Summary

The 1836 account identifies Theodoros Kolokotronis (referred to as Colocotroni or Theodor Bythguri) as an Albanian and a kleftis, an outlawed armed warrior. In his youth, he participated in raids against Ottoman forces in the Morea. During one expedition, he and a small group of seven or eight fellow Albanian fighters were pursued by Turkish forces and sought refuge in an old Greek church, which they hastily fortified. Surrounded and facing hunger, they resolved to fight their way out. Demonstrating courage, Kolokotronis escaped with four companions, exemplifying the bold and resilient character of Albanian kleftis operating in the mountains.

Extracted from the book, page 111:

Transcribed:

“He is an Albanian, and as he himself admits, an outlawed kleftis (armed warrior, bandit, comite). Kolokotroni, when he was young, was engaged in a raiding expedition against the Turks in the Morea.

He and his companions (seven or eight), desperate Albanians like him, were closely pursued by the Turks, from whom they had fled for a moment and taken refuge in an old Greek church, which they fortified as best they could.

The place was soon overrun by a formidable body of Turkish forces; escape by deception was impossible; hunger began to stare them in the face, and they came to the desperate solution of fighting their way, sword in hand, through the Turks who surrounded them. They did it with great courage; and Kolokotron fled with four of his companions. As we continued our journey the next day, we observed such a band of thieves roaming the mountains and observing our slow progress”

Source

Selections from My Journal, During a Residence in the Mediterranean. 1836. p.111