Greek nationalism, otherwise referred to asHellenic nationalism, refers to thenationalism ofGreeks andGreek culture.^[1] As anideology, Greek nationalism originated and evolved inclassical Greece.^[2][3][4] In modern times, Greek nationalism became a major political movement beginning in the early 19th century, which culminated in theGreek War of Independence (1821–1829) against theOttoman Empire.^[1]

Greek nationalism became also a potent movement in Greece shortly prior to, and duringWorld War I, when the Greeks, inspired by theMegali Idea, managed to liberate parts of Greece in theBalkan Wars and after World War I, briefly occupied the region ofSmyrna before it was retaken by theTurks.^[1]

Greek nationalism was also the main ideology of two dictatorial regimes in Greece during the 20th century: the4th of August Regime (1936–1941) and theGreek military junta (1967–1974). Today Greek nationalism remains important in theGreco-Turkish dispute overCyprus^[1] among other disputes (Greek nationalism in Cyprus).

The establishment of Panhellenic sites served as an essential component in the growth and self-consciousness of Greek nationalism.^[2] During theGreco-Persian Wars of the 5th century BCE, Greek nationalism was formally established though mainly as an ideology rather than a political reality since some Greek states were still allied with thePersian Empire.^[3]Aristotle andHippocrates offered a theoretical approach on the superiority of the Greek tribes.^[5]

The establishment of the ancientPanhellenic Games is often seen as the first example of ethnic nationalism and view of a common heritage and identity.^[6]

During the times of theByzantine Empire and after thecapture of Constantinople in 1204 by the Latins, the Roman EmperorJohn III Doukas Vatatzes made extensive use of the words 'nation' (genos), 'Hellene' and 'Hellas' together in his correspondence with thePope. John acknowledged that he was Greek, although bearing the title Emperor of the Romans: "the Greeks are the only heirs and successors ofConstantine", he wrote. In similar fashion John’s sonTheodore II, acc. 1254, who took some interest in the physical heritage of Antiquity, referred to his whole Euro-Asian realm as "Hellas" and a "Hellenic dominion".^[7] The generations after John looked back upon him as "the Father of the Greeks".^[8]

When theByzantine Empire was ruled by thePaleologi dynasty (1261–1453), a new era of Greek patriotism emerged, accompanied by a turning back toancient Greece.^[4] Some prominent personalities at the time also proposed changing the Imperial title from "basileus and autocrat of theRomans" to "Emperor of theHellenes".^[4] This enthusiasm for the glorious past constituted an element that was present in the movement that led to the creation of the modern Greek state, in 1830, after four centuries ofOttoman rule.^[4]

Popular movements calling forenosis (the incorporation of disparate Greek-populated territories into a greater Greek state) resulted in the accession ofIonian Islands (1864),Thessaly (1881),Crete (1912), southern parts ofMacedonia andThrace (1913), and finallyDodecanese (1947). Calls forenosis were also a feature of Cypriot politics duringBritish rule in Cyprus. During the troubledinterwar years, some Greek nationalists viewed Orthodox ChristianAlbanians,Aromanians andBulgarians as communities that could be assimilated into the Greek nation.^[9] Greekirredentism, the "Megali Idea" suffered a setback in theGreco-Turkish War (1919–1922). Since then,Greco-Turkish relations have been characterized by tension between Greek andTurkish nationalism, culminating in theTurkish invasion of Cyprus (1974). HistoriansErik Sjöberg (historian) andAndrekos Varnava argue that Greeknationalism specifically in the form ofIdentity politics and memory-making was a primary driver in the "construction" of the Greek genocide as acollectivist historical fact.^[10]

Nationalist parties include:

• Popular Orthodox Rally (2000–)
• National Hope (2010–)
• United Popular Front (2011–)
• National Unity Association (2011–)
• National Front (2012–)
• Greek Solution (2016–) (parliamentary)
• Spartans (2017–) (parliamentary)
• Democratic Patriotic Movement (2019–) (parliamentary)
• National Party – Greeks (2020–)
• Voice of Reason (2023–) (European parliamentary)

• Golden Dawn (1985–2020) (parliamentary)
• Independent Greeks (2012–2019) (parliamentary)
• Nationalist Party (1865–1913) (parliamentary)
• New Party (1873–1910) (parliamentary)
• Liberal Party (1910–1961) (parliamentary)
• Freethinkers' Party (1922–1936) (parliamentary)
• National Union of Greece (1927–1944)
• Greek National Socialist Party (1932–1943)
• Hellenic Socialist Patriotic Organisation (1941–1942)
• Politically Independent Alignment (1949–1951) (parliamentary)
• Greek Rally (1951–1955) (parliamentary)
• 4th of August Party (1965–1977)
• National Democratic Union (1974–1977)
• National Alignment (1977–1981)
• United Nationalist Movement (1979–1991)
• Party of Hellenism (1981–2004)
• National Political Union (1984–1996)
• Greek Unity (1989–201;)
• Political Spring (1993–2004)
• Hellenic Front (1994–2005)
• Front Line (1999–2000)
• Patriotic Alliance (2004–2007)
• Society – Political Party of the Successors of Kapodistrias (2008–2020)
• Popular Greek Patriotic Union (2015–2022)
• New Right (2016–2023)
• National Unity (2016)
• Patriotic Radical Union (2018–2022)
• National Popular Consciousness (2019–2023)

• 
  St.John III Doukas Vatatzes, aByzantine Emperor known as the "Father of theGreeks".
• 
  Traditional flag used from 1769 to theGreek War of Independence.
• 
  Flag of theFiliki Eteria (1814), a secret organization which planned to overthrow theOttoman rule and establish anindependent Greek State.^[11]
• 
  Louis Dupré's depiction of Nikolakis Mitropoulos raising his flag atSalona; a scene from the early stages of theGreek War of Independence in 1821.
• 
  "TheArcadian Holocaust" byGiuseppe Lorenzo Gatteri; scene from theCretan Revolt (1866–69).
• 
  Alexandros Koumoundouros, founder of theGreek Nationalist Party.
• 
  Pavlos Melas, a Greek revolutionary and artillery officer of theHellenic Army that was killed during theMacedonian Struggle (1893–1912).
• 
  Lorentzos Mavilis, a Greek war poet that was killed during theFirst Balkan War (1912–13).
• 
  Poster celebrating the "New Greece" after theBalkan Wars.
• 
  Map of "Greater Greece" after theTreaty of Sèvres, featuringEleftherios Venizelos, when theMegali Idea seemed close to fulfillment.
• 
  Members of theNational Organisation of Youth (EON) hail in presence ofIoannis Metaxas during the4th of August Regime.
• 
  Georgios Grivas, Greek nationalist and leader of CypriotEnosis movement against British colonial rule.

• Background of the Greek War of Independence
• Cyprus problem
• Exchange of population between Greece and Turkey
• First Hellenic Republic
• Kingdom of Greece
• Rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire
• Treaty of Constantinople (1832)

• Moles, Ian N. (1969)."Nationalism and Byzantine Greece".Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies.10 (1):95–107.

• Anti-Ottomanism
• Greek nationalism
• Politics of Greece

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• CS1 errors: ISBN date