The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-12
Ex-Ruler
ofCreece
Succunbs
Death Comes to Constantine
Suddenly at Palermo, Sicily,
Where He Was Living
in Exile.
Policeman During War

diefhO, Sicily Jan. lI.-lBy \. p
Former King Constantine of Greece
died suddenly here today of cerebral
hemorrhage.
The death of Ex-king Constantine
OF Greece came after series of try.
ing experiences which the former rul.
er of the Hellenes had undergone,
beginning with the outbreak of the
world war.
Constantine was forced off the
Shrone by the allies in 1917 after he
rad successfully resisted numerous at
tempts to bring Greece into the war
on the side of the allies. In exile
until after the wars close, Constan-
tine was called back to Greece in
- 920 and resumed the throne. Under
his renewed reign Greece plunged into
war with Turkey in Asia Minor, Con.
stantine personally going to the front
at one period of the campaign.
Disaster to Greeks.
Last fall came the disaster to the
Greek forces in Asia Minor, speedily
followed by the revolution in Greece,
which again swept Constantine off
the throne. He abdicated and retired
to Italy and has been making his
home recently at Palermo.
Constantine had been suffering
from arterioselerosis and nephritis.
but there had been no expectation of
d sudden and fatal ending.
He was to have started for Naples
tomorrow with his family. to stay at
the Palazzo di capodimonte at the in
vitation of the Duke Of Aosta. later
going to Florence to make his per-
manent residence there.
At the bedside when death occurred
were his wife. former Queen Sophie
and their three daughters. the crown
princess of Rumania and princesses
Irene and Catherine.
Abdicatd in 1917.
Constantine I abdicated the throne
of Greece in June, 1917, at the de-
mand Of Great Britain, France and
Russia. powers which had guaranteed
the constitutions: liberty of the
Greeks. He ruled over the destinies of
the Hellenes for a little more than
four years, during which it is charged
that he nuilified the Greek constitu-
ton by repeated dismissals of parlia-
ment opposed to his pro-German at
titude in the war, created an intoler-
able condition affecting not only
Rreece but the entente allies, and. in
the words OF Premier Ribot of France,
had "amply justified the interven-
tion of the protecting powers"
II I,sx. etc ~
nominated his second son, Alexander,
as his successor, eliminating the
claims OF Crown Prince George. whose
attitude was regarded as pro-German.
Alexander was acceptable to the en-
tente powers and to Premier Venice
los of the provisional government,
which had been established at Salon
Xxi, and he assumed the crown.
In Exile.
Constantine with his wife and sew
oral children were conveyed from Ath-
ems on a British warship to an Italian
port and then proceeded to Swttzer-
land, where the deposed king made
his home for more than three years
following his abdication.
Alexander's reign, however, ended
in October, 1920, when the young
king died as the result of being bit
ten by a pet monkey. The dead mon
arch left morganatic widow in the
person of Mile. Manos, whose mar
riare Constantine had vainly tried TO
have declared invalid.
Eliphtherios Venizelos, then premier
of Greece, whose political activity con-
tributed to the overturning of the old
regime, had been a loyal supporter
of Alexander 1t was generally sup
posed that Alexander would be sue
ceeded by his brother, Prince Paul.
In fact. Paul was actually proclaimed
king but he declined to accept unless
Nenizelists obtained the consent OF MS
father and Crown Prince George po.h
of whom refused.
Government Overturned.
This situation created govern
crisis and on November IS.
plebiscite was held throughout Greeee'
10 determine whether Constantine
should be returned to the throne.
In spite of the achievements OF
yenizelos for his country during the
war and it's resultant territorial ad-
vantage to Greece, the government
was overturned and the Nenizelos
cabinet Immediately resigned, ne"
ministry being formed by Premier
Rhallis. The vote gave the Royahsts
go seats in the chamber OF deputies
ms against 11S for the Venizehsts.
Charges were made that the plebiscite
was fraudulent. and Venizelos be-
came a practical fugitive from greece.
Several months before the eiection
he was shot by an assassin In faris
but was only slightly wounded.
Great preparations were made py
the populace to welcome Constantine
back TO Athens. The former King
before leaving Switzerland for MS
native land. declared that one OF the
first things he would do upon enter
ing Athens would be- to ehter the
Greek Catholic cathedral and offer
prayer of thanks to God Tor MS
restoration to the throne.
D>.4@I