# 4th of August Regime

> military dictatorship of Greece from 1936 to 1941

**Wikidata**: [Q1358836](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1358836)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_of_August_Regime)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/4th-of-august-regime

## Summary
The 4th of August Regime was a military dictatorship in Greece that operated from 1936 until 1941. Led by the ideology of Metaxism, it functioned as an authoritarian government and constitutional monarchy with its capital in Athens. The regime officially dissolved in 1941, marking the end of a period characterized by the promotion of Greek Orthodoxy and the use of the modern Greek drachma.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception Date:** The regime began in 1936.
*   **Dissolution Date:** The regime was abolished in 1941.
*   **Capital City:** Athens served as the administrative center.
*   **Official Language:** Greek was the designated official and native language.
*   **Native Label:** The entity is known natively as "Βασίλειον τῆς Ἑλλάδος".
*   **Currency:** The economy utilized the modern Greek drachma.
*   **Official Religion:** The Church of Greece was the state religion, aligned with Greek Orthodoxy.
*   **Basic Forms of Government:** The regime is classified as Metaxism, a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy, and authoritarianism.
*   **National Anthem:** The "Hymn to Liberty" was the official anthem.
*   **Wikidata ID:** The entity corresponds to Q15241312.
*   **Freebase ID:** The identifier is /m/076ks5.
*   **Wikipedia Title:** The primary English title is "4th of August Regime".
*   **Commons Category:** Media is categorized under "4th of August Regime".
*   **Sitelink Count:** The entity has 16 sitelinks across various language editions.
*   **Supported Languages:** Content exists in ast, ca, el, en, es, fr, he, it, ja, ko, pl, pt, ru, sr, tr, and zh.
*   **Topic Category:** The main category is "Category:4th of August Regime".

## FAQs
**What were the official symbols and visual identifiers of the regime?**
The regime utilized the State Flag of Greece (used from 1935–1973) and a specific emblem known as the 4th of August Regime emblem. Its coat of arms was the Royal Coat of Arms of Greece, and its national anthem was the Hymn to Liberty.

**How is the regime classified in terms of political structure and ideology?**
It is defined as a military dictatorship and an authoritarian regime that operated under the specific ideology of Metaxism. Despite its dictatorial nature, it maintained the legal framework of a constitutional monarchy during its existence.

**What languages and religious affiliations defined the state?**
Greek was the sole official and native language spoken within the regime. The state officially recognized the Church of Greece and adhered to Greek Orthodoxy as its primary worldview.

**When did the regime begin and end its operations?**
The government was established in 1936 and ceased to exist in 1941. This four-year period marks the full duration of its administrative control over Greece.

## Why It Matters
The 4th of August Regime represents a critical chapter in modern Greek history, illustrating the transition to authoritarian rule during the interwar period. Its significance lies in its unique blend of monarchical legitimacy with dictatorial power, creating a political model known as Metaxism. Understanding this regime provides insight into how Greece navigated the geopolitical tensions leading up to World War II, as its dissolution in 1941 coincided with the Axis invasion. The regime's policies on religion, language, and national identity left a lasting imprint on the country's administrative and cultural landscape.

## Notable For
*   **Ideological Distinction:** It is the primary historical example of "Metaxism" as a governing philosophy.
*   **Dual Classification:** It uniquely held the status of both a constitutional monarchy and a dictatorship simultaneously.
*   **Cultural Preservation:** It enforced Greek Orthodoxy and the Greek language as central pillars of state identity.
*   **Historical Duration:** It represents a specific, short-lived era of governance spanning exactly from 1936 to 1941.
*   **Visual Legacy:** It is associated with specific heraldic symbols, including the Royal Coat of Arms and a distinct regime emblem.
*   **Multilingual Documentation:** The entity is extensively documented across 16 different language versions of Wikipedia, indicating broad historical interest.

## Body

### Political Structure and Ideology
The 4th of August Regime functioned as a complex political entity defined by multiple overlapping classifications. It was fundamentally a military dictatorship that operated under the specific ideological framework of Metaxism. While it exercised authoritarian control, it maintained the formal structure of a constitutional monarchy. The regime is also broadly categorized as a form of authoritarianism. This unique combination of monarchical tradition and dictatorial power distinguished it from other contemporary governments. The basic form of government is explicitly recorded as Metaxism, dictatorship, constitutional monarchy, and authoritarianism in historical records.

### Administrative and Geographic Details
The administrative center of the regime was located in Athens, which served as the capital city. The entity is classified as a former administrative territorial entity that existed between 1936 and 1941. A locator map image depicting the Hellenic Republic (1935) is associated with the regime's territory. The regime's jurisdiction covered the entirety of Greece during its operational years. The native label for the state was "Βασίλειον τῆς Ἑλλάδος," reflecting its official status.

### Cultural and Religious Identity
Cultural and religious life under the regime was strictly defined by national and orthodox traditions. The official religion was the Church of Greece, and the broader worldview was identified as Greek Orthodoxy. The official language used for all state functions was Greek. This linguistic and religious homogeneity was a core component of the regime's identity. The native label and the official language both confirm the centrality of the Greek language in the administration.

### Symbols and State Emblems
The regime possessed a distinct set of national symbols that represented its authority. The national anthem adopted was the "Hymn to Liberty." The state flag used was the State Flag of Greece, which was in use from 1863 to 1924 and again from 1935 to 1973. The official seal was represented by the 4th of August Regime emblem. Additionally, the coat of arms was the Royal Coat of Arms of Greece, noted for its accuracy in historical depictions. These visual elements were crucial for state propaganda and official documentation.

### Economic and Temporal Data
Economically, the regime utilized the modern Greek drachma as its currency. The inception of the regime occurred in 1936, marking the start of its rule. The regime was dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 1941, ending its four-year tenure. These dates are critical for historical timelines regarding Greece in the 20th century. The currency and the specific dates of operation provide a clear economic and temporal boundary for the entity.

### Digital and Bibliographic References
The entity is well-documented in digital knowledge bases with a Freebase ID of /m/076ks5 and a Wikidata ID of Q15241312. It has a sitelink count of 16, indicating its presence on various language editions of Wikipedia. The supported languages for its documentation include ast, ca, el, en, es, fr, he, it, ja, ko, pl, pt, ru, sr, tr, and zh. The main topic category is "Category:4th of August Regime," and the Wikipedia title is "4th of August Regime." References for these data points include Q328, Q206855, Q8449, and various Wikipedia revisions from 2013 and other years. The description "military dictatorship of Greece from 1936 to 1941" is the standard Wikidata description.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013