Ioannis Metaxas was born on 12 April 1871 in Ithaca, Greece, to an aristocratic family with roots in the Byzantine nobility. He graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy and began his military career as a second lieutenant in the Engineers Corps in 1890. Metaxas participated in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, rising through the ranks with the support of Crown Prince Constantine. After further military studies in Germany, he returned to Greece and became involved in military and political affairs.Metaxas opposed Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos during the National Schism, particularly regarding Greece's entry into World War I. His opposition led to his exile in 1917. Upon returning to Greece in 1920, he briefly held military and political positions but resigned due to disagreements over military campaigns in Asia Minor. Following the defeat of Greek forces in 1922, he founded the Freethinkers' Party but faced limited success in the political landscape dominated by the Second Hellenic Republic.In April 1936, Metaxas was appointed Prime Minister after the restoration of the monarchy. With King George II's support, he established an authoritarian regime known as the 4th of August Regime, which he characterized as a totalitarian state. He suspended the constitution, banned political parties, and implemented strict censorship. His regime promoted nationalism and anti-communism, positioning itself as a protector of the Greek people against perceived threats.On 28 October 1940, Metaxas rejected an Italian ultimatum demanding the occupation of strategic locations in Greece, leading to the Greco-Italian War. His defiance was celebrated in Greece, and he became a national symbol of resistance. The Greek military successfully repelled the initial Italian invasion, but Metaxas did not live to see the subsequent German invasion in April 1941. He died on 29 January 1941 from a throat infection.Metaxas's legacy is complex; he is remembered for his authoritarian rule and his role in the early stages of World War II. His regime's policies and actions continue to be subjects of historical debate, particularly regarding their alignment with fascist ideologies. The fortifications he constructed along the Bulgarian border, known as the Metaxas Line, were significant in the defense of Greece during the war.