Pavlos Kountouriotis

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Pavlos Kountouriotis (1855–1935)

Admiral, politician, President of the Second Hellenic Republic

Early Years – Family Origins

Pavlos Kountouriotis was born on the island of Hydra on April 9, 1855, into one of its most historic families, with a long naval and political tradition. He was the great-grandson of Georgios Kountouriotis, a key fighter in the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and an important political figure. His father, Theodorakis Kountouriotis, was a prominent shipowner from Hydra, and his mother, Irini Tsamadou, also came from a distinguished revolutionary family.

From an early age, he was raised with national ideals and deeply connected to the naval tradition of his homeland. In 1875, he entered the Hellenic Naval Academy, graduating in 1878 and beginning his service in the Royal Hellenic Navy.

Pavlos Kountouriotis 1900

Military Career (1878–1912)

In the early decades of his career, he served on several warships and steadily rose through the ranks. He stood out for his discipline, professionalism, and strategic thinking.

In 1908, he was appointed Chief of the Naval General Staff — the first person to hold that position — and played a pivotal role in modernizing the fleet. He introduced new methods of training and organization and advocated for the acquisition of modern warships.

In 1911, shortly before the Balkan Wars, he was named Deputy Commander of the Navy and soon after became Commander of the Aegean Fleet.

The Balkan Wars and the “Averof” (1912–1913)

During the First Balkan War, Kountouriotis led the Greek fleet with the battleship Georgios Averof as his flagship — one of the most modern and powerful vessels of the era.

Under his command:

Battle of Elli (December 3, 1912): The Greek fleet decisively defeated the Ottoman navy, blocking the Dardanelles.

Battle of Lemnos (January 5, 1913): Secured Greek dominance in the Aegean.

His operations led to the liberation of Lemnos, Thasos, Imbros, Tenedos, and other islands. Kountouriotis applied a bold tactic of independent offensive action, detaching the Averof from the main fleet to strike alone, utilizing its superior speed and firepower. This strategy was crucial to the outcome of the naval battles.

These successes made him a national hero. He was promoted to Vice Admiral for valor and remained Commander of the Fleet after the war.

The National Schism – The Triumvirate of Thessaloniki (1916)

With the outbreak of World War I, Kountouriotis sided with Eleftherios Venizelos against King Constantine I. In 1916, he joined Venizelos and General Danglis in forming the Provisional Government of National Defence in Thessaloniki — the so-called Triumvirate.

As Naval Minister in this government, he reorganized the fleet and supported Greece’s entry into the war on the side of the Entente. His backing was instrumental in the eventual victory of the Venizelist camp and the king’s removal.

In 1924, Kountouriotis was sworn in as the first President of the Second Hellenic Republic.

President of the Republic – Regency (1920–1935)

After the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922, Kountouriotis was appointed Regent of Greece by the Revolutionary Committee, following King Constantine’s forced abdication. His selection aimed to ensure a stable political transition.

In 1924, with the proclamation of the Second Hellenic Republic, he was elected its first President. He resigned in 1926 due to disagreements with General Pangalos but returned to office in 1929 and served until 1935, resigning shortly before the monarchy’s restoration. Despite having limited constitutional powers, his stature had a significant impact on public life.

Later Years and Death

He withdrew from public life and returned to Hydra, where he died on August 22, 1935, at the age of 80. His death coincided with the final crisis of the Second Republic and the return of King George II. He was buried with state honors on Hydra.

Legacy

Pavlos Kountouriotis is remembered as:

The national admiral who secured Greek naval dominance in the Aegean.

A political leader above party lines, faithful to democracy and duty.

A symbol of liberal patriotism in early 20th-century Greece.

The name "Pavlos Kountouriotis" has been given to four Hellenic Navy ships:

The first, a light cruiser modeled after the British Chatham-class, was ordered from British shipyards in 1914 but seized by the British with the outbreak of WWI and entered service as the Birkenhead.

The second, a Dardo-class destroyer (H07), was one of four destroyers (Kountouriotis, Hydra, Spetsai, Psara) ordered from Italian shipyards in 1933. It saw action in WWII, including raids on the Otranto Straits. It escaped to the Middle East, was refitted in Bombay (1941–42), and was decommissioned in 1946.

The third, a Gearing FRAM I-class fleet destroyer (D-213), was launched in 1945 as the USS Rupertus DD 851. It was acquired by Greece in 1973 and served until 1995.

The current ship, a Standard-class frigate (F 462, formerly Dutch Kortenaer), was built in the Netherlands and acquired by Greece in 1997. It underwent modernization at the Skaramangas shipyards between 2004 and 2006.