Phaedon Gizikis Greek military officer, member of the "Black Colonels" junta 1967-1974 Date of Birth: 17.06.1917 Country: Greece

1. Military Career and Involvement in the Junta
2. Early Life and Education
3. Service in the Greek Army
4. Ascension in the Junta
5. President of Greece
6. Implosion of the Junta
7. Retirement and Death

Military Career and Involvement in the Junta

Faidon Gizikis (1917-1999) was a Greek military officer who played a key role in the "Black Colonels" military junta that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974.

Early Life and Education

Gizikis was born in the village of Riza in the Epirus region of Greece. He graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy in 1939.

Service in the Greek Army

Gizikis saw combat during the Albanian Front in 1940 and fought on the government side in the Greek Civil War from 1946 to 1949. By 1968, he had risen to the rank of colonel and served as military governor of Athens.

Ascension in the Junta

In 1971, Gizikis became a lieutenant general and held a senior position in the Greek Army. In 1973, he was appointed commander of the 1st Greek Army.

President of Greece

After the overthrow of Georgios Papadopoulos in November 1973, Gizikis' friend and fellow Epirote, Dimitrios Ioannidis, became the new head of the junta. He appointed Gizikis as the new President of Greece.

Implosion of the Junta

In July 1974, after a failed coup attempt in Cyprus, Gizikis met with leading Greek politicians. He decided to dismiss Ioannidis from power and appoint Constantine Karamanlis, an anti-dictatorship leader living abroad, as the new prime minister.

Retirement and Death

Gizikis resigned a few months later. He lived in seclusion, lost his sight, and died in poverty in 1999.