A historic oak tree in southern Greece, more than 400 years old and linked to the country’s struggle for independence, is now under serious threat. Known as the “Revolution Oak” of Kato Ampelokipoi in Messinia, the monumental tree is part of Greece’s Network of Centuries-Old Trees of the Revolution, serving as a living witness to the 1825 Battle of Kato Minagia against Ibrahim’s forces.
The oak, with a trunk circumference of 4.15 meters, once sheltered Greek fighters as they prepared for battle. It was even noted in 1829 by the French Scientific Expedition to the Peloponnese. But a lightning strike in 2019 left it gravely injured, killing part of the trunk. Despite inspections and recommendations for protection, a large section recently broke off and now hangs precariously, creating immediate danger for passersby.
Messenia,Greece. General Theodoros Kolokotronis, a prominent leader of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) against the Ottoman Empire
Experts sound the alarm
“Part of the tree has died, and a vertical burned scar runs down its trunk,” said members of the Messinia Institute of Culture, which has petitioned for the oak to be listed as a protected Natural Monument. They warn that neglect has left it exposed to further damage.
Samples taken after the lightning strike showed insect infestation as early as 2020. Yet no protective measures were implemented, and today the oak is suffering extensive attacks. Local forestry authorities have since instructed the municipality to prune dead branches and apply protective treatments, but campaigners stress that urgent action is needed.
“This is not just a tree,” the institute emphasized. “It is a cultural landmark, a monument of nature and intangible heritage, and its survival now hangs in the balance.”
A battleground remembered
The oak stands near the Old Watermills Trail and a historic fountain, on the site of the Battle of Kato Minagia. On February 19, 1825, Ibrahim’s troops clashed here with just 100 Greek fighters. Despite being outnumbered, the Greeks inflicted heavy losses, defying expectations that they would collapse before Ibrahim’s army. The battle boosted morale at a critical moment in the Greek War of Independence.
The Attack of Ibrahim Pasha against Messolonghi. Public domain via Wikipedia commons
Once abundant in the Peloponnese, oaks have since declined dramatically. This particular tree, a Quercus ilex (holm oak), is not only a symbol of resistance but also a valuable natural record of the region’s climate over centuries.
In 2021, the oak was officially included in the Network of Centuries-Old Trees of the Revolution under the auspices of the “Greece 2021” Committee. From its branches, a “wreath of freedom” was created and symbolically laid at the tomb of Eleftherios Venizelos in Crete.
Now, conservationists fear that unless swift protective measures are enforced, this irreplaceable witness of history may be lost forever.
