Alexander of Greece

Alexander of Greece was the second son of King Constantine I and Queen Sophia. He became king in 1917, after his father and his elder brother George were forced into exile by the Entente Powers and their Greek supporters, who favored the Venizelist faction in the Greek politics. Alexander was a puppet king under the prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos, who effectively ruled the country with the support of the Allies. Alexander had no real political power or experience, and he was confined to his palace most of the time. He supported the Greek troops during their war against the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, and he oversaw the expansion of the Greek territory after the First World War and the early stages of the Greco-Turkish War. Alexander married Aspasia Manos, a commoner, in 1919, causing a major scandal and a rift with his father and the royal family. The couple had to leave Greece for several months until their marriage was recognized by the government and the church. They returned to Greece in 1920 with their daughter Alexandra, who was born in Paris. Alexander died later that year from sepsis caused by a monkey bite he received while walking in the royal gardens. His death triggered a political crisis and a referendum that restored his father to the throne. Alexander is remembered as a tragic figure who had little control over his own destiny. He was popular among the people for his kindness and simplicity, but he was also criticized for his lack of leadership and his submission to Venizelos. He was buried in the Royal Cemetery at Tatoi Palace, where his parents and siblings were also interred. [1] [2] [3] [4]