Konstantina Zacharias – Fighter of 1821
We owe little information about Konstantina Zacharias's life to the French traveller and historian Francois Pouqueville. Konstantina Zacharias was born in Laconia and was the daughter of the famous fighter Zacharias Barbitsiotis. Zacharias died on July 20th, 1805, while climbing the stairs to the tower of Kakeas.
"They killed Zacharias, the first Captain,
who was a pillar in Moria..."
Growing up, Konstantina swore to avenge her father's murder, so when the Revolution of 1821 broke out, the young woman (who was about 22 years old) decided to form her own armed force, which consisted of 500 men and women. In fact, it had its own banner, a "white colour with a blue cross" flag. When the revolution was declared in Mani, the Ottomans of the area left and went to Tripolitsa to protect themselves. Then, the Mani people pursued them, and Konstantina Zacharias (along with other women) participated in the conflicts. Specifically, Konstantina followed the Ottomans to Mystras, where they found refuge in the castle. Then, she conquered Leontari (in the prefecture of Arcadia), killed the Ottoman commander, set fire to his house and took down the half-moon from the mosques, which she burned.
At this point, it is worth referring to the testimony of the English traveller Blaquarier, who met her before 1825 in Gastouni. She revealed to him that she had taken part in the siege of Patras, where she was wounded. Thus, she was forced to return to Gastouni in order to recover. When Blaquaire asked her what she intended to do from then on, she answered with determination: "I will return to my post and fight until the last Turk is lost from Moria." Finally, according to historical sources, Konstantina Zacharias took part in the Battle of Diros (1826) as well as in the siege of Methoni and Koroni.