Modern History of Greece
Greece’s history is so extensive that it goes even back to the Cycladic Civilization (which is discussed on the Culture and Social Development page) at around 3200 B.C. For the purpose of this webpage and because we could dedicate entire websites to Greek history, we will discuss more current events of the country.
In 1453, the Greek Empire of Byzantium ended when Constantinople fell to the Turks and by the end of the 15th century, Greece was under Turkish rule. For the next 400 years, the Greeks were treated as second class citizens. In 1821, the Greek Revolution began. After six years of war, a treaty was signed in London which was supposed to end all fighting, however In October 1827 a naval battle broke out. In 1829, Greece independence was declared in Adrianople.
Absolute Monarchy followed the revolution in Greece. With the support of Great Britain, France, and Russia, Otto was declared the “God Given King of Greece.” On December 3rd, 1843, the military garrison of Athens rebelled against Otto and demanded a Constitution which limited the powers of the king. Despite the Constitution, King Otto tried to grab for as much power as he could and was overthrown on the night of October 10th 1862. The crown was offered to the Danish Prince George Christian Willem of the House of Holstein. He was crowned constitutional King of Greece with the name “George I, King of the Hellenes”. The Constitution of 1864 was drafted using the Constitutions of Belgium and of Denmark and clearly established a policy of popular sovereignty and implementing a Crowned Democracy in Greece. The Third Hellenic Republic (the current Republic of Greece) was established after the reinstatement of Democracy in Greece in July of 1974 and the current President, Karolos Papoulias, was elected in 2005.
In 1453, the Greek Empire of Byzantium ended when Constantinople fell to the Turks and by the end of the 15th century, Greece was under Turkish rule. For the next 400 years, the Greeks were treated as second class citizens. In 1821, the Greek Revolution began. After six years of war, a treaty was signed in London which was supposed to end all fighting, however In October 1827 a naval battle broke out. In 1829, Greece independence was declared in Adrianople.
Absolute Monarchy followed the revolution in Greece. With the support of Great Britain, France, and Russia, Otto was declared the “God Given King of Greece.” On December 3rd, 1843, the military garrison of Athens rebelled against Otto and demanded a Constitution which limited the powers of the king. Despite the Constitution, King Otto tried to grab for as much power as he could and was overthrown on the night of October 10th 1862. The crown was offered to the Danish Prince George Christian Willem of the House of Holstein. He was crowned constitutional King of Greece with the name “George I, King of the Hellenes”. The Constitution of 1864 was drafted using the Constitutions of Belgium and of Denmark and clearly established a policy of popular sovereignty and implementing a Crowned Democracy in Greece. The Third Hellenic Republic (the current Republic of Greece) was established after the reinstatement of Democracy in Greece in July of 1974 and the current President, Karolos Papoulias, was elected in 2005.
Resources
Agiasofia. (2009). War of independence, 1821. Retrieved from: http://www.agiasofia.com/1821/fort1821/revolut.html
Associated press. (n.d.). President of greece. Retrieved from: http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/infoCountryPage/setimes/resource_centre/bios/papoulias_karolos?country=Greece
Embassy of greece. (2005). Hellenic republic in brief. Retrieved from: http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/article.aspx?article=11372&folder=1015&office=3
Hellenic parliament. (2001). History of the constitution. Retrieved from: http://www.photius.com/countries/greece/government/history_of_greek_constitution.html
Associated press. (n.d.). President of greece. Retrieved from: http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/infoCountryPage/setimes/resource_centre/bios/papoulias_karolos?country=Greece
Embassy of greece. (2005). Hellenic republic in brief. Retrieved from: http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/article.aspx?article=11372&folder=1015&office=3
Hellenic parliament. (2001). History of the constitution. Retrieved from: http://www.photius.com/countries/greece/government/history_of_greek_constitution.html