Antonio Figueira d’Almeida was a Portuguese philhellene whose life was a testament to his liberal and adventurous spirit.
Born in the city of Elvas, Portugal, on July 4, 1784, he came from a military family and followed in their footsteps, fighting bravely against Napoleon’s invasion of his homeland. His military career continued as he later fought against French forces supporting the Bourbon dynasty in Spain.
His destiny, however, was to be tied to Greece. Electrified by the Greek struggle for independence, Almeida arrived in Greece in September 1825. He volunteered for the regular Greek army, which the French General Fabiero was organizing.
Almeida’s valor quickly earned him a reputation. As a cavalry colonel, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Mehmetaga on July 18, 1826, earning the respect of Greek revolutionary hero Theodoros Kolokotronis, who recognized his skill and wanted him for more important operations.
However, political rivalries intervened, and Almeida was reassigned to Fabiero’s command. In 1827, he fought under the legendary Georgios Karaiskakis in Attica and later took part in the unsuccessful campaign to liberate Chios.
The Portuguese philhellene reorganized the Greek cavalry
After the revolution, Almeida continued to serve the newly formed Greek state. When Ioannis Kapodistrias arrived, Almeida was tasked with reorganizing the cavalry. His loyalty to Kapodistrias was unwavering, and on September 27, 1831, he played a crucial role in arresting Georgios Mavromichalis, one of Kapodistrias’s assassins, who had sought refuge at the French embassy. In recognition of his loyalty, he was named an honorary citizen of Nafplio and promoted to general.
But his career faced setbacks. With the arrival of King Otto, Almeida was demoted to colonel due to his pro-Kapodistrian views. He was assigned various garrison commands, including in Aegina and Messolonghi.
In 1837, his military prowess was once again highlighted when he suppressed the rebellion of Colonel Nikolaos Zervas, an action that led to his promotion to major general. He was later appointed military commander of Nafplio in 1839.
That same year, Almeida married Zoe Mavrokordatou, and they had two sons, Emmanuel and Dimitrios. He died on September 21, 1847, at the age of 64, near Venice.
Related: The History of the Greek War of Independence
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