Bouboulina: Heroine, Wealthy Widow And Shipowner Who Commanded A Greek Fleet Against The Ottoman Empire

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – A wealthy and brave shipowner, Laskarina “Bouboulina” Pinotsis (1771–1825) was a fleet commander who participated in the War of Greek Independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Bouboulina (sometimes spelled Boubalina Lascarina) was the daughter of a Greek ship’s captain, Stavrianos Pinotsis, from the island of Hydra, and his wife, Skevo.

She was born in prison in Constantinople (modern Istanbul) when her mother visited her dying husband there, who had been held for participating in a failed rebellion in the Peloponnese from 1769 to 1770.
Stavrianos died soon after, and her mother, Skevo, took her child home to Hydra.

Four years later, they moved to the island of Spetses, and Bouboulina’s mother married a sea captain. The young girl grew up harboring hatred for the Ottomans and developing an interest in ships and the sea. Her stepfather also encouraged her to learn as much as possible about boats and the family business.

During her lifetime, she had two husbands, who were sea captains, and both died during encounters with the Algerian pirates who often attacked the coasts of Greece. Left with a large inheritance and nine children, Laskarina could live a comfortable life, but she wanted to do much more.