King Alexander of Greece (1893–1920) is one of the briefest yet most dramatic figures in modern history. He ascended the throne in 1917, at the height of the National Schism, when Prime Minister Venizelos, disagreeing with Greece’s non‑entry into WWI on the Entente side because of King Constantine’s pro‑German stance, formed a separate government based in Thessaloniki.

Isolated from his family and limited to ceremonial duties, Alexander often sought refuge far from the pressures of power, accompanied by Fritz, his beloved dog.

Fate, however, reserved a strange and tragic chain of events. On 2 October 1920, during a walk at the summer palace of Tatoi, Fritz was attacked by a macaque monkey. Alexander rushed to defend him—not out of duty, but from the spontaneous urge to protect his beloved companion. In the attempt, he was bitten by another monkey. The wound seemed minor at first, but soon developed into a fatal infection. Despite persistent medical efforts, the young king died on 25 October 1920, at just 27 years old.

His death caused a huge political upheaval: it led to the return of the exiled dynasty, deepened divisions, and helped create the conditions that would soon result in the Asia Minor Catastrophe. It was a turning point in history that no one would have linked to an act of tenderness—yet that is where it began.

And while the country sank into political struggles, one silent figure kept wandering around Tatoi: Fritz. It is said he stayed for days outside the room where Alexander fought for his life, and later at the entrance of the palace, waiting for the man who would never return.

📸 King Alexander and Fritz, 1920. Past in Color/FB