Ahmed Karamanides

Ahmed Karamanides, sometimes known as Adam Karamanides, was a Theodoran revolutionary, military leader, and statesman of Crimean Tatar descent. Born in 1789 to a Tatar family that had converted to Orthodox Christianity, Karamanides gained prominence as a peasant leader during the Theodoran Revolution of 1819. After joining with Alexandros Kanaris to lead the peasant-footsoldier faction to victory, Karamanides became a Consul (joint head of state) of the new Republic of Theodoro. Soon after becoming Consul, Karamanides became involved in the cause of the Greek revolutionaries, and participated in the formation of Revolutionary Rumelia, allying with various Maniot, Continental Greek, Insular, and Danubian entities against the Ottoman Empire. Theodoran support, coupled with Karamanides' close relationship with the leaders of Russia, has been cited as a key reason for the success of the Greek revolutionaries in defeating the Ottomans and establishing the First Hellenic Republic; nonetheless, the Greeks soon seceded from Rumelia. Karamanides subsequently oversaw the consolidation of the alliance's remaining members, the Republic of Theodoro and the Military-Political System of Samos, into a new, more unified state, known colloquially as Theodoro-Samos. Karamanides went on to serve three non-consecutive terms as a Consul of Theodoro-Samos, remaining politically active until his death in 1838.