Nationalism, Ethnicity and the Concert of Europe: the Case of the High Commissionership of Prince George of Greece in Crete, 1898-1906

Crete provides a classic nineteenth-century case of the interaction between international politics and ethnic struggle. This article is concerned with the transitional regime under Prince George of Greece following the departure of Turkish troops in November 1898. The ambiguous politico-constitutional situation, including elements of continuing Ottoman suzerainty, did not at first cause problems, as the island was recovering from recent depredations. Beginning in 1902-1903, however, conflicting views regarding Crete's destiny led to polarization between the prince and the Great Powers, Christians and Muslims, and among Christian factions. This story shows how Eleutherios Venizelos first insinuated himself into the exploding gap between Hellenic aspirations and Western power. The narrative covers the 1905 insurrection and Prince George's controversial departure in September 1906. The conclusion of the analysis has a contemporary Balkan echo: a frozen and unresolved status quo may suit external actors but is usually disastrous for local societies.