Tomorrow, on the 25th of March, the modern Greek state becomes 200 years old. In its own view of course (it was eventually recognised as such by the World's Christian Powers in 1830 and by its very own Muslim tyrants in 1832).
The new-born nation aspired to a democratic and liberal republican Constitution, but was given instead Otto Von Wittelschpach of Bavaria, as King of Greeks (the other candidate, Leopold, was clever and fast enough to choose the equally new-born Belgium as a job).
A bunch of mountain rebels, eventually aided by Great Britain, Russia and France (in a decisive but not a disinterested way, of course), established a sovereign Greek state after roughly 4 centuries of political inexistence and slavery to the Ottoman Turks.
The 22nd stanza of the Greek National Anthem (the Hymn to Liberty) lovingly refers to "Washington's Land" as an example and source of inspiration.
The first official recognition of modern Greek sovereignty touchingly came from the Western Hemisphere's second independent nation, Haiti.
Feel free to write or attach something nice about this temperamental, idiosyncratic and often divided nation, which, in its 3,500 years of history, came up with most of whatever is worth to ever say to anyone, and whose survival after all those 35 centuries is clearly a miracle or a scandal, or both.
The new-born nation aspired to a democratic and liberal republican Constitution, but was given instead Otto Von Wittelschpach of Bavaria, as King of Greeks (the other candidate, Leopold, was clever and fast enough to choose the equally new-born Belgium as a job).
A bunch of mountain rebels, eventually aided by Great Britain, Russia and France (in a decisive but not a disinterested way, of course), established a sovereign Greek state after roughly 4 centuries of political inexistence and slavery to the Ottoman Turks.
The 22nd stanza of the Greek National Anthem (the Hymn to Liberty) lovingly refers to "Washington's Land" as an example and source of inspiration.
The first official recognition of modern Greek sovereignty touchingly came from the Western Hemisphere's second independent nation, Haiti.
Feel free to write or attach something nice about this temperamental, idiosyncratic and often divided nation, which, in its 3,500 years of history, came up with most of whatever is worth to ever say to anyone, and whose survival after all those 35 centuries is clearly a miracle or a scandal, or both.
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