Michail Sapkas
{{short description|Greek politician}}{{Infobox Soldier
| name = Michail Sapkas
| native_name = Μιχαήλ Αστέριος Σάπκας
| image = MichailSapkas.jpg
| caption = Michail Sapkas c. 1910s
| birth_date = c. 1867/73
| death_date = c. 1956
| birth_place = Magarevo, Monastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Republic of North Macedonia)
| death_place = Kingdom of Greece
| birth_name = Michail Asterios Sapkas
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Greece|royal}} Kingdom of Greece
| branch = {{flagicon image|Seal of the Greek-Macedonian Committee.jpg}} HMC
| battles = Macedonian Struggle
| laterwork = Member of the New Filiki Etaireia
Member of the Macedonian Society of Larissa
Member of the People's Party
4 times mayor of Larissa
Twice MP for Larissa
}}
Michail Asterios Sapkas ({{langx|el|Μιχαήλ Αστέριος Σάπκας}}) was a Greek revolutionary of the Macedonian Struggle and politician.
Biography
Sapkas was born in 1873 in Magarevo, then Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia). He studied medicine in the University of Athens."Θεσσαλικά χρονικά, Ιστορική και Λαογραφική Εταιρεία Θεσσαλών", Athens, 1935, p. 288 Some years before the Macedonian Struggle occurred, he with his family moved to Larissa, where he joined the "New Filiki Eteria" (Νέα Φιλική Εταιρεία) which was established by Anastasios Pichion.{{cite web |url=http://www.vlahoi.net/imerologia/1997-pelagonia |title=1997 - Βλαχόφωνος Ελλήνισμός της Πελαγονίας |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Ημερολόγια Π.Ο.Π.Σ.Β |access-date= |quote="Ονομαστοί Μεγαροβίτες ήταν ο Σάπκας Μιχαήλ (1867-1956) μέλος της Νέας Φιλικής Εταιρείας του Αναστασίου Πηχεώνα και για πολλά χρόνια δήμαρχος Λάρισας,..."}} He established the Macedonian Society of Larissa, which during the Macedonian Struggle was recruiting volunteers from the nearby areas.{{cite web |url=http://culture.larissa-dimos.gr/article.php?article_id=26&topic_id=122&level=&belongs=&area_id=1&lang=gr |title=Οι Δήμαρχοι της Λάρισας (1914-1951) |last= |first= |date=1 November 2011 |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}File:Λάρισα κεντρικη πλατεία προτομη σαπκα 1.jpg
He was elected mayor of Larissa 4 times (1914, 1925, 1929, 1934), and during his service the local water supply and electricity systems got upgraded, as well as the first sidewalks were formed, modern courts of justice were created and the Municipal Conservatory, the Municipal Library and also the Museum of Larissa were founded. Also, during his days, the Senior Gendarmerie Administration of Thessaly was established in Larissa and he granted 15 stremma for the erection of the Alcazar Stadium in 1932.{{cite web |url=https://www.eleftheria.gr/m/%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%81%CF%8E%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1/item/212386.html |title=ΑΛΚΑΖΑΡ. Το Αλσος των Νυμφών |last=Papatheodorou |first=Nik. Ath. |date=10 October 2018 |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote=«Μετ’ εισήγησιν του Δημάρχου Μ. Σάπκα, προτείνοντος όπως εις τον πέραν της γεφύρας του Πηνειού ποταμού χώρον του Αλκαζάρ του ανήκοντος εις τον Δήμον, κειμένου πλησίον του Κήπου Παπασταύρου…καθορισθή γήπεδον 15 στρεμμάτων, ήτοι 100 χ 150 τετρ. μέτρων, προς ανέγερσιν Γυμναστηρίου δια την εγκατάστασιν των Αθλητικών Σωματείων της πόλεως…».}} Furthermore, he was elected Member of the Greek Parliament representing Larissa in 1920 and 1936, supporting the People's Party.[https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/1822-1935.pdf Μητρώο Πληρεξούσιων, Γερουσιαστών και Βουλευτών 1822-1935], Hellenic Parliament, Athens, 1986, p. 274-275[https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/1929-1974.pdf ΜΗΤΡΩΟΝ ΓΕΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΩΝ 1929-1974], Hellenic Parliament, Athens, 1977, p. 74-75
He died in 1956, at the age of 83.[https://www.eleftheria.gr/%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82/item/55827-.html Μιχαήλ Σάπκας ο ευπατρίδης πολιτικός], 1 October 2013
References
{{reflist}}{{Macedonian Struggle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sapkas, Michail}}
Category:People from Bitola Municipality
Category:People's Party (Greece) politicians
Category:Greek people of the Macedonian Struggle
Category:National and Kapodistrian University of Athens alumni