In the mid-19th century, Kefalonia found itself in a peculiar historical situation, which largely shaped its political and social identity. From 1815, the island was part of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a state formation under the protection of Great Britain. Although this state had a constitution, parliament, and institutions that hinted at independence, real power was exercised by the British High Commissioner. Kefalonia, like the other Ionian Islands, was on a threshold between self-government and indirect colonial dependence, a fact that created intense political reactions and deep social ferment.
The British presence on the island left strong traces in its administration and infrastructure. The British proceeded with road construction, organized public administration, and attempted to impose a centralized model of governance, which, however, often clashed with local traditions and the expectations of the inhabitants. Kefalonia already had centuries of Venetian rule behind it, during which a strong sense of local autonomy and political participation had developed. The transition to a regime where critical decisions were made by a foreign administrator strengthened the feeling of political suffocation and fueled discontent, particularly among the lower classes.
The social structure of Kefalonia before the Union was complex and often contradictory. On the one hand, there was an educated urban class, with access to education, administration, and trade, which maintained close relations with the British administration. On the other hand, the vast majority of the population consisted of farmers, laborers, and small business owners, who experienced daily the consequences of heavy taxation and economic insecurity. This opposition was not only economic but also political, as different social groups developed different attitudes towards British rule and the demand for Union with Greece.
Of particular importance for the history of Kefalonia during that period was the development of the radical movement. The Radicals, inspired by the liberal and national ideas of the time, openly demanded the Union of the Ionian Islands with the Greek state. In Kefalonia, this movement found fertile ground, as the island had a long tradition of political thought, intense intellectual life, and a strong sense of Greek identity. The Radicals were not limited to parliamentary interventions but developed action through the press, popular rallies, and daily political ferment.
The attitude of the British administration towards the radical movement was often repressive. Demonstrations were met with military presence, while the instigators of the mobilizations were arrested, exiled, or excluded from public life. Particularly during the uprisings of the 1840s, Kefalonia experienced moments of intense violence and social unrest. Repression, however, did not manage to quash the demand for Union; on the contrary, it strengthened the feeling of injustice and rallied even more inhabitants around the idea of national integration.
The economic life of Kefalonia before the Union presented significant contradictions. The island actively participated in the trade of the Eastern Mediterranean, while shipping and agricultural production were key pillars of the local economy. Nevertheless, the benefits of economic activity were not distributed equally. The heavy taxation imposed by the British administration, combined with the lack of substantial social welfare, particularly burdened the lower classes. Economic pressure strengthened the link between social and national demands, as for many Kefalonians, the Union with Greece was synonymous with the hope for fairer governance.
Education also played an important role in shaping political consciousness. Kefalonia had schools, intellectual centers, and intense publishing activity, which contributed to the spread of national ideas. Through books, newspapers, and public discussions, the island's inhabitants came into contact with developments in the wider Greek region and in Europe. Greece, despite the difficulties of the newly formed state, was often presented as a natural homeland and historical continuity, in contrast to the foreign administration which seemed temporary and imposed.
As the 1860s approached, the international political scene began to favor the Union. Great Britain, seeking to strengthen its relations with the Greek state, began to view positively the concession of the Ionian Islands. In Kefalonia, this prospect created a climate of anticipation but also anxiety. Although the majority of the inhabitants supported the Union, there were also voices who feared the economic and administrative changes that integration into the Greek state would bring. The transition was neither self-evident nor simple.
Shortly before 1864, Kefalonia was at a historical turning point. Decades of struggles, political conflicts, and social contradictions had shaped a society ripe for change. The Union with Greece was not merely an administrative change, but the result of a long journey of national and political assertion. For the Kefalonians of that era, the Union symbolized the restoration of a historical injustice and the integration into a wider national body, to which they felt they culturally and historically belonged.
Kefalonia, shortly before the Union, was not a passive or marginalized island. On the contrary, it was one of the most vibrant and politicized areas of the Ionian Islands. The developments of that period left a deep imprint on the island's collective memory and contributed to the formation of its modern identity. The transition to the Greek state closed an important historical chapter, but the traces of the pre-union period remain visible to this day in Kefalonia's political culture, social perceptions, and historical consciousness.