British rule in Corfu

UnHerd has a readable and insightful article by Aris Roussinos about the history of British rule over the protectorate of the Ionian Islands - Corfu - between 1815 and 1863.

Whether the author is to be followed in seeing it as an anticipation of other involvements by Britain in the region of the east Mediterranean, other than Cyprus after 1878 might be arguable, but the main story is illustrative of the  issues facing both the British and the Corfiot-Greek communities. The tension between the need to exercise appropriate rulership and emerging ideas of nationalism, and how those forces interacted, is explored, and can indeed be applied to other parts of the region in the era. It is aso an entertaining sidelight on life in a curious enclave in early to mid-nineteenth century Europe.

Apart from the physical survival of buildings and the Corfiot fondness for playing cricket one of the other legacies of the British administration is the Order of St Michael and St George which was created in 1818 as a system of rewards for the people of Corfu and Malta, but which rapidly became the honour for British diplomats and overseas administrators. 

The article can be read at Britain's forgotten European empire