The Massacre of Naoussa or Destruction of Naoussa was a bloody event of the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

that occurred on 13 April 1822.

Events before the siege

Plans for the upcoming revolution had already begun in the region long before its outbreak, so the Ottomans decided to take measures to prevent it. In January 1821 the ''

wali The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...

'' of

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; ), also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece (with slightly over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area) and the capital cit ...

Ebu Lubut imprisoned members of some of the most important families of West Macedonia. Some, however, like the "warband" leaders Anastasios Karatasos and Angelis Gatsos and also the notable Zafeirakis Theodosiou refused to surrender themselves to Ottoman authorities. After the arrests they gathered in a church and declared revolution against the Ottoman rule. This group ultimately marshaled 1,800 people to strike back as a rebellion, Veroia, but the attack failed when Ottoman reinforcements arrived. Naredba za Negusko vostanie

The siege

Ebu Lubut then led the attack against Naoussa, at the head of 20,000 men. The city was defended by 4,000-5,000 Greek rebels. On 26 March Ebu Lubut requested that the rebels give up and let his forces occupy the city. The Ottomans began an organised siege at the beginning of April with multiple forces attacking the city. On April 12 the Ottomans bombarded the city and destroyed the gates, capturing the city. It followed a general massacre of the population, up to 5,000 according to Spyridon Trikoupis. {{coord missing, Greece 1822 in Greece Massacres in 1822 Massacres during the Greek War of Independence Massacres committed by the Ottoman Empire Massacres of Christians in the Ottoman Empire Imathia Persecution of Greeks in the Ottoman Empire April 1822 Massacres of Greeks