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This is a list of the heads of state of the modern Greek state.
First Hellenic Republic (1822–1832)[edit]
"First Hellenic Republic" is a historiographical term used by academics the actual name of the goverment was the Provisional Administration of Greece and was established at the beginning of the greek revolution and later renamed as the Hellenic state. There was no separation between head of state and head of goverment
Provisional Administration of Greece (Presidents of the Executive, 1822–1827)[edit]
| No. | 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) |
15 January 1822 | 26 April 1823 | 1 year, 117 days | President of the Executive |
| 2 | 
|
Petros Mavromichalis Πέτρος Μαυρομιχάλης (Πετρόμπεης) (1765–1848) |
26 April 1823 | 5 January 1824 | 235 days | President of the Executive |
| 3 | 
|
Georgios Kountouriotis Γεώργιος Κουντουριώτης (1782–1858) |
6 January 1824 | 17 April 1826 | 2 years, 101 days | President of the Executive |
| 4 | 
|
Andreas Zaimis Ανδρέας Ζαΐμης (1791–1840) |
18 April 1826 | 26 March 1827 | 353 days | President of the Government Commission |
| — | 
|
Vice-gubernatorial Committee of 1827 | 3 April 1827 | 20 January 1828 | 292 days | |
Hellenic State (1827–1832)[edit]
| No. | Governor | Term of office | Political party[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
| 1 | 
|
Ioannis Kapodistrias Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας (1776–1831) |
20 January 1828 | 27 September 1831 o.s. (Assassinated) |
4 years, 177 days | Independent |
| 2 | 
|
Augustinos Kapodistrias Αυγουστίνος Καποδίστριας (1778–1857) |
8 December 1831 | 27 March 1832 (o.s.) (Resigned) |
110 days | Independent |
| — | 
|
Administrative Committee of Greece (1832) | 28 March 1832 | 25 January 1833 | 302 days | Independent |
Kingdom of Greece (1832–1924)[edit]
House of Wittelsbach (1832–1862)[edit]
The London Conference of 1832 was an international conference convened to establish a stable government in Greece. Negotiations between the three Great powers (United Kingdom, France and Russia) resulted in the establishment of the Kingdom of Greece under a Bavarian Prince. The decisions were ratified in the Treaty of Constantinople later that year.
The convention offered the throne to the Bavarian Prince, Otto. They also established the line of succession which would pass the crown to Otto's descendants, or his younger brothers should he have no issue. It was also decided that in no case there would be a personal union of the crowns of Greece and Bavaria. Otto went on to rule Greece until he was exiled in the 23 October 1862 Revolution.
| No. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
| 1 | 
|
Otto Όθων (1815–1867) |
25 April 1832 [2][3] |
12 October 1862 (o.s.) (Deposed) |
30 years, 170 days | Ascended to the throne following the 1832 London Conference |
House of Glücksburg (1863–1924)[edit]
In October 1862, King Otto was deposed in a popular revolt, but while the Greek people rejected Otto, they did not seem averse to the concept of monarchy per se. Many Greeks, seeking closer ties to the pre-eminent world power, Great Britain, rallied around the idea that Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, could become the next King. British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston believed that the Greeks were "panting for increase in territory", hoping that the election of Alfred as King would also result in the incorporation of the Ionian Islands, which were then a British protectorate, into an enlarged Greek state.
The London Conference of 1832, however, had prohibited any of the Great Powers' ruling families from accepting the crown of Greece, and in any event, Queen Victoria was adamantly opposed to the idea. Nevertheless, the Greeks insisted on holding a referendum on the issue of the head of state in November 1862. It was the first referendum ever held in Greece.
Prince Alfred turned down the Kingship and Prince William of Denmark, son of Prince Christian of Denmark, was elected by the National Assembly to become King George I of the Hellenes.
| No. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
| 2 | 
|
George I Γεώργιος A΄ (1845–1913) |
30 March 1863 | 18 March 1913 (Assassinated) |
49 years, 353 days | Ascended to the throne following the 19 November 1862 referendum |
| 3 | 
|
Constantine I Κωνσταντίνος A΄ (1868–1923) |
18 March 1913 | 11 June 1917 (Abdicated) |
4 years, 85 days | Son of George I |
| 4 | 
|
Alexander Αλέξανδρος (1893–1920) |
11 June 1917 | 25 October 1920 | 3 years, 136 days | Second son of Constantine I |
| — | 
|
Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) |
28 October 1920 | 17 November 1920 (Resigned) |
20 days | Regent |
| — | 
|
Queen Olga Βασίλισσα Όλγα (1851–1926) |
17 November 1920 | 19 December 1920 | 32 days | Regent Widow of George I Mother of Constantine I |
| (3) |
|
Constantine I Κωνσταντίνος A΄ (1868–1923) |
19 December 1920 | 27 September 1922 (Abdicated) |
1 year, 282 days | Restored to the throne following the 22 November 1920 referendum |
| 5 | 
|
George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) |
27 September 1922 | 25 March 1924 (Deposed) |
1 year, 180 days | Eldest son of Constantine I |
Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)[edit]
The Second Hellenic Republic was a parliamentary republic which was proclaimed on 25 March 1924 and a referendum was held to abolish the Monarchy. The Second Republic was abolished after the 1935 monarchy referendum. The President of the Republic has a symbolic role as head of the state.
- Status
| No. | President | Elected | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 1 |
|
Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) |
— | 25 March 1924 | 6 April 1926 (Resigned) |
2 years, 12 days | Military |
| 2 | 
|
Lt. General Theodoros Pangalos Θεόδωρος Πάγκαλος (1878–1952) |
— | 6 April 1926 | 18 April 1926 | 138 days | Military |
| 1926 | 18 April 1926 | 22 August 1926 (Deposed) | |||||
| (1) |
|
Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Παύλος Κουντουριώτης (1855–1935) |
— | 22 August 1926 | 24 August 1926 | 3 years, 108 days | Military |
| 24 August 1926 | 10 December 1929 (Resigned) | ||||||
| 3 | 
|
Alexandros Zaimis Αλέξανδρος Ζαΐμης (1855–1936) |
— | 10 December 1929 | 14 December 1929 | 5 years, 304 days | Independent |
| 1929 1933 |
14 December 1929 | 10 October 1935 (Deposed) | |||||
Kingdom of Greece (1935–1973)[edit]
House of Glücksburg (1935–1973)[edit]
| No. | King | Reign | Claim | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
| — | 
|
Lt. General Georgios Kondylis Γεώργιος Κονδύλης (1878–1936) |
10 October 1935 | 25 November 1935 | 46 days | Regent (Took power in the 10 October 1935 coup, abolished the republic, and declared himself regent) |
| (5) |
|
George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) |
25 November 1935 | 31 December 1944 | 9 years, 36 days | Restored to the throne following the 3 November 1935 referendum |
| — | 
|
Archbishop Damaskinos Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δαμασκηνός (1891–1949) |
31 December 1944 | 27 September 1946 | 1 year, 270 days | Regent (Named regent after the Liberation of Greece, until the conclusion of a referendum on the monarchy) |
| (5) |
|
George II Γεώργιος Β΄ (1890–1947) |
27 September 1946 | 1 April 1947 | 186 days | Restored to the throne following the 1 September 1946 plebiscite on the monarchy |
| 6 | 
|
Paul Παύλος (1901–1964) |
1 April 1947 | 6 March 1964 | 16 years, 340 days | Third son of Constantine I Brother of George II |
| 7 | 
|
Constantine II Κωνσταντίνος Β΄ (1940–2023) |
6 March 1964 | 1 June 1973 (Deposed) |
9 years, 87 days | Son of Paul |
| — | 
|
Lt. General Georgios Zoitakis Γεώργιος Ζωιτάκης (1910–1996) |
13 December 1967 | 21 March 1972 | 4 years, 99 days | Regent For Constantine II (Appointed by the Greek junta following the failed royal counter-coup of 13 December 1967 and the King's flight to Italy) |
| — | 
|
Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος (1919–1999) |
21 March 1972 | 31 May 1973 | 1 year, 71 days | Regent For Constantine II (Strongman of the Greek junta, declared himself regent) |
Republic under the Greek junta (1973–1974)[edit]
On 1 June 1973 the junta abolished the monarchy and replaced it with a presidential republic. The abolition of the monarchy was approved by a rigged referendum held on 29 July 1973.
| No. | President | Term of office | Political affiliation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
| 1 |
|
Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος (1919–1999) |
1 June 1973 | 25 November 1973 (Deposed) |
177 days | Military |
| 2 | 
|
General Phaedon Gizikis Φαίδων Γκιζίκης (1917–1999) |
25 November 1973 | 24 July 1974 | 241 days | Military |
Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)[edit]
On 24 July 1974, the junta was overthrown and democracy restored. A second referendum, held on 8 December 1974, confirmed the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the current parliamentary republic, with the President of the Republic in a symbolic role as head of the state.
- Status
| No. | President | Elected | Term of office | Political party/ affiliation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| — |
|
General Phaedon Gizikis Φαίδων Γκιζίκης (1917–1999) |
— (Remained in office pro tempore) |
24 July 1974 | 17 December 1974 | 146 days | Military |
| 1 | Michail Stasinopoulos Μιχαήλ Στασινόπουλος (1903–2002) |
1974 (interim) | 18 December 1974 | 19 July 1975 | 213 days | New Democracy | |
| 2 | 
|
Konstantinos Tsatsos Κωνσταντίνος Τσάτσος (1899–1987) |
1975 | 19 July 1975 | 10 May 1980 | 4 years, 296 days | New Democracy |
| 3 | 
|
Konstantinos Karamanlis Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής (1907–1998) |
1980 | 10 May 1980 | 10 March 1985 (Resigned) |
4 years, 304 days | New Democracy |
| — | 
|
Ioannis Alevras Ιωάννης Αλευράς (1912–1995) |
— (Acting) |
10 March 1985 | 30 March 1985 | 20 days | PASOK |
| 4 | 
|
Christos Sartzetakis Χρήστος Σαρτζετάκης (1929–2022) |
1985 | 30 March 1985 | 4 May 1990 | 5 years, 35 days | Independent |
| (3) |
|
Konstantinos Karamanlis Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής (1907–1998) |
1990 | 5 May 1990 | 10 March 1995 | 4 years, 310 days | New Democracy |
| 5 | 
|
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos Κωνσταντίνος Στεφανόπουλος (1926–2016) |
1995 2000 |
10 March 1995 | 12 March 2005 | 10 years, 2 days | Independent |
| 6 | 
|
Karolos Papoulias Κάρολος Παπούλιας (1929–2021) |
2005 2010 |
12 March 2005 | 13 March 2015 | 10 years, 1 day | PASOK |
| 7 | 
|
Prokopis Pavlopoulos Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος (born 1950) |
2014–2015 | 13 March 2015 | 13 March 2020 | 5 years | New Democracy |
| 8 | 
|
Katerina Sakellaropoulou Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου (born 1956) |
2020 | 13 March 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 36 days | Independent |
Timeline[edit]
Head of state titles[edit]
| State | Years | Title |
|---|---|---|
| First Hellenic Republic | 1827–1832 | Governor |
| Kingdom of Greece (Under Wittelsbach dynasty) |
1832–1862 | King of Greece |
| Kingdom of Greece (Under Glücksburg dynasty) |
1863–1924 | King of the Hellenes |
| Second Hellenic Republic | 1924 | Governor |
| 1924–1935 | President of the Republic | |
| Kingdom of Greece (Restored Glücksburg dynasty) |
1935–1973 | King of the Hellenes |
| Hellenic Republic (Military Junta) |
1973–1974 | President of the Republic |
| Third Hellenic Republic | 1974–present |
See also[edit]
- Politics of Greece
- List of kings of Greece
- List of regents of Greece
- List of prime ministers of Greece
- List of cabinets of Greece
Notes[edit]
- ^ There weren't any formal political parties then. According to Greek historian Grigorios Dafnis : "...it is not possible to talk about parties during the revolutionary period" («Υπό αυτούς τους όρους δεν είναι δυνατό να ομιλούμε περί κομμάτων κατά την περίοδο της επανάστασης και μέχρι της 3ης Σεπτεμβρίου 1843»). «Τα Ελληνικά Πολιτικά Κόμματα 1821–1961» Εκδ. Κάκτος, σελ. 190 (2020) Grigorios Dafnis: "Greek political parties 1821–1961", Athens:Kaktos, p.190
- ^ Protocol signed in 22 April 1832 but landed in Greece on 6 February 1833.
- ^ https://www.fhw.gr/chronos/12/en/1821_1833/diethni/07.html