The Greek War of Independence turned the sacred Muslim site to a battlefield. Famous revolutionary leaders gathered their men in Marati, near “orchards and some houses and a well-built mosque” according to the words of General Makriyannis. The Turkish infantry and cavalry attack caused multiple casualties among the Greeks, who retreated in haste. But not all of them. Georgios Karaiskakis and Markos Botsaris, two of the most distinguished Greek generals, fought the Turks from the mosque. Their bravery enticed the other Greeks to return and join forces with the besieged men. Their counterattack forced the Ottomans to retreat to Arta with heavy losses.