30 Facts About Laskarina Bouboulina

Laskarina Bouboulina's father was Stavrianos Pinotsis, an Arvanite from Hydra and her mother was Skevo Kokkini, descendant of the Byzantine Kokkinis family.

Laskarina Bouboulina was widowed twice, inheriting a considerable sum of money from her second husband.

Laskarina Bouboulina was killed on 22 May 1825, during the course of a family feud.

Laskarina Bouboulina was the daughter of Stavrianos Pinotsis, a captain from Hydra island, and his wife Skevo Kokkini, descendant of the notable Byzantine Kokkinis family; a large part of this family lived in the island of Zakynthos.

Laskarina Bouboulina's father died soon afterward and the mother and child returned to Hydra.

Laskarina Bouboulina's family moved to Spetses when she was four years old.

Laskarina Bouboulina's stepfather encouraged her interest in sailing beyond the accepted social norms of the time, a decision which has been attributed to his admiration for Russian empress Catherine the Great.

Laskarina Bouboulina married captain Dimitrios Yiannouzas with whom she had three children; Yiannouzas drowned during a battle against Algerian pirates.

Laskarina Bouboulina later remarried the wealthy shipowner and captain Dimitrios Bouboulis, taking his surname.

Laskarina Bouboulina took over his fortune and his trading business, acquiring shares in other Spetsiot ships.

The Ottomans were aware of the fortune Laskarina Bouboulina had inherited from her husband and were seeking a premise to seize it in 1816.

Laskarina Bouboulina returned to Constantinople in 1816 to argue her case, enlisting the help of the Russian ambassador and the Valide Sultan.

The latter was able to convince the Ottoman officials to allow Laskarina Bouboulina to retain her property.

Laskarina Bouboulina joined the Filiki Etaireia, an underground organization that was preparing Greece for revolution against Ottoman rule.

Laskarina Bouboulina would have been one of a few women, but she is not named in historical members lists.

The Ottomans dispatched admiral Hussein to ensure Laskarina Bouboulina adhered to Ottoman law.

Laskarina Bouboulina proceeded to bribe Hussein, who then signed a report indicating that the ship was a long range Spetsiot trade ship.

Laskarina Bouboulina commanded great respect among the revolutionaries who nicknamed her Kapetanissa and Kyra.

Laskarina Bouboulina then disembarked at Myloi and traveled to Argos on horseback, supplying the local rebels with money and ammunition.

Laskarina Bouboulina subsequently traveled to the battlefield in order to collect her son's remains who was beheaded in the aftermath of the battle.

Rumors of Laskarina Bouboulina's exploits spread beyond Greece and many foreign philhellenes sought to meet her.

Laskarina Bouboulina took an active part in the negotiations, intervening to save the lives of the women from Hursit's harem upon Valide Sultan's request.

Laskarina Bouboulina was accused on taking part in the looting.

Laskarina Bouboulina participated to the naval section of a failed assault on Nauplia in December 1821, where she distinguished herself by her courage.

Laskarina Bouboulina was appointed to one of the commissions tasked with redistributing the property of Nafplio's Muslim population, a position she abused for personal gain.

Laskarina Bouboulina stayed in Nafplion until the civil war of 1824 during which she supported the faction of Kolokotronis.

Laskarina Bouboulina was imprisoned for some time on false charges of witchcraft and heresy by her islander political opponents before being eventually released.

On 22 May 1825, armed members of the Koutsis family went to Laskarina Bouboulina's house, believing that the couple was hiding inside.

When Laskarina Bouboulina confronted them from the balcony, she was shot and killed by one of the armed men.

The Greek drama film, Laskarina Bouboulina, starring Irene Papas in the titular role was released in 1959, it was directed and written by Kostas Andritsos.