Revolutionary movements
In 1817 Palaeologos Lemonis, member of the Philiki Etaireia (literally, ???friendly society?) appeared on the island. In 1821 Dimitris Papanikolis used his fireships to blow up the Turkish frigate ???Moving Mountain??, in the bay of Eressos. In retaliation the Turks slaughtered large numbers of Christians, fact that was known in history as The Great Assault. In 1826, the Greek naval captain Miaoulis, defeated the Turkish fleet in the straits of Mitilini and pursued it as far as Smyrna. In 1867 the island was struck by an earthquake that left thousands dead and many buildings in ruins. In 1905 Mitilini was placed under international occupation. The patriotic activity of the inhabitants of Mitilini grew and the Metropolitan Kyrillos played the leading role.