The 1864 Treaty of London transferred the Ionian Islands from British protectorate to Greek sovereignty, marking Britain's first voluntary act of decolonization.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 29 March 1864
- Islands transferred
- Seven islands of the United States of the Ionian Islands
- Greek signatory
- Charilaos Trikoupis
- British departure date
- 21 May 1864
- British protectorate since
- 1815 (Treaty of Paris)
- Outcome for Greece
- Islands became three provinces of the Kingdom of Greece
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Since the Greek War of Independence, Ionian Islanders had sought enosis (union) with Greece. In 1862, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston decided to cede the islands, a policy backed by Queen Victoria. The accession of the Anglophile Danish Prince George to the Greek throne further encouraged Britain to proceed with the transfer.
On 29 March 1864, the Treaty of London was signed by Greek delegate Charilaos Trikoupis, formalizing the cession of the seven Ionian Islands from the United Kingdom to the Kingdom of Greece. The agreement ended a British protectorate that had been established under the 1815 Treaty of Paris.
On 21 May 1864, British forces departed and the Ionian Islands were incorporated into Greece as three provinces, though Britain retained use of the port at Corfu. For Greece, this was the first of several territorial expansions that continued until 1947. Historically, it is considered the first instance of voluntary decolonization by Britain.
Political Outcome
The United Kingdom ceded the Ionian Islands to the Kingdom of Greece, ending a British protectorate established in 1815.
Ionian Islands under British amical protectorate since 1815 Treaty of Paris
Ionian Islands incorporated as three provinces of the Kingdom of Greece