Chavo Guerrero Sr. and Constantine II of Greece: Difference between pages
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[[Image:King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie.jpg|thumb|left||270px|'''King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie''']]
'''Constantine II''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Κωνσταντίνος Β'''', born [[June 2]], [[1940]]), was the last [[List of Kings of Greece|King of Greece]] from [[March 6]], [[1964]] to [[June 1]], [[1973]]. His official title was '''King of the Hellenes''' ('''Βασιλεύς των Ελλήνων''').
He was a son of [[Paul of Greece]] and [[Frederika of Hanover]]. At the age of 20 he competed in the [[1960 Olympics]] in Rome representing [[Greece]] and won Gold medal in [[sailing]] (Gold Dragon Class).
=== Rule ===
As king, Constantine had a turbulent relationship with his prime minister, [[George Papandreou, senior|George Papandreou]], a [[centrism|centrist]]. Papandreou's resignation in [[1965]], after a clash with Constantine over control of the military, led to turmoil in the country, and culminated in a [[military coup]] on [[April 21]] [[1967]], which resulted in a [[Greek military junta of 1967-1974|7 year miliary regime]]. In December of that year, Constantine and his family fled to [[Rome]], [[Italy]], after an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the ruling junta.
=== Abolition of the Monarchy ===
The monarchy continued in his absence under regents. In [[1973]], the predominatly royalist [[Hellenic Navy]] staged an abortive attempt to overthrow the military regime. The military regime subsequently retaliated by abolishing the monarchy and declaring a republic. In 1974, the new democratic regime under [[Constantine Karamanlis]] held a second democratic referendum, which confirmed the monarchy's abolition, with the monarchy receiving only one third of all votes cast. [[Constantine Karamanlis]] who had just won a resounding victory (54% of the vote in a general election) had formally declared his neutrality in the referendum, although he was rumoured to be against the monarchy. However, many voters of his party were traditionally in favour the monarchy and it is certain that those who voted for the monarchy had previously voted for Karamanlis. All other parties represented in Parliament had declared for a republic. Both the centrists and the left of centre [[PASOK]], who considered themselves heirs of the Venizelist tradition, as well as the communist left, were historically against the monarchy. Opponents of the monarchy ridiculed Constantine's personality, the fact that he swore in the junta government in 1967, and his reluctance to sever all ties with the junta once in exile. In addition, the opposition collectively blamed Constantine II for the serious political crisis that had led to the coup in the first place. Proponents of the monarchy stress that Constantine staged a counter-coup against the military regime in 1967, thus losing his throne.
=== After the abolition ===
Constantine was not formally exiled nor stripped of his property or citizenship after the referendum. Still, it seems he was formally discouraged from visiting Greece as he did so only once, very briefly, in February 1981 for the funeral of his mother, Queen Frederika. There were also legal disputes with the Greek state, since Constantine was unable or unwilling to pay the heavy taxes on his property in Greece. In the early 1990s Constantine started appearing more in the newly created private television channels and thus became more "visible" in Greece. In 1992 he concluded an agreement with the government under [[Constantine Mitsotakis]] ceding most of his land in Greece to a non-profit foundation in exchange for the former palace of Tatoi and the right to export a large number of movables from Greece. In 1993 he attempted a first visit to Greece which however did not end well as the government, irritated by his "tour" around Greece and by increasingly loud protests from the opposition, asked him to leave. In 1994, the government of [[PASOK]] which had by then succeeded Mitsotakis passed new legislation reversing the 1992 "deal" and stripping Constantine of his property in Greece and his Greek citizenship.
Constantine has since sued Greece before the [[European Court of Human Rights]], claiming ownership of lands worth in excess of €550 million. He won only partially, receiving only €4 million for the lost property. The Greek government paid this sum (out of the "disasters of nature" budget, as a means of making a public statement), but was not obliged by the court decision to return any lands.
A law stating that Constantine cannot be granted a Greek passport unless he signs a formal declaration recognising the Republic still remains in force. Constantine refuses to comply as a matter of principle. However, he now travels in and out of Greece without problems, on a Danish royal passport (as "King Constantine of Greece"), and has done so several times in the past few years. Because of the [[Schengen agreements]] the Greek government cannot refuse him entry.
The monarchy eventually was overthrown but their tittles and styles are oficcially recognized by the Danish Royal Family.
He is oficially styled in Denmark as '''His Majesty King Constantine of Greece'''
=== Public Opinion ===
As a young prince, Constantine was a popular [[socialite]], gaining popularity for his athletic achievements (including his Olympic medal), and his tendency to mix with other Athenians at social functions and athletic events. According to some sources, his rise to the throne was widely welcomed by the population who had hoped that he would lead the country to a more modern and more open period. The young king instead chose to continue the conservative ways of his father, a fact many blamed on the influence of his mother, Frederika.
To this day, many Greek people and most Greek politicians blame Constantine II for the chaos that had led to the 1967 coup. [[Constantine Karamanlis]] dismissively described Constantine as ''Paul's naughty little boy''. Karamanlis was also scathing in his radio address in the evening of [[December 8]], 1974, as the polling returns became known. "A [[carcinoma]] was resected today from the body of the nation" he declared, succinctly epitomising the public mood.
In more recent years, his legal battles again the Greek state became the fodder of bad publicity. His family's insistence on using royal titles is frequently mocked in the press, where he is most frequently referred to simply as "o teos" ("the former").
=== Family ===
In [[1964]] King Constantine married Queen [[Anne-Marie of Greece|Anne-Marie]], born Princess of [[Denmark]], and sister of the current Danish Queen, [[Margrethe II of Denmark|Margrethe II]]. His heir, should the throne ever be restored, is [[Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece|Crown Prince Pavlos]]. Constantine II's sister, [[Queen Sofia of Spain|Sofia]], is married to King [[Juan Carlos of Spain]].
Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie live in exile in [[London]], [[England]] , where the exiled monarch is a close friend of [[Charles, Prince of Wales|The Prince of Wales]] and a godfather to [[Prince William of Wales]].
Children:
*[[Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark]], born on [[July 10|10 July]] [[1965]] at Mon Repos, [[Corfu]], [[Greece]]. She was married on [[July 9|9 July]] [[1999]] in [[London]], [[England]] to [[Carlos Morales Quintana]] who was born on [[December 31]] [[1970]] at [[Lanzarote]], [[Spain]].
**Their Children:
***[[Arrietta Morales y de Grecia]], born on [[24 February]] [[2002]] in [[Barcelona]].
***[[Ana-Maria Morales y de Grecia]], born on [[15 May]] [[2003]] in [[Barcelona]].
***[[Carlos Morales y de Grecia]], born on [[30 July]] [[2005]] in [[Barcelona]].
*[[Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece]], Prince of [[Denmark]], born on [[May 20|20 May]] [[1967]] at [[Tatoi|Tatoi Palace]] in Athens, Greece. He was married on [[July 1|1 July]] [[1995]] in [[London]], [[England]] to [[Marie-Chantal Miller]], who was thereafter Crown Princess Pavlos. She was born on [[September 17|17 September]] [[1968]] in [[London]], [[England]].
**Their Children:
***[[Maria Olympia]], Princess of [[Greece]] and [[Denmark]], born on [[July 25|25 July]] [[1996]] in [[New York City]], [[United States|USA]].
***[[Constantine Alexios]], Prince of [[Greece]] and [[Denmark]], born on [[October 29|29 October]] [[1998]] in New York City, USA.
***[[Achileas Andrea]], Prince of [[Greece]] and [[Denmark]], born on [[August 12|12 August]] [[2000]] in New York City, USA.
***[[Odysseus Kimon]], Prince of [[Greece]] and [[Denmark]], born on [[September 17]], [[2004]] in London.
*[[Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark]], born on [[October 1|1 October]] [[1969]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]].
*[[Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark]], born on [[June 9|9 June]] [[1983]] in [[London]], [[England]].
*[[Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark]], born on [[April 26|26 April]] [[1986]] in [[London]], [[England]].
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{{succession box|title=[[King of the Hellenes]]|before=[[Paul of Greece|Paul]]|after=Republic'''<br> ([[Georgios Papadopoulos]], President)|years=1964–1973}}
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{{succession box |
before=[[Mireille von Hanover]] |
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[[Category:Greek heads of state]]
[[Category:Greek monarchs]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:House of Glücksburg]]
[[bg:Константинос II]]
[[de:Konstantin II. (Griechenland)]]
[[el:Κωνσταντίνος Β' της Ελλάδας]]
[[nl:Konstantijn II van Griekenland]]
[[pl:Konstantyn II (król Grecji)]]
[[sv:Konstantin II av Grekland]]
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