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Trace the journey of modern Greece from independence to the European Union.

Use the timeline below to navigate through major events and milestones.

Modern Greek State · 1832-Present
Hellenic Republic

The Modern Greek State

From the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832 through the World Wars, dictatorship, and European integration to the present day. Slide across the years to read the major events that shaped modern Greece.

1832 AD
Kingdom of Greece
1 / 34
In the year of Our Lord

1832 AD

Kingdom of Greece
  • Political

    Treaty of Constantinople & Arrival of King Otto

    The Great Powers and the Ottoman Empire formalize Greek independence. Bavarian Prince Otto is proclaimed the first King of Greece.

34 milestones
Full Chronicle

The Modern Greek State

From the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832 through the World Wars, dictatorship, and European integration to the present day. Slide across the years to read the major events that shaped modern Greece.

  1. Kingdom of Greece

    • Treaty of Constantinople & Arrival of King Otto

      The Great Powers and the Ottoman Empire formalize Greek independence. Bavarian Prince Otto is proclaimed the first King of Greece.

  2. Kingdom of Greece

    • Athens becomes the capital

      The seat of government moves from Nafplio to Athens, beginning the city's transformation into a modern European capital.

  3. Constitutional Monarchy

    • 3 September Revolution

      A bloodless military uprising in Athens forces King Otto to grant a constitution, ending Bavarian absolutism.

  4. Constitutional Monarchy

    • Deposition of King Otto

      A popular uprising overthrows King Otto, who departs Greece without a successor.

  5. Constitutional Monarchy

    • King George I and the Ionian Islands

      Danish prince George I ascends the Greek throne and Britain cedes the Ionian Islands to Greece. A new democratic constitution is adopted.

  6. Territorial Expansion

    • Annexation of Thessaly and Arta

      Following the Congress of Berlin, Greece peacefully acquires Thessaly and the region of Arta from the Ottoman Empire.

  7. Belle Époque

    • First Modern Olympic Games

      Athens hosts the first modern Olympic Games, marking Greece's return to the international cultural stage.

  8. Belle Époque

    • Greco-Turkish War

      A short, disastrous war over Crete ends in Greek defeat and international financial control over Greece.

  9. Venizelist Era

    • Goudi Coup

      A military uprising at Goudi forces sweeping reforms, paving the way for Eleftherios Venizelos to enter national politics.

  10. Balkan Wars

    • First Balkan War

      Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro defeat the Ottomans. Greek forces liberate Thessaloniki on 26 October.

  11. Balkan Wars

    • Second Balkan War & Treaty of Bucharest

      Greece nearly doubles in size, gaining Macedonia, Epirus, and Crete. King George I is assassinated in Thessaloniki.

  12. National Schism

    • National Schism

      Greece is split between royalist King Constantine I, who favors neutrality, and Venizelos, who establishes a rival pro-Entente government in Thessaloniki.

  13. Asia Minor Campaign

    • Greek landing at Smyrna

      With Allied approval, Greek forces land at Smyrna, beginning the campaign to realize the 'Megali Idea' in Asia Minor.

  14. Asia Minor Catastrophe

    • Asia Minor Catastrophe

      The Greek army collapses in Anatolia. Smyrna is destroyed by fire and the Greek population of Asia Minor is annihilated or expelled.

  15. Interwar Period

    • Treaty of Lausanne & Population Exchange

      The treaty fixes the modern Greek-Turkish border and authorizes a compulsory exchange of populations between the two states.

  16. Second Hellenic Republic

    • Proclamation of the Second Hellenic Republic

      A referendum abolishes the monarchy and establishes the Second Hellenic Republic.

  17. Metaxas Regime

    • 4th of August Regime

      Ioannis Metaxas establishes an authoritarian regime under the restored monarchy of King George II.

  18. World War II

    • Ohi Day & Greco-Italian War

      On 28 October, Greece refuses Mussolini's ultimatum. Greek forces repel the Italian invasion and push deep into Albania, scoring the first Allied land victory of WWII.

  19. World War II

    • Axis Occupation of Greece

      Germany invades to rescue Italian forces. Greece falls under a brutal triple occupation by Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria.

  20. Liberation

    • Liberation of Greece

      Axis forces withdraw and Athens is liberated on 12 October. Tensions between resistance factions and the returning government quickly escalate.

  21. Greek Civil War

    • Outbreak of the Civil War

      Open conflict erupts between the government's National Army and the Communist-led Democratic Army of Greece.

  22. Greek Civil War

    • Truman Doctrine & Union of the Dodecanese

      The United States assumes Britain's role in supporting Greece against communism. Italy cedes the Dodecanese, completing the modern map of Greece.

  23. Greek Civil War

    • End of the Civil War

      Government forces win the Battle of Grammos-Vitsi, ending the civil war and aligning Greece firmly with the West.

  24. Post-War Recovery

    • Greece joins NATO

      Greece is admitted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, anchoring its post-war geopolitical orientation.

  25. Military Junta

    • Coup of the Colonels

      On 21 April, a group of right-wing officers seizes power, suspending democratic institutions and installing a military dictatorship.

  26. Military Junta

    • Athens Polytechnic uprising

      Students occupy the National Technical University in Athens. The junta crushes the uprising on 17 November but the regime's legitimacy is fatally undermined.

  27. Metapolitefsi

    • Fall of the Junta & Restoration of Democracy

      After the Cyprus crisis, the junta collapses. Konstantinos Karamanlis returns from exile and a referendum abolishes the monarchy, establishing the Third Hellenic Republic.

  28. European Integration

    • Greece joins the European Communities

      Greece becomes the 10th member of the European Communities (later European Union). PASOK under Andreas Papandreou wins the first leftist majority in Greek history.

  29. Eurozone Era

    • Greece adopts the Euro

      Greece becomes the 12th member of the Eurozone, replacing the drachma with the euro.

  30. Eurozone Era

    • Athens Olympic Games

      Athens successfully hosts the Summer Olympics, returning the Games to their birthplace and showcasing modern Greece on the world stage.

  31. Debt Crisis

    • First Bailout & Memorandum

      Faced with a sovereign debt crisis, Greece signs the first bailout agreement with the IMF, ECB, and EU, beginning a decade of austerity.

  32. Debt Crisis

    • Bailout Referendum

      Greeks vote 'No' on the creditors' terms in a dramatic referendum, but the SYRIZA government ultimately signs a third bailout to remain in the Eurozone.

  33. Post-Crisis

    • Prespa Agreement

      Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia resolve their long-running name dispute, opening the way for North Macedonia's NATO accession.

  34. Bicentennial Era

    • Bicentennial of the Greek Revolution

      Greece marks 200 years since the 1821 Revolution with national celebrations and international commemorations of the founding of the modern Greek state.