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Yiannis Daskaloyiannis Vlachos, a rich ship owner born in Anopolis (Sfakia), was one of the most outstanding leaders of the freedom fighters on Crete.
Because of his cleverness and good sense he was called Daskaloyiannis - Yiannis The Teacher.
His vision was the freedom of Crete. He donated all of his none too small wealth to the ideal of the rebellion. He had contact to Russia, which assured him of support against the Turks. He led the rebellious Sfakioten into the fight against the Turks and drove them out of the region. The Pascha of Chania sent 15,000 troops, who devastated the villages of Sfakia and enslaved all the inhabitants they took prisoner.
The rebels withdrew into the mountains but the promised help from Russia didn't materialise and they hardly managed to survive the winter.
In 1770 the Turks managed to lure Daskaloyiannis to Heraklion under false pretences. There he was taken prisoner by the Sultan and skinned alive before the eyes of his brother, who then lost his mind.
At the village square in Anopolis is a memorial to Daskaloyiannis.