CALLED TO A THRONE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 299, 10 May 1913, Page 10

CALLED TO A THRONE

LATE KING OF GREECE. EVENTS IX HIS CAREER. London, March in. George, Kiir« of the Hellenes, who was killed at Salonika yesterday by a Greek degenerate named Aleko Schinas, was the second son of Christian IX., King of Denmark, whose children have occupied so many of the thrones of Europe. His eldest sister became Queen of England, and his second sister became /Empress of Russia. He was born in 1845, entered his father's navy as a boy, and married Olga, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke Constantino, brother to the Czar Alexander 11. In ISG3 the current of his life was changed by the offer being made to him of the Crown of Greece, Greece having been declared a kingdom by the protocol of 1830 under the protection of England, France and Russia. Otto, Prince of Bavaria, was chosen as King, and reigned from 1833 to 1802. His' subjects became dissatisfied with the German methods of his rule and revolted. He was deposed whilst on a visit to Corfu, and on his return was not allowed to land. Prince George of Denmark was chosen to succeed him, and he accepted the honor and became King.

GIFT OF lONIAN ISLES. , The election of King George brought with it the gift from England of the seven lonian Islands. During his long reign he saw further accessions to his kingdom—Thessaly and Arta in IS7S by the Treaty of Berlin; the preponderating power in Crete after the disasters of the Greco-Turkish conflict of 1897; and lastly, the large increase of territory in the course of the present war. The King's personal connections with the great ruling houses of Europe formed part of the assets of the struggling Greek kingdom: yet King George's position was at no time very enviable, and at more than one crisis he was on the point of abdication. The calamitous war with Turkey in ISO 7, which, it is said, he was anxious to avoid, contributed largely to. his unpopularity, he and his family having to bear the brunt of the bitter feeling caused by its ending. The Military League formed to demand army reform and social reform dominated Greek politics for the next ten years. In K)0!) the League demanded the removal of the Royal princes from their commands in the army, a demand which was opposed in the Chamber only by two voices. King George yielded to the junta, and his sons resigned their commands. For two years the Military League was in practice supreme.

UNPOPULAR FOR A TIME. For some time neither the King and Queen, nor any member of their family, entered into any social relations with the people of Athens, and the Court was for the most part absent. The tension was relieved in 1011 by M. Venizelos, who restored the Crown Prince to authority in the army, and destroyed the ascendancy of the junta. The talk of abdication subsided. The Athenians probably recognised, even in their most violent moments, that King Oeorge's presence was valuable from the international point of view, and that had he been driven to abdication, it would have been difficult to found a new dynasty. The successful conduct of the present war has reconciled him completely with the nation, and his triumphal entrance into Salonika on November 12 last year was the greatest hour of his triumph. Tn private life the late King showed simple tastes and the industry which is common to modern kingship. He was something of an archaeologist, an excellent shot, and an enthusiastic angler. He brought to Athens the Danish tradition of simplicity in court life, and was on friendly terms with his subjects. His favorite holiday resort was Aix-les-Bains, where he regularly submitted to the •'cure," and he was a well-known guest at an unostentatious suite of hotel rooms in the Place Ycmlome in Paris.

PREVIOUS ATTEMPT OX HIS LIFE. The present attempt is not the. first of its kind. Soon after the war of 1597 an attempt was made on his life by two men. who fired seven shots at him as he was driving out with his only daughter. One shot lodged in the leg of a groom, and the other six went harmlessly by. The King displayed great coolness and courage under the assault. He was apparently more concerned for his daughter's safety than for his own, and stood up in the carriage in front of her so as to screen her. This fatherly exhibition touched the people, profoundly, and contributed much, for the time being, towards the restoration of. his popularity. The King of Greece was Queen Alexandra's famous brother, and was fairly well-known to a large number of people in London, his Majesty having visited this country on at least two recent occasions. Tie paid a State visit during King Edward's reign, and came to London again at the time of the late King's death. On the latter occasion his Majestv remained at Buckingham Palace for some time after the various other Royal guests had left, his bereaved sister finding great comfort in his presence.

THE NEW KING. Kin;,' (ieorge is succeeded by his eldest son Constantine. Duke of Sparta, who was born in 18(58 at Athens. He was brought up by an English governess and German and Greek tutors, and received his literary and military education in < icrmany. ' He married in 188!) Princess Sophia of Prussia, sister of the present Kaiser, and their first son (ieorge was horn in ISSN). in the war with Turkey in 1807 he commanded the Greek troops, and suffered »reat disaster at the haiiiis oi Edhem Pasiin. His victorious advance during the present campaign has. however, completely retrieved the misfortunes 0 f that war. The new King has four brothers. One. Nicholas, is married to a cousin of the Czar, and another. Andrew, is married to Princess Alice of l'.atten.lierg, daughter of Prince Louis of P.atteiiberg; and one sister, who is married to one of the Russian Grand Dukes.