The enmity between Ali Pasha of Ioannina and the Souliotes was longstanding. The ruthless ruler had tried for many years to subdue Souli but military campaigns always ended in abject failure. In 1800 Ali adopted a new method; he bribed various Souliotes and divided their leadership. Georgios Botsaris, head of one of the most powerful clans, refused to share the bribe with the other clans and left Souli. Ali allowed him to settle in Vourgareli with another 170 families. When Souli fell (1803) only a handful of survivors managed to reach Vourgareli. Botsaris realised that Ali would soon turn against him and fortified the Seltsou Monastery, east of the village. In January 1804 the Turks attacked and massacred most of the Souliotes. Only 60 men and a woman survived.