Difference between revisions of "King Constantine I"

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'''Constantine I, King of the Hellenes''' ([[2 August]] [[1868]] - [[11 January]] [[1923]]), ruled [[Greece]] from [[1913]]-[[1917]] and from  [[1920]]-[[1922]].
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[[Image:King.Constantine.A.jpg|thumb|250px|King Constantine I]]
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'''Constantine I, King of the Hellenes''' ([[August 2]], [[1868]] - [[January 11]], [[1923]]), ruled [[Greece]] from [[1913]]-[[1917]] and from  [[1920]]-[[1922]].
  
Born [[2 August]] [[1868]] in [[Athens]], he was the eldest son of [[King George I]] and [[Queen Olga]] of Greece.
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Born [[August 2]], [[1868]] in [[Athens]], he was the eldest son of [[King George I]] and [[Queen Olga]] of Greece.
  
 
As crown prince, Constantine was instrumental in the organization of the [[1896 Summer Olympics]], appointing a committee to prepare Athens for the Games and keeping a close watch to ensure that their tasks were completed.   
 
As crown prince, Constantine was instrumental in the organization of the [[1896 Summer Olympics]], appointing a committee to prepare Athens for the Games and keeping a close watch to ensure that their tasks were completed.   
  
He succeeded to the throne of Greece on [[18 March]] [[1913]] following his father's assassination in [[Salonika]].
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He succeeded to the throne of Greece on [[March 18]], [[1913]] following his father's assassination in [[Salonika]].
  
 
Prior to the start of [[World War I]] in 1914 Constantine, as Crown Prince, led the Greek forces during the successful [[Balkan Wars|Balkan Wars of 1912-1913]].
 
Prior to the start of [[World War I]] in 1914 Constantine, as Crown Prince, led the Greek forces during the successful [[Balkan Wars|Balkan Wars of 1912-1913]].
  
Education in [[Germany]], time spent serving in the [[Prussian army]], then marriage to [[Wilhelm II of Germany|Kaiser Wilhelm II]]'s sister, [[Queen Sophie|Sophie]], (in [[1889]]), Constantine's sympathies lay more towards the [[Central Powers]] than to the [[Triple Entente]] once war broke out.
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Having been educated in Germany, having served in the Prussian army and married to Kaiser Wilhelm II's sister, [[Queen Sophie|Sophie]] (in [[1889]]), Constantine's sympathies lay more towards the Central Powers than to the [[Triple Entente]] once war broke out.
  
 
Constantine was faced with the difficulty of determining officially where Greece's support lay once war was underway. This was complicated by the fact that his government, led by [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], was pro-Allied and the fact that the Entente Powers were in possession of naval dominance of the [[Mediterranean]].
 
Constantine was faced with the difficulty of determining officially where Greece's support lay once war was underway. This was complicated by the fact that his government, led by [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], was pro-Allied and the fact that the Entente Powers were in possession of naval dominance of the [[Mediterranean]].
  
Constantine's sympathies emerged during the Allies' disastrous [[Battle of Gallipoli]]. Despite popular support of [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelos]] amongst the people, Constantine dismissed Venizelos as [[Prime Minister]] in [[October]] [[1915]] due to his increasing support for the Allies, and in his stead placed a succession of puppet premiers, all swayed by the King. [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelos]] retired to [[Thessalonica]] where with the support of the Allies he established a provisional revolutionary government, much to Constantine's dissatisfaction. With civil war apparently imminent in [[1916]] Constantine sought, from Germany, firm promises of naval, military and economic assistance - without success.
+
Constantine's sympathies emerged during the Allies' disastrous Battle of Gallipoli. Despite popular support of [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelos]] amongst the people, Constantine dismissed Venizelos as [[Prime Minister of Greece|Prime Minister]] in October [[1915]] due to his increasing support for the Allies, and in his stead placed a succession of puppet premiers, all swayed by the King. [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelos]] retired to [[Thessalonica]] where with the support of the Allies he established a provisional revolutionary government, much to Constantine's dissatisfaction. With civil war apparently imminent in [[1916]] Constantine sought, from Germany, firm promises of naval, military and economic assistance - without success.
  
He left Greece on [[11 June]] [[1917]] as he had to abdicate because of his pro-German sentiments and was succeeded to the throne by his second son [[King Alexander|Alexander]] as acting King. He went into exile to [[Switzerland]]. Alexander died [[25 October]] [[1920]] and following a plebiscite, Constantine returned as king on [[19 December]] [[1920]]. He abdicated the throne again on [[27 September]] [[1922]], following Greek military defeats against the Turks in [[Anatolia]] and [[Smyrna]] and was succeeded by his eldest son, [[King George II|George II]].
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He left Greece on [[June 11]], [[1917]] as he had to abdicate because of his pro-German sentiments and was succeeded to the throne by his second son [[King Alexander|Alexander]] as acting King. He went into exile to Switzerland. Alexander died on [[October 25]], [[1920]] and, following a plebiscite, Constantine returned as king on [[December 19]], [[1920]]. He abdicated the throne again on [[September 27]], [[1922]], following Greek military defeats against the Turks in [[Anatolia]] and [[Smyrna]] and was succeeded by his eldest son, [[King George II|George II]].
  
He spent the rest of his life in exile in [[Italy]] and died in [[1923]] at Palermo, Sicily.
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He spent the rest of his life in exile in Italy and died in [[1923]] at Palermo, Sicily.
  
 
===Issue===
 
===Issue===
He married, on [[27 October]] [[1889]] in Athens, [[Princess]] [[Sophie of Prussia]] ([[1870]]-[[1932]]).
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He married, on [[October 27]], [[1889]] in Athens, Princess [[Queen Sophie|Sophie of Prussia]] ([[1870]]-[[1932]]).
 
They were the parents of:
 
They were the parents of:
 
*[[King George II|George II, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1890]]-[[1947]])
 
*[[King George II|George II, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1890]]-[[1947]])
 
*[[King Alexander|Alexander I, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1893]]-[[1920]])
 
*[[King Alexander|Alexander I, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1893]]-[[1920]])
*[[Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark]] ([[1896]]-[[1982]]), who married [[Carol II of Romania|King Carol II of Romania]]
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*[[Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark]] ([[1896]]-[[1982]]), who married King Carol II of Romania
 
*[[Paul of Greece|Paul I, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1901]]-[[1964]])
 
*[[Paul of Greece|Paul I, King of the Hellenes]] ([[1901]]-[[1964]])
*[[Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark]] ([[1904]]-[[1974]]), who married [[Aimone of Savoy]], the [[4th Duke of Aosta]].
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*[[Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark]] ([[1904]]-[[1974]]), who married Aimone of Savoy, the 4th Duke of Aosta.
*[[Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark]] (born [[1913]]), who married [[Richard Brandram]]
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*[[Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark]] (born [[1913]]), who married Richard Brandram
  
 
==External link==
 
==External link==
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{{start box}}
 
{{start box}}
{{succession box | before=[[King George I|George I]]| title=[[List of Kings of Greece|King of Greece]] | years=[[1913]]&ndash;[[1917]]<br>First Reign| after=[[King Alexander|Alexander]]}}
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{{succession box | before=[[King George I|George I]]| title=[[Image:Royal COA of Greek Kingdom.png|31px]]<br>King of the Hellenes | years=[[1913]]&ndash;[[1917]]<br>First Reign| after=[[King Alexander|Alexander]]}}
{{succession box | before=[[ King Alexander|Alexander]]| title=[[List of Kings of Greece|King of Greece]] | years=[[1920]]&ndash;[[1922]]<br>Second Reign| after=[[King George II |George II]]}}
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{{succession box | before=[[ King Alexander|Alexander]]| title=[[Image:Royal COA of Greek Kingdom.png|31px]]<br>King of the Hellenes | years=[[1920]]&ndash;[[1922]]<br>Second Reign| after=[[King George II |George II]]}}
 
{{end box}}
 
{{end box}}
  
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[[Category:House of Glücksburg]]
 
[[Category:House of Glücksburg]]
 
[[Category:Greek heads of state]]
 
[[Category:Greek heads of state]]
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[[Category:Greek Crown Princes|Constantine I]]

Latest revision as of 23:31, October 6, 2010

King Constantine I

Constantine I, King of the Hellenes (August 2, 1868 - January 11, 1923), ruled Greece from 1913-1917 and from 1920-1922.

Born August 2, 1868 in Athens, he was the eldest son of King George I and Queen Olga of Greece.

As crown prince, Constantine was instrumental in the organization of the 1896 Summer Olympics, appointing a committee to prepare Athens for the Games and keeping a close watch to ensure that their tasks were completed.

He succeeded to the throne of Greece on March 18, 1913 following his father's assassination in Salonika.

Prior to the start of World War I in 1914 Constantine, as Crown Prince, led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912-1913.

Having been educated in Germany, having served in the Prussian army and married to Kaiser Wilhelm II's sister, Sophie (in 1889), Constantine's sympathies lay more towards the Central Powers than to the Triple Entente once war broke out.

Constantine was faced with the difficulty of determining officially where Greece's support lay once war was underway. This was complicated by the fact that his government, led by Eleftherios Venizelos, was pro-Allied and the fact that the Entente Powers were in possession of naval dominance of the Mediterranean.

Constantine's sympathies emerged during the Allies' disastrous Battle of Gallipoli. Despite popular support of Venizelos amongst the people, Constantine dismissed Venizelos as Prime Minister in October 1915 due to his increasing support for the Allies, and in his stead placed a succession of puppet premiers, all swayed by the King. Venizelos retired to Thessalonica where with the support of the Allies he established a provisional revolutionary government, much to Constantine's dissatisfaction. With civil war apparently imminent in 1916 Constantine sought, from Germany, firm promises of naval, military and economic assistance - without success.

He left Greece on June 11, 1917 as he had to abdicate because of his pro-German sentiments and was succeeded to the throne by his second son Alexander as acting King. He went into exile to Switzerland. Alexander died on October 25, 1920 and, following a plebiscite, Constantine returned as king on December 19, 1920. He abdicated the throne again on September 27, 1922, following Greek military defeats against the Turks in Anatolia and Smyrna and was succeeded by his eldest son, George II.

He spent the rest of his life in exile in Italy and died in 1923 at Palermo, Sicily.

Issue

He married, on October 27, 1889 in Athens, Princess Sophie of Prussia (1870-1932). They were the parents of:

External link


Preceded by:
George I
Royal COA of Greek Kingdom.png
King of the Hellenes

19131917
First Reign
Succeeded by:
Alexander
Preceded by:
Alexander
Royal COA of Greek Kingdom.png
King of the Hellenes

19201922
Second Reign
Succeeded by:
George II