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Orlofika

In the spring of 1770 a group of a few naval ships disembarked in Itilo by order of the Russian Empress Catherine II, who a year ago had declared war against the Turks, having the officers of Tsar Guard Alexander and Theodoro Orlof in command.

In the beginning, with the help of the revolted Greeks, Mystra and Navarino were conquered. In Tripoli, however, they failed, having as a result the prosecution and massacre of Greek while in Koroni they could not conquest the fort; and after two months the siege was stopped. The same took place in Methoni where after ten days of cruel siege they were forced to leave their positions, since 8000 Albanians had strengthened the Turkish forces.

The Russians decide to leave also Navarino. They gather their ammunition and allowed the boarding only of a few Greek leaders on their ships, leaving at the mercy of the Albanians, the rest of the Greeks. Following the withdrawal of Russian, the Turks kept Niokastro for another 50 years, until the Greek Revolution (1821).

The impact of a failed revolution, which was called Orlofika, was tragic because, apart from the massacres, at least 30,000 Greeks abandoned the Peloponnese, heading to the Ionian Islands and Sicily. The picture of devastation and destruction was dominating in the settlements of the Peloponnese and in particular those of Messinia.