Despina Achladiotou

Despina Achladiotou , more commonly known as the "Lady of Ro" , was a Greek patriot who lived on the island of Ro; part of the small archipelago of Kastellorizo. She was notable for being the sole resident of the island, and for daily raising the Greek flag, from the time she arrived there until her death.

Biography Despina Achladiotou was born on the island of Kastellorizo, in 1890. In 1927, she sailed with her husband, Kostas Achladiotis , to the nearby deserted island of Ro where they lived off of a few goats, chickens, and a vegetable garden. In 1940, when her husband got sick, Achladiotou started three fires in order to inform the residents of Kastellorizo that they needed help, but her husband died on a boat which came to help. Achladiotou then brought her blind mother to the island, while later she personally rowed her mother's remains back to Kastellorizo for burial. She has been compared to Joan d'Arc and Boudica. Despite not having veteran status, she was buried on the island with full military honours.

A Greek military unit is now based on the island, with the main duty of keeping the tradition of raising the flag.