List of heads of state of Greece

Last updated

This is a list of the heads of state of the modern Greek state, from its establishment during the Greek Revolution to the present day.

Contents

First Hellenic Republic (1822–1832)

"First Hellenic Republic" is a historiographical term used by academics the actual name of the government was the Provisional Administration of Greece and was established at the beginning of the greek revolution and later renamed as the Hellenic state. There was no separation between head of state and head of government.

Provisional Administration of Greece (Presidents of the Executive, 1822–1827)

No.Head of stateTerm of officeTitle
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Alexandros Mavrokordatos.png Alexandros Mavrokordatos
Αλέξανδρος Μαυροκορδάτος
(1791–1865)
15 January 182226 April 18231 year, 117 days President of the Executive
2 Petrobeis.jpg Petros Mavromichalis
Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης (Πετρόμπεης)
(1765–1848)
26 April 18235 January 1824235 days President of the Executive
3 Georgios Kountouriotis.png Georgios Kountouriotis
Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης
(1782–1858)
6 January 182417 April 18262 years, 101 days President of the Executive
4 AndreasZaImes.jpg Andreas Zaimis
Ανδρέας Ζαΐμης
(1791–1840)
18 April 182626 March 1827353 days President of the Government Commission
SealofGreece1827.png Vice-gubernatorial Committee of 18273 April 182720 January 1828292 days

Hellenic State (1827–1832)

No.GovernorTerm of officePolitical affiliation [1]
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Kapodistrias2.jpg Ioannis Kapodistrias
Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας
(1776–1831)
20 January 182827 September 1831 o.s.
(Assassinated)
4 years, 177 days Independent
2 Augustinos Kapodistrias.jpg Augustinos Kapodistrias
Αυγουστίνος Καποδίστριας
(1778–1857)
8 December 183127 March 1832 (o.s.)
(Resigned)
110 days Independent
Administrative Committee of Greece.tif Administrative Committee of Greece (1832) 28 March 183225 January 1833302 days Independent

Kingdom of Greece (1832–1924)

House of Wittelsbach (1832–1862)

The London Conference of 1832 was an international conference convened to establish a stable government in Greece. Negotiations between the three Great powers (United Kingdom, France and Russia) resulted in the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece under a Bavarian prince. The decisions were ratified in the Treaty of Constantinople later that year.

The convention offered the throne to Prince Otto of Bavaria. They also established the line of succession which would pass the crown to Otto's descendants, or his younger brothers should he have no issue. It was also decided that in no case there would be a personal union of the crowns of Greece and Bavaria. Otto went on to rule Greece until he was exiled in the 23 October 1862 Revolution.

No.KingReignClaim
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Reign startReign endDuration
1 Prinz Otto von Bayern Koenig von Griechenland 1833.jpg Otto
Όθων
(1815–1867)
25 April 1832
[2] [3]
12 October 1862 (o.s.)
(Deposed)
30 years, 170 daysAscended to the throne following the 1832 London Conference

House of Glücksburg (1863–1924)

In October 1862, King Otto was deposed in a popular revolt, but while the Greek people rejected Otto, they did not seem averse to the concept of monarchy per se. Many Greeks, seeking closer ties to the pre-eminent world power, Great Britain, rallied around the idea that Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, could become the next King. British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston believed that the Greeks were "panting for increase in territory", hoping that the election of Alfred as King would also result in the incorporation of the Ionian Islands, which were then a British protectorate, into an enlarged Greek state.

The London Conference of 1832, however, had prohibited any of the Great powers' ruling families from accepting the crown of Greece, and in any event, Queen Victoria was adamantly opposed to the idea. Nevertheless, the Greeks insisted on holding a referendum on the issue of the head of state in November 1862. It was the first referendum ever held in Greece.

Prince Alfred turned down the Kingship and Prince William of Denmark, son of Prince Christian of Denmark, was elected by the National Assembly to become King George I of the Hellenes.

  Denotes Regent
No.KingReignClaim
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Reign startReign endDuration
2 King George of Hellenes.jpg George I
Γεώργιος A΄
(1845–1913)
30 March 186318 March 1913
(Assassinated)
49 years, 353 daysAscended to the throne following the 19 November 1862 referendum
3 Constantine I of Greece (1914).jpg Constantine I
Κωνσταντίνος A΄
(1868–1923)
18 March 191311 June 1917
(Abdicated)
4 years, 85 daysSon of George I
4 King Alexander of Greece.jpg Alexander
Αλέξανδρος
(1893–1920)
11 June 191725 October 19203 years, 136 daysSecond son of Constantine I
AlmiranteCoundouritis--inheartofgermani00vaka.jpg Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis
Παύλος Κουντουριώτης
(1855–1935)
28 October 192017 November 1920
(Resigned)
20 daysRegent
Queen Olga of Greece.jpg Queen Olga
Βασίλισσα Όλγα
(1851–1926)
17 November 192019 December 192032 daysRegent
Widow of George I
Mother of Constantine I
(3) Constantine I of Greece (1914).jpg Constantine I
Κωνσταντίνος A΄
(1868–1923)
19 December 192027 September 1922
(Abdicated)
1 year, 282 daysRestored to the throne following the 22 November 1920 referendum
5 Georgeiiofgreece.jpg George II
Γεώργιος Β΄
(1890–1947)
27 September 192225 March 1924
(Deposed)
1 year, 180 daysEldest son of Constantine I

Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)

The Second Hellenic Republic was a parliamentary republic which was proclaimed on 25 March 1924 and a referendum was held to abolish the Monarchy. The Second Republic was abolished after the 1935 monarchy referendum. The President of the Republic had a symbolic role as head of the state.

Status
  Denotes Acting President
No.PresidentElectedTerm of officePolitical affiliation
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 AlmiranteCoundouritis--inheartofgermani00vaka.jpg Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis
Παύλος Κουντουριώτης
(1855–1935)
1924 25 March 19246 April 1926
(Resigned)
2 years, 12 days Military
2 Major General Theodoros Pangalos, 1920.jpg Lt. General Theodoros Pangalos
Θεόδωρος Πάγκαλος
(1878–1952)
6 April 192618 April 1926138 days Military
1926 18 April 192622 August 1926
(Deposed)
(1) AlmiranteCoundouritis--inheartofgermani00vaka.jpg Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis
Παύλος Κουντουριώτης
(1855–1935)
22 August 192624 August 19263 years, 108 days Military
24 August 192610 December 1929
(Resigned)
3 Alexandros Zaimis.jpg Alexandros Zaimis
Αλέξανδρος Ζαΐμης
(1855–1936)
10 December 192914 December 19295 years, 304 days Independent
1929
1933
14 December 192910 October 1935
(Deposed)

Kingdom of Greece (1935–1973)

House of Glücksburg (1935–1973)

  Denotes Regent
No.KingReignClaim
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Reign startReign endDuration
Georgios Kondylis.jpg Lt. General Georgios Kondylis
Γεώργιος Κονδύλης
(1878–1936)
10 October 193525 November 193546 daysRegent
(Took power in the 10 October 1935 coup  [ el ], abolished the republic, and declared himself regent)
(5) Georgeiiofgreece.jpg George II
Γεώργιος Β΄
(1890–1947)
25 November 193531 December 19449 years, 36 daysRestored to the throne following the 3 November 1935 referendum
Archbishop Damaskinos of Greece.jpg Archbishop Damaskinos
Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δαμασκηνός
(1891–1949)
31 December 194427 September 19461 year, 270 daysRegent
(Named regent after the Liberation of Greece, until the conclusion of a referendum on the monarchy)
(5) Georgeiiofgreece.jpg George II
Γεώργιος Β΄
(1890–1947)
27 September 19461 April 1947186 daysRestored to the throne following the 1 September 1946 plebiscite on the monarchy
6 Paul I of Greece.jpg Paul
Παύλος
(1901–1964)
1 April 19476 March 196416 years, 340 daysThird son of Constantine I
Brother of George II
7 King Constantine.jpg Constantine II
Κωνσταντίνος Β΄
(1940–2023)
6 March 19641 June 1973
(Deposed)
9 years, 87 daysSon of Paul
Georgios Zoitakis (1971).jpg Lt. General Georgios Zoitakis
Γεώργιος Ζωιτάκης
(1910–1996)
13 December 196721 March 19724 years, 99 daysRegent
For Constantine II
(Appointed by the Greek junta following the failed royal counter-coup of 13 December 1967 and the King's flight to Italy)
Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos
Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος
(1919–1999)
21 March 197231 May 19731 year, 71 daysRegent
For Constantine II
(Strongman of the Greek junta, declared himself regent)

Republic under the Greek junta (1973–1974)

On 1 June 1973 the junta abolished the monarchy and replaced it with a presidential republic. The abolition of the monarchy was approved by a rigged referendum held on 29 July 1973.

No.PresidentTerm of officePolitical affiliation
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos
Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος
(1919–1999)
1 June 197325 November 1973
(Deposed)
177 days Military
2 Phaedon Gizikis (1968).jpg General Phaedon Gizikis
Φαίδων Γκιζίκης
(1917–1999)
25 November 197324 July 1974241 days Military

Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)

On 24 July 1974, the junta was overthrown and democracy restored. A second referendum, held on 8 December 1974, confirmed the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the current parliamentary republic, with the President of the Republic in a symbolic role as head of the state.

Status
  Denotes Acting President
No.PresidentElectedTerm of officePolitical affiliation
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Phaedon Gizikis (1968).jpg General Phaedon Gizikis
Φαίδων Γκιζίκης
(1917–1999)

(Remained in office pro tempore)
24 July 197417 December 1974146 days Military
1 Michail Stasinopoulos
Μιχαήλ Στασινόπουλος
(1903–2002)
1974
(Interim)
18 December 197419 July 1975213 days New Democracy
2 Konstantinos Tsatsos.JPG Konstantinos Tsatsos
Κωνσταντίνος Τσάτσος
(1899–1987)
1975 19 July 197510 May 19804 years, 296 days New Democracy
3 Bezoek premier Karamanlis van Griekenland Van Agt in gesprek met Karamanlis, Bestanddeelnr 929-6548 (cropped).jpg Konstantinos Karamanlis
Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής
(1907–1998)
1980 10 May 198010 March 1985
(Resigned)
4 years, 304 days New Democracy
President Ioannis Alevras.jpg Ioannis Alevras
Ιωάννης Αλευράς
(1912–1995)

(Acting)
10 March 198530 March 198520 days PASOK
4 Christos Sartzetakis (1989) cropped.jpg Christos Sartzetakis
Χρήστος Σαρτζετάκης
(1929–2022)
1985 30 March 19854 May 19905 years, 35 days Independent
(3) Bezoek premier Karamanlis van Griekenland Van Agt in gesprek met Karamanlis, Bestanddeelnr 929-6548 (cropped).jpg Konstantinos Karamanlis
Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής
(1907–1998)
1990 5 May 199010 March 19954 years, 310 days New Democracy
5 Konstantinos Stefanopoulos 2000.jpg Konstantinos Stephanopoulos
Κωνσταντίνος Στεφανόπουλος
(1926–2016)
1995
2000
10 March 199512 March 200510 years, 2 days Independent
6 Karolos Papoulias.jpg Karolos Papoulias
Κάρολος Παπούλιας
(1929–2021)
2005
2010
12 March 200513 March 201510 years, 1 day PASOK
7 Vladimir Putin and Prokopis Pavlopoulos (2016-01-15) 02 (cropped).jpg Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος
(born 1950)
2014–2015 13 March 201513 March 20205 years New Democracy
8 Sergio Mattarella and Greek President Sakellaropoulou at the 16th Arraiolos meeting (4) (cropped).jpg Katerina Sakellaropoulou
Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου
(born 1956)
2020 13 March 2020Incumbent4 years, 208 days Independent

Timeline

Katerina SakellaropoulouProkopis PavlopoulosKarolos PapouliasKonstantinos StephanopoulosChristos SartzetakisIoannis AlevrasKonstantinos KaramanlisKonstantinos TsatsosMichail StasinopoulosPhaedon GizikisList of heads of state of Greece

Head of state titles

StateYearsTitle
First Hellenic Republic 1827–1832Governor
Kingdom of Greece
(Under Wittelsbach dynasty)
1832–1862King of Greece
Kingdom of Greece
(Under Glücksburg dynasty)
1863–1924King of the Hellenes
Second Hellenic Republic 1924Governor
1924–1935President of the Republic
Kingdom of Greece
(Restored Glücksburg dynasty)
1935–1973King of the Hellenes
Hellenic Republic
(Military Junta)
1973–1974President of the Republic
Third Hellenic Republic 1974–present

See also

Notes

  1. There weren't any formal political parties then. According to Greek historian Grigorios Dafnis : "...it is not possible to talk about parties during the revolutionary period" («Υπό αυτούς τους όρους δεν είναι δυνατό να ομιλούμε περί κομμάτων κατά την περίοδο της επανάστασης και μέχρι της 3ης Σεπτεμβρίου 1843»). «Τα Ελληνικά Πολιτικά Κόμματα 1821–1961» Εκδ. Κάκτος, σελ. 190 (2020) Grigorios Dafnis: "Greek political parties 1821–1961", Athens:Kaktos, p.190
  2. Protocol signed in 22 April 1832 but landed in Greece on 6 February 1833.
  3. "[1821-1833]".

Related Research Articles

The abolition of monarchy is a legislative or revolutionary movement to abolish monarchical elements in government, usually hereditary. The abolition of an absolute monarchy in favour of limited government under a constitutional monarchy is a less radical form of anti-monarchism that has succeeded in some nations that still retain monarchs, such as Sweden, Spain, and Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Greece</span>

The national flag of Greece, popularly referred to as the Blue-and-White or the Cyan-and-White, is officially recognised by Greece as one of its national symbols and has 5 equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the crossp symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The blazon of the flag is Azure, four bars Argent; on a canton of the field a Greek cross throughout of the second. The official flag ratio is 2:3. The shade of blue used in the flag has varied throughout its history, from light blue to dark blue, the latter being increasingly used since the late 1960s. It was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime Minister of Greece</span> Head of government of Greece

The prime minister of the Hellenic Republic, usually referred to as the prime minister of Greece, is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek Cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Greece</span> Head of state of Greece

The president of Greece, officially the President of the Hellenic Republic, commonly referred to in Greek as the President of the Republic, is the head of state of Greece. The president is elected by the Hellenic Parliament; the role has been mainly ceremonial since the 1986 constitutional reform. The office was formally established by the Constitution of Greece in 1975, but has antecedents in the Second Hellenic Republic of 1924–1935 and the Greek junta in 1973–1974 which predated the transition to the current Third Hellenic Republic. The incumbent, since 13 March 2020, is Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandros Zaimis</span> Prime Minister of Greece

Alexandros Zaimis was a Greek politician who served as Greece's Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice, and High Commissioner of Crete. He served as prime minister six times. Although he was a leader of the monarchist faction, Zaimis was the third and last President of the Second Hellenic Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Greece</span>

The coat of arms of Greece or national seal of Greece comprises a white Greek cross on a blue escutcheon, surrounded by two laurel branches. It has been in use in its current form since 1975. Prior to the adoption of the current coat of arms, Greece used a number of different designs, some of which were not heraldic; the first heraldic design was introduced in 1832 and its main element, the blue shield with the white cross, has been the base for all other national coats of arms since then. The design is a heraldic representation of the Greek national flag adopted in 1822, which featured a white cross on a blue field.

The Greek national assemblies are representative bodies of the Greek people. During and in the direct aftermath of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1832), the name was used for the insurgents' proto-parliamentary assemblies. Thereafter, the term has been used for a number of extraordinary assemblies chiefly in regard to changes in the Constitution and the form of government of Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greek royal family</span> Branch of the Danish royal family that formerly reigned over Greece

The currently deposed Greek royal family was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Greece from 1863 to 1924 and again from 1935 to 1973. The family is a branch of the Danish royal family, itself a cadet branch of the House of Glücksburg. The family had replaced the House of Wittelsbach that previously ruled Greece from 1832 to 1862. The first monarch was George I of Greece, the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark. The current head of the family is Pavlos, who assumed the role on 10 January 2023 upon the death of his father, former King Constantine II.

In the modern history of Greece, starting from the Greek War of Independence, the Constitution of 1975/1986/2001 is the last in a series of democratically adopted Constitutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Hellenic Republic</span>

The history of the Hellenic Republic constitutes three republican periods in the modern history of Greece: from 1822 until 1832; from 1924 until 1935; and from 1974 through to the present. See also the constitutional history of Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973 Greek republic referendum</span> Vote abolishing the Greek monarchy

A constitutional referendum was held in Greece on 29 July 1973. The amendments would confirm the abolition of the monarchy by the military junta and establish a republic. The proposal was approved by 78.6% of voters with a turnout of 75%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3 September 1843 Revolution</span> Military uprising in Greece which established a constitutional monarchy

The 3 September 1843 Revolution was an uprising by the Hellenic Army in Athens, supported by large sections of the people, against the autocratic rule of King Otto. The rebels, led by veterans of the Greek War of Independence, demanded the granting of a constitution and the departure of the Bavarian officials that dominated the government. The revolution succeeded, ushering the period of constitutional monarchy and universal suffrage in Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of the Hellenic Parliament</span>

The President of the Hellenic Parliament is the presiding officer of the Parliament of Greece. The president's term coincides with the term of the assembly,and is chosen by a vote during the opening session, after each legislative election. Following is a list of speakers of the Hellenic Parliament or other national legislative bodies such as the Greek Senate, from the time of the Greek War of Independence till present. The official order of precedence ranks the speaker of the Hellenic Parliament in the 3rd position, after the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister.

From 19 November 1862, a plebiscite was held in Greece in support of adopting Prince Alfred of the United Kingdom, later Duke of Edinburgh, as king. The results were announced in February 1863. Of the 240,000 votes reported, over 95% were in favour of the appointment. The previous king, Otto, who had been deposed in a popular revolt, received one vote. There were six votes for a Greek candidate and 93 for a Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Greece</span> Ruling sovereigns of Greece from 1832 to 1924 and 1935 to 1973

Monarchy of Greece or Greek monarchy is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign (Basileus) reigns as the head of state of Greece. Monarchy in Greece lasted from 1832 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panoutsos Notaras</span> Leading figure of the Greek War of Independence

Panoutsos Notaras was a Greek revolutionary and politician who was a leading figure of the Greek War of Independence, serving several times as president of the Greek national assemblies and legislative bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebration of the Greek Revolution</span> Public holiday in Greece on March 25

The celebration of the Greek Revolution of 1821, less commonly known as Independence Day, takes place in Greece, Cyprus and Greek diaspora centers on 25 March every year, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation.