Battle of Arachova

Battle of Arachova
Part of the Greek War of Independence
The Battle of Arachova by Peter von Hess
Date 18–24 November 1826 (N.S.) Location Arachova, Sanjak of Eğriboz, Ottoman Empire (now Boeotia, Greece) Result Greek victory
Belligerents
First Hellenic Republic	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Georgios Karaiskakis Nikitas Stamatelopoulos[1]	Mustafa Bey † Kehaya † Abdullah Agha
Strength
950	2,000
Casualties and losses
12 killed 20 injured	1,700 killed 50 captured

The Battle of Arachova (Greek: Μάχη της Αράχωβας), took place between 18 and 24 November 1826 (N.S.). It was fought between an Ottoman Empire force under the command of Mustafa Bey and Greek rebels under Georgios Karaiskakis. After receiving intelligence of the Ottoman army's maneuvers, Karaiskakis prepared a surprise attack in vicinity of the village of Arachova, in central Greece. On 18 November, Mustafa Bey's 2,000 Ottoman troops were blockaded in Arachova. An 800-man force that attempted to relieve the defenders three days later failed.

On 22 November Mustafa Bey was mortally wounded and Ottoman morale plunged, as cold weather and heavy rainfall plagued the hunger-stricken defenders. At midday on 24 November the Ottomans made a disastrous attempt at breaking out. Most were killed in the fighting or perished from the cold. The Greek victory at Arachova gained the rebels valuable time before the Great Powers came to their assistance a year later.