Return To Greece
Kapodistrias retired to Geneva, where he was greatly esteemed, having been made an Honorary Citizen for his past services to Swiss unity and particularly to the cantons. In 1827, he learned that the newly formed Greek National Assembly had, as he was the most illustrious Greek-born politician in Europe, elected him as the first head of state of newly liberated Greece, with the title of Kyvernetes (Κυβερνήτης – Governor).
After touring Europe to rally support for the Greek cause, Kapodistrias landed in Nafplion 7 January 1828 and arrived in Aegina on 8 January 1828. It was the first time he had ever set foot on the Greek mainland, and he found a discouraging situation there. Even while fighting against the Ottomans was still going on, factional and dynastic conflicts had led to two civil wars which ravaged the country. Greece was bankrupt and the Greeks were unable to form a united national government.
From the first capital of Greece, Nafplion, he ushered in a new era in the country, which had just been liberated from a 400 year Turkish occupation. He founded schools, established Foundations for young women to work and inaugurated the first university. These Institutes educated the first teachers of liberated Greece.
Read more about this topic: Ioannis Kapodistrias
Famous quotes containing the words return to, return and/or greece:
“If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath, all flesh would perish together, and all mortals return to dust.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 34:14-15.
“If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath, all flesh would perish together, and all mortals return to dust.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 34:14-15.
“When a man hath no freedom to fight for at home,
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Let him think of the glories of Greece and of Rome,
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—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)