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

good impression “with his simplicity of manners”. 122 In the pursuit of the ‘Great
Idea’, some felt Alfred should not only succeed Otho but also be given a separate
Greek kingdom in Crete, the Ionian Islands, or Thessaly and Epirus, a settlement that
would eventually lead to the union of two Greek states. 123 The Ionian scheme was
proposed by supporters of the British Protectorate to counter the radicals’ efforts for
union with Greece. 124 However, the Queen, referring to the Convention of London in
1832, rejected the idea Alfred, or any royal heir of the Protecting powers, should get
the Greek crown. 125
During 1862, the political situation in Greece deteriorated rapidly and a coup
deposed Otho on 23 October and established a provisional government. 126 The royal
family fled Athens and were greeted by Storks when they arrived in Corfu three days
later. When the Queen was asked about the causes of the revolution, she said
“everybody wants to be a minister and everybody can’t be a minister, everybody
121 Xenos S., East and West, a diplomatic history of the Annexation of the Ionian Islands to the
Kingdom of Greece, (London, 1865), p. 18. For Xenos's role in the formation of and his involvement
in the Philhellenic Committee see Hionidis P. L., “The Greek Kingdom in British Public Debate”, pp.
101, 106-09. On Xenos's criticism of the Greek government see Xenos to Wyse, 28 March 1861,
Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/64; Wyse to Xenos, 2 May 1861, Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/64. On the
seizure of the British Star by the Greek government see Wyse to Russell, 23 May 1861, Russell
Papers, PRO 30/22/64. For consideration of Prince Alfred to the Greek throne see Hionidis P. L., “The
Greek Kingdom in British Public Debate”, pp. 70-79; Holland R., and Markides D., The British and
the Hellenes, p. 55-59;
122 Xenos S., East and West, a diplomatic history, p. 19.
123 Prevelakis E., British Policy Towards the Change, p. 17.
124 Hiotis P., I Istoria tou Ioniou Kratous, [History of the Ionian State], pp. 504-5. For the British
government's considerations about ceding the Ionians see Russell to Cowley, 26 November 1862,
Russell Papers, PRO 30/22/105; Russell to Cowley, 4 December 1862, Russell Papers, PRO
30/22/105.
125 The Convention established none of the heirs of Britain, France, Austria, or Russia should become
monarchs of an independent Greek state. History of the Greek State, p. 222. Prince Alfred was also
considered too young and inexperienced. See Hionidis P. L., “The Greek Kingdom in British Public
Debate”, p. 66.
126 Wolff H. D., Rambling Recollections, p. 378.
345