Karl von Normann-Ehrenfels was a German soldier who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars. In early 1822 he sailed to Greece to assist in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. He was chief of staff to Mavrokordatos and commanded a battalion of 93 German, Polish, Swiss, French and Italian volunteers. The Europeans had a hard time adjusting to conditions in Greece. The climate and the food were challenging, while the Greek style of war (with its emphasis on ambushes and irregular fighting) run counter to their sense of honour and military training. Nevertheless, they were eager to fight alongside the 2100 Greek regulars and irregulars Mavrokordatos had managed to recruit for his campaign.