Outstanding Personalities

Many outstanding figures were born or lived in Messinia, while others were inspired by the region's alluring beauty.

• Guillaume II de Villehardouin, the last prince of Achaea (1246-1278), also known as "Kalomatis" or "Kalamatas", was born in Kalamata.
• Hayreddin Barbarossa (1478-1546), a pirate and later Ottoman admiral who in 1534 captured Koroni, Patras and Nafpaktos (Lepanto) from the Spaniards.
• Francesco Gasparini (1661-1727), Baroque composer who wrote the opera Merope inspired by the legendary queen of Messinia.
• The Russian brothers Aleksey and Theodore Orlov, during the Russo-Turkish war (1768-1774), landed at Itilo and attempted to stir the Greeks to revolt. They failed to take Methoni and Koroni but made themselves masters of the Bay of Navarino and Neokastro after a siege lasting six days.
• Marquis Nicolas Joseph Maison (1770-1840), Marshal of France and commander of the French expeditionary corps to the Peloponnese, ordered the capture of Koroni, Methoni, Neokastro and Patras.
• Sir Edward Codrington (1770-1851), British admiral who commanded the allied fleet at the Battle of Navarino.
• Count Lodewijk van Heyden (1773-1850), Dutch-born Russian admiral who led the Russian squadron in the Battle of Navarino.
• Henri de Rigny (1782-1835), French admiral and politician, led the French squadron in the Battle of Navarino.
• Grigorios Dikeos (1788-1825), better known as Papaflessas, was a clergyman, politician, fighter, and a hero of the Greek Revolution. Born in Poliani, Messinia, he was distinguished for his bravery in many battles in the Peloponnese.
• Paul-Marie Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew, died on the Greek frigate Hellas during the Greek War of Independence. His grave is located on the islet of Sfaktiria.
• George Philip Reinagle (1802-1835), English marine painter who was present at the battle of Navarino on board HMS Musquito and later published Illustrations of the Battle of Navarino.
• Victor Hugo (1802-1885), famous French poet who wrote Les Orientales that includes the poem Navarin inspired by the Battle of Navarino.
• Johann Strauss I (1804-1849), famous Austrian Romantic composer who wrote the Navariner-Galopp polka inspired by the Battle of Navarino.
• Alexandros Koumoundouros (1817-1883), who served 10 terms of office as Prime Minister of Greece, was born in Zarnata, Messinia.
• Ian Aivazovsky (1817-1900), famous Russian painter, who vividly rendered the Russian squadron in action at the Battle of Navarino.
• Nikolaos Politis (1852-1921), a leading folklorist and founder of folklore studies in Greece, was born in Kalamata. His family origin is Yiannitsanika of Mani, where his father was a judge.
• Christos Tsountas (1857-1939), eminent Greek archaeologist who led excavations in Zarnata, Messinia.
• Kostis Palamas (1859 - 1943), the celebrated Greek poet who wrote the lyrics to the "Olympic Hymn", lived for a time (1881) with his brother, Christakis, when the latter was a provincial governor in Messinia. One of the poet's greatest works, "The Twelve Lays of the Gypsy", is said to have been inspired by the colorful festival of Kyparissia.
• Themistocles Sofoulis (1860-1949), archaeologist and politician, was the first to excavate the ancient ruins of ancient Messini.
• Polivios Dimitrakopoulos (1864-1922), well-known author, born in Kyparissia.
• Yannis Kambisis (1872-1902), dramatic poet and playwright, born at Vounaria, Pylia.
• Konstantinos Kourouniotis (1872-1945), respected archaeologist who conducted major excavations in Pylos.
• Alexis Zorbas, whose real name was Yiorgis, was the hero of the well-known film "Zorba the Greek", the screenplay of which was based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957). Zorbas lived in Mani and worked the mines of Prastova, close to Stoupa in Messinia. This location was the inspiration for Nikos Kazantzakis and where he wrote "The Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas".
• Anastasios Orlandos (1887-1979), distinguished archaeologist who led major excavations in ancient Messini.
• Carl William Blegen (1887-1971), famous American archaeologist who discovered a Mycenean palace near Pylos which he attributed to Homer's legendary King Nestor.
• Kostas Tsiklitiras (1888-1913), gold medalist in standing long-jump and bronze medalist in standing high-jump at the 1912 Olympic Games, was born in Pylos. He died from meningitis at the age of 24 during the Balkan Wars.
• Evaristo de Chirico, father of Surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978), designed the area's railway stations.
• Takis Papatsonis (1895-1970), acclaimed poet and writer.
• Kostas Athanatos (1896-1970), prominent journalist, born in Kalamata.
• Mattias Natan Valmin (1898-1968), Swedish archaeologist who led extensive excavations in Messinia in the 1930's.
• Spyros Marinatos (1901-1974), famous Greek archaeologist who conducted major excavations in Pylos and Chora.
• Maria Polydouri (1902-1930), distinguished poet, born in Kalamata.
• Kostas Kalantzis (1911-1988), literary figure, born in Platania, Trifylia.
• Tassos (Alevizos) (1914-1985) famous engraver, born at Lefkochora, Messinia.
• Metropolitan Meletios (Karabinis) of France (1914-1993) was born in Kalamata.
• Patrick Leigh Fermor (1915-2011), British travel writer, scholar and soldier. Famous also for his exploits on Crete during World War II, particularly the abduction of the German military commander on the island, Fermor resided in Kardamyli for many years.
• Michalis Katsaros (1919-1998), the famous poet who was persecuted for his ideas from both the left and the right of the political spectrum, was born in Kyparissia. His collections of poems have been translated into many languages and some have been set to music by great composers, including Mikis Theodorakis.
• Maria Callas (1923-1977), famous opera singer whose family house is at Neohori Ithomi, Meligalas.
• William Andrew McDonald, eminent American archaeologist who from 1969 to 1973 led excavations in Messinia and wrote The Minnesota Messinia Expedition.
• Epiphanios Theodoropoulos (1930-1989), highly respected priest and monk, born at Bournazi, Messinia.
• Kiki Dimoula (born 1931), famous poet whose parents were both born in Messinia.
• Yanni (born 1954), world famous composer, was born and raised in Kalamata.