‘Cachexia’, fantasy, and exultation: romantic nationalism in the reign of King George I of Greece

Thesis

This project explores certain aspects of the ideological development of modern Greece during its Romantic phase proper in the second half of the 19th century, and specifically during the first decade of rule of the second Greek monarch (King George I, 1863-1913).

The first decade of George I’s reign was for the kingdom a period of ideological disillusionment and division and yet, ultimately, of evolution. In 1871 the modern state and its establishment celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the War of Independence in what was arguably the greatest festive occasion organized in the kingdom since its establishment. In its broadest outline this event reflected the crystallization of a much-disputed official religio-national creed. It is precisely to the exploration of this ideological and political evolution, and the portrayal of this celebratory event in public discourse, especially the press, that my present work is devoted.

In particular, we shall try to follow this progression in relation to two specific themes, examination of which will reveal vividly the defining features of the newly forged religio-national creed. These themes are as follows: evolution of the relationship between official nationalism and Orthodoxy in the realm of ideology, and institutional relationships between state and Church, -particularly the effort to produce and promote the idea of an Orthodox dynasty, compatible with a revised nationalist schema.

By doing so, this analysis will attempt to shed light on aspects of the development of modern Greece during the romantic period, which historiography has hitherto underemphasised.

Authors: Sofoulis, L

• Alternative title: Romantic nationalism in the reign of King George I of Greece
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-54wa8a694
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: nationalism; nationalist festivities; monarchy; romanticism; modern Greek kingdom
• Subjects: history of modern Greek nationalism, history of modern Greek monarchy, entanglement of nationalism and romanticism, post-Ottoman nationalism in the Balkans