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

at preserving the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, ensuring Russia’s exclusion from
Europe, and safeguarding Britain’s passage to her India territories.
Bathurst’s attempts in 1814 to convince the British government that it was in
Britain’s best interest to colonise the Islands met with disapproval from other
ministries. Neither Castlereagh nor Liverpool considered this idea wise. 23 On the eve
of the Congress of Vienna, tasked with settling the European territories after the
Napoleonic wars, the British cabinet failed to form a unanimous view about the fate
of the Islands. By the end of March 1815, Castlereagh planned to place the Ionian
Islands under Austria’s protection. Austria, however, desired full sovereignty over
the Islands. Having already occupied Northern Italian territories Austria wanted to
expand her Empire in the Mediterranean and rejected Britain’s proposal. Russia’s
foreign minister, Ioannis Capodistria, a native Ionian, opposed the colonisation of the
Islands by Austria or Britain and preferred to secure their independence. His
compromise would place the Islands under the protection of one of the Allies,
preferably Britain if Ionian independence, promised in 1809, was impossible. 24 At
the close of the Congress of Vienna, however, the Ionian question remained
unresolved. 25
In Britain, Bathurst hated Capodistria’s idea, believing it would leave Britain’s
position “uncertain”. He supported annexation of the Septinsula into the Empire as
part of a comprehensive colonial Mediterranean policy (with Malta and Gibraltar).
23 Tumelty J. J., “The Ionian Islands under British Administration”, p. 16.
24 Capodistria believed it was the legal and moral responsibility of Britain to undertake this because of
the promise of independence in 1809.
25 Nicolson H., The Congress of Vienna: a study in allied unity, 1812-1822, (London, 1946).
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