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The Expulsion of Otho and the Constitution of 1864

After 1861, the anti-dynastic movement was daily increasing due to the arrogance and the continuous interventions of the King on the parliamentary life of the country.

The 'Resolution of the Nation', published on the 11th of October 1862, abolished the reign of Otho and formed a provisional government until the next National Assembly. The Resolution did not abolish Monarchy but the specific reign of Otho and his Dynasty. With this Resolution, it became clear that the 'Nation' was the agent of the change. Thus, the crossing from the monarchic to the democratic principle was founded on the principle of the popular sovereignty.


The Provisional Government.

On the 10th of December of the same year the National Assembly met in the so called 'Hut', at the back of the burned down parliament building. The Assembly joined the representatives from the Ionian Islands, celebrating the recent union with Hellas. The Assembly voted unanimously George, the prince of Denmark, as the King of the Hellenes.

The Constitution of 1864 was the most long-lasting constitution in the history of Hellas and served as a backbone of the later constitutions (1911 and 1952). It established the principle of the popular sovereignty, proclaiming that 'every power derives from the Nation and acts as the Constitution dictates'. A second important innovation was the introduction of the regime of Royal Democracy. Furthermore, the Senate was abolished and the individual liberties, such as the freedom of the press and the right of collaboration, were greatly improved.