History Talk - Greece Flag
THE OTTOMAN ERA and beyond
During the dark years of the Ottoman rule, it was the Greek Orthodox Church who helped the enslaved Greeks not to lose their cultural characteristics, the Greek ethnic identity. They provided them with hidden schools, the Crypha Scholia, a net of schools operating secretly throughout the country. Incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, Greece remained under Turkish rule. Its national feelings developed when the Ottoman Empire declined and the Greek Society Hetairia was founded in 1814.
Red for th Ottoman
Empire, blue for Greek Orthodoxy
Byzantine Flag
State Flag of the
Kingdom of
Greece under Otto
The establishment of the Kingdom of Greece in 1832 with the only 17 year old King Otto led to the addition of the royal Coat of Arms, a shield in his ancestral Bavarian pattern in the centre of the cross for military flags. It was later in 1862 with his abdication removed and replaced by a simple royal crown in 1863.
After the defeat of Greece by Turkey in1922, King Constantine the 1st was send into in exile where he died in 1923. His successor, King George the 2nd, was later forced to leave Greece so that the nation could decide what form of government it should adopt. It ultimately selected a Republic.
Despite a period of stability under various governments, the prospect of a return to the monarchy became evident when a coup was launched in 1935. The Republic was abolished and Greece returned to a monarchy under King George II. The land flag was used until 1978 when the sea flag was adopted as the only national flag! No other design or badge can be shown on the flag. The old land flag is still flown at the Old Parliament building in Athens, site of the National Historical Museum, and can still be seen displayed unofficially by private citizens
Eras in Greece History: generally divided into the following:
Mycenaean or Late Helladic
(circa 1600 - 1100 BCE)
Dark Ages (circa 1100 - 700 BCE)
Archaic (circa 700 - 480 BCE)
Classical (480 - 323 BCE)
Hellenistic (323 - 30 BCE)
Mycenaean or Late Helladic
(circa 1600 - 1100 BCE)
Dark Ages (circa 1100 - 700 BCE)
Archaic (circa 700 - 480 BCE)
Classical (480 - 323 BCE)
Hellenistic (323 - 30 BCE)
