Angelis Govios

Angelis Govios or Govginas (Greek: Αγγελής Γοβιός ή Γοβγίνας) was a leader of the Greek War of Independence. He is known for the reorganization of the Struggle against the Ottomans in Euboea. A statue in his honour has been erected near the Euboean town of Psachna.

Biography

Angelis Govios was born in about 1780 in Limni, Euboea. Along with Odysseas Androutsos, Athanasios Diakos and other leaders of the Greek Revolution of 1821, he served in the garrison of Ali Pasha. His participation in the battle of Gravia made him famous for his bravery and courage.

The reorganization of the military camp in Vrysakia

Angelis Govios arrived in Vrysakia in May 1821. There he managed to organize in a short period of time, the military camp and to turn the inexperienced men from Euboea into brave soldiers. In fact, they won their first major victory in the summer of 1821 in the battle against the organized army of Omer Vrioni, in the area of Messapia, near Psachna in Euboea. On July 15 Omer Vrioni, after the seizure of Livadeia, he wanted to suppress the Revolution in Euboea, in order to ensure safe passage for transportation and supplies to be able to move towards Athens. Therefore, he went to Vrysakia, where Govios with 300 men prepared to make a stand, while Govios' confidants Kotsos and Balalas took places in the eastern and southern part of the hill. The great strategic mind of Govios helped the Greeks to achieve a great victory against the more numerous army of Omer, after a battle that lasted seven hours. Three days later, Ali Pasha marched again against them, but Govios and his men had been withdrawn to Agios, so he only burnt the huts of the Greeks in Vrysakia and he returned to Chalkida, from where he soon decided to leave since the city fortress was very strong. When all the Turkish forces left, Govios rushed to recapture Vrysakia.