"September 3, 1843" Athens, "the Proclamation of the Constitution", outside the Royal Palace. Karl Haupt, 1900s - Now Syntagma ( Constitution) Square.

 

On this day: The Revolution of 3rd of September, 1843, results in the first Constitution of Greece

After conquering the Ottomans at the Greek War of Independence in 1821, after more than 400 years of Turkish rule, Greece was officially recognised as an independent, sovereign state by the Great Powers who then declared Prince Otto of Bavaria, as King of Greece.

However, the Greeks soon became enraged by the Bavarian authoritarianism and the general disrespect for the locals.

The dire economic situation of Greece, the king's huge budget cuts and raising of taxes, resulting in the country declaring bankruptcy in 1843 and his repeated rejection of the people's demand for a constitution, all led to an uprising by the Hellenic Army in Athens, supported by the people, against the autocratic rule of King Otto.

The Greek rebels, led by Dimitrios Kallergis, a war veteran and colonel of the cavalry; gathered in front of the Royal Palace (now the Hellenic Houses of Parliament) on the evening of September 2nd 1843.

Early in the morning of the 3rd of September they demanded the granting of a constitution and the resignation of the Bavarian officials who made up the majority of the government.

The revolution officially ended in the afternoon of the 3rd of September, when the people learned that all their demands had been accepted i.e. the end of absolute monarchy in Greece and the granting of a constitution.

In remembrance of the revolution, the former "Palace Square" was renamed "Syntagma (Constitution) Square".

Otto was eventually dethroned following a coup in 1862 and in 1863, the Greek National Assembly elected Prince William of Denmark King of the Hellenes under the name of George I.

Greeker than the Greeks