Kitsos Botsaris (; ); 1741 in Souli â 1813, in Arta), was a leader of the Souliotes, an autonomous community in Ottoman-ruled Epirus. He played a leading role in the aftermath of the last war between the Souliotes and the Ottoman ruler of Ioannina, Ali Pasha. He was the father of Kostas Botsaris and Markos Botsaris, who fought in the Greek War of Independence.
K. Botsaris was a prominent figure of the Botsaris -Boçari (or Botzaraioi) Souliotic clan, who originated from Dragani, now Ampelia village, south of Paramythia, in Epirus. He was the son of George Botsaris (Gjergj Boçari) and the brother of Notis Botsaris. He was the head of the Souliotes during the wars against Ali Pasha at the end of 18th century.<br /> In 1792 Ali Pasha planned a second expedition against Souli. He tried to deceive and arrest the Souli warriors, pretending that he is going to attack Gjirokastër and he needs their assistance. Ali sent a letter to K. Botsari written in Greek, which was published in its entirety by W. Eton in 1799:<br />
Botsaris understood the stratagem and professed to Ali that he could not help him because could not persuade his people (the Souliotes). Captain Tzavellas who did accept AliâÂÂs offer was soon arrested with his 70 warriors by Ali PashaâÂÂs army. After this incident Ali marched against Souli, which was under K. Botsarisâ general command. Soon Tzavellas managed to escape from Ali by offering his 12-year-old son as hostage, and joined the Souliotes.<br /> Botsaris ordered the Souliotes to withdraw to inaccessible mountainous fortresses with provisions for 6 months. At the same time he poisoned the local wells so that the Ottomans had no easy access to water. After some battles, the main body of the PashaâÂÂs army was lured into an ambush and was slaughtered. The rest retreated in panic to Ioannina and Ali himself escaped with difficulty, exhausting to death two of his horses while fleeing.