Fotios Chrysanthopoulos, known as Fotakos, the first in rank adjutant of Theodoros Kolokotronis, was born in 1798 in Magouliana. He was the youngest son of the priest- Giannakis. Although his brothers Anagnostis, Konstantinos, Panagiotis and Nikolaos kept the surname Papagiannakopoulos, peculiar Fotakos took the surname of his grandfather Chrysanthos.
In his youth, he attended the School of Magouliana . Since he was boisterous and quarrelsome, his father begged Polychronis Panagou or Mariolopoulos, a merchant in Russia, to take him along with other Magoulianians to Chisnovi (now Chisinau) in 1813 to find a better fortune working as a clerk in a commercial store. Once Filiki Eteria founded, Fotakos was initiated into the secrets and adopted an active part therein. When Alexander Ypsilantis went to Odessa in 1820, he appreciated his patriotic abilities and decided to send him to the Peloponnese to prepare the revolution.
As an envoy of Filiki Eteria, he personally brought messages to Kanellos Deligiannis, who was then the leader of the uprising. Fotakos’ participation in the Revolution was complete and effectual. Initially, he followed Kanellos Deligiannis and after the Karytaina camp was dissoluted, Theodoros Kolokotronis appointed him as adjutant. Under this capacity, he closely joined the whole development of Revolution in Morea.
In 1858 he settled in Dara where he wrote his memoirs. He lost his spouse and fathered no children. He spent the fortune of his wealthy wife helping fighters’ families suffering from poverty. He died poor in his shed in Tripoli on September 13th, 1878. For his contribution to the Revolution he did not ask for – and was not attributed – any honorary post or pension. He neither did frequent the palace, nor used to going to balls.
Books:
- Memoirs of the Greek Revolution (1858)
- The Life of Papaflessas (1868)
- Lives of Peloponnesian Men (1888)
He also wrote a collection of myths and proverbs as well as interesting reviews on several historical works of the time, edited by Sp. Trikoupis, I. Filimonas, Gennaios Kolokotronis, N. Spiliadis, etc.
Excerpt from the prologue of his memoirs:
“Friend Mr. Tertsetis!
So many of your motivations were heard in the last days of my life because I also saw myself that those educated ones who tried to write down the history of the struggle committed gross due to bad information they received from rumors and newspapers. They did the Greek things in awkward and incredible way, the country feels sorrowful and sigh, and the subsequent ones will curse on us, because we did not leave them a true history.
Your sincere friend, Fotakos”
