The most ardent wish of the Greeks during all the years they lived under the Turkish yoke was the creation of a free Greek state.
However, this goal was not achieved in 1821 with the outbreak of the Greek Revolution, but on January 22 / February 3, 1830 (using the old and new calendars respectively) when the three great Powers of that time, England, France and Russia, signed the London Protocol, also known as Independence Protocol.
However, the first official diplomatic document recognizing the political status of Greece was the St. Petersburg Protocol (23 March / 4 April 1826), signed by the three Powers. It recognized it as an autonomous part of the Ottoman Empire, with tribute to the Sultan and with native elected rulers. By signing the protocol, the three Powers completely distanced themselves from Austria and the anti-Greek policy of Chancellor Metternich. One drawback of the protocol was that it contained many ambiguities, especially on the issue of borders. The Julian Treaty of London (24 June / 6 July 1827) also spoke of an autonomous Greek state.
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