Ioannis Velissariou

Major

Ioannis Velissariou
Major; Ioannis Velissariou
	Velissariou in uniform.
Native name	Ιωάννης Βελισσαρίου
Nicknames	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
Branch	Hellenic Army
Service years	1887–1913
Rank	Major
Commands	4th Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion; 1/38 Evzone Regiment 9th Battalion;
Conflicts	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.