Spain

[9]21 November 1822. Letter from the Envoy of the Provisional Government of Greece to Madrid, Andreas Louriotis, to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain Evaristo San Miguelo requesting the recognition of the Greek Government by Spain.

Translated in English, as published in the Annals of the US Congress, 18th Congress, Appendix 1st Session

27 July / 8 August 1833. Nomination of W. Pye as Consul of Greece in Cádiz. The first Greek Consulate in Spain.

Nomination of W. Pye as Consul of Greece in Cádiz. The first Greek Consulate in Spain.

[26 July] 7 August 1834. The Prime Minister of Spain, Francisco Martínez de la Rosa, sends a letter to the Regents of Greece announcing the satisfaction of Regent Maria-Cristina for the ascension of King Othon to the Greek throne and her desire to appoint a diplomatic agent (Ambassador) to the Greek Government immediately, thereby recognizing the independence of the country. The letter was sent to the Spanish Embassy in Paris from where it was handed to the Greek Embassy there (along with the name of the newly appointed Chargé d’Affaires to the Greek Government Mariano Montalbo). It was dispatched in response to a letter sent by the Greek Regents to King of Spain Ferdinand VII on 5 October 1832.

19 September / 1 October 1834. The Regents of Greece, following the letter of the President of the Council of Ministers of Spain concerning the intention of appointing a Spanish Ambassador to the Greek Government, notify the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their annoyance because the letter from Spain did not bear the signature of the Regent and it was sent almost two years after the letter announcing the ascension of King Othon to the throne. Nevertheless, due to the importance of establishing diplomatic relations with Spain, they state that they will not pass up the opportunity to conclude the process due to some “mere formalities”.

The Chargé d’ Affaires of Spain in Athens, Mariano Montalbo, forwards to Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Iakovos Rizos-Neroulos the nomination of Fr. De Moya as Vice-Consul of Spain in Piraeus and asks for his recognition by the Greek Government

[17]29 November 1835. The Chargé d’ Affaires of Spain in Athens, Mariano Montalbo, forwards to Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Iakovos Rizos-Neroulos the nomination of Fr. De Moya as Vice-Consul of Spain in Piraeus and asks for his recognition by the Greek Government.

24 November / 6 December 1835. Arch-Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of Greece Count Joseph Ludwig von Armansperg approves the recognition of Vice-Consul of Spain in Piraeus Fr.De Moya.

Arch-Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of Greece Count Joseph Ludwig von Armansperg approves the recognition of Vice-Consul of Spain in Piraeus Fr. De Moya

24 April / 6 May 1836. State Counselor Andreas Metaxas, the Greek Government’s special envoy to Spain to negotiate a Trade Agreement between the two States, arrives in Valencia and, after describing his long journey that included, inter alia, 3 quarantines (Kefalonia, Malta, Majorca), forwards to King Othon his first impressions of the country, before he even arrived in Madrid (first, second and last page of the report).

10/22 May 1836. First page of the instructions for performing his duties, sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the newly appointed Consul of Greece in the Balearic Islands, Michael Uhler et Soler. He was appointed by a Decree dated 4/16 April 1836.

First page of the instructions for performing his duties, sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the newly appointed Consul of Greece in the Balearic, Islands Michael Uhler et Soler

10/22 August 1836. Decree for the appointment of State Counselor Andreas Metaxas as Ambassador (Extraordinary) to Madrid. Μetaxas was already in Madrid on a special mission to conclude a Trade Agreement with the Spanish Government. The Decree reiterates the mandate to Metaxas to initiate negotiations on this Agreement and also stipulates that correspondence between Athens and Madrid will be dispatched through the Greek Embassy in London to avoid delays, observed when communication took place through the Greek Embassy in Paris.


Andreas Metaxas

Freedom fighter and first Ambassador in Madrid and Lisbon

Andreas Metaxas from Kefalonia was a member of the Society of Friends (“Filiki Eteria”), fought in the Peloponnese during the Revolution and served as a member of the Provisional Administration of Greece. He wholeheartedly supported the election of Ioannis Kapodistrias and, after the arrival of King Othon, he was appointed Counselor of the State, Ambassador in Madrid and Lisbon (1836-1839) and in Constantinople (1850-1854). He also served as Minister of Defense and Finance and, immediately after the Revolution of 3rd September 1843 and until February 1844, he served as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.


Ανδρέας Μεταξάς (1790-1860) Πηγή: Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο, Αθήνα

Andreas Metaxas (1790-1860)

Source: National Historical Museum, Athens