Battle of Maniaki

The Battle of Maniaki was fought during the Greek War of Independence (1821 - 1829) from the Ottoman Empire.

In 1825, the revolutionary war was threatened by the coming of Ibrahim pasha from Egypt. Papaflessas took a force of 1,500 men to defend Maniaki in Messinia. When Ibrahim's forces surrounded the Greek positions, most of Papaflessas' men escaped. The former priest was left with 500 men to face 3,000 better-equiped Egyptians but refused to retreat. On May 20, 1825, in the ensuing battle, Papaflessas fell alongside his men. It is said that after the battle, Ibrahim pasha ordered his men to find Papaflessas' body, had them wash it and lean it against a tree. Then, in admiration, the Egyptian pasha exclaimed "Now, there's a true man!".