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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.
"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.
No. | 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) | 15 January 1822 | 26 April 1823 | 1 year, 117 days | President of the Executive | |
2 | Petros Mavromichalis Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης (Πετρόμπεης) (1765–1848) | 26 April 1823 | 5 January 1824 | 235 days | President of the Executive | |
3 | Georgios Kountouriotis Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης (1782–1858) | 6 January 1824 | 17 April 1826 | 2 years, 101 days | President of the Executive | |
4 | Andreas Zaimis Ανδρέας Ζαΐμης (1791–1840) | 18 April 1826 | 26 March 1827 | 353 days | President of the Government Commission | |
— | Vice-gubernatorial Committee of 1827 | 3 April 1827 | 20 January 1828 | 292 days |
No. | Governor | Term of office | Political affiliation [1] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
1 | Ioannis Kapodistrias Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας (1776–1831) | 20 January 1828 | 27 September 1831 o.s. (Assassinated) | 4 years, 177 days | Independent | |
2 | Augustinos Kapodistrias Αυγουστίνος Καποδίστριας (1778–1857) | 8 December 1831 | 27 March 1832 (o.s.) (Resigned) | 110 days | Independent | |
— | Administrative Committee of Greece (1832) | 28 March 1832 | 25 January 1833 | 302 days | Independent |
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. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
1 | Otto Όθων (1815–1867) | 25 April 1832 [2] [3] | 12 October 1862 (o.s.) (Deposed) | 30 years, 170 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.
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.
No. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
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, 85 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. The President of the Republic had a symbolic role as head of the state.
No. | President | Elected | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | 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) |
No. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
— | 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 | 31 December 1944 | 9 years, 36 days | Restored to the throne following the 3 November 1935 referendum | |
— | Archbishop Damaskinos Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δαμασκηνός (1891–1949) | 31 December 1944 | 27 September 1946 | 1 year, 270 days | Regent (Named regent after the Liberation of Greece, until the conclusion of a referendum on the monarchy) | |
(5) | George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) | 27 September 1946 | 1 April 1947 | 186 days | Restored to the throne following the 1 September 1946 plebiscite on the monarchy | |
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΄ (1940–2023) | 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 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 1972 | 31 May 1973 | 1 year, 71 days | Regent For Constantine II (Strongman of the Greek 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.
No. | President | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | General Phaedon Gizikis Φαίδων Γκιζίκης (1917–1999) | 25 November 1973 | 24 July 1974 | 241 days | Military |
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.
No. | President | Elected | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
— | General Phaedon Gizikis Φαίδων Γκιζίκης (1917–1999) | — (Remained in office pro tempore) | 24 July 1974 | 17 December 1974 | 146 days | Military | |
1 | Michail Stasinopoulos Μιχαήλ Στασινόπουλος (1903–2002) | 1974 (Interim) | 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) | — (Acting) | 10 March 1985 | 30 March 1985 | 20 days | PASOK | |
4 | Christos Sartzetakis Χρήστος Σαρτζετάκης (1929–2022) | 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 | Independent | |
6 | Karolos Papoulias Κάρολος Παπούλιας (1929–2021) | 2005 2010 | 12 March 2005 | 13 March 2015 | 10 years, 1 day | PASOK | |
7 | Prokopis Pavlopoulos Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος (born 1950) | 2014–2015 | 13 March 2015 | 13 March 2020 | 5 years | New Democracy | |
8 | Katerina Sakellaropoulou Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου (born 1956) | 2020 | 13 March 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 208 days | Independent |
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 | Governor |
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 | |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.