The Ethniki Etaireia was a secret Greek nationalistic

Greek nationalism

Greek nationalism has its roots in the rise of nationalism in Europe in the 19th century, and was characterised by the struggle for independence against the Ottoman Empire, culminating in the Greek War of Independence , assisted by philhellenes such as Lord Byron.After independence was achieved,...

 organization created in November 1894, by a number of young nationalist officers, advocates of the Megali Idea

Megali Idea

The Megali Idea was an irredentist concept of Greek nationalism that expressed the goal of establishing a Greek state that would encompass all ethnic Greek-inhabited areas, since large Greek populations after the restoration of Greek independence in 1830 still lived under Ottoman rule.The term...

. Its aim was to revive the morale of the country and prepare the liberation of Greek people still under the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

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In September 1895 they recruited civilians, all linked to the organization of the Olympic Games

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, including Demetrius Vikelas

Demetrius Vikelas

Demetrios Vikelas, or Bikelas was a Greek businessman and writer; he was the first president of the International Olympic Committee , from 1894 to 1896....

, although he claimed only to have given in to friendly pressure, playing a solely financial role and then quickly resigning from it.

The populism of the Ethniki Etaireia is considered to be responsible for the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. Following Greece's humiliating defeat, it was dissolved under the pressure of Prime Minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 Georgios Theotokis

Georgios Theotokis

Georgios Theotokis was a Greek politician and four times Prime Minister of Greece. He represented the New Party or Neoteristikon Komma .- Biography :...

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