April 12

Events

• 1204: Constantinople falls to the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade.
• 1820: Alexander Ypsilantis is chosen to lead Filiki Eteria.
• 1830: The Ottoman Empire accepts Greek independence.
• 1914: An Albanian unit is decimated by Cretan volunteers at Logara, Northern Epirus.
• 1991: Greek-American Senator, Paul Tsongas, announces his candidacy for the US Presidency.
• 1994: Greece and Albania expel each others diplomats over an attack at an army base in Argyrokastro that Albania claimed was the work of Greek agents.
• 2018: A Greek Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet goes down, off the coast of Skyros, killing its pilot. The jet had been on a mission to intercept Turkish jets.

Births

• 1871: Ioannis Metaxas, General and politician who led Greece during the beginning of World War II
• 1926: Themis Cholevas, basketball player.
• 1935: Jimmy Makulis, Elafro singer.

Deaths

• 1872: Nikos Mantzaros, composed the music to the Greek National Anthem.