On this day, February 17, 1914, the Greeks in Northern Epirus declared independence, resulting in the establishment of a short-lived, self-governed autonomous republic.
After the successful Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 which resulted in the liberation of the majority of the Ottoman-held lands in the Balkans, the Great Powers immediately intervened and confiscated lands that were liberated by Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, in order to establish the Albanian state.
On December 17, 1913, the Protocol of Florence was signed, which set the border between Albania and Greece. The protocol ceded the northern areas of Epirus to the then newly-established Albanian state. This decision was rejected by the Greeks of southern Albania and, as the Greek army withdrew south into Greece as per the protocol, an autonomous local Greek government was immediately established in the city of Argyrokastron (Alb: Gjirokastër). Aside from setting the borders, the signing of the Protocol of Florence, inadvertently created the "Northern Epirus Issue," an issue that would be on the forefront of Greece's foreign policy for decades from this point in history.
The declaration of independence in Northern Epirus started on February 17, 1914, with every city following suit until February 28, 1914, when the autonomous state of Northern Epirus was proclaimed. A provisional government was established and headed by Georgios Christakis-Zografos.
A few months later, on May 17, 1914, the Protocol of Corfu was an agreement that was signed between the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Principality of Albania. The protocol was never fully implemented due to political instability in Albania due to World War I.
On October 27, 1914, with the Albanian government having collapsed and with anarchy reigning throughout the country, the Greek Administration in Northern Epirus was established by permission of the Allies. However, the Allies also agreed that the final settlement of the Northern Epirus issue would have to wait and be dealt with in the post-war future.
In March of 1916, the pro-royalist Greek government incorporated the region, but the ongoing National Schism in Greece forced the Allies to change their mind on Greek control in Northern Epirus altogether, and by summer of 1916, the Greek military was ordered to withdraw its occupation forces from the region.
After the Greek military withdrawal in 1916, Northern Epirus would remain a priority for the Greek government for almost three decades with the region being captured by Greece on multiple occasions up until World War II, and the allies always returning it back to Albania via intervention and treaties.
After the successful Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 which resulted in the liberation of the majority of the Ottoman-held lands in the Balkans, the Great Powers immediately intervened and confiscated lands that were liberated by Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, in order to establish the Albanian state.
On December 17, 1913, the Protocol of Florence was signed, which set the border between Albania and Greece. The protocol ceded the northern areas of Epirus to the then newly-established Albanian state. This decision was rejected by the Greeks of southern Albania and, as the Greek army withdrew south into Greece as per the protocol, an autonomous local Greek government was immediately established in the city of Argyrokastron (Alb: Gjirokastër). Aside from setting the borders, the signing of the Protocol of Florence, inadvertently created the "Northern Epirus Issue," an issue that would be on the forefront of Greece's foreign policy for decades from this point in history.
The declaration of independence in Northern Epirus started on February 17, 1914, with every city following suit until February 28, 1914, when the autonomous state of Northern Epirus was proclaimed. A provisional government was established and headed by Georgios Christakis-Zografos.
A few months later, on May 17, 1914, the Protocol of Corfu was an agreement that was signed between the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Principality of Albania. The protocol was never fully implemented due to political instability in Albania due to World War I.
On October 27, 1914, with the Albanian government having collapsed and with anarchy reigning throughout the country, the Greek Administration in Northern Epirus was established by permission of the Allies. However, the Allies also agreed that the final settlement of the Northern Epirus issue would have to wait and be dealt with in the post-war future.
In March of 1916, the pro-royalist Greek government incorporated the region, but the ongoing National Schism in Greece forced the Allies to change their mind on Greek control in Northern Epirus altogether, and by summer of 1916, the Greek military was ordered to withdraw its occupation forces from the region.
After the Greek military withdrawal in 1916, Northern Epirus would remain a priority for the Greek government for almost three decades with the region being captured by Greece on multiple occasions up until World War II, and the allies always returning it back to Albania via intervention and treaties.
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