Hatzimichalis Dalianis

Hatzimichalis Dalianis (Χατζημιχάλης Νταλιάνης, 1775–1828) was a commander of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1830) and revolutionary leader in Crete in 1828.

Greek War of Independence
According to some Greek historians he was born in the Greek-speaking town of Delvinaki, Epirus, when the region was under Ottoman rule. Consequent research, however, by other Greek historians dispute this fact, nevertheless they all agree that he was born in Epirus. Alexander Mammopoulos attributes his birthplace conclusively in an Albanian-speaking village of the same name in modern Përmet District, while Stavros Karkaletsis, claims that he was born in the Greek-speaking village of Bularat, Dropull.

He has also been related to the Dalani clan of Konispol, but that is unlikely and probably arose as a theory due to a misconception in primary sources research as there was a notable individual of that clan, (Haxhi) Mahmut Dalani that lived in the same period (1775-1828). He grew up in Trieste, where his father worked as a merchant. In 1816 he became a member of the Greek patriotic organization Filiki Etaireia.

In March 1826, while the War of Independence was in full swing, he participated together with other revolutionary leaders (Nikolaos Krieziotis, Vasos Mavrovouniotis and Stavros Liakopoulos) in an attempt to create an alliance with the Emir of Lebanon Bashir Shihab II against the Ottoman Empire. However, when Dalianis landed in Beirut in order to incite a revolt there, the local emir was far from certain that he would defy the Ottomans.

Back to Greece, Dalianis fought in the Battle of Phaleron (1827). In January 1828 he became the leader of an expeditionary force to assist the faltering uprising in Crete. In an attempt to revive the revolution there, Dalianis together with 700 men (600 on foot, 100 with horses and mules), landed initially at Gramvousa on 5 January 1828 but decided to restart their expedition from Sfakia. In March he took possession of Frangokastello castle, a 14th-century Venetian fortification in the Sfakia region. The local Ottoman ruler, Mustafa Naili Pasha, gathered an army of 8,000 men in order to suppress the revolt and attacked Frangokastello. The castle's defence was doomed, when Mustafa's Ottoman-Albanian force of 8,000 men and 300 cavalry arrived on 13 May 1828, after several days the fortress fell back into Ottoman hands, and Dalianis perished along with 385 men. Mustafa's force also lost 800 men. The few men that remained at the fort continued to resist for a few more days.

It is said that Hatzimichalis Dalianis was buried by a nun at the nearby monastery of Saint Charalambos. Mustafa's troops were ambushed on their return at a nearby gorge by a group of Cretan rebels, and suffered ca. 1,000 casualties.

Legacy
This failed revolt of 1828, is the basis for the local legend of the ghost army of the Drosoulites (Δροσουλίτες, "dew shadows"). According to the local Cretan tradition, the spirits of the fallen revolutionaries return each year to Frangokastello. This unexplained phenomenon usually occurs on the anniversary of the battle where images of advancing troops (Drosoulites) appear at dawn to hover above the tragic location. The subject has been investigated and various scientific interpretations have been suggested.

Later, in early 20th century, volunteer groups from Crete, in order to repay the sucrifice of Dalianis and his Epirote men in 1828, joined the Epirus front of the First Balkan War, as well as the armed struggle for the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus, against annexation to Albania.