Alexander of Greece
A young king thrust onto the throne during wartime, whose sudden death dramatically altered the course of modern Greek history.
1893–1920 (age 27)·King of Greece from 1917 to 1920·Birthday: August 1·The Lost Generation
Biography
Alexander of Greece was a monarch defined by circumstance rather than ambition. The second son of King Constantine I, he was never expected to rule. His life changed in 1917 when the Entente powers, demanding Greece join World War I on their side, forced his pro-German father into exile and installed the more pliable Alexander as king. His reign was a constitutional shadow, with real power held by the nationalist prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos. Alexander’s most famous personal act was his marriage to a commoner, Aspasia Manos, which caused a major scandal. His death at just 27 from sepsis, following a monkey bite in the royal gardens, was a bizarre tragedy that triggered a political earthquake. His father returned, undoing Venizelos's gains and leading Greece into a disastrous war with Turkey, making Alexander's brief rule a pivotal 'what if' moment.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Alexander was born in 1893, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1893
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1893Born
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Started school
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1906Became a teenager
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Could drive
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1911Could vote
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1914Turned 21
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Died at 27
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
Key Achievements
- Ascended to the Greek throne in 1917 after his father's exile, aligning the country with the Allied powers in World War I.
- Presided over Greece's significant territorial expansion in the aftermath of World War I under the Treaty of Sèvres.
- His controversial marriage to Aspasia Manos forced changes to royal marriage laws, leading to her posthumous recognition as Queen.
Did You Know?
He died from blood poisoning after being bitten by a Barbary macaque while walking in the royal gardens.
His wife, Aspasia Manos, was not considered royalty at the time of their marriage, making it a massive scandal.
He was an accomplished sportsman and particularly skilled at tennis.
“I am a soldier-king; my duty is to march with my army, not to sit on a throne.”
