Alexander Ypsilantis (1792–1828)

Alexander Ypsilantis (1792–1828)
Ypsilantis in Filiki Eteria attire National Historical Museum of Greece
Native name	Greek: Αλέξανδρος Υψηλάντης Romanian: Alexandru Ipsilanti Russian: Александр Константинович Ипсиланти
Born	December 12, 1792 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died	January 31, 1828 (aged 35) Vienna, Austrian Empire
Allegiance	Russian Empire Greek revolutionaries
Years of service	1805–1821
Rank	Major general
Battles/wars	Napoleonic Wars Battle of Dresden Greek War of Independence Battle of Dragashani

Napoleonic Wars

Greek War of Independence

Alexander Ypsilantis, Ypsilanti, or Alexandros Ypsilantis (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Υψηλάντης Alexandros Yipsilantis; Romanian: Alexandru Ipsilanti; Russian: Александр Константинович Ипсиланти Aleksandr Konstantinovich Ipsilanti; 12 December 1792 – 31 January 1828), was a member of a prominent Phanariot Greek family, a prince of the Danubian Principalities, a senior officer of the Imperial Russian cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars, and a leader of the Filiki Eteria, a secret organization that coordinated the beginning of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. He should not be confused with his namesake grandfather, a Prince of Wallachia and Moldavia at the end of the 18th century.

The Ypsilantis family hailed from the Pontian population of Trabzon. He was born on 12 December 1792 in Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, as the eldest of three brothers (the others being Nicholas and Demetrios). His father Constantine Ypsilantis and grandfather Alexander were active in the Ottoman administration and highly educated, each with their own share of service as a dragoman in the Sultan's court and as hospodars of the Danubian Principalities.