First Hellenic Republic

The First Hellenic Republic (Greek: Αʹ Ελληνική Δημοκρατία) is a historiographical term for the provisional Greek state during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.[1][2] From 1822 until 1827, it was known as the Provisional Administration of Greece, and between 1827 and 1832, it was known as the Hellenic State.

Provisional Administration of Greece (1822–1827) Hellenic State (1827–1832) Προσωρινὴ Διοίκησις τῆς Ἑλλάδος Ἑλληνικὴ Πολιτεία
1822–1832
National flag Seal of the Hellenic State (1828-1832)
Motto: "Eleftheria i thanatos" Ελευθερία ή θάνατος "Freedom or Death"
Status	Unrecognized state (1822–1830) Provisional government (1822–1827)
Capital	Nafplio
Common languages	Greek
Religion	Greek Orthodox
Government	Unitary presidential republic
President of the Executive
• 1822–1823 (first)	Alexandros Mavrokordatos
• 1826–1827 (last)	Andreas Zaimis
Governor
• 1827–1831	Ioannis Kapodistrias
• 1831–1832	Augustinos Kapodistrias
Legislature	National Assembly
History
• Start of Greek Revolution	February 23, 1821 (Wallachia) mid-March 1821 (Peloponnese)
• Proclamation of Independence	January 1 1822
• Recognition of Autonomy	March 22, 1829
• Recognition of Independence	February 3, 1830
• Treaty of Constantinople	August 8 1832
• London Protocol	August 30, 1832
Currency	Phoenix
Preceded by Succeeded by Morea Eyalet Kingdom of Greece Principality of Samos
Today part of	Greece

The term is used by academics and the Greek government to emphasize the constitutional and democratic nature of the revolutionary regime prior to the establishment of the independent Kingdom of Greece, and associate this period of Greek history with the later Second and Third Republics.[3][4]

History

See also: Greek War of Independence

In the first stages of the 1821 uprising, various areas elected their own regional governing councils. These were replaced by a central administration at the First National Assembly of Epidaurus in early 1822, which also adopted the first Greek Constitution, marking the birth of the modern Greek state. The councils continued in existence, however, and central authority was not firmly established until 1824/1825. The new state was not recognized by the Great Powers of the day, which, after initial successes, was threatened with collapse both from within due to civil war and from without through the victories of the Turco-Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha.[1]

By 1827 the Greek revolution had almost been extinguished on the mainland, but by this time the Great Powers had come to agree to the formation of an autonomous Greek state under Ottoman suzerainty, as stipulated in the Treaty of London. Ottoman refusal to accept these terms led to the Battle of Navarino, which effectively secured complete Greek independence.

In 1827, the Third National Assembly at Troezen established the Hellenic State (Ἑλληνικὴ Πολιτεία) and selected Count Ioannis Kapodistrias as Governor of Greece. Therefore, this period is often called Governorate (Greek: Κυβερνείο). After his arrival in Greece in January 1828, Kapodistrias actively tried to create a functional state and redress the problems of a war-ravaged country, but was soon embroiled in conflict with powerful local magnates and chieftains.[2]

Ioannis Kapodistrias, Governor of Greece

Kapodistrias was assassinated by political rivals in 1831, plunging the country into renewed civil strife. He was succeeded by his brother Augustinos, who was forced to resign after six months. The Fifth National Assembly at Nafplion drafted a new royal constitution, while the three "Protecting Powers" (Great Britain, France and Russia) intervened, declaring Greece a Kingdom in the London Conference of 1832, with the Bavarian Prince Otto of Wittelsbach as king.

Heads of the Executive

See also: List of heads of state of Greece

The following were the heads of government for the First Hellenic Republic:[5]

Provisional Administration of Greece (1822–1827)

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		Petros Mavromichalis Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης (Πετρόμπεης) (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

Hellenic State (1827–1832)

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

See also

• History of the Hellenic Republic

References

1. "Ottoman Rule and the War of Independence", Greek, Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 371–378, 2010-08-02, ISBN 978-1-4443-1891-3, retrieved 2020-04-27
2. Llc, Books (2010). Greek War of Independence: Morea Expedition, Massacres During the Greek Revolution, Souliotes, Background of the Greek War of Independence, Filiki Eteria, Armatoloi, Spinalonga, Greek Civil Wars of 1824-1825, Gramvousa, Klepht, Aegean Anti-Piracy Operation. General Books. ISBN 978-1-156-77377-2.
3. "Which Country Is Also Called The Hellenic Republic?". WorldAtlas. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
4. "Constitutional History". www.hellenicparliament.gr. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
5. "Countries Go-Gu". rulers.org. Retrieved 2020-04-27.