Kastania, Laconia Kastania, Laconia Kastania is a town in Mesa Mani, in Laconia, Greece. It is part of the municipal unit Sminos. In 1770, after the Orlov Revolt failed, the Ottomans wanted to punish the Maniots for their support of it. They attacked the two Maniot pyrgoi which belonged to the Venetsanakis clan. With them was the father of the hero of the Greek War of Independence, Theodoros Kolokotronis, Kostantinos Kolokotronis and his wife who was pregnant with his son. The Ottoman commander Hussan Bey, laid siege to the pyrgoi. After holding out for three days the defenders burst out of the
Laconia incident incident Hartenstein asked him if he was in the Royal Navy, which he was, and then asked why a passenger ship was armed, stating, "If it wasn't armed, I would not have attacked." McLoughlin believes this indicates Hartenstein had thought it was a troop transport rather than a passenger ship; by signalling to the Royal Navy, "Laconia" was acting as a naval auxiliary. The "Laconia" incident had far-reaching consequences. Up until that point, it was common for U-boats to assist torpedoed survivors with food, water, simple medical care for the wounded, and a compass bearing to the nearest landmass. It