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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Greece |
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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.
A head of state is the public persona who officially represents the national unity and legitimacy of a sovereign state. Depending on the country's form of government and separation of powers, the head of state may be a ceremonial figurehead or concurrently the head of government. In a parliamentary system the head of state is the de jure leader of the nation, and there is a separate de facto leader, often with the title of prime minister. In contrast, a semi-presidential system has both heads of state and government as the leaders de facto of the nation.
The history of modern Greece covers the history of Greece from the recognition of its autonomy from the Ottoman Empire by the Great Powers in 1828, after the Greek War of Independence, to the present day.
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution, was a successful war of independence waged by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1830. The Greeks were later assisted by the Russian Empire, Great Britain, and the Kingdom of France, while the Ottomans were aided by their North African vassals, the eyalets of Egypt, Algeria, and Tripolitania, and the Beylik of Tunis.
Head of State | Term of office | Title | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Alexandros Mavrokordatos Αλέξανδρος Μαυροκορδάτος (1791–1865) | 13 January 1822 | 10 May 1823 | 1 year, 117 days | President of the Executive |
2 | ![]() | Petrobey Mavromichalis Πέτρομπεης Μαυρομιχάλης (1765–1848) | 10 May 1823 | 31 December 1823 | 235 days | President of the Executive |
3 | ![]() | Georgios Kountouriotis Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης (1782–1858) | 31 December 1823 | 26 April 1826 | 2 years, 116 days | President of the Executive |
4 | ![]() | Andreas Zaimis Ανδρέας Ζαΐμης (1791–1840) | 26 April 1826 | 14 April 1827 | 353 days | President of the Government Commission |
Governor | Term of office | Political party | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Ioannis Kapodistrias Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας (1776–1831) | 14 April 1827 | 9 October 1831 (Assassinated) | 4 years, 178 days | Russian Party |
2 | ![]() | Augustinos Kapodistrias Αυγουστίνος Καποδίστριας (1778–1857) | 9 October 1831 | 23 March 1832 (Resigned) | 166 days | Russian Party |
Following the resignation of Augustinos Kapodistrias, a series of collective governing councils were established, but their authority was often only nominal.
№ | Governing Council | Term of office | Members | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
1 | First Governing Council | 9 April 1832 | 14 April 1832 | 5 days | Theodoros Kolokotronis Andreas Zaimis Ioannis Kolettis Andreas Metaxas Vasilios Boudouris |
2 | Second Governing Council | 14 April 1832 | 3 October 1832 | 172 days | Georgios Kountouriotis Ioannis Kolettis Andreas Metaxas Andreas Zaimis Dimitrios Plapoutas Dimitrios Ypsilantis Konstantinos Botsaris (from 25 April 1832) |
3 | Third Governing Council | 3 October 1832 | 6 February 1833 | 126 days | Andreas Zaimis Andreas Metaxas Ioannis Kolettis |
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 London Conference of 1832 was an international conference convened to establish a stable government in Greece. Negotiations between the three Great Powers 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 treaty followed the Akkerman Convention which had previously recognized another territorial change in the Balkans, the suzerainty of Principality of Serbia.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was established by the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland.
The July Monarchy was a liberal constitutional monarchy in France under Louis Philippe I, starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848. It marks the end of the Bourbon Restoration (1814–1830). It began with the overthrow of the conservative government of Charles X, the last king of the House of Bourbon.
The convention offered the throne to the Bavarian Prince, Otto. 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.
A personal union is the combination of two or more states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. A real union, by contrast, would involve the constituent states being to some extent interlinked, such as by sharing some limited governmental institutions. In a federation and a unitary state, a central (federal) government spanning all member states exists, with the degree of self-governance distinguishing the two. The ruler in a personal union does not need to be a hereditary monarch.
The 23 October 1862 Revolution was a popular insurrection which led to the overthrow of King Otto of Greece. Starting on 18 October in Vonitsa, it soon spread to other cities and reached Athens on 22 October.
King | Reign | Claim | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Otto Όθων (1815–1867) | 27 May 1832 [1] | 23 October 1862 (Deposed) | 30 years, 149 days | Ascended to the throne following the 1832 London Conference |
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.
Alfred reigned as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1893 to 1900. He was the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was known as the Duke of Edinburgh from 1866 until he succeeded his paternal uncle Ernest II as the reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in the German Empire.
Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. On 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the husband of Queen Victoria.
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.
George I was King of Greece from 1863 until his assassination in 1913.
Christian IX was King of Denmark from 1863 until his death in 1906. From 1863 to 1864, he was concurrently Duke of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg.
King | Reign | Claim | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Time in office | |
2 | ![]() | George I Γεώργιος A΄ (1845–1913) | 30 March 1863 | 18 March 1913 (Assassinated) | 49 years, 353 days | Ascended to the throne following the 19 November 1862 referendum |
3 | ![]() | Constantine I Κωνσταντίνος A΄ (1868–1923) | 18 March 1913 | 11 June 1917 (Abdicated) | 4 years, 90 days | Son of George I |
4 | ![]() | Alexander Αλέξανδρος (1893–1920) | 11 June 1917 | 25 October 1920 | 3 years, 136 days | Second son of Constantine I |
— | ![]() | Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) | 28 October 1920 | 17 November 1920 (Resigned) | 20 days | Regent |
— | ![]() | Queen Olga Βασίλισσα Όλγα (1851–1926) | 17 November 1920 | 19 December 1920 | 32 days | Regent Widow of George I Mother of Constantine I |
(3) | ![]() | Constantine I Κωνσταντίνος A΄ (1868–1923) | 19 December 1920 | 27 September 1922 (Abdicated) | 1 year, 282 days | Restored to the throne following the 22 November 1920 referendum |
5 | ![]() | George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) | 27 September 1922 | 25 March 1924 (Deposed) | 1 year, 180 days | Eldest son of Constantine I |
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.
President | Term of office | Political party | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) | 1924 | 25 March 1924 | 6 April 1926 (Resigned) | 2 years, 12 days | Military |
2 | ![]() | Lt. General Theodoros Pangalos Θεόδωρος Πάγκαλος (1878–1952) | — | 6 April 1926 | 18 April 1926 | 138 days | Military |
1926 | 18 April 1926 | 22 August 1926 (Deposed) | |||||
(1) | ![]() | Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) | — | 22 August 1926 | 24 August 1926 | 3 years, 108 days | Military |
24 August 1926 | 10 December 1929 (Resigned) | ||||||
3 | ![]() | Alexandros Zaimis Αλέξανδρος Ζαΐμης (1855–1936) | — | 10 December 1929 | 14 December 1929 | 5 years, 304 days | Independent |
1929 1933 | 14 December 1929 | 10 October 1935 (Deposed) | |||||
King | Reign | Claim | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Time in office | |
— | ![]() | Lt. General Georgios Kondylis Γεώργιος Κονδύλης (1878–1936) | 10 October 1935 | 25 November 1935 | 46 days | Regent (Took power in the 10 October 1935 coup, abolished the republic, and declared himself regent) |
(5) | ![]() | George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) | 25 November 1935 | 1 April 1947 | 11 years, 127 days | Restored to the throne following the 3 November 1935 referendum |
6 | ![]() | Paul Παύλος (1901–1964) | 1 April 1947 | 6 March 1964 | 16 years, 340 days | Third son of Constantine I Brother of George II |
7 | ![]() | Constantine II Κωνσταντίνος Β΄ (born 1940) | 6 March 1964 | 1 June 1973 (Deposed) | 9 years, 87 days | Son of Paul |
— | ![]() | Lt. General Georgios Zoitakis Γεώργιος Ζωιτάκης (1910–1996) | 13 December 1967 | 21 March 1972 | 4 years, 99 days | Regent For Constantine II (Appointed by the military 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 1972 | 31 May 1973 | 1 year, 71 days | Regent For Constantine II (Strongman of the military junta, declared himself regent) |
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.
President | Term of office | Political party | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος (1919–1999) | 1 June 1973 | 25 November 1973 (Deposed) | 177 days | Military |
2 | ![]() | Lt. General Phaedon Gizikis Φαίδων Γκιζίκης (1917–1999) | 25 November 1973 | 17 December 1974 | 1 year, 22 days | Military |
In 1974, the military 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 as the head of state.
President | Term of office | Political party | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
1 | ![]() | Michail Stasinopoulos Μιχαήλ Στασινόπουλος (1903–2002) | 1974 | 18 December 1974 | 19 July 1975 | 213 days | New Democracy |
2 | Konstantinos Tsatsos Κωνσταντίνος Τσάτσος (1899–1987) | 1975 | 19 July 1975 | 10 May 1980 | 4 years, 296 days | New Democracy | |
3 | ![]() | Konstantinos Karamanlis Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής (1907–1998) | 1980 | 10 May 1980 | 10 March 1985 (Resigned) | 4 years, 304 days | New Democracy |
— | ![]() | Ioannis Alevras Ιωάννης Αλευράς (1912–1995) | — | 10 March 1985 | 30 March 1985 | 20 days | PASOK |
4 | ![]() | Christos Sartzetakis Χρήστος Σαρτζετάκης (born 1929) | 1985 | 30 March 1985 | 4 May 1990 | 5 years, 35 days | Independent |
(3) | ![]() | Konstantinos Karamanlis Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής (1907–1998) | 1990 | 5 May 1990 | 10 March 1995 | 4 years, 310 days | New Democracy |
5 | ![]() | Konstantinos Stephanopoulos Κωνσταντίνος Στεφανόπουλος (1926–2016) | 1995 2000 | 10 March 1995 | 12 March 2005 | 10 years, 2 days | New Democracy |
6 | ![]() | Karolos Papoulias Κάρολος Παπούλιας (born 1929) | 2005 2010 | 12 March 2005 | 13 March 2015 | 10 years, 1 day | PASOK |
7 | ![]() | Prokopis Pavlopoulos Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος (born 1950) | 2014–15 | 13 March 2015 | Incumbent | 3 years, 340 days | New Democracy |
There are two living former Greek Presidents and one living former King of the Hellenes:
State | Years | Title |
---|---|---|
First Hellenic Republic | 1827–1832 | Governor |
Kingdom of Greece (Under Wittelsbach dynasty) | 1832–1862 | King of Greece |
Kingdom of Greece (Under Glücksburg dynasty) | 1863–1924 | King of the Hellenes |
Second Hellenic Republic | 1924–1935 | President of the Republic |
Kingdom of Greece (Restored Glücksburg dynasty) | 1935–1973 | King of the Hellenes |
Hellenic Republic (Military Junta) | 1973–1974 | President of the Republic |
Third Hellenic Republic | 1974–present | President of the Republic |
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