ARMATOLES, lieind-tUlz. A body of Greek militia, first formed under the reign of Sultan Selim I. about the beginning of the Sixteenth Century. They were organized to preserve the fertile plains from the ravages of the klephts, Christian mountain robbers of Thessaly,'Epirus, and Macedonia (from Gk, si.177nc, kleptrs, rob ber), who had never been entirely conquered by the Turks. The Annatoles themselves were originally kleplits, but received their more hon orable designation when the Porte had trans formed them into a sort of military police. The safety of the public roads was intrusted to their care. The whole of northern Greece was divided into fourteen districts, each placed under the supervision of a chief of these militia, who, how ever, had himself to receive orders from a Turk ish pasha or Greek bishop. But although the Armatoles frequently suppressed the brigandage of the klephts, they still regarded them in the light of brothers, inasmuch as they had a com mon origin and faith; both detested the oppres sors of their country, and the sentiment of patriotism overruled every other consideration.
This sympathy at last appeared to the Turks so dangerous that they grew alarmed, and desired to substitute for the Armatoles, the Mohamme dan Albanians, who were the implacable enemies of the Greeks, which resolution did not a little to hasten the insurrection which the Porte ever dreaded. The moment it broke out, the Anna toles pronounced themselves in favor of the national cause, and in the war of independence that ensued, distinguished themselves by their brilliant exploits. Marco Bozzaris, leader of the Suliotes, was a good type of the Armatole.