Chios massacre
| Chios massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Massacres during the Greek War of Independence | |
The Massacre at Chios (1824) by Eugène Delacroix | |
| Location | Chios, Ottoman Empire |
| Coordinates | 38°21′50″N 26°03′47″E / 38.3640°N 26.0630°E |
| Date | March–August 1822 |
| Target | Greeks on the island of Chios |
Attack type | Massacre, mass murder, slavery |
| Victims | Up to 100,000 killed or enslaved. At least:
|
| Perpetrators | Ottoman Empire |
No. of participants | 30,000 |
| Motive | Anti-Greek sentiment, Ottoman colonialism, Turkification |
The Chios massacre (Greek: Η σφαγή της Χίου, pronounced [i sfaˈʝi tis ˈçi.u]) was a catastrophe that resulted in the death, enslavement, and flight of about four-fifths of the total population of Greeks on the island of Chios by Ottoman troops during the Greek War of Independence in 1822. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people were killed or enslaved during the massacre, while up to 20,000 escaped as refugees. Greeks from neighboring islands had arrived on Chios and encouraged the Chiotes (the native inhabitants of the island) to join their revolt. In response, Ottoman troops landed on the island and killed thousands. The massacre of Christians provoked international outrage across the Western world and led to increasing support for the Greek cause worldwide.