The Septinsular Republic was an oligarchic republic that existed from 1800 to 1807 under nominal Russian and Ottoman sovereignty in the Ionian Islands (Corfu, Paxoi, Lefkada Cephalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos (Zante in English), and Kythira).

The Republic was established after a joint Russo-Ottoman fleet captured the islands and ended a two-year rule by the French Republic. Although the islanders had hoped for complete independence, the new state was granted only autonomy, becoming tributary to the Ottoman Porte. Nevertheless, it was the first time Greeks had been granted self-government since the fall of the last remnants of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottomans in the mid-15th century. In 1807, the republic was ceded to Napoleon’s French Empire, but the islands kept their institutions of government. The British gradually took control of the islands from 1809 on, and following the Treaty of Paris, the islands were formally organised into the United States of the Ionian Islands under British protection.

As the flag of the Ionian State, it was decided to put the yellow winged lion of Venice on a blue cloth, but keeping the Gospel closed with a cross dated 1800 and seven spears that would symbolize the Ionian Islands and the continuity of the power of the aristocracy. The presentation of the flag was made with all the splendor in Constantinople where a eulogy was made in the Patriarchate for the consolidation of the new State.

Although the small Greek state managed to get back on its feet and ensure a relatively smooth path towards the future, it eventually fell victim to the Russian consultations at the time, which had also created it. After Napoleon’s victories at Austerlitz and Friedland and the conclusion of the Treaty of Tilsit on July 8, 1807, the Ionian Islands were once again ceded to France. The French imperialists began to lose the Ionian Islands gradually from 1809 with the capture of Zakynthos by the English fleet. Then the British conquered Kefalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada, and Kythira in 1810 and finally Corfu in 1814.

With the Treaty of Paris on November 5, 1815 and the restoration of peace in Europe, the Ionian Islands became the autonomous Ionian state under the exclusive protection of Great Britain and were renamed the United State of the Ionian Islands. (Wikipedia)