Poles in the Battle of Peta
12.04.2021
The town of Peta is situated on the border of Epirus and Aetolia-Acarnania region, approx. 5 km from the city of Arta. Today it is the capital of the commune of Nikolaos Skoufas. One of the most dramatic battles of the Greek Revolution took place there on July 4, 1822 (July 16 according to the Gregorian calendar).
On the Greek side, volunteers – Philhellenes from all over Europe – including a dozen or so Poles, joined the fight against the Turks. The Philhellens formed two units, and one of them was commanded by Polish officer Franciszek Mierzejewski.
Among the picturesque landscape on the mountain slope there is a marble monument commemorating the victims of the battle. There are eleven Polish-sounding names of the fallen soldiers on the commemorative plaque, although the number of Poles fighting at Peta could be up to 17.
The Battle of Peta ended with the defeat of the Greek and Philhellenic troops, despite the brave attitude, especially of the latter. In the last phase of the battle, Mierzejewski's unit was surrounded in the church in Peta and decimated. Only two Poles managed to survive.
A moving description of the last moments of Mierzejewski's life is published in the memoirs of his comrade-in-arms Johann Elster, who knew him as "Mizewsky": "Follow me! Compatriots, brave Poles, follow me for Victory or Death” - the commander exclaimed, and when the Turks surrounded the church where the unit was defending itself and climbed to the roof of the building, Poles no longer used swords, bayonets or knives, but fists, nails and teeth.