The Tzavelas family[1] was a well-known clan from the region of Souli in Epirus, who played an important role in the struggles of the Souliotes and during the Greek War of Independence.

Fotos Tzavelas fled to Parga and then to Corfu, then part of the Septinsular Republic under Russian and Ottoman rule, where, before long, many Souliot clans had taken refuge.

[7] In Corfu he served as an officer in the Greek Legion, a military corps created by the Russians, in order to protect the Ionian Islands.

The expedition was cut short, however, by Napoleon's decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz in December and changing allegiances of the Neapolitan government.

[11] With his wife, Despo, they had four sons, Nikolaos, Kitsos, Ioannis or Bakatselos and Konstantinos, who lived and took part in the Greek Revolution.