Ioannis Velissariou

Major

Ioannis Velissariou
Major; Ioannis Velissariou
	Velissariou in uniform.
Native name	Ιωάννης Βελισσαρίου
Nickname(s)	Hero of the Heroes; Ήρωας των Ηρώων; Black Rider; Μαύρος Καβαλάρης
Born	26 November 1861; Ploiești, United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (now Romania)
Died	13 July 1913; Gradevo, Tsardom of Bulgaria
Cause of death	Killed in action
Buried	Summit 1378, near Gradevo, Bulgaria
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Service / branch	Hellenic Army
Years of service	1887–1913
Rank	Major
Commands	4th Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion; 1/38 Evzone Regiment 9th Battalion;
Battles / wars	Greco-Turkish War (1897); Balkan Wars First Balkan War Battle of Sarantaporo; Battle of Yenidje; Battle of Bizani; ; Second Balkan War Battle of Kilkis-Lachanas; Battle of Kresna Gorge †; ; ;
Awards	Order of the Redeemer

Ioannis Velissariou (Greek: Ιωάννης Βελισσαρίου, 26 November 1861 – 13 July 1913) was a Hellenic Army officer and hero of the Balkan Wars. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the military history of modern Greece. He had a decisive role in the Battle of Bizani during the First Balkan War (1912–1913), forcing the Ottoman Army to surrender unconditionally.