From the island of Hydra, Antonis Oikonomou (1786 – December 16, 1821) was a Greek rebel and Naval Captain during the Greek War of Independence.
A sailor from a young age already had his ship, which ended up being sunk off Gibraltar.
Following this event, he headed to Constantinople to commission a new one, and while there, Papaflessas initiated him into Filiki Etaireia.
Oikonomou dedicated himself to the mission of the Greek liberation struggle, a desire he brought back with him to Hydra.
At the time, Hydra was full of wealthy families and shipowners who had a good thing going under the Turks or did not believe independence via a Revolution could be achieved right at that moment.
Feeling sidelined by Oikonomou’s plans, the islanders opposed him.
However, with the help of the members of Filiki Eteria from the Peloponnese, he landed on the island (30 March 1821) and expelled the governor, Nikolaos Kokovilas.
The leaders of Hydra, knowing that most of Oikonomou’s supporters were sailors and already out on the seas, grabbed their opportunity to charge and arrest him.
After he was read his charges, his relatives intervened and managed to help him escape to the town of Kranidi in the Peloponnese. There, he was arrested again and put behind bars.
Once more, though, he escaped and travelled to Argos to meet with other revolutionary figures.
Hearing this, the leaders of Hydra worried that he would drum up help against them, so they sent a military contingent to kill him.
Revolutionary leader Theodoros Kolokotronis discovered their plans and dispatched 200 men under Tsokris to protect Oikonomou.
The men did not succeed in reaching him on time, and he was killed on December 16, 1821.
In later years, however, Hydra did come to play a major role in the Greek Independence struggle under the leadership of Andreas Miaoulis.
READ MORE: EFTHYMIOS KAOUDIS: Hero of the Cretan Revolt, Macedonian Struggle and Balkan Wars.
