Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936)

Born in Ottoman-occupied Crete in 1864, Eleftherios Venizelos emerged as one of the most important leaders of Greece in the late 19th and early 20th century. He initially participated in the Cretan Revolution of 1897 and contributed to the creation of the Cretan State (1898-1912). He became Prime Minister of Greece in 1910 and formed the 'Liberal Party', playing a key role in the reconstruction of the country after the Balkan Wars (1912-1913). Also, during the First World War (1914-1918), he led the country in the war on the side of the Entente Allies, despite the National Schism caused by this decision and his break with King Constantine I.

After the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, he returned to the Greek political scene and carried out important actions that influenced the course of the country. However, his political career was marked by unrest and attempts on his life. The attempt on his life in June 1933 and the failed movement of March 1935 marked the end of an era. He went into self-imposed exile in Paris, where he died in March 1936. Eleftherios Venizelos' overall contribution to Greek politics and history is undeniable, leaving behind a legacy that influenced the course of his country.

Pictured photo: Eleftherios Venizelos after the signing of the Treaty of Sevres, 1920. Photograph by A. Gaziadis. ©Central Service of the General State Archives (G.A.K.).