Battle of Gravia

Gravia Inn

Date	8 May 1821
Location	Gravia, Greece
Result	Greek victory

Belligerents

Greek revolutionaries

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Odysseas Androutsos

Omer Vrioni

Strength

120 men

9,000 troops

Casualties and losses

300 dead,
800 wounded

The Battle of Gravia Inn (Greek: Μάχη στο Χάνι της Γραβιάς) was fought between Greek revolutionaries and the Ottoman Empire during the Greek War of Independence. The Greek leader, Odysseas Androutsos, with a group of 120 men repulsed an Ottoman army numbering 9,000 men and artillery under the command of Omer Vrioni.

The Ottoman army under the command of Omer Vrioni, following his defeat of the Greeks at the Battle of Alamana and the execution of their leader Athanasios Diakos, planned to attack the Peloponnese with an army of 9,000 men. However, his army was met by a Greek group numbering 120 men, under the command of Odysseas Androutsos, who had barricaded themselves inside an old inn. The Ottoman army surrounded the area and attacked the inn but were thrown back with heavy losses. While the Ottoman army paused their attacks to bring up the cannon, the Greeks slipped away and escaped through the Ottoman lines.

This attack is considered important to the outcome of the Greek revolution because it forced Omer Vrioni to retreat, leaving the Greeks to consolidate their gains in the Peloponnese and capture the Ottoman capital of the Peloponnese, Tripoli.

In May 1821, after crushing the Greek resistance at the Battle of Alamana and putting Athanasios Diakos to death, Omer Vrioni headed south into the Peloponnese from his base at Lamia, seeking to crush the Greek rebellion with an army of 9,000 men supported by artillery. However, as he was advancing, a Greek revolutionary soldier, Odysseas Androutsos together with 120 men barricaded himself in an old inn near the centre of the road.

The other two Greek captains who had come with Androutsos, Panourgias and Duovounitis, took their men and assumed higher position on other side of the road. They did this because they assumed that Androutsos' stand would end up a disaster like Alamana and being up high would allow them to retreat. When Vrioni arrived he dispersed his men through the hills and surrounded the inn. He sent a Dervish to negotiate with Androutsos, but when he was shot dead at the door Vrioni ordered the attack.

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