The Tzavellas family belonged to the Souliotes, an Orthodox Christian community of the area of Souli, in Epirus. They were known for their military prowess and their firm opposition to Ali Pasha, the Ottoman ruler of western Greece and Albania. Lambros Tzavellas was betrayed by Ali Pasha during an expedition to Albania and his son, Fotos, was held as a hostage while Lambros was sent back to Souli to achieve its surrender to Ali Pasha. But Lambros was fiercely opposed to the bloodthirsty Ottoman ruler and informed him (by letter) that he was ready to protect his homeland against a deceitful thief. And should his son lose his life, Lambros would still be alive and eager to avenge his death.