In 1898 the Cretan government was formed, with Prince George, the youngest son of King George of Greece, as the island’s supreme governor. However, the goal of most Cretans remained to be unification with Greece. There were reactions every time the supreme ruler imposed limitations on human freedoms or changed administrational methods.
This undying revolutionary spirit led to the ‘Revolution of Theriso’ in 1905. The revolution was led by Eleftherios Venizelos, who had fought in the latest struggles for independence and had been appointed Minister of Justice by Prince George. The revolution did not last long, as support for Venizelos was so strong that Prince George had to resign.
The Great Powers withdrew their military forces from Crete, the supreme commander left and elections were held which Venizelos won. When the ‘Military League’ of Athens came to power, Venizelos was asked to become the Prime Minister of Greece.
The longed-for union of Crete with Greece was realised in 1913, with the Treaty of London in which Sultan Mohammed II resigned his rights on the island. In December the Greek flag was raised at Firkas Castle in Chania, in the presence of Venizelos and King Constantine. Crete was now one with the rest of Greece.
