Battle of Valtetsi
The Battle of Valtetsi took place during the Greek War of Independence, in two phases: on April 24, 1821 and between May 12, and May 13, 1821.
Background
The Greek War of Independence broke out - officially - on March 25, 1821. The city of Tripolis in Arcadia, central Peloponnesus, became a prime objective of the Greek revolutionary army and was besieged early in the war.
The Turkish army within the city sought to alieviate the pressure by sending a force outside the Tripolis city walls to engage the Greeks in the open. On April 24, 1821 the Greek camp at Valtetsi was assaulted. On May 12, 1821, the second battle was fought.
The First Battle
On April 24, 1821, Kehayabey Mustafa set out with a force of 4,000 men to capture the Greek camp at Valtetsi. The camp was defended by a small Greek force under Maniote Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis. Initially, Kehayabey's effort was successful as he managed to take the village itself, however, Dimitrios Plapoutas arrived who hit the Turkish force from the rear. Kehayabey and his men were forced to retreat back into Tripolis.
The Second Battle
A Turkish force of 12,000 men, under the command of Kehayabey Mustafa, set out once more to take the Greek positions at Valtetsi on May 12, 1821. Its main force, under Rubi bey, was sent to directly assault the Greek camp now defended by 2,300 revolutionaries under the command of Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis. Other Greek kapetanaioi included Nikitas Flessas, Mitropetrovas and Elias Mavromichalis. Rubi bey demanded that the Greeks surrender but, when refused, began his assault. The Turkish forces managed to capture some positions including the water supply of Valtetsi but a fierce resistance forced them to ask Kehayabey for reinforcements. In the mean time, Greek reinforcements, numbering 700 men, under Theodoros Kolokotronis, arrived and attacked the Turks on their flanks. More Greeks, under Dimitrios Plapoutas, arrived later and joined the battle. All Turkish attacks were repelled and finally Rubi bey ordered retreat which turned into a route after the Greeks abandoned their fortified positions and counterattacked.
The battle lasted 23 hours. Turkish dead numbered 514, Greek just 7.
Significance
The Battle of Valtetsi boosted the morale of the irregular Greek army. It kept the Siege of Tripolis going.