Manthos Papagiannis

Manthos or Matthaios Papagiannis (Greek: Μάνθος or Ματθαίος Παπαγιάννης, ? – died between 1580 and 1596) was a Greek noble and revolutionary. He was involved in various plots to overthrow Ottoman rule in the northern regions of Epirus. For many years, Papagiannis attempted to convince various rulers of Western Europe to lend him military support for an uprising against the Ottoman Empire.

Papagiannis was born in Argyrocastro, Epirus region, Ottoman Empire (modern Gjirokastër, southern Albania) to a local Greek family. He was one of the representatives of the town's Greek community. Papagiannis was one of the most active merchants in his homeland as well as in the nearby Venetian possessions on the Ionian coast.

Papagiannis organized a rebellion against Ottoman rule after the Battle of Lepanto (1571), where the Ottoman fleet was defeated by the Holy League. He initiated correspondence with various Western European rulers, where he propagated that his compatriots were eager to cast off Ottoman rule. He also claimed that a victory could be easily achieved with the creation of an anti-Ottoman alliance with the local Greek subjects. In 1572, after securing the support of various local Orthodox metropolitan bishops, especially Joachim of Ohrid, he moved to Venice. There he negotiated with Doge Sebastiano Venier for the possibility of Venetian involvement in the revolt. In February–April 1572, a Venetian fleet of twelve galleys was ready to attack the coastal region of Delvine. However, Venier recalled the attack order, in fear that his manpower was not enough for a successful assault. The Venetian activity was limited to a minor raid against the coastal village of Mazaraki on the Ionian coast. Nevertheless, Venice ultimately decided to make peace with the Ottomans and Papagiannis's proposals were dismissed.

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