On 5 January 1822, Elias Mavromichalis, at the head of 600 Maniates, accepting the invitation of Bishop Neophytos of Karystia, disembarked at Aliveri and became head of the Greek forces for the liberation of Karystos and South Evia in general. Although the local military had proclaimed Vassos Mavrovouniotis as leader and there were also the leading figures of Nikolaos Krieziotis and Angelos Govginas, the arrival of 27-year-old Elias Mavromichalis was greeted with enthusiasm, since his military skills were well known. Earlier, the Bishop of Karystia, who was funding the revolutionary forces in the area, had rejected Odysseus Androutsos' proposal to assist in the operations because he considered him unpredictable.
The news of the arrival of the Maniates at Aliveri alarmed the powerful Bey of Karystos and skilled soldier Omer, who immediately thought of attacking the Greeks at Aliveri before they attempted a descent to Karystos. Just in case, he reinforced Styra, which was an obligatory crossing for the Greek forces, with 150 men, led by his son-in-law Yusuf Aga.
As soon as Elias Mavromichalis was informed of the arrival of Yusuf's men at Styra, he moved against him with 1,000 men and on 11 January he camped at Kouvelles, on the northern outskirts of Styra. Under his command were placed the local warlords Mavrovouniotis, Kottas and Krieziotis.
The next morning, Mavrovouniotis, without consulting Mavromichalis, charged against the Turks, who had come out of Styra to strike the Greek camp, but was forced to retreat. Then Mavromichalis entered the battle with all available forces. He managed to defeat them at Agios Vasileios and then lay siege to Styra. The Turks left 27 dead and many wounded on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Omer, who had been informed of the Greek movements, rushed to Karystos with 300 infantry and horsemen. He passed almost unmolested through the position of Diakofti (near the village of Kapsala, south of Styra), the only passage where the Greeks could have intercepted him. It is true that Krieziotis had pointed this out to Mavromichalis, but he listened to him belatedly. He sent his uncle Kyriakouli Mavromichalis, Mavroviotis and Kotta, who not only failed to stop Omer's men, but were scattered by his cavalry and were subsequently unable to lend a helping hand to Mavromichalis.
With Omer's manoeuvre, the Greek forces besieging Styra found themselves surrounded. Then, most of the Maniates, seeing the futility of the struggle, fled the battlefield. Mavromichalis, despite Krieziotis' urging them to retreat and fight another day, found it unthinkable to faint. He locked himself and seven of his comrades in Kokkinomilos, a ruined windmill at Styra, and decided to defend to the last.
For two hours the brave Maniates fought with self-sacrifice.
For two hours the brave Maniates fought with self-sacrifice. After exhausting their ammunition, those who were left began to stone their enemies. At one point, the wounded Mavromichalis tried to break the enemy cordon with his sword, but he was killed by a Turk's sword. Of his seven brave comrades, only one survived.
Immediately after the capture of Kokkinomilos, the Turkish ensign, named Mertanis, cut off Mavromichalis' head and took his sword as booty. His head was carried before Omer, who, admiring the bravery and beauty of the brave Maniati chieftain, said: "Pity the man!". The heads of the slain Maniates were nailed to stakes and exhibited in the centre of Styra to signify the triumph of the Turks and to intimidate the Greek civilian population. Finally, the head of Elias Mavromichalis was sent as a gift to Sultan Mahmut II by Omer Bey.
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