Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-20
YEARS Al KING
I. OF HELLENES

LONDON, March 1S.-Half a CEN
fury has passed since the memorable
dau, Mrach IS, 1863, when the Greek
National Assembly at Athens, at the
suggestion Of the Great Powers Of
Europe. elected Prince William
George of Observation-Disclosures
burg-Gluecksburg, second son of the
late King Christian TX Of Denmark,
and brother Of Queen Alexandra, to
be king Of the Hellenes. England and
the English people have never lost
their interest in the young prince who
became king and the founder of a new
dynasty in the classical realm Of the
Hellenes, not only because of his close
relationship to the royal family OF
Great Britain, but because England, in
a manner, was responsible for his
election to the throne and stood spoons.
or for the new dynasty.
Prince William George was only
eighteen years of age and midship-
man in the Danish navy when he was
| offered the throne OF Hellas. The
former ruler, King Otto l.. who was
a pdNu luII IIiHSSy ""o OlCu ~
a revolution in 1862 and the provision.
al government by the ministry was no.
strong enough to prevent political
complications which threatened to UNI
dermine the peace Of Europe. The
great powers Of Europe recognized
the necessity of providing a new ruler
for Greece and the position was Offer
ed first to the Duke Of Edinburgh and
then to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg.Go-
tina, but both declined. 1t was NJ. de
Chaudordy, a French diplomat, who
conceived the idea Of offering the
throne to Prince William George ana
the plan was promptly approved by
England and the other powers.
The young prince had been sent to
the masthead for punishment when
the emmissaries Of the powers arriv-
ed to offer him the crown. He accept
ed through his father and, having been
officially declared of age, he made
his entry in Athens on October 80 of
that year. took the oath and assembled
the throne.
Four years later, October IS, 1867,
he was married to the Grand Duchess
Olga, eldest daughter of the Grand
Duke Constantine Of Russia, thus con-
Meeting himself by a strong link with
nj of the most powerful reignins
families of Europe. The Greeks agreed
to settle $225, 900 a year upon their
new king, france and Russia eacn
agreed to add $4,000 a year for the
term of his natural life and about $780,
Geo was charged for his benefit on the
Ionian Islands which were later ceded
to him by Great Britain. Although his
civil list was always meager, King
George. under which name he became
ruler Of the Hellenes, by means of his
remarkable business ability accumul-
ated an enormous fortune during the
fifty years of his reign. He made
large sums by successful speculation
nings in landed estates in Greece, real
estate in various countries of Europe
and in the United States, became the
owner of mines, farms, plantations
and factories, owner Of stock in rail-
roads and various financial and COM
mercial establishments and of a large
fleet of merchnt vessels trading be.
tween Mediterranean ports.
Queen Olga bore him six children,
of whom all but the youngest, Prince
Christopher, born in 1888. are married.
The heir apparent to the throne IS
Prince Constantine. Duke of Sparta,
who was born in 1868 and in 1889 was
married tn Princess SODhia. sister Of
Emperor William II. Although King
George always showed great devotion
to his people and proved himself IL
faithful and liberal king, neither he
nor his family enjoyed great popular