Prelude
The failed Orlov Revolt had been a disaster for Mani and in 1780, the Ottoman bey of the Peloponnese, Hassán Ghazi with a large force of Turko-Albanians invaded Mani. Their army laid siege to the Grigorakis tower in Skoutari which was garrisoned by fifteen men. The tower held out for three days until it was undermine and gunpowder was placed underneath of the tower which was then set alight and blown up.
The Ottomans then advanced to the plain of 'Vromopidaga' were they defeated by the vastly out numbered Maniots. Ghazi then lured the Maniots leader Éxarchos and had him hung. His mother then had the men of Skoutari under Zanet then tricked the Turkish garrison at Passavas and sacked the city.
In 1784, Zanet was lured onto an Ottoman ship and was given the choice of his life or to accept the title of bey and Ottoman vassalage. For four years since the last Ottoman invasion, Zanet had refused offers to become bey but under the pressure of this threat he accepted. But in 1798 he was caught conspiring with French agents. He was disposed and outlawed but he continued to cause trouble for the≈ Ottomans from his fort at Cranae. In 1803, a load of French weapons was delivered to his fort. Once the Ottomans found out, they decided it was time to stop Zanet
Read more about this topic: Ottoman Invasion Of Mani (1803)
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