Lazos Dogiamas
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Kapetan (Chieftain) Lazos Dogiamas | |||
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| Born | 1878 Barovitsa, Salonika Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Kastaneri, Kilkis, Greece) | ||
| Died | August 24, 1912 Barovitsa, Salonika Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Kastaneri, Kilkis, Greece) | ||
| Cause of death | Assassinated | ||
| Resting place | Cemetery of Kastaneri (Kilkis, Greece) | ||
| Nationality | Greek | ||
| Citizenship | Greece | ||
| Occupation | Revolutionary | ||
| Years active | Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization | ||
| Movement |
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Kapetan Lazos Dougiamas (Greek language: Λάζος Δογιάμας, Bulgarian language: Лазар Доямов romanized: Lazar Doyamov) also referred to as Lazaros Dogiamas (Λάζαρος Δογιάμας), was a Slavic speakers in Ottoman Macedonia (Greeks) Macedonian revolutionary of the Macedonian Struggle. He was initially a member of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, but changed his allegiances to that of the Greek side after disagreeing with the pursued agenda. He went by the Nom-de-guerre Kapetan Barovitsalis.
Early Life
Kapetan Lazos Dogiamas was born in the village of Barovitsa (now Kastaneri, Greece) in 1878 to Christos and Angeliki Dogiama. He came from the old and well known family of Dogiamas which was involved in agriculture and animal breeding. He had three brothers, Traianos Dogiamas, Demetrios Dogiamas, and Georgios Dogiamas, and a sister, Maria. He and his three brothers would all become Makedonomachoi. He had knowledge of the Greek and Bulgarian languages.
Macedonian Struggle
Lazos Dogiamas had joined the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization in the latter half of 1903, entering the armed band of his elder brother Traianos Dogiamas who had joined sometime before 1903 for security purposes. He joined with the desire to fight the Ottomans and would find himself involved in the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising. In early 1904, he and his brother became aware of the true intentions of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization towards to the Greek population and in an act of reprisal, killed three Komitadji and two IMRO Agents.[1] Their band began to act autonomously and in an attempt at blackmail, the Bulgarians began commit the murders of their relatives.[2] In early 1905, the brothers defected to serve the Macedonian Committee.
The two brothers, now accompanied by their younger brothers Demetrios Dogiamas and Georgios Dogiamas, collectively entered the service of the Macedonian Committee in 1905. They were placed under command of Kapetan M. Moraitis (Kodrou)[3] and thus became Makedonomachoi. Lazos and his brothers took part in the Battle of Kandasti against the Ottoman Army (1861–1922) where the cheta of Apostol Petkov was also involved. The band of Kapetan Kodrou was hit hard and fractured, leaving Lazos to reconstruct and resume the fight. He struck back and pursued Apostol's cheta until they would clash again days later, with only Voivoda Apostol and two other Komitadjis escaping.[4]
In 1906, Kapetan Lazos and his band, in collaboration with his brothers, operated in the areas around Giannitsa, Almopia, and Gevgelija which had successfully limited the wrath of the Komitadji. In July of that year, he worked with the band of Christos Dellios of Gevgelija in order to locate and exterminate Apostol Petkov which resulted in failure. However, they were able to exterminate the Turkish Aga Kiose Emin,[5] who had a good relationship with the Komitadji. The killing of the Aga led to the arrest of Kapetan Lazos' brother, Traianos, by Ottoman authorities. Traianos was surrendered to the Bulgarian government and was promptly transferred to Sofia as he was still a formal member of the IMRO. Lazos followed him to Sofia and tried to assist in his failed escape which resulted in Traianos' death.
Kapetan Lazos returned to Macedonia (region) in early 1907 and formed a new armed band of 15 men, however, he had aroused the suspicion of the Macedonian Committee after his his journey to Sofia and had to regain their trust. He was able to obtain recommendations from various prefects and was once again allowed to take missions. He went on to work with Gonos Yotas around the Giannitsa Lake to exterminate Bulgarian Komitadjis and Romanian Guerillas.[6] Lazos and Gonos went from village to village to raise the morale of those aligned with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and at times, evaded Ottoman authorities by disguising themselves as ragged villagers.
In 1908, Kapetan Lazos continued his operations and engaged in many skirmishes against the Ottomans, Bulgarians, and Romanians.
After the Young Turk Revolution
Kapetan Lazos, like many other chieftains of the struggle, went to Athens following the Young Turk Revolution. However, after some time, it became obvious that the new administration of the Young Turks was not keeping many of its promises and persecution against the Greeks of Ottoman Macedonia resumed. Additionally, the Bulgarian Komitadji returned and terrorized the Greek population. Many of the Chieftains, Lazos included, worried for their families that remained in Macedonia. in the summer of 1910, Kapetan Lazos organized a group of men and re-entered Macedonia to resume his revolutionary operations and once again cooperated with Gonos Yotas as well as Georgios Karaiskakis (chieftain).[7]
In February of 1911, a fierce battle commenced against the Ottoman army by the Giannitsa Lake following a betrayal resulted in the death of Kapetan Gonos, leaving Kapetan Lazos in charge. Days later he was once again forced to take refuge in Athens to avoid Ottoman persecution, however, this would not last long as he would returned a few months later with a new band following reports of violence against Greeks. He became wanted by Ottoman authorities, declaring him dangerous.
During the summer of 1912, Kapetan Lazos kidnapped the son of a rich Bulgarian from Goumenissa by the name of Gotsos. He demanded a ransom but a Komitadji from Lazos' village convinced him to release the son without ransom.
Death
Kapetan Lazos Dogiamas was invited by the Komitadji discuss potential cooperation against the Ottomans. Various figures from each side attended the meeting. Once the meeting finished, a signal was given to the Bulgarians and, wielding axes, killed Kapetan Lazos and two other Greeks.[8]
His body was retrieved by his mother and was transported to the church of Agia Paraskevi in his village, where he was later buried in its cemetery.
Legacy
A bust of Lazos was erected in Goumenissa in 1967 and was unveiled by his widow, Aikaterini.
References
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. pp. 2–3.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. p. 3.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. p. 3.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. p. 4.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. p. 4.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. pp. 5, 11.
- ↑ Κολιόπουλος, Ιωαννης Κ. (2008). "Αφανείς, Γηγενείς Μακεδονομάχοι". University Studio Press. p. 94.
- ↑ Δογιάμας, Κωνσταντίνος. Οι Μακεδονομάχοι Αδελφοί Δογιάμα. University Studio Press. pp. 10–11.
External links
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