Otto, King of Greece, also known as
Otto of Wittelsbach, Prince of Bavaria, (
June 1,
1815 -
July 26,
1867) was made first modern king of
Greece in
1832 under the
Convention of London, where Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of
Great Britain,
France and
Russia.
He entered Greece with many Bavarian advisors and showed little respect for local customs. Initially he refused to grant a constitution, but was forced to do so after a military coup in
1843. The "Great Idea", his dream of restoring the
Byzantine Empire under Christian rule, led to his entering the
Crimean War against
Turkey; the enterprise was unsuccessful. After another coup, he was deposed in
1862 and left for
Bavaria, taking with him the Greek royal regalia which he had brought from Bavaria in 1832.
He was born in Salzburg, Austria, son of Ludwig I of Bavaria and his wife Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1792-1854). He married, at Oldenburg, on November 22, 1836, Amelie of Oldenburg (December 21, 1818 - May 20, 1875). He died in Bamberg, Germany and was buried in Munich, Germany.
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