Figure 1.--Here we see Prince Constatine with his father in Athens in 1947. Constanhtine was about 6 years old. The occasion was the funeral of Paul's brother King George II. Paul succeeded his brother and paid an important role in the defeat of the Communists in the Civil War.

Constantine was born in 1940 during World War II. He was crowned in 1964 as Constantine II. King Constantine clashed with Papandreou over the king's political powers and control of the armed forces. Constantine dismissed Papandreou (1965). Political confusion developed, and the government remained shaky. In an effort to achieve a stable government, Parliament was dissolved on April 14, 1967, and new elections were called for May 28. But these elections were never allowed to take place. Greek army units on April 21, 1967, equipped with tanks and armored cars seized the royal palace, government offices and leaders, and radio stations. Three army officers then set up a military dictatorship. The junta suspended important liberties guaranteed by the constitution. It prohibited all political activity, and made mass arrests. It replaced the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, imposed harsh controls on newspapers, and dissolved hundreds of private organizations of which it disapproved. Constantine remained head of state, though powerless. The King on December 13, 1967, he tried to overthrow the junta. He failed, and he and his family then fled to Italy. The junta named a regent to substitute for the king. A group of naval officers in May 1973 led an unsuccessful mutiny aboard a Greek destroyer. The Junta claimed the mutiny was part of an attempted coup supported by King Constantine. The Junta in June announced the end of the monarchy and proclaimed Greece a republic. The Greek monarchy was officially abolished after a referendum in 1973. The crisis in Cyprus and economic recession paralyzed Greece's military government. Shortly after the cease-fire was signed, the military government collapsed. Military leaders invited Constantine Caramanlis, who had opposed Greece's military government, to become prime minister again. Caramanlis was sworn in on July 24, 1974, as prime minister of a civilian government. The country in November held its first free elections in more than 10 years. Caramanlis was then head of the New Democratic Party. The party won the elections by a wide margin. In December, Greek voters chose to make the country a republic rather than a monarchy. Parliament adopted a new constitution in 1975. Constantine has lived in exile in London since he was deposed by a military junta in 1967. He filed a claim along with two other relatives (his sister Princess Irene, who now lives in Madrid, and his aunt, Princess Ekaterini, who lives in Buckinghamshire, north of London) for the palaces and other possesions siezed when he went into exile.

Parents

Contantine's father was King Paul.

Childhood

Constantine was born in 1940 during World War II.

Childhood Clothing

Education

Marriage

Reign

He was crowned in 1964 as Constantine II. King Constantine clashed with Prime Minister Papandreou over the king's political powers and control of the armed forces. Constantine dismissed Papandreou (1965). Political confusion developed, and the government remained shaky. In an effort to achieve a stable government, the King duisolved Parliament (April 14, 1967). New elections were called for May 28. But these elections were never allowed to take place. Greek army units on April 21, 1967, equipped with tanks and armored cars seized the royal palace, government offices and leaders, and radio stations (April 21, 1967). Three army officers then set up a military dictatorship. The junta suspended important liberties guaranteed by the constitution. It prohibited all political activity, and made mass arrests. It replaced the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, imposed harsh controls on newspapers, and dissolved hundreds of private organizations of which it disapproved. Constantine remained head of state, though powerless. The King tried to overthrow the junta (December 13, 1967). He failed, and he and his family then fled to Italy. The junta named a regent to substitute for the king.

End of the Monarchy

A group of naval officers led an unsuccessful mutiny aboard a Greek destroyer (May 1973). The Junta claimed the mutiny was part of an attempted coup supported by King Constantine. The Junta in June announced the end of the monarchy and proclaimed Greece a republic. The Greek monarchy was officially abolished after a referendum (1973).

Return to Civilian Rule

The crisis in Cyprus and economic recession paralyzed Greece's military government. Shortly after the cease-fire was signed, the military government collapsed. Military leaders invited Constantine Caramanlis, who had opposed Greece's military government, to become prime minister again. Caramanlis was sworn in as prime minister of a civilian government (July 24, 1974). The country held its first free elections in more than 10 years (November). Caramanlis was then head of the New Democratic Party. The party won the elections by a wide margin. In December, Greek voters chose to make the country a republic rather than a monarchy (December). Parliament adopted a new constitution (1975).

Exile

Constantine has lived in exile in London since he was deposed by a military junta in 1967. He filed a claim along with two other relatives (his sister Princess Irene, who now lives in Madrid, and his aunt, Princess Ekaterini, who lives in Buckinghamshire, north of London) for the palaces and other possesions siezed when he went into exile.

Communists and Socialists

The Monarchy was ended by the military wjich had been a primary supporter of the monsrchy. This was because King Constanhtine took a moderate stace and opposed the Junta. It was the Communists and Socialists ho had been the trafditional foes of the monarchy. Interestingly, the strength of the Communists and Socialists in modern Greece is in part because the Communidts were defeated in the Civil War (1944-49). King Paul played a major role in fighting the Communist insurgency. As a result, Greece was not added to the Soviet Empire. Those Eastern European countries which experienced Communism as part of the Soviet Empire today wantvnothing to dobwith Communism. Greece and other Wesrern European countries (like Italy and France) which did not experience Communism today have strong Communidst parties and populations oriented toward Socialism. They are also expeiencing serious economic problems. Greece has gone bankrupt and has had to partially defaukt in its debt and plead with th European Uniion for finanbcial assistance. And the Givernment can no longer pay for all the promises made by Soicialist and Communist politicans who created a giant Ponzi scheme. The sane trends are at work in many other European countries.

Created: 8:34 AM 8/24/2012
Last updated: 8:34 AM 8/24/2012