καγιαλές
Bornc. 1872
Vilayet of Crete, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Died5 September 1929
Halepa, Second Hellenic Republic
Buried
Graveyard of Agia Fotini church, Halepa
AllegianceGreece Kingdom of Greece
Service/branch Hellenic Army
Battles/warsGreco-Turkish War (1897)

Balkan Wars

Spouse(s)Maria Kapnisaki
ChildrenGeorgios Kagiales
Irini Kagiale

Spiros Kagiales or Kagialedakis (Greek: Σπύρος Καγιαλές Καγιαλεδάκης; 1872–1929) was a Greek revolutionary from Crete and a soldier of the Hellenic Army who participated in the Cretan Revolts of 1895-1898 and the Balkan Wars.[1][2]

Biography

He was born in 1872 in Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire, into the well-known Kagiales family. His mother Maria Ornerakis, was from Sfakia while his father, Dimitrios's family came from Gramvousa. The men of the family took part in the various struggles of their time for the freedom of Crete and its union with Greece.[2]

From the beginning of the Cretan Revolt of 1897, Spyros Kagiales operated in Akrotiri together with his brothers Georgios, Manolis, Antonios and Sifis. He became famous for the bravery he showed while barrickaded with other fighters at the church of the St. Elias on 9 February 1897.[1] While under bombardment from the International Squadron, a shell shattered the mast of the Greek flag. Kagiales recovered the flag and, despite the bombardment, made his own body the pole.[1][2] His actions gained the admiration of the Great Powers' fleet, resulting in the admirals ordering a ceasefire. The Italian commander of the fleet, Vice Admiral Felice Canevaro, wrote in his memoirs: "Raising the flag in such a heroic way was a moment in my life that I will never forget."

This event was a great diplomatic victory for the Greeks and played a major role in achieving autonomy for Crete a few months later, due to the submission of the admirals testimonies.[2]

He later took part in the Battle of Driskos during the First Balkan War,[1] where he was again distinguished for his bravery and was honoured with the awarding of special medals and diplomas.

His only son, Georgios, also fought in the Balkan Wars and distinguished himself on the battlefields of Macedonia, where he was killed.[2] The loss of his son marked the rest of his life with grief.

His wife, Maria Kapnisaki, was from Kontopoula of Keramia. They also had a daughter, Irini.

He died in Halepa on 5 September 1929 and is buried in the family grave in the cemetery of Agia Fotini church.

Legacy

A statue of him was unveiled on 21 July 1997 at the site of the bombardment in Akrotiri.[1][3]

The municipality of Akrotiri annually celebrates the anniversary of the bombardment of 9 February 1897 and lays wreaths at his statue.[3]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Spiros Kayales - Akrotri, Crete, Greece". Waymarking. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The flag that never came down; the story of Spiros Kagiales". Villa Terra Creta. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  3. 1 2 "Ὁ ἥρωας πού ἔκανε τό κορμί του κοντάρι γιά τήν σημαία". Retrieved 2019-03-14.
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