Lord Byron Arrives in Missolonghi to Lead the Greek Forces
Poet involved
What happened
On 24 December 1823 (Old Style) / 5 January 1824 (New Style), Byron arrived at Missolonghi, Greece, where he was warmly received by the Greek leaders and took command of the 'Byron Brigade,' a force of 500 Souliote soldiers, funding the Greek cause with his personal fortune.
Literary impact
Byron's arrival in Missolonghi represented the apotheosis of his life's arc from aristocratic poet to revolutionary leader, giving his poetry's celebration of heroic sacrifice a literal and ultimate expression; his presence at Missolonghi galvanized the Greek independence movement and made him an international symbol of the Romantic ideal of the poet as man of action, a legacy that would inspire generations of philhellenes and freedom fighters.
Source: Wikipedia
