In the last quarter of the 17th century, another revolution against the Turks broke out in Greece, in the area of mountainous Phocis, led by the charioteer Kurmas and assisted by the Venetians. With him was the bishop of Salona Filotheos with the cross in his right hand and the sword in his left – as Konstantinos Sathas typically mentions.
However, the Venetians once again abandoned the Greeks who accepted the horrible Turkish retaliation. Many Greeks who escaped the Turkish knife turned to the sea and piracy. The most famous young Greek corsairs were the Kapsi brothers ("Tromaras", Giannis and Nikos) from Lidoriki.
The three brothers, having two small ships at their disposal, started from Mytika in Aetoloakarnania and struck everywhere, reaching the Hellespont. But Yannis Kapsis fell in love with a girl in Milos, married her and settled on the island. In the meantime, the brother of Captain Tromaras was captured by a French warship.
The French handed him over to the Turks who beat him. After his brother's death Kapsis reunited with his brother Nikos and together they carried out new pirate raids to avenge the Turks for their brother's horrible death.
The Turks, desperate from the daring blows of Kapsi, gave up trying to capture him and he, in 1677, landed in Milos with his men and founded his own, free Greek state. He ended the Turkish rule and was anointed by the Latin bishop of the island - there was no Greek bishop - "king of Milos".
Kapsis was recognized by the Greek and Latin inhabitants of the island, but also by the Turks who had other complications. Kapsis organized his "state" well. For three years the Turks did not disturb him. But when rebellions took place on the other islands inspired by Kapsi, they decided to intervene. Three Turkish warships sailed to Milos. The chief Turk feigned friendship and invited the apsi to his ship for a meal.
Kapsis made the mistake of believing him. As soon as he boarded the Turkish ship, the Turks immediately chained him and brought him to the city. There he was brutally tortured and in 1680 he was hanged. This is how the first independent Greek state, created by a Greek corsair, fell ignominiously after the overthrow of Byzantium.