The first holistic account of the institution of the monarchy in modern Greece, this book looks at the political behaviour of the Greek people and their relationship with authority in every form, to explore why this specific type of constitution was chosen in 1832 at the end of the Greek ‘Struggle for Independence’. The development of the monarchy is explored in parallel with the quest for popular legitimization and the constitutional dimension, taking into account the state of affairs in Europe, the need to put an end to the vicious circle of civil conflicts, and the views on the nature of the state derived from the Greco-Roman tradition. It also considers the contradictions in the constitutional legislation and the fragility of a democratic constitutional monarchy. In a second section, three individual members of the Dynasty are discussed in detail. In the cases of Constantine I and Frederika, an attempt is made to separate myth from historical reality. Finally, in a third section, the philanthropic attitude of members of the two dynasties is discussed together with the socio-political dimension of the monarchy. In an Epilogue, the author examines the causes of the unravelling of the strong, but uneasy bond between people and monarchy. 107 black and white photographs, English language text.