The federated United States of the Ionian Islands included seven islands off the coasts of Epirus and the Peloponnese, that had remained in Venetian hands until 1797 and escaped Ottoman rule. Of the seven, six lay in the Ionian Sea, off the western coast of the Greek mainland. These six states were Corfù (Kerkyra), Ithaca(Ithaki), Paxò(paxoi/paxos), Cephalonia, Zante (Zakynthos) and Santa Maura (Lefkas). Cerigo (Kythera) was also a state of the federation, although it is situated southeast of the Peloponnese.
Ever since Greece had become independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1832, the people of the Ionian islands had pressed for enosis with Greece. At a Cabinet meeting in 1862, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston decided to cede the islands to Greece. This policy was also favoured by Queen Victoria. The practical reasoning was that maintenance of ownership in the area was too expensive. Besides, the islands did not have great strategic importance; Britain would still maintain a strategic presence in the Mediterranean from the island of Malta.
The decision to cede the islands was also influenced by the accession to the Greek throne of the Danish prince George, a committed Anglophile. Indeed, in a referendum in November 1862, the Greeks had elected Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, as their King, partly in the hope of receiving the Ionian Islands.
After long negotiations with Greece, the Treaty of London was signed by Greek delegate Charilaos Trikoupis on 29 March 1864. On 2 May 1864 the British departed and the Ionian Islands became three provinces of the Kingdom of Greece, although Britain retained use of the port on Corfu.
This can be seen as the first example of voluntary decolonization by Britain.
Anderson M. S. The Eastern Question 1774–1923, A Study in the International Relations (London, 1983).
Paschalidi, Maria. "Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official discourses; 1815-1864" (PhD dissertation. UCL (University College London), 2010) online.
Xenos, Stephanos Th. East and West: A Diplomatic History of the Annexation of the Ionian Islands to the Kingdom of Greece (Trübner, 1865) online.
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Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Treaty between Great Britain and Russia, etc. respecting the Ionian Islands; signed at Paris 5th November, 1815.
Details of the 1864 Treaty of London
October 28, 2023
treaty, london, 1864, treaty, london, 1864, resulted, great, britain, ceding, united, states, ionian, islands, greece, britain, held, amical, protectorate, over, islands, since, 1815, treaty, paris, treaty, london1914, postal, card, fiftieth, anniversary, unio. The Treaty of London in 1864 resulted in Great Britain ceding the United States of the Ionian Islands to Greece Britain had held an amical protectorate over the islands since the 1815 Treaty of Paris Treaty of London1914 postal card for the fiftieth anniversary of the union of the Ionian Islands with GreeceTypeMultilateral treatySigned29 March 1864 1864 03 29 LocationLondon EnglandOriginalsignatories Greece Prussia Russia United KingdomRatifiers Greece Prussia Russia United KingdomThe federated United States of the Ionian Islands included seven islands off the coasts of Epirus and the Peloponnese that had remained in Venetian hands until 1797 and escaped Ottoman rule Of the seven six lay in the Ionian Sea off the western coast of the Greek mainland These six states were Corfu Kerkyra Ithaca Ithaki Paxo paxoi paxos Cephalonia Zante Zakynthos and Santa Maura Lefkas Cerigo Kythera was also a state of the federation although it is situated southeast of the Peloponnese Ever since Greece had become independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1832 the people of the Ionian islands had pressed for enosis with Greece At a Cabinet meeting in 1862 British Foreign Secretary Palmerston decided to cede the islands to Greece This policy was also favoured by Queen Victoria The practical reasoning was that maintenance of ownership in the area was too expensive Besides the islands did not have great strategic importance Britain would still maintain a strategic presence in the Mediterranean from the island of Malta The decision to cede the islands was also influenced by the accession to the Greek throne of the Danish prince George a committed Anglophile Indeed in a referendum in November 1862 the Greeks had elected Queen Victoria s second son Prince Alfred as their King partly in the hope of receiving the Ionian Islands After long negotiations with Greece the Treaty of London was signed by Greek delegate Charilaos Trikoupis on 29 March 1864 On 2 May 1864 the British departed and the Ionian Islands became three provinces of the Kingdom of Greece although Britain retained use of the port on Corfu This can be seen as the first example of voluntary decolonization by Britain See also editTreaties of LondonFurther reading editAnderson M S The Eastern Question 1774 1923 A Study in the International Relations London 1983 Paschalidi Maria Constructing Ionian identities the Ionian Islands in British official discourses 1815 1864 PhD dissertation UCL University College London 2010 online Xenos Stephanos Th East and West A Diplomatic History of the Annexation of the Ionian Islands to the Kingdom of Greece Trubner 1865 online External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Treaty between Great Britain and Russia etc respecting the Ionian Islands signed at Paris 5th November 1815 Details of the 1864 Treaty of London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Treaty of London 1864 amp oldid 1172015133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
