Ioannis Capodistrias: a brilliant personality of modern Greek and European history

Ioannis Capodistrias, the first governor of Greece (1828–1831), played a crucial role in shaping the modern Greek state during its transitional phase under the influence of the Great Powers. Renowned for his diplomatic career—most notably as the Russian foreign minister—Capodistrias became an emblematic figure whose political vision resonated with both the Greek diaspora and advocates of national independence. This article critically reviews the political dynamics between Capodistrias and Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich, drawing on primary archival material from the monograph by E. Koukos (1978) and in particular the historical analysis by H. Kissinger (1957). By analyzing their diplomatic exchanges and contrasting political philosophies, the study highlights the broader temporal behavior of early 19th-century European powers toward Greece, Hellenism, and the comprehensive ideals embedded in classical Greek education. Furthermore, Capodistrias’s contribution to Swiss and European political institutions is contextualized within a legacy of universal principles and values and the Enlightenment thought, revealing a timeless vision rooted in the intellectual heritage of classical antiquity.