Greece’s Last King Dies at 82

Constantine II, who is considered Greece’s last king passed away at the age of 82 on Tuesday. He was the monarch of Greece before it became a republic in 1974. According to Greek media, he died of a stroke.

He was also an Olympic gold medalist in sailing.

Constantine II was born on June 2, 1940, in Athens as the son of Prince Paul, younger brother to King George II. Before his first birthday, the Greek royal family had to escape from Greece because of the German invasion in World War II.

King George II returned to Greece in 1946 but died a few months later. Constantine’s father King Paul I became the new king of Greece. When King Paul I died of cancer on March 6, 1964, Constantine became the king of Greece.

The 1967 military coup in Greece forced Constantine II to go into exile. In 1968 a referendum abolished the monarchy in Greece and the nation became a republic in 1974. With it, he became the last King in Greek history.