George I of Greece

King of Greece (r. 1863–1913)

George I (Greek: Γεώργιος Αʹ, Geórgios I; born Prince William of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg; Danish: Prins Vilhelm; 24 December 1845 – 18 March 1913) also known as Georgios I was King of Greece from 1863 until his assassination in 1913.

George I
George I in the uniform of an Admiral of the Royal Hellenic Navy
King of the Hellenes
Reign30 March 1863 – 18 March 1913[1]
PredecessorOtto I
SuccessorConstantine I
Prime Ministers
BornPrince William of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
(1845-12-24)24 December 1845
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died18 March 1913(1913-03-18) (aged 67)
Thessaloniki[2]
Burial
Royal Cemetery, Tatoi Palace, Greece
Spouse
(m. 1867)
IssueConstantine I of Greece
Prince George
Princess Alexandra
Prince Nicholas
Princess Maria
Princess Olga
Prince Andrew
Prince Christopher
HouseGlücksburg
FatherChristian IX of Denmark
MotherLouise of Hesse Kassel
ReligionLutheranism
SignatureGeorge I's signature

George's reign of almost 50 years (the longest in modern Greek history) was characterized by territorial gains as Greece established its place in pre-World War I Europe. He was the grandfather of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and great-grandfather of Charles III.

While out on an afternoon walk near the White Tower on 18 March 1913, he was shot at close range in the back by Alexandros Schinas, who was "said to belong to a Socialist organization" and "declared when arrested that he had killed the King because he refused to give him money".[3] George died instantly, the bullet having penetrated his heart.[4]

References

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  1. Throughout George's lifetime, Greece used the Old Style Julian calendar. Unless otherwise indicated, all dates in this article are in the New Style Gregorian calendar.
  2. At the time of the King's assassination, Thessaloniki was in occupied Ottoman territory. The city was recognized as part of the Kingdom of Greece by the Treaty of Bucharest (1913) five months afterwards.
  3. The Times (London), 19 March 1913, p. 6
  4. Christmas, p. 408

Other websites

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