MESOLONGHI, or MISSOLONOMI, a town of Greece, in the government of Etolia, is situated on the edge of a marshy plain on the N. shore of the Gulf of Patras, 22 miles W. of Lepanto. It is separated from the sea by a lake, 10 miles long and 5 in breadth, from which it probably derives its name, through the Italian mezzo and laguna. This sheet of water is so shallow, that there are few passages by which any but small boats can approach the town. Mesolonghi has a school, custom-house, and a small harbour. It is chiefly remarkable for the siege it sustained from the Turks in the Greek war. At the outbreak of the Greek revolution the place was indeed fortified, but the defences were in such an inefficient state from neglect, that it was necessary to increase and strengthen them in order to secure the safety of the town. The Greeks accordingly surrounded the city on the land side by a ditch, and a mound of earth and stones; but the approach of the Turks prevented any further improvements being made in the fortifications. In the beginning of 1825, by the arrival of Greeks from other parts of the country, and of volunteers from various nations of Europe, the garrison was raised to the number of 5000, who were commanded by Nothi Bozzaris; and on the 25th April of the same year a Turkish force of 20,000 under Reshid Pasha appeared before Mesolonghi. Nor was the inequality less, in the number and size of their artillery, between the besiegers and the besieged, than in the amount of their forces. On the 11th of May the first bombardment began, and for the space of two months afterwards the town was exposed to numerous bombardments and assaults; but the defenders were not less active in answering the enemy's fire, and making sallies from their defences, by which means they succeeded in repelling their assailants, and inflicting on them considerable loss. During this time they were supplied with ammunition and provisions by the fleet, which was stationed at the entrance of the lake; but on the 10th of July, a superior Turkish fleet, after compelling the ships of the Greeks to retire, succeeded in landing a strong reinforcement to the besiegers. The assaults on the town were then renewed with increased fury, and the cannonade of the Turks carried destruction to its frail ramparts,
and death among the ranks of its brave defenders. Yet the garrison, though reduced to the number of 4000, continued to maintain their ground until, in the month of August, the Greek fleet appeared in the offing, and, by defeating the Turkish squadron, relieved Mesolonghi for a time from the blockade. But the sultan was resolved at all hazards to reduce this stronghold of liberty; and in the end of November, the Greek ships were again driven off, and the blockade renewed by the combined Turkish, Egyptian, and Barbary fleet. In the beginning of 1826 the besieging army was reinforced by the arrival of 14,000 troops under Ibrahim Pasha, who superseded Reshid Pasha in the command. On the 25th of January a bombardment was begun, which lasted for three days, and reduced the town to ruins, but could not shake the resolute courage of the Greeks. The repeated assaults of the enemy were still repulsed with great loss. At last, reduced to the utmost extremities by famine, and seeing on all sides nothing but the ships and tents of their enemies, yet never entertaining any thought of surrender, the Greeks determined to force their way through the opposing ranks, and thus convey themselves, with their wives and children, to a place of safety. Although by treachery the enemy was made aware of their design, and thus prepared to meet them, they were not able to prevent nearly 2000 of the besieged from making their way to the mountains. Many prisoners fell into the hands of the Turks, and the remainder, who were unable from their wounds or weariness to accompany their fellows, continued to defend themselves among the ruins until the explosion of a powder magazine, destroying alike friends and foes, put an end to the bloody conflict. Such was the siege of Mesolonghi, which attracted during its continuance the eyes of all Europe, and in which the Greeks showed themselves the worthy sons of the heroes of Marathon and Thermopylae, and
"Snatched from the ashes of their sires
The embers of their former fires."
Near one of the gates of the town a mound of earth has been raised bearing an inscription in honour of those who fell in this famous siege. Lord Byron died at Mesolonghi on the 19th April 1824.