Pilios Gousisby an unknown artist
By Stylianos Kavazis, Researcher
Translated into English and republished with the author's permission
The reason for this tribute was an older article written by the otherwise remarkable journalist Manolis Kottakis in the newspaper Estia, where once again I saw the name of Pilios Gousis being (perhaps unintentionally) incorrectly used as a synonym for betrayal. This article saddened and deeply troubled me because behind this name is not a traitor, but a man who fought, suffered and died for freedom. I therefore felt the need to pick up the thread of this old, but always open historical injustice, and to seek the truth through the facts and sources, beyond the stereotypes and traditions.
In our national memory there are figures who were stamped with indelible labels. Pilios Gousis is perhaps the most wronged of all. For almost two centuries, his name has been synonymous with betrayal, the man who “opened” the gate of the heroic Souli to the Turks in 1803. On the other hand, however, research, logic and historical documentation reveal a completely different truth, that Pilios Gousis was not a traitor, but one of the courageous Souliotes who fought, suffered and fell for freedom.
The story of the “traitor Gousis” begins from the pages of the not-so-reliable author Christoforos Perraivos, the first to record the fall of Souli. There, through personal confrontations and factional disputes between the major Souliote families, Perraivos mentioned Gousis as an accomplice of Ali Pasha.
Perraivos, however, seems not to have been particularly objective. As a loyalist of the Tzavelas clan, he passionately opposed the Botsaris clan, to which Pilios Gousis was loyal to. A year before the second edition of his book, at the Assembly of Corfu, Perraivos asked the Souliotes to appoint him as a proxy to a committee that would go to Vienna to seek the support of Emperor Alexander of Russia. According to historical sources, Pilios Gousis seems to have scolded him, telling him emphatically: “Perraivos, the Souliotes have a man to defend their rights!”
This seems to explain a lot about the [different] editions of Perraivos’ book. The first edition of 1803, at the same time as the events in Souli were taking place, mentions Giorgis Botsaris, Palaskas, Diamantis Zervas and the elder Koutsonikas as those responsible for the fall and destruction of Souli. Gousis' name does not appear anywhere in the first edition. His name was added "magically" only in the two subsequent editions, that of 1815 and 1857, that is, after the scolding at the Assembly of Corfu, suggesting that Gousis' "betrayal" was more likely the product of political and personal conflicts than a historical event.
According to established historical tradition, Gousis supposedly pointed out to the Turks an unguarded path leading to Kougi, betraying his compatriots in exchange for money. No evidence confirms this claim. On the contrary, modern historical studies show that the house in which the 200 Ottoman Albanians were fortified during the attack belonged to Gousis himself, who was fighting in Kiafa at that time. This “coincidence”, as historian Kougiteas notes, was enough to tarnish his name.
If he had indeed betrayed, the Souliotes themselves, known for their strict unwritten laws of honor, would have executed him immediately. Instead, Pilios Gousis remained active within the community, participating in councils, battles and missions, a fact that proves that he was never considered a traitor by his fellow soldiers.
His real name was Spyros Pousbos. After the capitulation of the Souliotes, he fled to Corfu, where he was initiated into the secret organization Filiki Eteria in 1819, an honor that no one "suspected" [of being a traitor] could ever enjoy. His membership there demonstrates the appreciation and trust shown to him by the most dedicated freedom fighters.
With the beginning of the Revolution of 1821, Gousis fought in Epirus and later in Messolonghi, where he wrote the final chapter of his life. Together with the Tzavelas clan, the Veikos clan and the other Souliotes, he stood at the forefront of the defense, fighting selflessly. Nikolaos Kasomoulis mentions him as one of the most unyielding fighters during the siege, noting Gousis' characteristic battle cry:
"We're not going anywhere! We'll die here, and whoever has the heart to bear it, let him start and see!"
In April 1826, Pilios Gousis fell fighting at the Exodus of Messolonghi. His name is today engraved at the Monument to the Fallen where he truly belongs among the heroes of Freedom.
It took almost two centuries for his name to be restored. Historians such as Kougiteas, G. Vlachogiannis and newer researchers have brought to light evidence that dispels the myth of betrayal. Society, however, still continues (mainly due to ignorance) to use the phrase "[he] became Gousis" as a synonym for traitor, an injustice that was transmitted from generation to generation.
History, however, is not a harsh judge; it is a living process of reparation. When evidence refutes legends, the truth must take its place and in the case of Pilios Gousis, the truth is now indisputable. Gousis did not betray, he fought, suffered and fell as a hero.
Restoring the honor of Pilios Gousis is not just a historical issue, it is an act of moral maturity of a people who respect the truth and their past. Instead of erecting statues and naming streets after divisive politicians like Ioannis Kolettis or Alexandros Mavrokordatos, figures that History itself has already judged as serving their own self-interests, perhaps the time has finally come to honor those who truly deserve it.
And if today, in modern Greece, some want to characterize a person as a "traitor" and liken him to someone from the past, let them search our history better, thank God, it is full of real traitors. We do not need to tarnish, out of ignorance or convenience, the memory of those who fought for our homeland and freedom.
Gousis name is engraved at the Memorial of Messolonghi where history is not written with lies, but with blood. That martyred blood was celebrated during the bicentennial of the most glorious day for the Greek Nation. Time, the unforgiving judge, has restored his memory. If we are not yet mature enough to give him the honors he deserves, let us at least do the minimum, to stop tarnishing his name because Pilios Gousis never betrayed. But it was through history that his truth was betrayed.
Translated into English and republished with the author's permission
The reason for this tribute was an older article written by the otherwise remarkable journalist Manolis Kottakis in the newspaper Estia, where once again I saw the name of Pilios Gousis being (perhaps unintentionally) incorrectly used as a synonym for betrayal. This article saddened and deeply troubled me because behind this name is not a traitor, but a man who fought, suffered and died for freedom. I therefore felt the need to pick up the thread of this old, but always open historical injustice, and to seek the truth through the facts and sources, beyond the stereotypes and traditions.
In our national memory there are figures who were stamped with indelible labels. Pilios Gousis is perhaps the most wronged of all. For almost two centuries, his name has been synonymous with betrayal, the man who “opened” the gate of the heroic Souli to the Turks in 1803. On the other hand, however, research, logic and historical documentation reveal a completely different truth, that Pilios Gousis was not a traitor, but one of the courageous Souliotes who fought, suffered and fell for freedom.
The story of the “traitor Gousis” begins from the pages of the not-so-reliable author Christoforos Perraivos, the first to record the fall of Souli. There, through personal confrontations and factional disputes between the major Souliote families, Perraivos mentioned Gousis as an accomplice of Ali Pasha.
Perraivos, however, seems not to have been particularly objective. As a loyalist of the Tzavelas clan, he passionately opposed the Botsaris clan, to which Pilios Gousis was loyal to. A year before the second edition of his book, at the Assembly of Corfu, Perraivos asked the Souliotes to appoint him as a proxy to a committee that would go to Vienna to seek the support of Emperor Alexander of Russia. According to historical sources, Pilios Gousis seems to have scolded him, telling him emphatically: “Perraivos, the Souliotes have a man to defend their rights!”
This seems to explain a lot about the [different] editions of Perraivos’ book. The first edition of 1803, at the same time as the events in Souli were taking place, mentions Giorgis Botsaris, Palaskas, Diamantis Zervas and the elder Koutsonikas as those responsible for the fall and destruction of Souli. Gousis' name does not appear anywhere in the first edition. His name was added "magically" only in the two subsequent editions, that of 1815 and 1857, that is, after the scolding at the Assembly of Corfu, suggesting that Gousis' "betrayal" was more likely the product of political and personal conflicts than a historical event.
According to established historical tradition, Gousis supposedly pointed out to the Turks an unguarded path leading to Kougi, betraying his compatriots in exchange for money. No evidence confirms this claim. On the contrary, modern historical studies show that the house in which the 200 Ottoman Albanians were fortified during the attack belonged to Gousis himself, who was fighting in Kiafa at that time. This “coincidence”, as historian Kougiteas notes, was enough to tarnish his name.
If he had indeed betrayed, the Souliotes themselves, known for their strict unwritten laws of honor, would have executed him immediately. Instead, Pilios Gousis remained active within the community, participating in councils, battles and missions, a fact that proves that he was never considered a traitor by his fellow soldiers.
His real name was Spyros Pousbos. After the capitulation of the Souliotes, he fled to Corfu, where he was initiated into the secret organization Filiki Eteria in 1819, an honor that no one "suspected" [of being a traitor] could ever enjoy. His membership there demonstrates the appreciation and trust shown to him by the most dedicated freedom fighters.
With the beginning of the Revolution of 1821, Gousis fought in Epirus and later in Messolonghi, where he wrote the final chapter of his life. Together with the Tzavelas clan, the Veikos clan and the other Souliotes, he stood at the forefront of the defense, fighting selflessly. Nikolaos Kasomoulis mentions him as one of the most unyielding fighters during the siege, noting Gousis' characteristic battle cry:
"We're not going anywhere! We'll die here, and whoever has the heart to bear it, let him start and see!"
In April 1826, Pilios Gousis fell fighting at the Exodus of Messolonghi. His name is today engraved at the Monument to the Fallen where he truly belongs among the heroes of Freedom.
It took almost two centuries for his name to be restored. Historians such as Kougiteas, G. Vlachogiannis and newer researchers have brought to light evidence that dispels the myth of betrayal. Society, however, still continues (mainly due to ignorance) to use the phrase "[he] became Gousis" as a synonym for traitor, an injustice that was transmitted from generation to generation.
History, however, is not a harsh judge; it is a living process of reparation. When evidence refutes legends, the truth must take its place and in the case of Pilios Gousis, the truth is now indisputable. Gousis did not betray, he fought, suffered and fell as a hero.
Restoring the honor of Pilios Gousis is not just a historical issue, it is an act of moral maturity of a people who respect the truth and their past. Instead of erecting statues and naming streets after divisive politicians like Ioannis Kolettis or Alexandros Mavrokordatos, figures that History itself has already judged as serving their own self-interests, perhaps the time has finally come to honor those who truly deserve it.
And if today, in modern Greece, some want to characterize a person as a "traitor" and liken him to someone from the past, let them search our history better, thank God, it is full of real traitors. We do not need to tarnish, out of ignorance or convenience, the memory of those who fought for our homeland and freedom.
Gousis name is engraved at the Memorial of Messolonghi where history is not written with lies, but with blood. That martyred blood was celebrated during the bicentennial of the most glorious day for the Greek Nation. Time, the unforgiving judge, has restored his memory. If we are not yet mature enough to give him the honors he deserves, let us at least do the minimum, to stop tarnishing his name because Pilios Gousis never betrayed. But it was through history that his truth was betrayed.
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