Three powers participated in the creation of the Greek state: the Russian Empire, France, and England. Before the start of the Greek uprising against Turkish rule, Ioannis Kapodistrias lived in Russia and served as the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire under Emperor Alexander I from 1816 to 1822. As the first governor of independent Greece, Count Kapodistrias supported the 'Russian party,' which displeased Russia's 'partners,' France and England.

On September 27 (October 9) 1831, Count Kapodistrias was brutally murdered in Nafplion, at the entrance to the Church of Saint Spyridon, by brothers Konstantinos and Georgios Mavromichalis, representatives of the Mavromichalis clan, supporters of France in the Alliance of Powers. The Count was buried on the island of Corfu, where he was born, in the Monastery of the Mother of God 'Platytera,' which houses the Kapodistrias family tomb. He was buried in the same clothes he was killed in, as he had no others, and the money he brought to Nafplion he distributed to those in need.

Monuments to Kapodistrias have been erected in Corfu, Nafplion, Athens, Geneva, and St. Petersburg.