Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-03-18
king GEORGE Of GREECE IS THE VICTIM OF AN ASSASSIN
ruler IS MURDERED While IN
SALONIKI WHERE He HAD Been
FOR MONTHS BECAUSE OF WAR


close relationship to the royal family
of Great Britain but because Eng
land in manner, was responsible for
his election to the throne and stood
sponsor for the new dynasty.
Prince William George was only lS
years of age and midshipman in the
Danish navy when he was offered the
throne Of Hellas. The former ruler,
King Otto ], who was Bayarian
prince, was dethroned by a revolution
in 1862 and the provisional govern
ment by the ministry was not strong
enough to prevent political 1omplica-
lions which threatened to undermine
the peace of Europe. The great pow
ers of Europe recognized the necessity
of providing new ruler for Greece
and the position was offered first to
the Duke of Edinburgh and then to
the Duke of e-Coburg-Gotha, but
both declined 1t was NJ. de Chaudor-
dy, a French diplomat, who conceived
the idea of offering the throne to
Prince William George and the plan
was promptly approved by England
and the other powers.
The young prince had been sent to
he married the Grand Duchess Olga,
the emissaries of the powers arrived
to offer him the crown. He accepted
through his father and, having been
officially declared of age, he made his
entry in Athens on October 30 of that
year, took the oath and ascended the
throne
Four years later, October 15, 1867,
he married the Grand Duchess Olga,
eldest daughter of the Grand Duke
Constantine of Russia. thus connect
ing himself by strong link with one
of the most powerful reigning families
OF Europe The Greeks agreed to
settle $225,O00 a year upon their new
king. England, France and Russia
each agreed to add $4,000 a year for
the term of his natural life and about
$4,000 was charged for his benefit
on the Tonian Islands which were later
oeded to him by Great Britain. Al
though his civil list was always rath-
er meager, King George /, under
which name he became ruler of he
by means of his remark
able business ability accumulated an
enormous fortune during the so years
of his reign. He made large sums by
speculation on the bourse
and invested his winnings in landed
estates in Greece, real estate in vari-
Gus countries Of Europe and in the
United States, became the owner Of
mines, farms, plantations and facto-
ries, owner Of stock in railroads and
various financial and commercial es-
tabishments and of a large fleet of
vessels trading between
Mediterranean ports.
Queen Olga bore him six children,
OF whom all but the youngest, Prince
born in 1883, are married.
The heir apparent to the throne IS
Prince Constantine Duke of Sparta,
who was born in 1868 and in 1888
was married to Princess Sophia, Sis
ter OF Emperor William II. Although
King George always showed great de-
votion to his people and proved hiDl-
self a faithful and liberal king, Moth
er he nor his family enjoyed great
popularity. Many times the continu-
ance Of the dynasty was seriously
but King George maintaiL
ed his dignity and weathered all
storms, even the critical period Of
the disastrous war against Turkey.
Since Greece declared war against
Turkey in October, 1912, King
George and his family have grown
quite popular and the future OF The
dynasty seems to be more secure than
at any time during bis reign Next
to Emperor Francis Joseph OF Austria
King George is now the oldest among
the European rulers.