Greek nationalism

[6] During the times of the Byzantine Empire and after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the Latins, the Roman Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes made extensive use of the words 'nation' (genos), 'Hellene' and 'Hellas' together in his correspondence with the Pope.

[8] When the Byzantine Empire was ruled by the Paleologi dynasty (1261–1453), a new era of Greek patriotism emerged, accompanied by a turning back to ancient Greece.

[4] Some prominent personalities at the time also proposed changing the Imperial title from "basileus and autocrat of the Romans" to "Emperor of the Hellenes".

[4] This enthusiasm for the glorious past constituted an element that was present in the movement that led to the creation of the modern Greek state, in 1830, after four centuries of Ottoman rule.

[4] Popular movements calling for enosis (the incorporation of disparate Greek-populated territories into a greater Greek state) resulted in the accession of Ionian Islands (1864), Thessaly (1881), Crete (1912), southern parts of Macedonia and Thrace (1913), and finally Dodecanese (1947).

The national flag of Greece was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity .
Greek hoplite (right) and Persian warrior (left) depicted fighting, on an ancient kylix , 5th century BC.
St. John III Doukas Vatatzes the Merciful King, Emperor of the Romans and "Father of the Greeks ".
Grateful Hellas , painting by Theodoros Vryzakis (1858), National Historical Museum , Athens . Greece personified as a woman, depicted with revolutionaries who participated in the Greek War of Independence .
Eleftherios Venizelos , a prominent leader of the Greek national liberation movement.