The island of Crete was a part of the Ottoman Empire, but had a predominantly Christian, Greek-speaking population, which had rebelled several times to achieve union with Greece.

During one such revolt, on 2 February 1897 Greek troops landed in Crete to annex the island.

This led to the outbreak of the so-called 30 Days' War between the Ottoman Empire and Greece.

In Thessaly, the superior Ottoman army commanded by Edhem Pasha defeated the Greeks and captured much territory.

Greece sued for peace and the Great Powers of Europe intervened to force the Ottoman government to return the majority of the lands occupied during the war, and to grant autonomy for Crete.