Alexander Ypsilantis

Alexander Ypsilantis initiated the 1821 uprising against the Ottoman Empire as a key leader within the secret Filiki Eteria. Born in Constantinople, he transitioned from a senior career in the Imperial Russian cavalry to spearheading a campaign in the Danubian Principalities that served as a catalyst for the eventual Greek War of Independence.

Military Career in Russia

Ypsilantis entered the Russian Chevalier Guard Regiment in 1808. He climbed the ranks rapidly, becoming a lieutenant by 1810. During the French invasion of Russia, he fought at Klyastitsy and Polotsk. In 1813, he achieved the rank of captain and later served as a lieutenant colonel in the Grodno Hussar Regiment. At the Battle of Dresden, he sustained a severe injury that resulted in the amputation of his right arm. Despite this, he remained active in public life and was appointed an aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander I in 1816, reaching the rank of major general by 1817.

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Leadership of the Filiki Eteria

In 1820, Ypsilantis accepted the leadership of the Filiki Eteria, a secret society planning an insurrection against Ottoman rule. He developed a strategy involving simultaneous revolts across the Balkans, including planned civil unrest in Constantinople and naval attacks. In October 1820, he issued a formal declaration advocating for the restoration of Greek sovereignty. He secured his status as a major revolutionary figure by coordinating these efforts with various rebel captains.

The Danubian Campaign

In February 1821, Ypsilantis crossed the Prut river into the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. He served briefly as lord of both territories during that year. His tactical goal was to force a Russian intervention by triggering a conflict with Ottoman forces within the autonomous regions. However, the plan suffered as he faced financial constraints and the public denouncement of his actions by the Russian government. He struggled to maintain discipline among his volunteer forces, and the subsequent Ottoman reaction forced a retreat.

Legacy and Death

Following the collapse of the military campaign in the Principalities, Ypsilantis left the region. He spent his final years in Vienna, where he died in 1828 at the age of 36. Throughout his service, he was recognized with the Order of Saint Anna and the Order of St. Vladimir. His remains were later interred in Athens, marking his role as a prominent figure in the Greek nationalist movement.