French Party (Greece)
Encyclopedia
The French Party was one of the three informal Early Greek Parties
that dominated the early political history of Modern Greece
, the other two being the Russian
and the English Party
.
, France
and Russia
) displayed for Greek affairs. As a result, they counted on the hope that Greeks had, that by supporting them those countries would also help the Greek Kingdom
to fulfill its expectations for economic progress and territorial expansion.
The French party began as a political faction centered on Ioannis Kolettis
during the Second National Assembly at Astros in 1824. Kolettis was the most powerful political leader emerging from the assembly and that added strength to his faction.
The parties were also defined by the so-called "Three Intrigues" by which each faction supported a post-revolutionary leader of the respective power. The French faction supported the Duke of Nemours
brother of the future king of France in 1825. The other factions responded by supporting others for the throne.
During the Governorship of Ioannis Kapodistrias
, the French party and English party were both opposed to the ruling Russian (or Napist) party. This coalition would continue under the rubrik of demanding a written constitution
. By 1831 or 1832 as the new Bavarian monarch, Otto
was being selected as king, the French party was firmly established by Kolettis.
The party had support in Central Greece
, especially East Rumely and Euboea
but was also strong among Pelopponesian
landowners of the Deligiannis faction.
Eventually, the party, like the other early great-power client parties lost power and were replaced in the reign of King George I
by more idealogical parties.
Early Greek Parties
Early Greek parties were not features of the provisional and regional governments that were set up between 1821 and 1832. Nascent political parties were organized around a variety of interests and backgrounds, but regardless of these various factors, the political formations were named after one of...
that dominated the early political history of Modern Greece
History of modern Greece
The history of modern Greece covers the history of Greece from the recognition of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832 after the Greek War of Independence to the present day.- Background :In 1821, the Greeks rose up against the Ottoman Empire...
, the other two being the Russian
Russian Party (Greece)
The Russian Party , one of the Early Greek Parties, was an informal grouping of Greek political leaders that formed during the brief period of the First Hellenic Republic and lasted through the reign of King Otto...
and the English Party
English Party (Greece)
The English Party , was one of the three informal Early Greek Parties that dominated the early political history of Modern Greece, the other two being the Russian Party and the French Party.-History and party development:...
.
History and party development
The creation and evolution of these Parties was the effect of the interest that the three Great Powers (the United KingdomUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
, France
July Monarchy
The July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...
and Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
) displayed for Greek affairs. As a result, they counted on the hope that Greeks had, that by supporting them those countries would also help the Greek Kingdom
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
to fulfill its expectations for economic progress and territorial expansion.
The French party began as a political faction centered on Ioannis Kolettis
Ioannis Kolettis
Ioannis Kolettis was a Greek politician who played a significant role in Greek affairs from the Greek War of Independence through the early years of the Greek Kingdom, including as Minister to France and serving twice as Prime Minister....
during the Second National Assembly at Astros in 1824. Kolettis was the most powerful political leader emerging from the assembly and that added strength to his faction.
The parties were also defined by the so-called "Three Intrigues" by which each faction supported a post-revolutionary leader of the respective power. The French faction supported the Duke of Nemours
Louis, Duke of Nemours
Prince Louis of Orléans was the second son of the future King Louis-Philippe I of France, and his wife Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. Under the reign of his father from 1830–1848, he was styled as Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours.-Childhood:He was born at the Palais Royal, in Paris...
brother of the future king of France in 1825. The other factions responded by supporting others for the throne.
During the Governorship of Ioannis Kapodistrias
Ioannis Kapodistrias
Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias |Academy of Athens]] Critical Observations about the 6th-Grade History Textbook"): "3.2.7. Σελ. 40: Δεν αναφέρεται ότι ο Καποδίστριας ήταν Κερκυραίος ευγενής." "...δύο ιστορικούς της Aκαδημίας κ.κ...
, the French party and English party were both opposed to the ruling Russian (or Napist) party. This coalition would continue under the rubrik of demanding a written constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
. By 1831 or 1832 as the new Bavarian monarch, Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
was being selected as king, the French party was firmly established by Kolettis.
The party had support in Central Greece
Central Greece
Continental Greece or Central Greece , colloquially known as Roúmeli , is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the administrative regions of Central Greece, Attica, and part of West Greece...
, especially East Rumely and Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
but was also strong among Pelopponesian
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
landowners of the Deligiannis faction.
Leaders of the party
Even though the party was an informal grouping, Kolettis was its dominating leader and the French party, of all the Greek parties of the period, was centered on its leader. Nevertheless, certain other factional leaders were important in the development of the party, including- Yannis Makriyannis (leader of the constitutional revolt of 1843)
- Adam Doukas
- George Kountouriotis
- Nikolaos Botases
Eventually, the party, like the other early great-power client parties lost power and were replaced in the reign of King George I
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
by more idealogical parties.