Editing Chania (section)

===Modern era===
{{Further|Cretan State|Theriso revolt}}
[[File:Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος.jpg|thumb|[[Eleftherios Venizelos]] (1864–1936), major political figure of the 20th century European scene, was born in Chania.]]
{{Unreferencedsect|date=August 2024}}
In 1898, during the final moves towards independence and ''[[enosis]]''—union with [[Greece]]—the [[Great Powers]] made Chania the capital of the semi-autonomous [[Cretan State]] ({{translit|el|Kritiki Politeia}}), with [[Prince George of Greece]], the High Commissioner of Crete living here. During these years Crete issued its own stamps and money. This was a very important transitional period when, no longer an isolated ''[[vilayet]]'' of the Ottoman Empire, the city became more cosmopolitan and flourishing, regaining its role as the crossroad of civilizations, influenced by Europe as well as by the East. Many important buildings were built during this era, intellectual and artistic societies were created and a new class of local aristocracy brought a different atmosphere to the everyday life of the town. The district of [[Halepa]] has many fine neoclassical embassies and consulates dating from this period.

However the main goal was ''enosis'' with Greece, which came after [[Eleftherios Venizelos]]'s constant opposition to Prince George's rule over Crete. The series of conflicts includes the [[Therisos revolt]] in 1905, which overthrew Prince George and brought [[Alexandros Zaimis]] to rule Crete. Finally, in 1908, Venizelos managed to establish a revolutionary government, recognized by the [[Great Powers]]. His later election as the prime minister of Greece (1910) eventually led to Crete's union with Greece on 1 December 1913, following the [[Balkan Wars]]. The Greek flag was raised for the first time at Fort Firka in the Old Harbour in the presence of Venizelos and King Constantine.

Due to the popularity of Venizelos, Chania as with most of Crete remained staunchly pro-[[Venizelism|Venizelist]], pro-[[Liberal Party (Greece)|Liberal]] and later pro-[[Second Hellenic Republic|Republican]] in the [[National Schism]] and the [[interwar period]]. The only attempt to overthrow the monarchist [[Metaxas Regime]] occurred in the city with the failed [[1938 Greek coup d'état attempt|28 July 1938 uprising]].