Manto Mavrogenous

From Phantis
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Manto Mavrogenous (Greek Μαντώ Μαυρογένους) was a heroine of the Greek War of Independence.

She was born in 1796 in Trieste to a very wealthy family. After the Greek Revolution broke out in 1821, she moved to the island of Mykonos in the Cyclades where she actively encouraged the locals to revolt. She then proceeded to spend her entire fortune in the cause of the war arming war ships.

For her involvement in the war effort, she was honoured by Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of the independent Greek state, who made her an honorary General and awarded her a house in the capital city of Nafplio.

She became romantically involved with Dimitrios Ypsilantis during the war but the affair came to nought as the latter abandoned her. Disappointed, Manto Mavrogenous returned to Mykonos.

She died in 1840 on the island of Paros alone and impoverished.