On March 25, 1821 the Greeks began their War of Independence from the Venetians, Russians, and primarily from the Ottomans. They proclaimed independence in 1822 but spent several years in a civil war among themselves and eventually reached peace in 1827. Greece's first elected president was assassinated and in the ensuing power vacuum Britain, France, and Russia stepped in and declared the new country a monarchy and placed 17 year old Price Otto of Bavaria on the throne. In modern Greece, the War of Independence is still fresh in the collective mind and serves as the base for several national holidays.