The Cretan Question
The decline of the Ottoman Empire accelerated year by year, earning it the far from flattering sobriquet "Sick Man of Europe" current in 19th century diplomatic parlance. Increasing Ottoman dependence on the European Powers permitted the latter to intervene ever more in internal affairs. The fate of the vast empire became the renowned "Eastern Question" - a cause of intense jockeying between the Great Powers of the time, who quite naturally often had conflicting interests.

"The Cretan Question" was one of the thorniest issues relating to the Eastern Question. As the term indicates, in essence it was the problem that arose over determining the future fate of Crete. Through continued rebellions, the Christians sought to cast off Ottoman domination and bring about union with the free Greek state. On the other hand, the Ottoman Empire sought to retain sovereignty over the island. Added to this, the conflicting interests of the great European powers rendered any solution to the problem difficult.



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The band of the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment (R. Behaeddin, Vikelaia Municipal Library, Heraklion)
Prince George of Greece inspecting British troops in Heraklion on Queen Victoria's birthday, 1890
British troops encamped on the curtain wall between the Pantocrator Bastion and the Saint Andrew Bastion after the riots of 25th August 1898
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