Georgios Theotokis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georgios Theotokis
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| Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης | |
Theotokis circa 1910
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| Prime Minister of Greece | |
| In office 2 April 1899 – 12 November 1901 (o.s.) |
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| Preceded by | Alexandros Zaimis |
| Succeeded by | Alexandros Zaimis |
| In office 14 – 28 June 1903 (o.s.) |
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| Preceded by | Theodoros Diligiannis |
| Succeeded by | Dimitrios Rallis |
| In office 6 December 1903 – 17 December 1904 (o.s.) |
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| Preceded by | Dimitrios Rallis |
| Succeeded by | Theodoros Diligiannis |
| In office 8 December 1905 – 7 July 1909 (o.s.) |
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| Preceded by | Dimitrios Rallis |
| Succeeded by | Dimitrios Rallis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 February 1844 Corfu |
| Died | 13 January 1916 (aged 71) Athens, Greece |
| Political party | Modernist Party |
| Spouse | Amalia Theotokis |
| Children | Nikolaos Theotokis Ioannis Theotokis Zaera Theotokis |
Georgios Theotokis (Greek: Γεώργιος Θεοτόκης) was an important Greek politician. He was born in Corfu on February 8, 1844, and passed away in Athens on January 12, 1916. He served as the Prime Minister of Greece four separate times. Theotokis was a leading member of the Modernist Party, also known as Neoteristikon Komma.
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Early Life and Education
Georgios Theotokis was the third child of Nikolaos Andreas Theotokis, who was from Corfu. After finishing high school, he went to the Law School of the Ionian University. In 1861, he earned his law degree with a scholarship. He then continued his studies at the famous Sorbonne in Paris, France.
After finishing his studies, Theotokis returned to Corfu and began working as a lawyer.
Start of His Political Career
In 1879, Georgios Theotokis decided to enter local politics. He ran in the municipal elections and was elected mayor of Corfu with a large majority of 65% of the votes. He was re-elected as mayor in 1883.
However, in 1885, he left his position as mayor. He was invited by Charilaos Trikoupis, a very influential politician, to become a member of the Hellenic Parliament. Theotokis joined Trikoupis's political party.
Serving as a Minister
In May 1886, Charilaos Trikoupis appointed Theotokis as the Minister for Naval Affairs. In this role, Theotokis made significant improvements to the Greek Navy. He ordered the construction of three important battleships: the Spetsai, the Hydra, and the Psara.
He also worked to improve the training of naval officers and sailors. He established many new naval academies and schools to make the Navy stronger and more modern.
Later, Trikoupis appointed him as the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Public Education. With the help of Professor Papamarkos, Theotokis prepared new laws to improve education in Greece. These laws were considered very progressive for their time. However, they were never passed because of strong opposition from another politician, Theodoros Diligiannis.
Four Times Prime Minister
From mid-1903 to 1909, Georgios Theotokis served as Prime Minister of Greece three more times. His third term as prime minister was the longest. During his time in office, he achieved several important things.
He focused on organizing and strengthening the Greek army. This included adopting modern khaki uniforms for soldiers. He also provided support for the Macedonian Struggle, which was a conflict to free Greek lands from Ottoman rule. Theotokis was known for his calm and careful approach to foreign policy. This was especially important in the years leading up to the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), a time of great tension in the region.
Criticisms and Legacy
Georgios Theotokis's grandson, Georgios Rallis, who also became prime minister, later pointed out two decisions he believed were mistakes.
- First, in the period before the difficult Greco-Turkish War of 1897, Theotokis did not oppose sending the Hellenic Army to Crete. This action contributed to the start of the war, which was not successful for Greece.
- Second, Theotokis refused to help settle a disagreement between King Constantine I of Greece and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos in 1915–1916. This disagreement grew into a major political crisis known as the National Schism, which deeply divided Greece.
Despite these criticisms, many people remember Georgios Theotokis as a politician with high moral standards. He was known for his calm behavior and controlled temper, qualities that were not always common among politicians of his time.
As mayor of Corfu, Georgios Theotokis approved the construction of the Municipal Theatre of Corfu in 1885. This theater became an important cultural landmark.
Images for kids
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Theotokis circa 1910
