Konstantinos Smolenskis

Konstantinos Smolenskis or Smolents was a Hellenic Army officer. Descendant of a family that had settled in the Habsburg monarchy and returned to Greece after the Greek War of Independence, early in his career he was distinguished as a well-educated and capable officer. He particularly distinguished himself in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, where he led the Greek defenders at the Battle of Velestino. This rendered him a national hero and earned him widespread popularity; he was twice elected Member of the Hellenic Parliament, and served twice as Minister for Military Affairs.