Gréco-Turkish War (1897)

See also: gréco-Turkish War

The gréco-Turkish war of 1897 is also called “war Thirty Day old”. She opposed the Greece Georges Ier and the Ottoman Empire of the Sultan Abdülhamid II.

The origin of the war is with being gone to seek in the wills irredentists of Greece within the framework of the Grande Idea. The immediate cause is related to the businesses of Crete.
In 1896, a new insurrection against the Othoman presence took place on the island. With an aim of carrying out the Enosis, but also of diverting its public opinion of the internal political problems, the Greek government sent an army and a fleet in Crete. The unloading took place on January 21st 1897. April 5th, after being itself folded up of Crete under international pressure, Greece tried to seize territories in Épire and Macedonia.
In the still Othoman part of Thessalie, six then seven Turkish divisions (around 60.000 men) waited, under the command Ethem Pasha. The Greek forces, ordered by the Prince Constantin, rose with 46.000 men. The only Greek advantage was that its navy had the control of the seas. The war was terrestrial. The first meeting took place with Mati. The Greeks folded up themselves beyond Larissa and reorganized around Pharsale in Dhomokos, on May 17th, before counter-attacking. But, the moral Greek had taken a blow of it. The Turks even succeeded in reaching the collar of Furka. The cease-fire suggested by the Sultan, under the Western pressure, on May 20th, saved Grèce.
In Épire, 15.000 Greeks faced 30.000 Turks ordered by Ahmet Hıfzı Pasha. April 18th, the Othomans bombarded without being able to take Arta. They were folded up on Philippiada, where they trenched. The Greek counter-attack was demolished when the hoped reinforcements did not arrive. The Greek army folded up on May 15th after having undergone heavy losses.
A peace, imposed by the great powers, was signed on September 20th. The Ottoman Empire obtained territorial concessions along the border of Thessalie and a strong war indemnity (94,3 million Gold franc) that Greece already in bankruptcy could pay only with the assistance of the Westerners who still accentuated their control of the country.

External bond

Mehmet Uğur Ekinci, " The Origins off the 1897 War Othoman-Greek: In Diplomatic History." Master's paper of history, Bilkent University, Ankara, 2006.

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