Nikolaos Dailakis

== Early life and family ==

== Early life and family ==

Dailakis was born in the village of [[Vernik]]i, [[Manastir Vilayet|Monastir Vilayet]] [[Ottoman Empire]] (now Vernik in southern [[Albania]]. He was the eldest son of Konstantinos Dailakis. His younger brother was named Ioannis His great-grandfather, also a Konstantinos Dailakis, had opposed for several years the [[Albanians|Albanian]] Sali Bey who wished to turn Verniki into his estate. His opposition continued and intensified with the [[Greek War of Independence]]. This resulted in a rivalry that would span generations.

Dailakis was born in the village of [[Vernik]]i, [[Manastir Vilayet|Monastir Vilayet]] [[Ottoman Empire]] (now Vernik in southern [[Albania]]. He was the eldest son of Konstantinos Dailakis. His younger brother was named Ioannis. His great-grandfather, also a Konstantinos Dailakis, had opposed for several years the [[Albanians|Albanian]] Sali Bey, who wished to turn Verniki into his estate. His opposition continued and intensified with the [[Greek War of Independence]]. This resulted in a rivalry that would span generations.

== Macedonian Struggle ==

== Macedonian Struggle ==

[[File:Lakis Dailakis.jpg|left|thumb|Nikolaos Dailakis in Makedonomachos uniform c. 1904-1908]]

[[File:Lakis Dailakis.jpg|left|thumb|Nikolaos Dailakis in Makedonomachos uniform c. 1904-1908]]

In 1900, at the age of 18, Nikolaos Dailakis killed Demir Aga, a descendant of Sali Bey whose family still ruled Verniki. With fear of retaliation against villagers, Dailakis surrendered and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, with the help of his uncle, Elias Kovatsidis, he was released on bail. On his return failed ambush by Demir Aga's family, made him leave the village and enter a life of theft. Until the end of 1901, he targeted local Ottoman dynasties in collaboration with the [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]].<ref>Βάρδας: Γεωργίου Τσόντου-Βάρδα. Ο μακεδονικός αγών / ημερολόγιο 1904-1905, εισαγωγή – επιμέλεια – σχόλια Γιώργος Πετσίβας, εκδόσεις Πετσίβα, А, Αθήνα 2003, 191.</ref> In 1902, he met [[Kottas|Konstantinos Kottas Christou]] in [[Korestia]] became a Makedonomachos under his command and fought against Bulgarians groups and Ottoman forces.<ref name="Dakin">{{cite book|last=Douglas|first=Dakin|authorlink=Douglas Dakin|title=The Greek struggle in Macedonia, 1897-1913|year=1993|publisher=Balkan Studies Research Center|pages=133, 254, 255|isbn=9789607387004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZItpAAAAMAAJ&q=dailakis}}</ref> With an increase in Bulgarian attacks on Greek villages, Nikolaos Dailakis with the assistance of his father, Konstantinos, who was a prefect in [[Vernik]]i, set up a network of organizations in the regions of [[Korestia]], [[Prespa]], and [[Devoll (municipality)|Devolis]] to protect Greeks and Greek interests.

In 1900, at the age of 18, Nikolaos Dailakis killed Demir Aga, a descendant of Sali Bey, whose family still ruled Verniki. With fear of retaliation against villagers, Dailakis surrendered and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, with the help of his uncle, Elias Kovatsidis, he was released on bail. On his return failed ambush by Demir Aga's family, made him leave the village and enter a life of theft. Until the end of 1901, he targeted local Ottoman dynasties in collaboration with the [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]].<ref>Βάρδας: Γεωργίου Τσόντου-Βάρδα. Ο μακεδονικός αγών / ημερολόγιο 1904-1905, εισαγωγή – επιμέλεια – σχόλια Γιώργος Πετσίβας, εκδόσεις Πετσίβα, А, Αθήνα 2003, 191.</ref> In 1902, he met [[Kottas|Konstantinos Kottas Christou]] in [[Korestia]] became a Makedonomachos under his command and fought against Bulgarian groups and Ottoman forces.<ref name="Dakin">{{cite book|last=Douglas|first=Dakin|authorlink=Douglas Dakin|title=The Greek struggle in Macedonia, 1897-1913|year=1993|publisher=Balkan Studies Research Center|pages=133, 254, 255|isbn=9789607387004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZItpAAAAMAAJ&q=dailakis}}</ref> With an increase in Bulgarian attacks on Greek villages, Nikolaos Dailakis, with the assistance of his father, Konstantinos, who was a prefect in [[Vernik]]i, set up a network of organizations in the regions of [[Korestia]], [[Prespa]], and [[Devoll (municipality)|Devolis]] to protect Greeks and Greek interests.

Following the failed [[Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising]] and the unfavourable conditions it had produced for the Greeks and other Christian populations, Nikolaos Dailakis traveled to boost morale and revitalize the Greek organizations of the region. With the Bulgarians having turned on the Greeks following the uprising, had begun to terrorize the Greek population and had committed brutal killings and torture of several relatives and friends of Dailakis and [[Kottas]]. The two Makedonomachoi took revenge a few days later by killing [[Komitadji]], Dine Yannev, and arresting [[Lazar Poptraykov]], sentencing him to death (he later escaped).

Following the failed [[Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising]] and the unfavourable conditions it had produced for the Greeks and other Christian populations, Nikolaos Dailakis traveled to boost morale and revitalize the Greek organizations of the region. With the Bulgarians having turned on the Greeks following the uprising, they had begun to terrorize the Greek population and had committed brutal killings and torture of several relatives and friends of Dailakis and [[Kottas]]. The two Makedonomachoi took revenge a few days later by killing [[Komitadji]], Dine Yannev, and arresting [[Lazar Poptraykov]], sentencing him to death (he later escaped).

After the death of [[Kottas]] in 1904, Nikolaos Dailakis would get in contact with many other chieftains, regional Greek elites, and church officials to organize armed resistance groups. He then went to [[Kastoria]] where he had meetings with [[Germanos Karavangelis]] to discuss resistance of Bulgarian pressure to join the [[Bulgarian Exarchate|Exarchate]]. There he also managed to derail a network of [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization|IMRO]] Exarch informants.

After the death of [[Kottas]] in 1904, Nikolaos Dailakis would get in contact with many other chieftains, regional Greek elites, and church officials to organize armed resistance groups. He then went to [[Kastoria]] where he had meetings with [[Germanos Karavangelis]] to discuss the resistance of Bulgarian pressure to join the [[Bulgarian Exarchate|Exarchate]]. There he also managed to derail a network of [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization|IMRO]] Exarch informants.

[[File:Laki Delio and his band.jpg|thumb|Nikolaos Dailakis with his band (1904-1908).]]

[[File:Laki Delio and his band.jpg|thumb|Nikolaos Dailakis with his band (1904-1908).]]

In early 1905, Nikolaos Dailakis arrested and executed [[Komitadji]] Christos Sapkarov and raided Bulgarian hideout with other Chieftains such as [[Georgios Tsontos]]. In April, he was involved in smuggling and in procuring [[Mannlicher–Schönauer|Mannlicher]] rifles and ammunition for the Makedonomachoi. Throughout the rest of the year he was involved in many clashes with the Bulgarians, Ottomans, and even an Albanian armed group and were successful in eliminating several Bulgarian sympathizers. The efforts of Dailakis resulted in the intensified use of resources of his opponents and many attempts were made on his life.

In early 1905, Nikolaos Dailakis arrested and executed [[Komitadji]] Christos Sapkarov and raided a Bulgarian hideout with other Chieftains such as [[Georgios Tsontos]]. In April, he was involved in smuggling and in procuring [[Mannlicher–Schönauer|Mannlicher]] rifles and ammunition for the Makedonomachoi. Throughout the rest of the year, he was involved in many clashes with the Bulgarians, Ottomans, and even an Albanian armed group, and was successful in eliminating several Bulgarian sympathizers. The efforts of Dailakis resulted in the intensified use of the resources of his opponents, and many attempts were made on his life.

In 1907, he left for [[Athens]] for the arrangement of weapon procurements and on his return, exterminated the Romanian Tsakamakas, who was partially responsible for the betrayal that resulted in the death of [[Pavlos Melas]] in 1904. He was eventually arrested by Ottoman authorities but was given amnesty following the [[Young Turk Revolution]]. Upon his release he was marked for assassination by the Turkish organization "Cemiet" leaving him under constant pursuit.

In 1907, he left for [[Athens]] for the arrangement of weapon procurements and on his return, exterminated the Romanian Tsakamakas, who were partially responsible for the betrayal that resulted in the death of [[Pavlos Melas]] in 1904. He was eventually arrested by Ottoman authorities but was given amnesty following the [[Young Turk Revolution]]. Upon his release, he was marked for assassination by the Turkish organization "Cemiet", leaving him under constant pursuit.

During the struggle he was also ransomed by the local Ottoman landlord Hussein bey, but despite his hideout near [[Hoçisht]] was surrounded, he managed to escape.<ref name="Dakin" />

During the struggle he was also ransomed by the local Ottoman landlord Hussein bey, but despite his hideout near [[Hoçisht]] was surrounded, he managed to escape.<ref name="Dakin" />