Rallis

Related Category: Modern Greek History: Biographies

Greek political family. Dimitrios R. Rallis, 1844–1921, a three-time prime minister, he was first prime minister in May–Oct., 1897. Although he managed to arrange an armistice between Greece and Turkey over Crete, he was dismissed by King George I when he refused to accept the conditions of peace put forward by the European powers. During his other two terms as prime minister (July–Dec., 1903, and July–Aug., 1909) he attempted to reconcile Greece with Turkey and to adopt military and economic reforms. His son, Ioannis R. Rallis, 1878–1946, was a collaborationist premier under the Nazis during World War II. Dimitrios' grandson, Giorgios R. Rallis, 1918–, was a major political figure in Greece's New Democratic party. After holding several ministerial posts during the 1950s and 60s, he was arrested by the military junta that took power in 1967 and was internally exiled for a time. Politically active again after democracy was restored (1974), he became prime minister (1980–81).