Ultimate Sacrifice: How 900 Greeks Blew Themselves Up to Stop The Ottomans (Cretan Revolt 1866)

Video Description

In 1866, the island of Crete exploded into revolution against the Ottoman Empire. But the defining moment of the war wasn't a victory—it was a sacrifice that shook the world. Trapped inside the Arkadi Monastery, a small force of 900 Greeks (mostly women, children, and priests) found themselves surrounded by an Ottoman army of 15,000 soldiers and heavy artillery. They had no food, no water, and no hope of rescue. But they did have a room full of gunpowder. This documentary analyzes the Siege of Arkadi—a battle that ended with one of the most shocking acts of defiance in military history. We break down the siege tactics used by the Ottoman commanders, the desperate defense by the Cretan insurgents, and the catastrophic decision to detonate the monastery rather than surrender. Discover how the "Ultimate Sacrifice" of 900 people inflicted massive casualties on the elite Ottoman army and changed the course of Greek history forever. #OttomanEmpire #MilitaryHistory #GreekHistory #SiegeOfArkadi #CretanRevolt #SiegeWarfare #1866