Konstantinos Sapountzakis
Konstantinos Sapountzakis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Σαπουντζάκης; c. 1846–1931) was a Hellenic Army officer. He is notable as the first head of the Hellenic Army General Staff and as the first commander of the Army of Epirus during the First Balkan War.
Konstantinos Sapountzakis
c. 1846
Rethymno, Crete, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
c. 1931 (aged 84–85)
Athens, Second Hellenic Republic
1865–1913
Grand Commander of the Order of the Redeemer
Vasileios Sapountzakis (Father)
Aide-de-Camp to Crown Prince Constantine
Director of the Army Pension Fund
Early career[edit]
The son of Lieutenant General Vasileios Sapountzakis, he was born in Nafplio in about 1846. He entered the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating as an artillery adjutant in 1865.[1][2] He became a second lieutenant on 9 May 1867, a lieutenant in 1873, captain II class in 1878, captain I class in 1880, major in 1882, lieutenant colonel in 1890, and full colonel in 1896.[1] In 1867 he returned to Crete and with his father and fought in the ongoing Cretan uprising. Following the failure of the revolt, he was sent for studies abroad, in Germany, Britain and France.
He was appointed professor of military technology at the Army Academy, as well as tutor and aide de camp to Crown Prince Constantine.[1] At the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, with the rank of colonel, he assumed the duties of chief of staff to the Crown Prince, who exercised the overall command of the main Greek field force, the Army of Thessaly.[1] Badly trained and led, the Greek Army was defeated and forced to retreat. Sapountzakis was subsequently dismissed from his duties.