Greek coup d'état of 1843

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The Greek coup d’état of 1843, also known as the 3 September 1843 coup d’état (NS 13 September), gave modern Greece her first constitution. It was also the first of numerous interventions by the Greek Army into the country’s political life.

Since the end of the War of Independence, Greek politics had been dominated by the Bavarians who arrived with King Otto, imposed by the Protecting Powers. Greek politicians constantly demanded an end to this “xenocracy”. They wished for the Bavarians, above all the much-despised Major Hess, to be sent back to their country and for a constitution to be granted. They remained animated by the same national sentiment as during the war of independence: the refusal to be governed by foreigners, whether Ottomans or Bavarians. They did not question the monarchy itself or the power of the king. Indeed, they did not wish to impose a constitution, but demanded that the king grant them one.

These demands grew ever stronger as time passed. All political parties, the French, the English, and the Russian, expressed them.

Andreas Metaxas, one of the conspirators

The king’s repeated refusals to yield to these demands led to a radicalisation. Therefore, the politicians resorted to conspiracy, which was not a new form of political action in Greece – indeed it had preceded and occurred during the war of independence. The first Greek governments, such as that of John Capodistria, had had to confront it, and conspiracies had never really disappeared. However, this movement was much more important and came out into the open on September 3, 1843.

The principal conspirators were Andreas Metaxas, André Loutos, Constantin Zographos, M. Soutsos and R. Palamidis. They had managed to convince certain officers to join their side, chief among these being Colonel Dimitrios Kallergis (Commander of the Athens cavalry), Colonel Skarvelis (Commander of the Athens infantry) and Colonel Spyromilios (Commander of the Military Academy). Thus, the conspirators were certain to have army support.

Their idea was to act quickly so as to present the Palace with a fait accompli. A first date was chosen: March 25, 1844, anniversary of the uprising against the Ottomans. The constitution would then appear as the logical and necessary consequence of independence.

However, the secret was not well kept. Yannis Makriyannis, for example, spent his time trying to recruit new conspirators and in the process exposed the conspiracy. It was decided to pass more quickly to action, at the beginning of September 1843.

On the night of September 2, it was learned that the names of the conspirators were known to the police services. Moreover, incidents took place around Makriyannis’ home.

The coup. Kallergis on horseback, Otto and Amalia at the windows

Therefore, Kallergis acted on his own initiative. He went looking for his men in their barracks and headed toward the royal palace. At the same time, he ordered that the gates of Medrese Prison be opened.

Captain Schinas, who commanded the Athens artillery, received an order to suppress the nascent insurrection, but he preferred to join the movement. The soldiers arrived at the royal palace and shouted “Long live the Constitution!” beneath the king’s windows.

Otto could not but yield to the demands and granted the 1843 Constitution. In fact, the Council of State had already drawn up the constitution in anticipation of the coup. The king then asked Metaxas to form a new government and to summon a new national assembly, which met on November 10 (OS)/November 20 (NS). The troops returned to their barracks, acclaiming the king as a “constitutional” one.

The coup was bloodless. France and the United Kingdom accepted these changes without difficulty. For the French of the July Monarchy era, 3 September 1843 could only bring to mind their own Revolution of 1830. As for the British, their Glorious Revolution of 1688 was a liberal model par excellence in the 19th century. Only Russia condemned the movement, for she was autocratic, authoritarian, and consequently anti-liberal. The assembly designated a constitutional commission and a constitution was proclaimed in March 1844.

Since then, the square in front of the royal palace has been renamed Constitution Square, or Syntagma Square in Greek.