Was Eleftherios Venizelos anti-monarchist? Or was he simply a supporter of the British political model? His name is certainly not identically connected with the Unmonarchic Republic, as was the case with Alexandros Papanaastasios or Nikolaos Plastiras. Many historians even consider that he was ideologically closer to the Monarchical Republic than to the Unmonarchic.

Depending on the political developments, as well as the ideological perspective from which it is approached, sometimes his faith in the latter is emphasized, and other times his preference for the former, giving the confrontation with the kings a purely personal rather than institutional character. What is certain, however, is that no other politician clashed with the Greek monarchs as intensely as Venizelos did.

Starting from his early political steps in autonomous Crete to his swan song with the anti-monarchist Movement of 1935, Venizelos came into conflict, sometimes mild and sometimes severe, with five rulers in total, namely Prince George, and Kings George I, Constantine I, Alexander, and George II. The most well-known is, of course, the one with Constantine I, which has overshadowed the others, taking on the character of the "National Schism," the consequences of which it is uncertain whether we have fully managed to overcome to this day.

However, let us take things from the beginning, so that we can follow the relationship of the leading (according to most historians) politician with the aforementioned monarchs, as well as the fluctuation of his positions on the constitutional issue. In effect, we will also be observing the major events of the period 1897-1936, a period rich in triumphs but also in disasters.