The Children of Adam and Eve

Constantine I (1868-1923), King of Greece (1913-17, 1920-22). The son of
King George I, he was born in Athens and educated at Greek and German
military academies. In 1889 he married Sophia (1870-1932), princess of
Prussia and sister of German Emperor William II. Constantine had served in
the German army and in 1897 led a Greek force in a short but disastrous
war against Turkey. He later led the Greeks in the First Balkan War
(1912-13), which increased Greek territory. He ascended the throne on the
Death of his father in 1913. During World War I, Constantine was
pro-German, whereas Eleutherios Venizelos, the premier, wished to join the
Allies. The struggle resulted in a policy of Greek neutrality until
September 1916, when an Allied naval blockade caused Greece to declare war
on Germany. Constantine, under Allied military pressure, abdicated on June
12, 1917, in favor of his son, Alexander (1893-1920). Three years later,
after Alexander's Death, Constantine was restored as King by a plebiscite.
In September 1922, However, the Greek defeat in the renewed war with
Turkey forced Constantine to abdicate again, leaving the throne to his
oldest son, George II. Constantine died in exile in Italy.