, leader of
Greek Rally. The ideology developed by Metaxas began with Metaxas' response to the
revolution of 1922 that put in a pro-republican government in Greece. Metaxas formed the Freethinkers' Party, a monarchist party that originally supported the advancement of civil liberties, though this changed with Metaxas' evolving political views. Metaxas supported the failed counterrevolution by monarchists against the republican-oriented government on October 23, 1923; the counterrevolution collapsed within a week, and an arrest warrant was issued for Metaxas, who fled to Norway in exile. The pro-republican government achieved its aim in 1924 when the Greek monarchy was abolished and a Greek republic was established. In 1924, Metaxas officially changed his position from opposition to the republic to acceptance of its institutions. In the 1926 general election, Metaxas' Freethinkers' Party won 54 out of 250 seats in the Greek parliament, resulting in the party becoming part of Greece's coalition government, and Metaxas becoming the Minister of Communications. However, the Freethinkers' Party's public support collapsed in the 1928 election, in which it lost almost all of its seats, including Metaxas' own seat. By the 1930s, Metaxas openly condemned the
parliamentary system in Greece. For the 1935 election, Metaxas' party joined other monarchist parties in an electoral coalition known as the
United Royalists that called for the restoration of the monarchy. The Freethinkers' Party won only seven seats in the election. Nevertheless, a monarchist government was formed in Greece in 1935, resulting in the restoration of King
George II of Greece as head of state. King George II had held close relations with Metaxas in the past and appointed Metaxas as the Prime Minister of Greece in May 1936. Upon becoming prime minister, Metaxas made clear his discontent with the political deadlock between feuding political blocs in Greece's parliament and the rising labour unrest being exploited by the
Communist Party of Greece. Metaxas quickly sought to crush dissent including labour unrest in the form of decrees that did not require acceptance by the Greek parliament. On August 4, 1936, Metaxas gained the King's support for a decree that dissolved parliament. He declared martial law, suspended civil rights such as liberty of the subject, and mobilized transport and public workers to support him. Metaxas justified these actions as necessary to prevent a communist revolution. Numerous leftist leaders (and others) were arrested following these proclamations. Metaxas abolished all political parties including his own, ruling as an official independent. This date is considered the beginning of Metaxas' authoritarian rule, which later came to be known as the
4th of August Regime. Metaxas was referred to by supporters as the
Archigos (Leader) and promised to create a "New State" in Greece that called for Greeks to wholly commit themselves to the nation with self-control as the Spartans had done. Supporters of the 4th of August Regime justified Metaxas' dictatorship on the basis that the "First Greek Civilization" involved the Athenian dictatorship of
Pericles who had brought ancient Greece to greatness. Metaxas introduced widespread strict censorship of the press and banned works by authors considered taboo by the regime, including literature by
Karl Marx,
Sigmund Freud,
Leo Tolstoy,
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and
Immanuel Kant. Metaxas saw the creation of a disciplined younger generation as being critical for the future of Greece and for the strengthening of his regime and its principles that would entrench the Third Greek Civilization. In October 1936, the regime created the National Youth Organization of Greece (EON), which attained a membership of 200,000 by 1938. In 1939, youth membership in the EON became mandatory, and the organization absorbed the Boy Scouts of Greece. Members of the EON took an oath of fidelity to the principles of the 4th of August Regime that included: embracing the institutions of the monarchy; support of national pride and faith to the Greek civilization; opposition to parliamentarianism and communism; support of the development of egalitarian, non-individualistic, virtuous citizens. In spite of the Metaxas regime's ties to
Fascist Italy and
Nazi Germany, During the
Greco-Italian War, Metaxas openly praised Greek Jews for their support for the war effort. == Legacy ==