User:Antonis06/sandbox/Zois Panou

Zois Panou (1765 - August 29, 1846) was a military man and leader of the Greek revolution of 1821 from Paramythia of Epirus. He also served as a proxy in various National Assemblies

Biography
 Activities in the pre-evolutionary years 

Panou was born in 1765 in Paramythia originating from a wealthy and deeply religious family of the area. His sister, Despo, was the wife of Souliotis chief Fotios Tzavelas. In the late 18th century, he was active as a merchant in Palermo, Sicily. During the Russo-Turkish war of 1787-1792, he enlisted in the Russian army and later participated in the Napoleonic Wars. From 1805 he served in the Greek Battalions of the Ionian Islands, created by the Russians, which were maintained under French and British rule, reaching the rank of captain of the first class. At the same time, from 1819 he was initiated in Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends). Later on, in 1820, he took part in the war between the Sublime Porte and Ali Pasha, at the beginning on the side of the sultan’s troops, and then, after an agreement between Ali and the Souliotes, he allied with the side of the Pasha of Ioannina. In the context of this war, where he was injured twice, he distinguished himself in the battles of Manoliasa, Theriakisi and Lelova.

Action in Hellenic Revolution
In July 1821, he allied with the armed forces of Parginians and Souliotes, in the failed Greek revolutionary operation to occupy the fortress of Parga. In August 2, 1822, he joined forces with Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis, Labros Veikos and Vassilis Zervas in the battle of Splantza, while having only 120 men under his command. This battle's purpose was to strengthen Soulio area, which was threatened by the Ottoman troops. However, the death of Mavromichalis during the battle, which occurred while he was walking with some men to support the fortress of Panou, canceled the campaign.At the end of the same year, Panou found himself in the beleaguered Messolonghi area. Later, he fought as the general of 30 men in Trikeri, Skiathos and Patras. In 1824, he defended Karaiskakis when he was convicted to trial. Later, on April 4, 1825, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

In 1825 - 1826, he participated in the second siege of Messolonghi, enlisted in his nephew's military unit, Kitsos Tzavelas. In fact, Ioannis Papadiamantopoulos, Georgios Valtinos and him, all went to Zakynthos hoping to find supplies and money. Furthermore, during the Exodus on April 10, despite his injury, he managed to escape.

Apart from the battlefields, Panou also contributed in the political side of the revolution. At the beginning of 1822, he participated in the First National Assembly of Epidaurus, signing the "Provisional Government" as the representative of the Souliotes, while later he took part in the national assemblies of Astros (1823) and Troizina.

In the context of the Greek state
After the creation of the Greek state, Zois Panou was honored with the rank of colonel of the Royal Phalanx. At the same time, in 1842, a collection of his poems was published, consisting of poems he had written during the Greek Revolution aiming to encourage the Greeks.

Finally he passed away, on August 29, 1846