Theodoros Kolokotronis was born on 3 April 1770 at Ramavouni in Messenia and was baptized in the village of Piana. He belonged to a family of klephts, originally from Roupaki, and grew up in Libovitsi, Arcadia. His father, Konstantinos Kolokotronis, was a captain of the Armatoloi and died in 1780 during an engagement with Ottoman forces. Following his father's death, Kolokotronis was mentored by Mitros Petrovas, who taught him the art of fighting.Before the Greek War of Independence, Kolokotronis operated as a klepht, an armatolos, and a kápos. He gained wealth through banditry and by marrying into a notable family. In 1805, he joined the Russian Navy during the Russo-Turkish War and later served in the British Army, where he acquired military experience and adopted a distinctive red helmet. His exposure to revolutionary ideas during this period influenced his views on governance and freedom.Kolokotronis returned to Greece just before the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence on 25 March 1821. He organized a confederation of klepht bands and was appointed commander-in-chief in May 1821. His first significant action was the defense of Valtetsi, followed by the Siege of Tripolitsa, which he successfully led. His most notable victory came in August 1822 at the Battle of Dervenakia, where he decisively defeated the Ottoman forces under Mahmud Dramali Pasha.From December 1823 to February 1825, Kolokotronis was involved in civil wars among Greek factions. After his faction's defeat, he was imprisoned in Hydra but was released when an Egyptian army invaded the Peloponnese. He adopted guerrilla tactics against Ibrahim Pasha's forces, which were well-equipped and trained. Despite his efforts, he could not prevent significant destruction in the region.After the war, Kolokotronis supported Count Ioannis Kapodistrias and advocated for an alliance with Russia. Following Kapodistrias's assassination in 1831, he backed Prince Otto of Bavaria for the Greek throne. However, he later opposed Otto's regency and was charged with treason, receiving a death sentence that was later commuted. Kolokotronis died on 15 February 1843 in Athens, shortly after attending his son's wedding.He was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens, and in 1930, his remains were moved to Tripoli, where they were interred at the base of his statue in Areos Square. Kolokotronis's memoirs provide a significant account of the Greek Revolutionary War, and his military helmet and arms are displayed in the National Historical Museum of Greece.