Noemvriana

The Noemvriana (Greek: Νοεμβριανά, "November Events") of December [O.S. November] 1916, also called the Greek Vespers,^[i] was a political dispute, rooted in Greece's neutrality in World War I, that escalated into an armed confrontation in Athens between the Greek royalist government and the Allies.

Tensions began early in the war, and escalation started in May 1916, where the Greek fortress of Roupel was surrendered to the Central Powers, mainly Bulgarian forces, raising concerns among the Allies of a secret alliance between Greek government and the Central Powers. This potential alliance threatened the Allied forces bivouacking in Thessaloniki since late 1915. Diplomatic negotiations between King Constantine I and the Allies took place throughout the summer, with the king advocating for Greek neutrality, which would favor the Central Powers. The Allies, however, demanded demobilizing the Greek army and surrendering war materials lost at Roupel to ensure Greece’s neutrality. However, the failed negotiations by the end of the summer and the Bulgarian Army's advance in Macedonia led to a military coup by Venizelist officers in Thessaloniki. Supported by the Allies, former Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos established a provisional government in northern Greece to form an army to reclaim territories lost to Bulgaria, thus splitting Greece into two factions.

The involvement of the Hellenic army alongside the Allies and the country's division sparked anti-Allied protests in Athens. In late October, King Constantine and the Allies reached a secret agreement, but pressure from his military advisers forced the king to abandon it. On 1 December [O.S. 18 November] 1916, the Allies landed a small contingent in Athens to enforce their demands but met with organized resistance. An armed confrontation ensued until a temporary compromise was reached. The next day, after the Allied forces evacuated, royalist mobs rioted in Athens, targeting Venizelos' supporters. The violence lasted three days and became known as the Noemvriana, named after the November date in the Old Style calendar. This event deepened the social rift between the Venizelists and royalists, which became known as National Schism.

After Noemvriana, the Allies intensified efforts to remove King Constantine I. A naval blockade was imposed, isolating royalist areas, leading the population of Athens to starve. Following Constantine's abdication in June 1917, his son, King Alexander, ascended the throne and, and Greece was united under Venizelos' leadership. Greece then joined the Allies in World War I, providing the numerical superiority in the Macedonian front. By 1918, the Greek army helped secure an Allied victory in the Balkans, contributing to the liberation of Serbia and the defeat of the Central Powers.