Greece · 200th anniversary of the death of Laskarina Bouboulina

Laskarina Bouboulina was born in 1771 in Constantinople (Konstantinopel) and grew up on the island of Spetses. The island had a strong merchant fleet, which enabled many Greek families to gain economic influence under Ottoman rule. Bouboulina was married twice to captains. After their deaths, she took over the family fortune and independently became involved in the shipping business. This gave her financial resources, ships and maritime connections, which she later used in the Greek War of Independence.

The uprising against the Ottoman Empire began in 1821 and, after years of fighting, led to the emergence of an independent Greek state. Bouboulina had the large, armed ship “Agamemnon” equipped, financed crews and provided additional ships. From Spetses, her fleet supported the insurgents in naval blockades of Ottoman fortresses. It was deployed, among other places, off Nafplio and Monemvasia. Bouboulina also spent periods with the Greek troops on land and took part in consultations with leading insurgents.

Her scope for action was unusual for a woman of her time: she managed a considerable fortune, ran a maritime enterprise and acted independently in the military-political sphere. In later memory, she therefore became one of the best-known female figures of the War of Independence. The depiction in front of ship rigging refers not only generally to seafaring, but directly to the basis of her contribution to the uprising.

After initial successes, the independence movement became embroiled in internal power struggles. Bouboulina eventually withdrew to Spetses. There, she was shot in 1825 during a dispute between two families. Her death was therefore not directly connected with a battle against Ottoman troops. The anniversary gave Greece an opportunity to commemorate her role in the founding of the state and, at the same time, the participation of women in the War of Independence.