Petros Lantzas, was a Corfiot Greek, spy, privateer and pirate in the 16th century Balkans who took part in several anti-Ottoman plots.
12 Facts About Petros Lantzas
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Petros Lantzas initially worked for the Republic of Venice and from 1574 was employed by the Spanish Empire.
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Petros Lantzas was born on the island of Corfu, then part of the Republic of Venice.
4.
Petros Lantzas must be the same as a certain Gjin Lanza who is listed among those Albanian noblemen who were considered to be allies by the Venetians.
5.
Andrea Lanza, grandfather of Petros Lantzas, was appointed at 1499 castelanno and then at 1500 governor of Parga.
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Petros Lantzas attacked inland regions and penetrated as far as Delvine.
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In 1574 Petros Lantzas was dismissed from office and banished by the Venetian authorities.
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The letter goes on to ask for Petros Lantzas to be assassinated.
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Petros Lantzas served the Viceroy of Naples and became a notable member of the Greek community of Naples.
10.
Petros Lantzas' assignment was to supervise the military movements of the Ottomans, as well as those of the Venetians, and to direct the shipment of weapons, provisions, spies, and saboteurs who were sent repeatedly to Epirus, the Ottoman capital of Constantinople, and other parts of the Ottoman Empire.
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Petros Lantzas led pirate raids against Ottoman ships, while from 1577 he began chasing and attacking Venetian ships by orders of the governor of Bari and Otranto.
12.
Later, Petros Lantzas proposed to engage in a number of clandestine operations by moving to Constantinople; in 1608, he devised a plan to assassinate the Ottoman sultan by placing a present containing explosives in front of him.