The Greek uprising against Ottoman Rule began on 14 May 1866, when a group of Greek citizens demanded lower taxes and changes in the court system. Although their demands were met, Ottoman troops were mobilized immediately. Fighting broke out between Cretan Greeks and Turkish soldiers. Thousands of Greek volunteers arrived on the island from the mainland, and the Greek government appealed to the Western powers to intervene on their behalf. Britain and Austria, however, were opposed to intervention for the time being. Thus, the Ottoman armies achieved one of their most uncompromised victories of the century, settling the affair in 1869.
