Ambush at Prevali – Death of chieftain Dimitrios Dalipis
Short Description:
Dimitrios Dallipis, born in the village of Gavros in Kastoria, was one of the most important leaders of the Macedonian Struggle. On November 19, 1906, together with his 15-man armed corps, they were camped in the forest between Zelovo (now Antartiko) and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Pisoderi. After a betrayal, the Macedonian fighters were surrounded by powerful Ottoman forces. In the ensuing battle, some fell victim to Ottoman fire, while others managed to escape. Dalipis himself, though wounded, escaped westward to Mikri Prespa. However, while crossing the Prevali Ridge, he was ambushed by his comrades and breathed his last.
Photo gallery:
Detailed Description:
In the fall of 1906, the Ottoman army intensified its operations against the Greek Macedonian fighters, causing them to divide into small groups and move from place to place. On November 19, 1906, the armed corps of chief Dimitrios Dalipis, numbering only fifteen men, was camped in a forest area between Zelovo (now Antartiko) and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Pisoderi. A woman from Zelovo, collecting wood nearby, alerted the Macedonians to the presence of Ottoman soldiers. Dalipis decided to take his armed corps to Mikri Prespa to avoid a clash with the Ottoman forces. Despite all their efforts, the Macedonian fighters were confronted by a large number of Ottoman soldiers. In the ensuing clash, four of Dalipi's men died, while the rest managed to escape. The chieftain, though wounded, managed to escape the pursuit. However, as he crossed Pervali, he was ambushed and killed by Komitadjis. The next day, women from the village of Andartiko picked up the chief's body and buried him.
Dimitrios Dallipis was one of the most important chiefs and collaborators of the Greek Macedonian Committee. He was active in the area of Korestia and participated in many battles during the Macedonian struggle. Born in the village of Gavros in Kastoria, Dalipis was a Slavic speaker and his real surname was Konstantinidis or Kechagias. Initially, like other Slavic-speaking chiefs, he collaborated with the Bulgarian Comitatus and participated in the Ilden Uprising in the summer of 1903. However, after a disagreement with the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), he came into contact with the Greek Macedonian Comitatus.
During his participation in the Macedonian Struggle, he fought alongside some of the most important leaders and collaborators of the Greek Macedonian Committee, such as Kottas Christou and Pavlos Melas. After the death of the latter, he joined the corps of Georgios Katechakis (Captain Rouvas) and later the corps of Georgios Tson-tos (Captain Vardas).
From the spring of 1906, Dalipis, in cooperation with the Slavophone chief Pavlos Kyrou, commanded his own corps and operated in the wider area of Korestia. On the day of his death (19.11.1906), the Ottoman authorities also killed Pavlos Kyrou in Ostima (now Trigono of Florina).
For the Greek struggle in Macedonia and especially in the area of Korestia, the death of the two chieftains was a great loss. As far as their lives are concerned, the published sources are confused about the dates, places of death and the circumstances under which the two chieftains fell dead.
Indicative Literature:
Βακαλόπουλος Κωνσταντίνος Α., Μακεδονικός Αγώνας. Η ένοπλη φάση 1904-1908, Θεσσαλονίκη: Εκδόσεις Μπαρμπουνάκης, 1987.
Κολιόπουλος Ιωάννης Σ., Μιχαηλίδης Ιάκωβος Δ., Παπανικολάου Κωνσταντίνος Σ. (επιμ.), Αφανείς Γηγενείς Μακεδονομάχοι (1903-1913), Θεσσαλονίκη: Εταιρεία Μακεδονικών Σπουδών ‒ University Studio Press, 2008
Μόδης Γεώργιος, Μακεδονικός Αγών και Μακεδόνες αρχηγοί, Θεσσαλονίκη: Εταιρεία Μακεδονικών Σπουδών, 1967
Μόδης Γεώργιος, Ο Μακεδονικός Αγών και η νεώτερη Μακεδονική ιστορία, Θεσσαλονίκη: Εταιρεία Μακεδονικών Σπουδών ‒ Μακεδονική Βιβλιοθήκη 26, 1967.
Πετσίβας Γεώργιος (επιμ.), Ιωάννου Καραβίτη. Ο Μακεδονικός Αγών. Απομνημονεύματα, τ. 1-2, Αθήνα 1994.
Χατζής Δημήτριος Κ., Ιστορία του Μακεδονικού Αγώνος: Αθήναι 1971.
Χολέβας Ιωάννης Χ., Οι Έλληνες σλαβόφωνοι της Μακεδονίας, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Ρήσος, 21991.
Dakin Douglas, The Greek struggle in Macedonia, 1897-1913, Θεσσαλονίκη: Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου, 1966.
Related locations
Bust of the chieftain Dimitrios Dalipis

Bust of the chieftain Dimitrios Dalipis


