The Ionian Islands and the advent of the Greek State (1827-1833)
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Abstract
The diplomatic reactions of the British to the traditional crises of the
Near East, such as the various Ottoman wars and Balkan insurrections, were
often based upon the experiences of three centuries of Near Eastern trade. As
long as Anglo-Ottoman trade remained unaffected, there was no concern with
any modifications in the status quo. Therefore, with the initiation of the Greek
Revolution, these traditional attitudes prevailed. Unfortunately, the circumstances had changed radically over the past three centuries. Since the acquisition of the Ionian Islands, the British were actually established as a naval
power in the Mediterranean Sea. In light of this situation and the successful
results of the Greek Revolution, such attitudes were no longer practical. In
fact, since Britain was directly responsible for the emergence of the modern
Greek state, such attitudes were completely hypocritical. Therefore, the British were forced to adopt a new outlook in their Near Eastern diplomacy.
This new outlook was not simply a matter of Anglo-Ionian-Hellenic relations.
Instead, the aspect of early Russophobia complicated these new diplomatic policies. As a result, the British became rather suspicious of the new Greek state, thus they were forced to protect their position in the Ionian Islands
against all external threats.
Near East, such as the various Ottoman wars and Balkan insurrections, were
often based upon the experiences of three centuries of Near Eastern trade. As
long as Anglo-Ottoman trade remained unaffected, there was no concern with
any modifications in the status quo. Therefore, with the initiation of the Greek
Revolution, these traditional attitudes prevailed. Unfortunately, the circumstances had changed radically over the past three centuries. Since the acquisition of the Ionian Islands, the British were actually established as a naval
power in the Mediterranean Sea. In light of this situation and the successful
results of the Greek Revolution, such attitudes were no longer practical. In
fact, since Britain was directly responsible for the emergence of the modern
Greek state, such attitudes were completely hypocritical. Therefore, the British were forced to adopt a new outlook in their Near Eastern diplomacy.
This new outlook was not simply a matter of Anglo-Ionian-Hellenic relations.
Instead, the aspect of early Russophobia complicated these new diplomatic policies. As a result, the British became rather suspicious of the new Greek state, thus they were forced to protect their position in the Ionian Islands
against all external threats.
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