Manto Mavrogenous (1796-1848) was a Greek war heroine. She played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1832), where Greek revolutionaries fought against the Ottoman Empire. A wealthy woman of aristocratic lineage, she spent her entire fortune on supporting the Greek cause, also encouraging her European friends to donate money and guns.

Manto was born in Trieste, part of the Austrian Empire. She grew up in an educated family, studied ancient Greek philosophy and history and spoke Greek, Italian, French and Turkish fluently. The great uncle of her merchant father was the famous Nicholas Mavrogenis, the Prince of Wallachia and the dragoman of the Ottoman Empire's fleet.

Manto and her family were members of the Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends), a secret organisation plotting to overthrow Ottoman rule in Greece. She moved to Paros in 1809 and then, after her father's death in 1818, to Tinos. When the Greek Revolution began, she went to Mykonos, and encouraged the leaders of the island to join the revolution.

She sponsored two ships to attack invading pirates, led a band of Mykonians against the Turks in 1822 and equipped 150 men to campaign in the Peloponnese. When the island of Samos was threatened she sent forces and financial aid; she also sent men to take part on the successful Siege of Tripolitsa.

In 1822 Manto compiled a fleet of ships and infantry to partake in the battle at Karystos and although she could not prevent the massacre in Chios, she gave considerable financial support to the campaign there. She also sent a force to assist in the Battle of Dervenakia and when the Ottomans finally arrived in Cyclades, she sold her jewellery to finance and equip 200 men to fight in the first siege of Messolonghi as well as several other battles. In addition to her war efforts, Manto sent relief aid to soldiers and their families.

Manto was a strong advocate of enlightenment ideas and led a campaign urging the women of Paris to support the Greeks. In 1823 she moved to Nafpilo to be closer to the centre of the revolution, leaving her family, who disapproved of her involvement with the war effort, behind. The move brought her to Demetrius Ypsilanti, with whom she became engaged. After her house was burnt to the ground and all her money stolen, she moved to Tripoli to live with her Demetrius. Their relationship, however, ended a short while later and Manto moved back to Nafplio, depressed, heartbroken and completely broke.

Demetrius died and after political disputes with Ioannis Kolettis, Manto was eventually exiled from Nafplio. She returned to Mykonos and spent the rest of her days writing her memoirs. After the end of the war, Ioannis Kapodistrias awarded her with the rank of Lieutenant General and bequeathed her a home in Nafplio. In 1840 Manto moved to Paros. Her home there, situated next to the Panagia Ekatontapyliani (The Chuch of the Virgin Mary), is now a historical monument. It was in Paros that she died in July 1848. One of Greece's greatest war heroines, she ended her life a poor, isolated woman.