July 30: Notable historical events from Greece to World Cup triumph

The date July 30 marks a range of notable events. In 1797 the Zante (Zakynthos) uprising saw rebels burning the “Golden Book” and noble insignia during celebrations ending Venetian rule. In 1824 Greek forces under G. Sakhtouris captured three Turkish ships in the Samos Straits, sinking many and killing thousands of Turkish sailors.

In 1906 Bulgarian militants caused extensive damage to Greek schools and churches in Eastern Rumelia. A 1920 assassination attempt on Greek leader Eleftherios Venizelos occurred at Paris’s Gare de Lyon, carried out by two naval officers. The 1930 FIFA World Cup saw Uruguay defeat Argentina 4‑2 in Montevideo, securing the tournament’s first title. In 1982 Greek Culture Minister Melina Mercouri advocated for the return of the Parthenon sculptures at a UNESCO ministers’ conference in Mexico. Finally, in 1994 Greece signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, expanding its exclusive economic zone from six to twelve nautical miles, a move that would later be contested by Turkey.