Stavros Rigas (Greek: Σταύρος Ρήγας), also known by his nom de guerre Kapetan Kavodoros (Greek: Καπετάν Καβοντόρος) was an officer of the Hellenic Army who participated in the Macedonian Struggle and was killed in action in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922).

Kapetan (Chieftain)

Stavros Rigas
Stavros Rigas c. 1904-1908
Native name
Σταύρος Ρήγας
Nickname(s)Kapetan Kavodoros (Καπετάν Καβοντόρος)
BornAgios Dimitrios, Euboea, Kingdom of Greece
Diedc. 1921
Asia Minor
AllegianceKingdom of Greece Kingdom of Greece
Service / branch
Battles / warsMacedonian Struggle
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) 

Biography

edit

He was born in Agios Dimitrios, on the island of Euboea. After attending Hebron Academy, he joined the Greek Struggle for Macedonia in 1905, entering with his detachment the Giannitsa Lake under the leadership of Kostantinos Boukouvalas. Along with Boukouvalas and Anagnostakos he managed to occupy crucial positions in the marshes of the Giannitsa Lake and create small bases in known as Tsekri, Ali and Lakka.[1] His nom de guerre, kapetan ("captain, chief") Kavodoros, referenced Cape Cavo D'Oro near his native village.

In November 1905 following the withdrawal of Konstantinos Boukouvalas due to sickness, he replaced him as the leader of the struggle in Giannitsa marshes.[2] Later he was joined by officer Michael Anagnostakos. In April 1906 the two leaders were reinforced by Panagiotis Papatzaneteas and Ioannis Sakelaropoulos[3]

Stavros Rigas survived the Greek Struggle for Macedonia and participated in the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–22, where he fell in 1921.

References

edit
  1. ^ Douglas Dakin, Ο Ελληνικός Αγώνας στη Μακεδονία 1897 – 1913, εκδ. αδελφών Κυριακίδη, 1996.
  2. ^ «ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΟΣ ΑΓΩΝ», Παύλου Τσάμη, Μακεδονικὴ Βιβλιοθήκη, Δημοσιεύματα τῆς Ἐταιρεῖας Μακεδονικῶν Σπουδῶν, Θεσ/κη 1975, σελ. 293-294.
  3. ^ Basil K. Gounaris, The Macedonian Struggle 1903-1912. Paving the Way for the Liberation, p.13