Konstantinos Smolenskis

Konstantinos Smolenskis
Popular lithograph of Smolenskis during the 1897 war
Born	1843[1] Athens
Died	27 September 1915 Athens
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Service/branch	Hellenic Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	Greco-Turkish War of 1897
Other work	Minister for Military Affairs

Konstantinos Smolenskis or Smolents (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Σμολένσκης/Σμόλεντς, 1843–1915) was a Hellenic Army officer who distinguished himself in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.

He was born in 1842 in Athens,^[2] the son of general Leonidas Smolenskis, a Greco-Polish officer who had come to Greece as a volunteer during the Greek War of Independence.

He enrolled in the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating in 1862 as an artillery warrant officer. He later served as a professor in the Academy and in various positions, including field command of the 1st Infantry Division during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, two tenures as Minister for Military Affairs, and Member of Parliament.^[2] His successful resistance during the Battle of Velestino in 1897 was the only Greek success in the war, and helped to catapult him to the status of a national hero, as well as a field promotion to major general.

He retired on 27 March 1912 with the rank of lieutenant general, and died on 27 September 1915.^[2]

References

1. Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
2. Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική και Ναυτική Εγκυκλοπαιδεία. Τόμος Στ′: Σαράντα Εκκλησίαι – Ώχρα [Great Military and Naval Encyclopedia. Volume VI]. Athens. 1930. p. 87.