Michalis Kourmoulis
Michalis Kourmoulis (; 1765–1824) was a Greek leader of the Greek War of Independence from Crete and one of the major military leaders on the island during the war. Biography Kourmoulis was originally known as Hussein Agha, and was the leader of an important Cretan family from Messara that was flourishing since the time of the Venetian rule over Crete. After the Ottoman conquest of Crete, the Kourmoulis family converted to Islam, producing several beys and aghas, but remaining Crypto-Christians in reality. Both Kourmoulis and his family protected the Christians of Dikti and Psiloritis region. In 1814, in response to the murder of some armed Ottomans, Kourmoulis was accused as a secret Christian, but managed to be acquitted. He participated in the preparation of the Greek Revolution in Crete, being a member of the Filiki Eteria after being initiated by Gregorios Kallonas. During the Easter of 1821, while he was in Chania, he revealed in public his Christian faith. When the revolution broke out in Crete, he became head of his family, which numbered 75 armed men as well as head of the armed Greeks of Messara. Initially, together with other local leaders he laid ambushes on the Ottoman forces