Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

promise Ionian people constitutional reforms, stating “regulations in themselves wise
and good may … be found to require improvement in order to make them keep pace
with the improving character of the people”. 14
His promise was tested in the 1833 elections for the Fourth Parliament when he
altered the electoral system for the new Assembly, weakening the local patronage
vote by replacing the double lists of candidates with triple ones. The new lists
included many liberal and well educated Ionians such as Mustoxidi, Roma, Dandolo,
Plessa and Flamburiari, who now saw an opportunity to hold public office. 15 Nugent
also informed the Ionian people of parliamentary debates through the official
government Gazette. When he met the newly elected Assembly in 1833, he reminded
them of their proud Greek origin. He declared his admiration of their improved
character, and stated his faith in their fitness to represent the Ionian population as a
mature political body. He wanted to cooperate with them, seeing himself as an equal
partner with the Ionians in government. 16 Nugent’s actions marked a new direction in
the form of rule for the Ionian Islands. He tried to position the Septinsula as a
protectorate rather than as a colony and adhere more closely to the tenets of the
Treaty of Paris. 17
However, Nugent’s electoral reforms led him to clash with his colonial
superiors and created a fragile and tense relationship between the two. His actions
raised questions about the governor’s power to initiate any kind of constitutional
14 Anonymous extract of a letter, probably written by Ionians, printed in the Times, 7 January 1833.
15 Calligas E., “The Rizospastai (Radicals-Unionists)”, p. 54.
16 Nugent speech to the Assembly, 7 March 1833, CO 126/65.
17 Ibid.
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