Prince Otto of Bavaria selected as first King of Greece

Background. The London Conference of 1832 aimed to establish a stable government in Greece. Following the assassination of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1831, which caused political confusion, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston convened with French and Russian diplomats. Without consulting the Greeks, these powers decided that Greece should be a monarchy, leading to the selection of a Bavarian prince.

Selection Process. The London convention offered the throne to the Bavarian Prince Otto. The Treaty of London, signed on 7 May 1832 between Bavaria and the protecting Powers, defined Greece as an independent kingdom with the Arta–Volos line as its northern frontier. The Treaty of Constantinople, concluded on 21 July 1832, set the boundaries along the Arta–Volos line. These terms were ratified by the Protocol of London on 30 August 1832.

Arrival and Regency. Otto, the second son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, ascended the throne at age 17. He arrived in Greece aboard the British frigate HMS Madagascar with 3,500 Bavarian troops and three advisors. His government was initially managed by a three-man regency council composed of Bavarian court officials.