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The United States of the Ionian Islands (Greek: Ηνωμένον Κράτος των Ιονίων Νήσων (Enomenon Kratos ton Ionion Neson), Italian: Stati Uniti delle Isole Ionie) was a former state and amical protectorate of the United Kingdom between 1815 and 1864. It is located in modern Greece, to whom it was ceded as a gift at the end of the protectorate.
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History
Prior to the French Revolutionary Wars, the Ionian Islands had been part of the Republic of Venice. With the dissolution of that polity under the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio, it was annexed into the French Republic. Between 1798 and 1799, the French were driven out by a joint Russo-Turkish force. The occupying forces founded the Septinsular Republic, which lasted from 1800 until 1807.
The Ionian Islands were then re-annexed by the French into the Illyrian Provinces. In 1809, the United Kingdom defeated the French fleet off Zakynthos on 2 October, and captured Kefalonia, Kythira, and Zakynthos. The British took Lefkada in 1810. Corfu remained under French rule until 1814.
The Congress of Vienna agreed to place the Ionian Islands under the exclusive protection of the United Kingdom. Despite British military administration, the Austrian Empire was guaranteed commercial status equal to the UK. The arrangement was solidifed with the ratification of the 'Maitland constitution' on 26 August 1817, which created a federation of the seven islands.
On 29 March 1864, the United Kingdom, Greece, France, and Russia signed the Treaty of London, pledging the transfer of sovereignty to Greece upon ratification. Thus, on 28 May, by proclamation of the Lord High Commissioner, the Ionian Islands were united with Greece.5
States
As its name suggests, United States of the Ionian Islands was a federation. It included seven island states:
| State | Capital | Members elected |
|---|---|---|
| Corfù | Corfù | 7 |
| Cephalonia | Argostoli | 7 |
| Cerigo | Kythira | 1 or 26 |
| Ithaca | Vathy | 1 or 26 |
| Paxò | Gaios | 1 or 26 |
| Santa Maura | Lefkada | 4 |
| Zante | Zakynthos | 7 |
Government
The government was organised under the leadership of a Lord High Commissioner, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the British government. In total, ten men served in this capacity, including William Gladstone as a Lord High Commissioner Extraordinary.
The Ionian Islands had a bicameral legislature, titled the 'Parliament of the United States of the Ionian Islands' and composed of the Legislative Assembly and the Senate.7
See also
- Order of St Michael and St George, an extant British chivalrous order created in honour of the protectorate
- List of Greek countries and regions
Footnotes
- ^ Constitution of the Ionian Islands, Article II
- ^ Constitution of the Ionian Islands, Article IV
- ^ Constitution of the Ionian Islands, Article V
- ^ "Treaty of London". Greek Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2005-03-08. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
- ^ Hertslet, Edward. The map of Europe by treaty (PDF), p. 1609. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
- ^ a b c Cerigo, Ithaca, and Paxos each elected one member, but the three elected a second member in rotation. Constitution of the Ionian Islands, Article VI
- ^ Constitution of the Ionian Islands, Article VII
References
- "Constitution of the Ionian Islands". University of Kassel. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.