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The decisive role of Ioannis Kapodistrias in the establishment of the Modern Greek State.

The decisive role of Ioannis Kapodistrias in the establishment of the Modern Greek State.

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October 2 2025
Non-Member Views, Step of Honor and Memory, Publications (Articles)

 Nafplio, 27.9.2025

 In the context of the annual event of Honor and Memory for the First Governor of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias, which was organized by the Municipality of Nafplio in collaboration with the Center for International Law and Diplomacy, the former President of the Republic, Academic and Honorary Professor of the Law School of the University of Athens, Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, spoke on the topic: "THE "decisive role of Ioannis Kapodistrias in the establishment of the Modern Greek State". During his speech, Mr. Pavlopoulos noted, among other things, the following:

 «Prologue

It is with great honor that I participate in this Evening dedicated to the Memory of the First Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias. And I am even more delighted because this event coincides with the 200th anniversary of the first solemn session of the Parliament in Nafplio, on the 21stη September 1825, as it appears from the first page of "General Gazette of Greece", i.e. the leaf of 7th October 1825. Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of Greece, was not only one of the greatest politicians of Modern Greece, but also a leading diplomat who, before taking over the reins of the government of our Homeland and while serving at the Russian Court, influenced and shaped, more than any other Greek, the international political scene of his time. This Great Greek was born in Corfu, on whose sacred soil he rests eternally. His total dedication to his agonizing effort to build a State, amidst the chaos of the post-revolutionary landscape that he took over when the path to success of the National Uprising of 1821 was literally faltering, was unique and insurmountable. Real "Ethniki Stock» commitment to the National Debt and a constant example to be emulated, especially for Greek Politicians. It is impossible to mention in detail, within the framework of such a speech, all the stages of the brilliant political and diplomatic career of Ioannis Kapodistrias. Let me, therefore, refer to some of them, and in particular to his National contribution for the establishment of the Modern Greek State with the London Protocol in 1830.

Ι. Η home policy course of John Kapodistria

Ioannis Kapodistrias' first involvement in politics took place within the framework of the Ionian State.

Α. In April 1801, he was called upon to replace his father, Antonios-Maria Kapodistrias, in the mission that he had undertaken, together with Nikolaos Sigouros, to restore order in Cephalonia. Thus, on the 27η  In April 1801, he landed, together with Nikolaos Sigouros, in Kefalonia and in their capacity as Imperial Commissioners they took over the administration of the Island. In early September, and after order had been fully restored, they returned to Corfu.

Β. In April 1803, Ioannis Kapodistrias assumed the position of Secretary of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Ionian State, having as his responsibility the communication with the Republic's chargés d'affaires abroad. In May 1805, following a proposal by the Russian plenipotentiary, the Senate elected a ten-member committee, which included Ioannis Kapodistrias, in order to draft a report on the provisions of the Constitution of the Ionian State that should be revised. The report was delivered the following year and the reforms were approved a few months later. In May 1806, his term as Secretary of State ended and the following month he assumed the direction of the Public School of the Republic, which had been founded on his own initiative.

Γ. In the elections of 1806, Ioannis Kapodistrias was elected eighth in votes as Plenipotentiary in Corfu. He was also elected Secretary of the Senate and, subsequently, Secretary and Rapporteur of the Commission that would draft the new Constitution. While exercising these duties, he disagreed with the Russian Plenipotentiary, Count Georgios Motsenigos of Zakynthos, as the changes that Ioannis Kapodistrias proposed were, by far, more liberal than those of the Russian Court. Despite all this and to avoid a deadlock, Ioannis Kapodistrias, demonstrating unique political selflessness, proposed to the Senate the adoption of the Constitution, with the argument that no other text could be approved and that only what George Motsenigos had proposed would be approved by the Russian Court, whose influence was decisive at the time.

II. The Facts Lefkada

During this period, certain events of exceptional importance take place in Lefkada, which on the one hand testify to the exceptional abilities of Ioannis Kapodistrias, not only in the diplomatic arena – where they were already known – but also in the military field. And on the other hand, they show the readiness of the Greek military leaders to fight for the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke.

Α. Specifically, during the Russo-Turkish War (1807-1912) and within the framework of Napoleon's alliance with the Sultan, the Ali Pasha of Ioannina proposed to the French the organization of a kind of diversion, with a sudden attack on Lefkada. With this diversion, the Russian army would be forced to withdraw forces from Corfu to Lefkada, which would then not be available on the main front of the Russian-French confrontation, namely in Dalmatia. Ali Pasha, in fact, without waiting for the French response, immediately began to gather forces, artillery and ammunition on the opposite coast, where he reinforced the fortress of Agios Georgios, preparing the invasion of Lefkada. All this happened from December 1806 to February 1807.

Β. The Ionian State appointed the young Ioannis Kapodistrias, on the 2α June 1807, Extraordinary Military Governor of Lefkada, then Agia Mavra. Arriving in Lefkada, his first concern was the organization of defense by land and sea. Lefkada was separated from mainland Greece by a shallow ditch. The ditch was opened and three gun emplacements were placed for its defense. He called on all the people to help in this work and did not hesitate to work himself, in order to inspire and animate the Lefkadians. After completing the organization of the defense by land, Ioannis Kapodistrias also organized the defense by sea. He hired ships from Cephalonian captains, fearing a possible collaboration of the French navy with Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha, finally, seeing the organized defense and having the threat of the continental military corps in the rear of his army, withdrew. This was a great military victory for Ioannis Kapodistrias himself.

Γ. A significant historical event of this era – and unjustifiably downgraded to a large extent to this day – was the gathering of the Military Commanders, which was called by Ioannis Kapodistrias, together with Metropolitan Ignatius of Arta, which took place on the beach of "Enchanted» in Nikiana, Lefkada, in July 1807. Many military leaders gathered, such as Antonis Katsantonis, Kitsos Botsaris, Lambros Tzavelas, Grivas, Varnakiotis, Boukouvalas, etc. It is said that it was there that Ioannis Kapodistrias met Theodoros Kolokotronis.

  1. Aristotle Valaoritis states characteristically: «Τthe bigger, thethe most wonderful, thethe athe most Greek featῦ ἀof the memorable Kapodistrios ἀπorraxen or ἐn Lefkadi concentration theall of themIν ἐmost glorious captains of Roumeli beforetheς ἀpassing oforof endangered Lefkada.I the ἀDelphictheas a link thein the emerged ἐk torof this concentration betweenyou τIn more important theleaderIn toras a worker HGreek. Thein thieves transformed intoias a klephturian, that isor ἀI was walking.orν ithey shouldorς ἀvolumeoras separated bya τIν ἐhtrIν ἀreaction andI they came to their sensesI were compiled ἀπthe τorν ἀunder the leadership of Katsantonisias a soldiertheν ἐethnic, mὑ onen MsI only a slogan, aby the waya τIof tyrantsorAs a fatherland war,ὑ oneto beI only purpose, theorν ἀliberation oforas their tormented mother".
  2. It should be noted that, according to the prevailing historical view, during this gathering, Ioannis Kapodistrias, addressing the Captains, made the following toast:"I hope or FatherIs na σaCall me soon.a purposethen lotyou ἀtaller"Katsantonis, responding on behalf of all the military leaders, swore that they would not lay down their arms before they saw the independence of Greece.

Δ. Meanwhile, the Russians were defeated by Napoleon, concluded an armistice with him, and signed the Treaty of Tilsit on 8η July 1807. The Ionian Islands were ceded to France and the Ionian State was abolished. The National Uprising for the liberation of the Homeland had to wait until 1821. However, the gathering of the Military Leaders in the "Enchanted", under the historic walnut tree, on the initiative of Ioannis Kapodistrias and Metropolitan Ignatius of Arta, as explained above, can also be perceived as the omen that heralded the emblematic revolutionary gathering of the Agia Lavra, on the 25thη  March 1821, as well as the subsequent arrival of Ioannis Kapodistrias as the First Governor of Greece, in January 1828.

III. Ο John Capodistria as a Politician and Diplomat At Russia

After refusing the positions offered to him by the French general Berthier, Ioannis Kapodistrias accepted the proposal that came from Russia, in May 1808, when Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumiantsev, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, sent him a letter in which, after informing him that he had been honored with the title of Knight B Class of Order Saint Anna, invited him to St. Petersburg, where he arrived in January of the following year. Eventually, Ioannis Kapodistrias was appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a state counselor and thus began his brilliant diplomatic career at the Russian Court. Specifically:

ΑAfter a series of successful diplomatic maneuvers by Ioannis Kapodistrias in Switzerland where, as a secret envoy of Tsar Alexander, he managed to cancel the plans of Austria and Metternich to establish a friendly government in order to secure permission for Austrian troops to pass through Swiss territory, Tsar Alexander appointed him his extraordinary envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary for Switzerland. From this position, Ioannis Kapodistrias contributed greatly to the establishment of the Swiss Constitution, partly based on the principles of ancient Greek direct democracy, and contributed, with personal drafts, to the final Swiss political system, which provided for autonomous states (cantons) as members of the Swiss Federation or, more correctly, Confederation. Geneva's participation in the new Confederation was based purely on his own initiative. He was declared the first Honorary Citizen of the Canton of Geneva. The ties that bound him from the beginning to the Homeland are clearly demonstrated by the fact that 300 Greek children studied in Europe with his own money, but - what a strange twist of fate - according to one version, so did one of his two murderers.

Β. In early September 1814, the Congress of Vienna began. A landmark Congress for European History, in which Ioannis Kapodistrias participated as a member of the Russian Delegation. At the end of 1814, he was appointed as Russia's representative at the official meetings of the Committee of Five. Ioannis Kapodistrias' presence at the Congress of Vienna is considered to be catalytic, as his advice decisively influenced the Tsar. According to the testimony of Knight von Gentz, Metternich's advisor, the final act of the Congress, signed in May 1815, was the creation of Ioannis Kapodistrias and himself.

ΓOne of the most important successes in his personal career as a diplomat was the conclusion of the Treaty of Paris, the 5th November 1815, when Ioannis Kapodistrias, representing Russia, succeeded in ensuring both the integrity of France - after having previously convinced the Tsar himself of the correctness of this choice - and the imposition of constitutional democratic government in the Ionian Islands. It was his intervention that made possible the «United States of Ionian Islands» to acquire the basic characteristics of a State. Namely, a Constitution, Armed Forces, an elected Government and a Flag. After this success, the Tsar appointed Ioannis Kapodistrias Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a position he would share with Nesselrode, who had already been appointed in 1814.

Δ. In 1820 and 1821 he participated in the Troppau and Laibach Congresses. At these two Congresses, Tsar Alexander, influenced by Metternich, followed Austria's policy to a significant extent, essentially sidelining Ioannis Kapodistrias. At the Laibach Congress, news of the uprising of Alexander Ypsilantis and the Revolution in Moldavia arrived, which the Tsar severely condemned. The open disagreement between the Tsar and Ioannis Kapodistrias was not long in manifesting itself, while by the end of 1821 he had already lost imperial favor. At the beginning of 1822 the Tsar decided to remove him from the management of the Eastern Question. On 19η In August 1822, Ioannis Kapodistrias left St. Petersburg, after first resigning from the Russian Government. And a few months later he settled in Geneva, where he enjoyed special esteem, mainly in order to actively help the Greek Revolution. In 1827, the Third National Assembly, on the 3η April 1827 and with its Sixth Resolution, elected Ioannis Kapodistrias as the first "Governor of Greece».

ΙV.  His advent John Kapodistrias in Greece and the assumption of his duties

the 8η On January 11, 1828, Ioannis Kapodistrias arrived in Greece, in Nafplio. He assumed his duties on the 11th.η January 1828 in Aegina, when the Executive Power was transferred to him from the "Anti-Government Committee"His inauguration as first "Governor of Greece" held on 26η January 1828. The situation that Ioannis Kapodistrias faced, right from the start, was, to put it mildly, dramatic. Instead of any further description, the following excerpt from the "Apologies of Kapodistrias" by G. Tertsetis, which records a conversation between the Governor and Georgakis Mavromichalis: "Ehἶyes timeI pyou musta taxῦwith theall leather beltsI νa amIwith ἀchalks andI honey aold man. Eἶyes a lota εis tormy life, ἀlola σan tthe spectacle thewhen eI arrived ἐδI Forn Aevenbecome dὑn eἶI've never seen anything like it, huh?I aother na μorn tthe iit῿… Long live the Governor, ἐthey were shouting woman῿what ἀnormalized, amen mὑ woundὑas a war, theravena naked, lowered ἀπthe caves. Dὑν orwhen thethe My voice is heard.or pleaseaq, ἀlola thor"no".

A. No one, therefore, can dispute, especially with documented historical data, that Ioannis Kapodistrias had to face a situation of real emergency, within the framework of which he had to take, without delay, decisions for the elementary reorganization of Greece in order to continue the Liberation Struggle and to organize the relief of the population suffering from the severe winter. And yes, the "Political Constitution of Greece", the then current "Constitution of Troezen" of 1827, constituted an institutionally impeccable "Charter» for the organization of a modern Representative Democracy headed by "Governor of Greece"However, it is, even today, obvious that its full and consistent implementation, under the conditions of the time, was essentially impossible, especially given that measures of enormous importance had to be taken within a very short period of time.

  1. A solution would be the case-by-case application of "Politicsῦ Constitution of theorς Hoil", something which, on the one hand, is not consistent with the very nature of any modern Constitution - arbitrary application of the Constitution à la carte is equivalent to its degradation and, ultimately, its annulment in practice - and, on the other hand, was completely contrary to the mentality of Ioannis Kapodistrias. In the mentality of the first Governor of Greece, based on his incompatible - as had been clearly seen throughout his political career - character, the "salus populi supreme lex esto» in its purely ancient Roman version. These are the reasons why Ioannis Kapodistrias immediately deemed it necessary to change the way the State was organized and operated so that, by largely concentrating state power in his hands, on the one hand he could take the necessary major decisions for the "Salvation oforAs a Homeland". And, on the other hand, to demonstrate abroad - and especially to the "Ianda Alliance", which lurked to impose the view that the Greek Nation-State could not be organized and functioned – that the project of founding the Modern Greek State was not "ἀtaste ἐs tthe excessiveorHowever, ἀto hear».
  2. With sincere and decisive actions, Ioannis Kapodistrias came to the Parliament in order to convince it of the criticality of the times. And so, with the Resolution NH of 18th On January 1828, the House unanimously accepted and approved – a fact that constitutes a resounding response to those who claim that he acted independently and almost authoritarianly – the Governor's proposal for "change planoras a temporary administrationorς", with the following justification: «EI am sorry.or the para This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.ῦ HGreekῦ Yesdeath ἐtrusted bya orthe name of theorLord of Government IOannis A. Kapodistrias ehas arrived?is torν HGreece; EI am sorry.or αin sufferingI τorHomeland circumstances andI or duration ofῦ war dὑν ἐthey forgave, theὔI'm sorry.ῦs torν ἐenergyῦ ἐn Troizini ἐconfirmed, yesI ἐpublished by Politicoῦ Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus theLin aὐThis makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.ῦ τorν ektashin; EI am sorry.or or salvationῦ Yeswe dieἶYes the ἀthe best of allIn Laws; andI EI am sorry.or or Bullor ἀaccepted bya τIn LaIn torto provide fororς aautIn salvation; Or Bullor only purposetheν eI had thethe νa sothῇ or HYes, Ms.I asς inher lover, debt theoryῦlike thatῦthe, theI τorn eὐdemonῦ HGreekῦ YesI'm dying.ῦ thewhose ἐhe/she/it was not believedorn care; Mrs.I ἐI am sorry.or the Governor ἐproposed a change planorTemporary AdministrationIs"Under these circumstances and with the cooperation of Parliament, the implementation of the "Civil Constitution of Greece" of 1827. The Parliament essentially abolished itself- «ἀyearns or Parliament, thethe thep῿being ἀtook on debtoras a legislatororς ἐ"power"– and organized "temporarily"or Administration oforς Estatehood". Legislative power was vested in the Governor and an advisory body was established, the "Panhellenic"". This body consisted of 27 members appointed by the Governor and was divided into three sections, each with the specific purpose of advising the Governor on economic issues, internal affairs issues and issues concerning the Armed Forces, before the final decisions were taken by him in the form of resolutions.
  3. Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias henceforth functioned as a single-person government body, assisted by the "Secretary of theorς E"statehood" –Spiridon Trikoupis was appointed first, close to the “English party»– and by a rudimentary Council of Ministers, whose members "they admit theorto address itῦ Governor oforς HGreekis ta ἐtrusted withias aὐThis makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.youς era". When these institutional processes were completed, Ioannis Kapodistrias decided to convene the Fourth National Assembly, in April 1828, for the establishment of a new Constitution. In the meantime, it was clarified that it was accepted "temporary systemorAs a Government, founded, ἐn tosutῳ, ἐaboveis taas bases ofIn acts oforς EPidaurus, theῦ Ayou are welcomeI τorTroyesor"no".

B. At this point, as an element of Ioannis Kapodistrias' great contribution to the completion of the effort to create the Modern Greek State, the following historical fact should be noted: During the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries of the Three Powers (England, France, Russia) in London –20 June/2 July 1828–, among other things, joint instructions were given to the respective ambassadors for the commencement of negotiations with Greece, in particular with regard to the determination of the boundaries of the Modern Greek State under establishment. With his confidential memorandum to the ambassadors –during the Conference of Poros on 12η December 1828 – Ioannis Kapodistrias proposed specific limits through a very insightful analysis, which was of course based on the "principle of self-determination" (the "beginning of ethnicities"), and in this way he added areas that were necessary for the, under conditions of duration, security of the Greek State. The following excerpts from this memorandum by Ioannis Kapodistrias are characteristic (see Ant. Beredima, International Law and Diplomacy in the Years of the Revolution of 1821, Sakkoulas ed., Athens-Thessaloniki, 2021, pp. 12 et seq.).

  1. "Tthe approxI theA very important issue needs to be resolved.῿ very much in agreementthes torlogicalor MsI τthen purposethen toras a treaty, aν or thepositiveor gramor separation ἀπthe τorς TheThomasoras property onlyaς ἐparish priestI τaas islands thewhich is or ἀrcor τorς ἐπI τthe ἐν αὐτῷ ἀcoexistence agreementIn two peopleIν ἀIt adapts very precisely,Iν HGreek peopleyou ἀcontaining theIn Turkish languagea τthe plsorthos».
  2. "Ta even limited theria torς Hoil orI want toἶvalue ofa ἀπthe This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.ῦ Gulf ofῦ Volos ἀcoming, ladiesI ἀcalling meὑn eis ityouas Turksorin Thessaly andI manya τorς Orpin parts, twoa δὑ τIν ivery strong theson enesti therainIn places reaching eiSagiada. Ms.I thebut or like this theposition orwanted to surrenderis ityouas Turks ἐparish ofthe pl῿to the ladyI most useful part ofIn inhabitants ἐhoussa ἐξ HGreeks».
  3. «EI am sorry.or a lotI ἀπthe This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.youas residents ofIn regionIν αὐτIn (OrPeiros, Thessaly) enlist inorν HGreece mὑ This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.youς ἐπI For eight years they fought againstyouas their Turkish compatriots,ὅs oin ἀDelphiI αὐτIn poyou stay ἐke῿ θa I canῦlikea ἀthey carry inthe aξors na consider ἀpoffertor τITurkish despotism? And, aI accept again.ῦwith aὐThis makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.yous eis torν HGreekor ἐI can be bitter.ῦwith na This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.youLet's keep it. ἐdthes tIn engraved theof? or ἐI am sorry.or θa ethey have aὐThis makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.I τorn fierceaν ἐdesire na ἀthey worshippedIς atheir positions,ὑn ia ἐapply andI ἀopen it andI againthen war in ἐke῿you areIς ἐparishes thethat thein captains aὐτIliveῦν ἐδI MsI αI amnes ἀπthe τorthe art ofIν theplane,I τIν aother incidentals?».
  4. «Or most natural theposition ἐξ oronly orwanted ἀto gain or new Ebitterness ofthen appropriate formationthen ptheas a precaution ἀπthe τIn Turkish andI prtheς ἀsituation theron ἀsonῦas a living, Ia orwhen inorn mὑn drya or gramor ἀπthe τorto base itῦ Thelympus fthen Thermaicthe Gulf, bya through theῦ theRussians Hassia andI Metsovo Ms.I Harmovou Ms.I Samarina Ms.I Gardikiou, st.the Palermo, inorν AJupiteror sea. Yesas beforetheas dὑ τa islands, ia musta summaryῦν ἐdthes tIν aGreekIν theborders or Εὔcow, cowI or Crete, thethe southernmost part oforborder crossing».
  5. "Torof Crete or para τIν HGreek occupationor ἀseems resignedtheς ἀsafe and soundI This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.ῦ Αiearth, earthI τorin the Peloponnese, because, staying inis torν ἐessence ofIn Turks or This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet.ῦ Mehmὑτ AYes, it can bea ἀpovῇ drinkὑ seetheν thehermitage ἐenemyIν ἐbusiness witha great powersa τorς Hoil. Yesthen, the Lathes torof Crete ewhat is itI today ata τIn Turkish quarreling, aν or Crete remainsis ityouas Turks, dὑν orwanted a crowd ass torς HGreekaislands?I ἐand this oneὑν orwanted ἀto fall ara cὑ πάλιν or commonor ἐcan youis taas a preventive measureάs?"
  6. V. The historical work of Ioannis Kapodistrias

After the above, I return to the question of why Ioannis Kapodistrias was, quasi-legally, obliged to resort to extraordinary powers, sometimes outside the regulatory framework of the Constitution of Troezen of 1827, in order to effectively fulfill the crucial role of Governor, which he had assumed institutionally and politically. And in this regard, it is necessary to make a brief account of the enormous work that was accomplished during his days within the then Greek Territory, with a brief reference to his work within the then Greek State.

A. Indeed, internally, Ioannis Kapodistrias had to deal with piracy, the dissolution of the army, as well as the poor economic situation of the country. Ioannis Kapodistrias showed particular concern for the creation of courts, also establishing a Code of Civil Procedure. The effort to reorganize the Army also included the establishment of the Military School of Cadets. He also founded a National Mint, while establishing the Phoenix as the National Currency. Regarding education, he built new schools, introduced the method of mutual teaching school and founded an Ecclesiastical School on Poros. He also built the Aegina Orphanage. He did not establish a University, as he believed that there should first be secondary school graduates, capable of preparing young people for higher studies. He was responsible for the redesign and reconstruction of Greek cities, such as Nafplio, Argos, Messolonghi and Patras, a project he commissioned from the Corfiot architect Stamatios Voulgaris. His contribution to trade was also significant, with the granting of loans to the islanders for the purchase of ships and the construction of shipyards in Poros and Nafplio. In October 1829, he founded the first Archaeological Museum in Aegina.

B. Regarding the Greek Economy, Ioannis Kapodistrias showed particular interest in agriculture, a main source of wealth for Greece. He founded the Agricultural School of Tiryns and encouraged the cultivation of potatoes. Also, trying to strengthen the Greek Economy, Ioannis Kapodistrias founded the "Ethniki Finance Bank", which however failed. Either because, in one view, the State was exploiting the depositors' money without conditions, or because of the opposition of the notables to the Kapodistrian regime and the lack of trust in this new institution. Regarding his internal policy, the great practical contribution of his friend Ioannis Kapodistrias, Swiss banker Eynard, who is rightly considered the founder of the long and unwavering Greek-Swiss Friendship, should be mentioned.

Epilogue

In conclusion, Ioannis Kapodistrias literally dedicated himself to the sacred purpose of creating, from scratch, a modern Greek State, laying the foundations for a Greece worthy of its past and its future. Tireless and determined, he worked "with calculation and μ' όνειρο", to remember the verse of Dionysios Solomos in "Free people Besieged". Just three and a half years after taking office, on the 27thη On September 1831, his assassination in Nafplio, a purely political assassination by Konstantinos and George Mavromichalis – and of course those who were hiding behind them, as moral instigators, inside and outside Greece – put a sad end to his great work and plunged the Greek people into heavy mourning. If Ioannis Kapodistrias had not been assassinated and, furthermore, if he had completed his term of office and his work, Greece would probably not have ended up accepting the regime of "God bless you" monarchy established with the advent of Otto. In the meantime, a democratic government would probably have been established, in harmony with the will and mentality of the Greeks, as it had been evident throughout the Struggle after the National Uprising of 1821. Under these circumstances, the memory of Ioannis Kapodistrias, especially during today's multi-critical juncture, does not belong only to History. It constitutes, for all of us, a course indicator in order to understand, each to the extent that is appropriate, what we must do par excellence in critical periods in order to respond, according to the dictates of our History, to our duty as Greeks, unconditionally assigned to the defense of the Fatherland and to the safeguarding of its future, and therefore to the safeguarding of the future of the Greek Nation.»