Difference between revisions of "Megali Idea"

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'''''Megali Idea (Μεγάλη Ιδέα)''''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] for "Great Idea") is a concept of [[Greeks|Greek]] nationalism expressing the goal of establishing a Greek state that encompasses all ethnic Greeks.
 
'''''Megali Idea (Μεγάλη Ιδέα)''''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] for "Great Idea") is a concept of [[Greeks|Greek]] nationalism expressing the goal of establishing a Greek state that encompasses all ethnic Greeks.
  
The Greek state emerging under [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] after the Greek [[War of Independence]] left out large groups of ethnic Greeks.  The Great Idea encompassed a desire to bring these groups into the Greek state; specifically in the territories of [[Epirus]], [[Thessaly]], [[Macedonia]], the [[Aegean Islands]], [[Crete]], [[Cyprus]], parts of Anatolia, and the city of [[Constantinople]], that would replace [[Athens]] as the capital.
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The Greek state emerging under [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]] after the Greek [[War of Independence]] left out large groups of ethnic Greeks.  The Great Idea encompassed a desire to bring these groups into the Greek state; specifically in the territories of [[Epirus]], [[Thessaly]], [[Macedonia]], the [[Aegean Islands]], [[Crete]], [[Cyprus]], parts of [[Anatolia]], and the city of [[Constantinople]], that would replace [[Athens]] as the capital.
  
A major proponent was [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], who expanded Greek territory in the [[Balkan Wars]] of [[1912]]-[[1913|13]] — southern Epirus, Crete, and southern Macedonia were attached to Greece.  Thessaly, and part of southern Epirus, had been annexed in [[1881]].  Victory in [[World War I]] seemed to promise an even greater realisation of the Great Idea, as Greece won northern Epirus, [[Smyrna]], [[Imbros and Tenedos]], and [[Western Thrace]].
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A major proponent was [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], who expanded Greek territory in the [[Balkan Wars]] of [[1912]]-[[1913|13]] — southern Epirus, Crete, and southern Macedonia were attached to Greece.  Thessaly, and part of southern Epirus, had been annexed in [[1881]].  Victory in [[World War I]] seemed to promise an even greater realisation of the Great Idea, as Greece won northern Epirus, [[Smyrna]], [[Imbros]] and [[Tenedos]] and [[Western Thrace]].
  
A major defeat followed in [[1922]], however, when the Turkish nationalists defeated and expelled the Greeks from Anatolia during the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)]].  Greece did not manage to occupy Smyrna, Imbros, and Tenedos from Turkey, to whom they still belong; she also was not capable to occupy southern [[Albania]] (northern Epirus).  Greece did retain western Thrace, and in 1945, at the end of [[World War II]], won the [[Dodecanese]] from Italy.
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A major defeat followed in [[1922]], however, when the Turkish nationalists defeated and expelled the Greeks from Anatolia during the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)]].  Greece lost Smyrna, Imbros and Tenedos to Turkey and was not able to retain [[Northern Epirus]].  Greece did retain western Thrace and, in 1945, at the end of [[World War II]], acquired the [[Dodecanese]] from Italy.
  
Although the Great Idea ceased to be a driving force behind Greek foreign policy after the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], remnants remain.  Greece only recently, for example, recognised the present Greco-Albanian border (and, implicitly, Albanian rule over northern Epirus); Greece also sponsored a pro-enosis military coup on Cyprus in [[1974]] leading to the still-standing division between Turkish Cyprus and Greek Cyprus.   
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Although the Great Idea ceased to be a driving force behind Greek foreign policy after the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], remnants remain.  Greece only recently, for example, recognised the present Greco-Albanian border (and, implicitly, Albanian rule over northern Epirus); Greece also sponsored a pro-enosis military coup on Cyprus in [[1974]] leading to the de-facto partition of the island of Cyprus into Greek and Turkish sectors.   
  
  
  
 
[[Category:History of Greece]]
 
[[Category:History of Greece]]

Revision as of 21:46, January 15, 2006

Megali Idea (Μεγάλη Ιδέα) (Greek for "Great Idea") is a concept of Greek nationalism expressing the goal of establishing a Greek state that encompasses all ethnic Greeks.

The Greek state emerging under Ioannis Kapodistrias after the Greek War of Independence left out large groups of ethnic Greeks. The Great Idea encompassed a desire to bring these groups into the Greek state; specifically in the territories of Epirus, Thessaly, Macedonia, the Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus, parts of Anatolia, and the city of Constantinople, that would replace Athens as the capital.

A major proponent was Eleftherios Venizelos, who expanded Greek territory in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 — southern Epirus, Crete, and southern Macedonia were attached to Greece. Thessaly, and part of southern Epirus, had been annexed in 1881. Victory in World War I seemed to promise an even greater realisation of the Great Idea, as Greece won northern Epirus, Smyrna, Imbros and Tenedos and Western Thrace.

A major defeat followed in 1922, however, when the Turkish nationalists defeated and expelled the Greeks from Anatolia during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). Greece lost Smyrna, Imbros and Tenedos to Turkey and was not able to retain Northern Epirus. Greece did retain western Thrace and, in 1945, at the end of World War II, acquired the Dodecanese from Italy.

Although the Great Idea ceased to be a driving force behind Greek foreign policy after the Treaty of Lausanne, remnants remain. Greece only recently, for example, recognised the present Greco-Albanian border (and, implicitly, Albanian rule over northern Epirus); Greece also sponsored a pro-enosis military coup on Cyprus in 1974 leading to the de-facto partition of the island of Cyprus into Greek and Turkish sectors.