Domna Visvizi byI. Theodoridou
By Stylianos Kavazis, Researcher
Translated into English and republished with the author's permission
At the mouth of the Evros River, in the ancient city of Ainos (today Enez, Turkey), a woman was born in 1783 whose fate would not only see her simply live, but will see her write her own history with courage and blood. Domna Visvizi, a proud Thracian noblewoman, captain and fighter, would become the “Woman of the Seas,” the woman who would not fear any wave, any enemy, any loss.
In 1808 she married Hatzi-Antonis Visvizis, a shipowner and member of the secret organization Filiki Eteria. With him she embarked on sea voyages, following him on his revolutionary missions. When in February 1821 the flame of the Greek Revolution was lit in Moldavia, Hatzi-Antonis equipped his best ship, the “Kalomira,” with 16 cannons and a crew of 140 sailors, and rushed into battle. Domna, along with their five children, took an active role in the crew and in the administration, next to her husband, keeping the flame of freedom alive.
From the first days of the Revolution, the Visvizi family transported weapons and ammunition from Constantinople to Mount Athos, supporting Emmanuel Pappas in his incitement of the Greeks in Macedonia. After the failure of the revolution in Halkidiki, they participated in operations further south, in Central Greece, and in the naval battles of Athos, Lesvos, Samos and Agia Marina in Lamia. Domna was there, organizing the crew, protecting her children, but also fighting bravely alongside her husband. In early 1822, the "Kalomira" supported the operations of Dimitrios Ypsilantis, Odysseas Androutsos and Nikitaras on Olympus and in Agia Marina, preventing Mahmud Dramali Pasha from descending to Central Greece. The letters of the chieftains, such as that of Odysseas Androutsos, testify to her decisive role; her ship provided cannons and support, saving thousands of lives and ensuring the success of strategic operations.
When on July 21, 1822, Hatzi-Antonis was killed in the naval battle of Evripos, Domna took full command of the "Kalomira," demanding that her dead husband be taken down to the cargo hold and continuing the siege without interruption. For three years, alone, and a widow with five children, she crossed the Greek seas, transporting troops, munitions and hope to every city and island that thirsted for freedom.
The "Kalomira" was renamed "Domna" and continued to take part in naval battles and transport military material. When the ship was worn out by the continuous battles, it was handed over to the people of Hydra in 1824 to be converted into a fire ship. Despite the wear and tear, the same ship continued on its glory, with Admiral Pipinos eventually using it to blow up the Turkish frigate which was guarding the Sultan's treasure.
Despite her heroic deeds, however, Domna lived the last years of her life in absolute poverty. Losing a child in the famine of 1826, she settled with her other children in Nafplio and later in Ermoupolis on the island of Syros, where she was exploited by swindlers and abandoned by the state. A letter she sent to Governor Kapodistrias captured her despair and anguish, asking for the slightest help to save her children from starvation. In a portion of the letter she wrote:
Translated into English and republished with the author's permission
At the mouth of the Evros River, in the ancient city of Ainos (today Enez, Turkey), a woman was born in 1783 whose fate would not only see her simply live, but will see her write her own history with courage and blood. Domna Visvizi, a proud Thracian noblewoman, captain and fighter, would become the “Woman of the Seas,” the woman who would not fear any wave, any enemy, any loss.
In 1808 she married Hatzi-Antonis Visvizis, a shipowner and member of the secret organization Filiki Eteria. With him she embarked on sea voyages, following him on his revolutionary missions. When in February 1821 the flame of the Greek Revolution was lit in Moldavia, Hatzi-Antonis equipped his best ship, the “Kalomira,” with 16 cannons and a crew of 140 sailors, and rushed into battle. Domna, along with their five children, took an active role in the crew and in the administration, next to her husband, keeping the flame of freedom alive.
From the first days of the Revolution, the Visvizi family transported weapons and ammunition from Constantinople to Mount Athos, supporting Emmanuel Pappas in his incitement of the Greeks in Macedonia. After the failure of the revolution in Halkidiki, they participated in operations further south, in Central Greece, and in the naval battles of Athos, Lesvos, Samos and Agia Marina in Lamia. Domna was there, organizing the crew, protecting her children, but also fighting bravely alongside her husband. In early 1822, the "Kalomira" supported the operations of Dimitrios Ypsilantis, Odysseas Androutsos and Nikitaras on Olympus and in Agia Marina, preventing Mahmud Dramali Pasha from descending to Central Greece. The letters of the chieftains, such as that of Odysseas Androutsos, testify to her decisive role; her ship provided cannons and support, saving thousands of lives and ensuring the success of strategic operations.
When on July 21, 1822, Hatzi-Antonis was killed in the naval battle of Evripos, Domna took full command of the "Kalomira," demanding that her dead husband be taken down to the cargo hold and continuing the siege without interruption. For three years, alone, and a widow with five children, she crossed the Greek seas, transporting troops, munitions and hope to every city and island that thirsted for freedom.
The "Kalomira" was renamed "Domna" and continued to take part in naval battles and transport military material. When the ship was worn out by the continuous battles, it was handed over to the people of Hydra in 1824 to be converted into a fire ship. Despite the wear and tear, the same ship continued on its glory, with Admiral Pipinos eventually using it to blow up the Turkish frigate which was guarding the Sultan's treasure.
Despite her heroic deeds, however, Domna lived the last years of her life in absolute poverty. Losing a child in the famine of 1826, she settled with her other children in Nafplio and later in Ermoupolis on the island of Syros, where she was exploited by swindlers and abandoned by the state. A letter she sent to Governor Kapodistrias captured her despair and anguish, asking for the slightest help to save her children from starvation. In a portion of the letter she wrote:
“…I know that I seem not only annoying and boring, but also bold. But great necessity compels me and rather forces me! Due to the ongoing famine, starvation and extreme poverty, I have become bedridden in a foreign place, far from my unfortunate orphans and minors. I am not in a position to return to them, because I have been left deserted and deprived of this temporary food, [and] we are in danger of dying of hunger! As God is my witness, I do not even have the necessary expenses to return to my unfortunate family… The father of my minor orphans sacrificed both life and fortune for the sake of the nation, [and] his children are starving, dying of hunger! Does the nation not feel pity? They are in danger and will soon perish… I am running to your innate charity, warmly begging you to grant me even a small sum, so that I may take care of and be able to relieve my children and reach them before they perish from starvation.
Her Excellency's servant, the unfortunate widow Domna Visvizi"
Domna Visvizi died in 1850, destitute, in Piraeus. But her story should not be forgotten. The Thracian captain, the Woman of the Seas, the mother, the fighter, remains a symbol of courage, self-sacrifice and an indomitable spirit.
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