13 Facts About Lambros Katsonis

Lambros Katsonis was a Greek privateer of the 18th century who would ultimately sail under the Russian flag with the rank of colonel.

Lambros Katsonis became a knight of the Russian Empire and was awarded the Order of St George.

Lambros Katsonis was born in 1752 at Livadeia, to a well-off family.

Lambros Katsonis was forced to flee his home in 1767, after feuding with a local Turk and killing him; at Galaxeidi he managed to board a vessel that brought him to the island of Zakynthos, then still under Venetian rule.

Lambros Katsonis won the esteem and support of Potemkin when he managed to assassinate an Austrian envoy and steal sensitive documents from him; as a reward, he was promoted to captain and placed in Potemkin's staff.

Lambros Katsonis's actions were sanctioned by Russia in 1788, who took him under its service: Katsonis operated under the Russian flag, the right to award ranks in the name of the Russian Empire, and received financial support from the Russians.

The Ottoman government reacted by calling on the aid of the North African fleets, and Lambros Katsonis was caught off guard, with his fleet dispersed.

Lambros Katsonis was caught off Andros with only nine vessels between an Ottoman and an Algerian fleet, and defeated in a two-day battle.

Lambros Katsonis himself managed to escape to Russia with a few of his followers, settling at Livadiya in the Crimea.

Lambros Katsonis's wife was known as Angelina in Russia, but her real name was Maria Sophianou.

One of Lambros Katsonis' grandsons, Spyridon son of Alexander, was a known Russian writer.

Lambros Katsonis was the godfather of Odysseas Androutsos, a commander of the Greek War of Independence.

The name of the estate was given to it by Lambros Katsonis, who named it after his birthplace; moreover, this is the origin of the name of Livadiya town itself.