May 7: The independence of Greece is recognized in 1832 by the Treaty of London. The Turkish-Ottoman Empire accepted the terms of the Treaty and Otto of Wittelsbach, Prince of Bavaria was chosen as King of Greece.

The people of Greece shouted "Freedom or Death" and they fought the War of Independence for 9 years (1821-1829)

The Greek war of independence lasted from 1821-1829, with the help of Britain, France and Russia. The negotiations of the three powers ended in the creation of the Kingdom of Greece for which was named the Bavarian Prince Otto of Wittelsbach. Russia was eager to Greece. Therefore, Britain warned France and formed a coalition to neutralize Russia. At last, the three drove the Turks out from Greece.

Map showing the original territory of the Kingdom of Greece as laid down in the Treaty of 1832 (in dark blue).

With the fall of the Byzantine Empire in the hands of Ottoman Turks in 1453, the Turks continued to penetrate Europe and the entire Balkan Peninsula, starting with Greece.

King Otto I

Traditional history teaches us that the Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under the Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years. That is why the Turks want to join the European Union, because they consider themselves Europeans since 1453.