Evzones
Sign in to savethumb|Evzones of the Hellenic Army, thumb|The Presidential Guard (Greece)|Presidential Guard during the Grand Change of the Guard at [[Syntagma Square, 2024]]
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Light infantry in the early regular army
- Reign of King Otto: light infantry and Mountain Guard
- Establishment of the Evzone Battalions
- Eastern Crisis of 1877–1878
- Greco-Ottoman crisis of 1885–1886
- Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and aftermath
- Balkan Wars, World War I, Asia Minor and World War II
- Post-war history
- Former units
- Uniform
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|Evzones of the Hellenic Army, thumb|The Presidential Guard (Greece)|Presidential Guard during the Grand Change of the Guard at [[Syntagma Square, 2024]]
The Evzones or Evzonoi (, ) were a type of light infantry units in the Hellenic Army. Today, they are the members of the Presidential Guard (), a ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier () and the Presidential Mansion in Athens. An Evzone () is also known, colloquially, as a Tsoliás (; pl. Τσολιάδες, Tsoliádes). Evzones are known for their distinctive uniform, which evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their distinctive dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.