3 September 1843 Revolution

The 3 September 1843 Revolution (Greek: Επανάσταση της 3ης Σεπτεμβρίου 1843; N.S. 13 September), was an uprising by the Greek Army in Athens, supported by large sections of the people, against the autocratic rule of King Otto. The rebels, led by veterans of the Greek War of Independence, demanded the granting of a constitution and the departure of the Bavarian officials that dominated the government. The revolution succeeded, ushering the period of constitutional monarchy in Greece.

Background

During the War of Independence, the Greek rebels had passed a series of liberal and progressive constitutions on which the war's provisional governments were based. With the establishment of the monarchy in 1832 and the arrival of the Bavarian prince Otto as king, however, these liberal institutions were discarded. For the next 10 years, Otto and his mainly Bavarian officials would rule in an autocratic manner, causing large-scale resentment amongst a people that had just been liberated from foreign rule. The "Bavarocracy" (Βαυαροκρατία), as it was called, intentionally recalling the periods of "Francocracy" and "Turcocracy", even extended to the use of German alongside Greek in the state administration.

Greek politicians constantly demanded an end to this state of affairs. 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. However, 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, and cut across the political spectrum: all political parties, the French, the English, and the Russian, expressed them.

The conspiracy

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 3 September 1843.

The principal conspirators were Yannis Makriyannis, Andreas Metaxas, Andreas Londos, Constantine Zografos, Michael Soutzos and Rigas 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: 25 March 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.

The revolution

On the night of 2 September 1843, it was learned that the names of the conspirators were known to the police services. Moreover, incidents took place around Makriyannis’ home. 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.

The coup. Dimitrios Kallergis on horseback, Otto and Amalia at the windows of the Royal Palace.

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 1844 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 10 November (OS)/20 November (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.

Bibliography

Brunet de Presle and A. Blanchet, La Grèce depuis la conquête romaine jusqu'à nos jours., Firmin Didot, Paris, 1860.

External links

The Movement of September 3

Reign of Otto (1832–1862)

Notable People	Bavarians: Josef Ludwig von Armansperg Ignaz von Rudhart Georg Ludwig von Maurer Karl von Abel Carl Wilhelm von Heideck Christoforos Nezer Greeks: Dimitrios Kallergis Constantine Kanaris Theodoros Kolokotronis Ioannis Kolettis Yiannis Makriyiannis Andreas Metaxas Anastasios Polyzoidis Spyridon Trikoupis Theoklitos Farmakidis Architects: Eduard Schaubert Stamatios Kleanthis Theophil Hansen Christian Hansen (architect) Friedrich von Gärtner Leo von Klenze

Early Greek Parties	Russian Party French Party English Party

Events	London Conference of 1832 3 September 1843 Revolution Greek Constitution of 1844 Crimean War Epirus Revolt of 1854

Influence	Greek legal system Greek academic art of the 19th century

Structures	National Gardens of Athens Old Royal Palace National Observatory of Athens Syntagma Square Old Parliament House, Athens

Established	Church of Greece Hellenic Gendarmerie Greek Archaeological Service Court of Cassation (Greece) Council of State (Greece) Athens School of Fine Arts Archaeological Society of Athens Greek Evangelical Church

Liberalism in Greece

Ideology	Centrism Liberalism Modern Greek Enlightenment Liberal nationalism Liberal democracy Free trade Venizelism Megali Idea

Organizations	Liberal Club National and Social Liberation National Organization of Crete

Political Parties	Modernist Party Liberal Party National Unionist Party Liberal Democratic Union National Progressive Center Union Progressive Party Centre Union Centre Union – New Forces Union of the Democratic Centre Party of New Liberals Liberal Party (modern) Democratic Renewal Union of Centrists The Liberals Liberal Alliance Democratic Alliance Recreate Greece Drasi The River

People	Theophilos Kairis Adamantios Korais Dionysios Solomos Alexandros Mavrokordatos Charilaos Trikoupis Ioannis Psycharis Konstantinos Raktivan Eleftherios Venizelos Pavlos Kountouriotis Themistoklis Sofoulis Georgios Kafantaris Georgios Papandreou Sofoklis Venizelos Panagiotis Kanellopoulos Georgios Mavros Konstantinos Stephanopoulos Konstantinos Mitsotakis Stefanos Manos

Historical events	Greek War of Independence First National Assembly at Epidaurus 3 September 1843 Revolution Theriso revolt Goudi coup Movement of National Defence National Schism 11 September 1922 Revolution Greek resistance

Policies	Democratic education Modernization

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