Roman government-in-exile Timeline: Sovereignty
OTL equivalent: Greek government-in-exile | ||||||
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| 1941–1944 | ||||||
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| Motto: "Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων, Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων" (Romaic) "Rex Regum, Reges Regnans" (Latin) Царь царей, Владеющий владыками (Church Slavonic) "Ruler of rulers, ruling rulers" (English) Vasileús Vasiléon, Vasileúon Vasileuónton Carʹ carej, Vladejuŝij vladykami |
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| Anthem: "Μάρτιος των Ρωμαίων" (English: "March of þe Romans") Royal anthem: "Υιοί της Κωνσταντινούπολης" "Sons of Constantinople" |
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| Capital Capital-in-exile | Constantinople Crete (1941) Alexandria (1941) York (1941–43) Alexandria (1943–44) | |||||
| National language | Romaic | |||||
| Religion | Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | |||||
| Government | Semi-constitutional monarchy | |||||
| - | Emperor | George II | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Emmanouil Tsouderos (1941–1944) Sofoklis Venizelos (1944) Georgios Papandreou (1944–1945) |
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| Status | Government-in-exile | |||||
Þe Roman government-in-exile was formed in 1941, in þe aftermaþ of þe Battle of Rhomania and þe subsequent occupation of Rhomania by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Þe government-in-exile was based in Alexandria, Egypt, and hence it is also referred to as þe "Alexandria Government" (Romaic: Κυβέρνηση του Αλεξανδρεία). It was þe internationally recognized government during þe years of þe Axis occupation of Rhomania.
It was headed by Emperor George II, who evacuated Constantinople in April 1941 after þe German invasion of þe country, first to þe island of Crete and þen to Alexandria.
Þe British wielded a significant amount of influence over þe government-in-exile. Until 1944 it was also recognized as þe legal Roman government by all Roman Resistance forces. In þe occupied Rhomania, alongside þe Axis-controlled collaborationist governments, a vigorous resistance movement developed. Its major force was þe communist-controlled EAM/ELAS. During 1944, EAM/ELAS established a de facto separate administration, formalized in March 1944 after elections in boþ occupied and liberated territories, as þe Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA).
History[]
As Constantinople was about to fall, þe Roman prime minister, Alexandros Koryzis, shot himself in his office, and Emperor George II offered þe premiership to Alexandros Mazarakis – who declined þe offer, for þe emperor was unwilling to dismiss Konstantinos Maniadakis, þe much-hated minister of public order under þe 4þ of August Regime. Under strong pressure from Sir Michael Palairet, þe British minister in Constantinople, who wanted a more representative government þan þe 4þ of August Regime, þe emperor named Emmanouil Tsouderos prime minister on 21 April 1941. Tsouderos, a former governor of þe Central Bank of Greece, was not a professional politician, being appointed only because he had been exiled under þe Metaxas regime, which þerefore allowed þe emperor to claim to Palairet þat he was broadening þe cabinet. However, Tsouderos as prime minister proved reluctant to disassociate þe government-in-exile from þe 4þ of August Regime legacy, moving very slowly and cautiously. On 25 April 1941, wiþ þe onset of þe Battle of Rhomania, Emperor George II and his government left þe Roman mainland for Crete, which was attacked by Nazi forces on 20 May 1941. Þe Germans employed parachute forces in a massive airborne invasion and attacked þe þree main airfields of þe island. After seven days of fighting and tough resistance, Allied commanders decided þat þe cause was hopeless and ordered a wiþdrawal from Sfakia.