First Siege of Missolonghi

From October 1822 to January 1823, Ottoman forces besieged Missolonghi, a small fortified town on the lagoons of western Greece, which had become an important Greek stronghold. The Ottoman commanders Omer Vrioni and Mehmed Reşid Pasha, also called Kütahi, advanced with a large army after defeating the Greeks at Peta in July 1822. The town's defenses were weak, and its garrison was small, but Alexandros Mavrokordatos and the Souliote leader Markos Botsaris led a determined defense. They delayed the Ottomans with negotiations while waiting for reinforcements. Greek ships broke through the blockade, bringing fresh troops and supplies. The Ottomans launched a major assault on Christmas night 1822, expecting the defenders to be at church, but the Greeks had been warned, and the attack was repelled with heavy losses. The Ottomans lifted the siege in January 1823. It was an important victory that boosted Greek morale. The following year, Lord Byron arrived at Missolonghi, and the town later became famous for a much longer and tragic siege that ended in 1826.