Summary
King Alexander of Greece (2 August 1893–25 October 1920) reigned over the country, after his father's, Constantine I (1868–1923) impeachement, from 12 June 1917 until his premature death at the age of 27 years old. He passed away from an invasive soft-tissue infection at the left calf in the form of a necrotizing myositis contracted by a Barbary macaque's bite. His condition got further aggravated by a septic shock, in particular by a streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. On the occasion of this centennial anniversary, herein, we trace the history and evolution of the King's illness, its etiology and treatment as well as the controversy among specialists about the accuracy of the diagnosis and the medical course subscribed by the royal doctors. The sources quoted derive from: (i) the daily King's health bulletins; (ii) the Athenian and Parisian Press of that period; (iii) his two biographers; (iv) the post-mortem report, produced at the general meeting of the « Athens’ Medico-surgical Society » held on November 5, 1920 and (v) the correspondence exchanged between Professor Constantine Savvas (1861–1929), coordinator of the royal medical council and Doctor Andrew Anastasopoulos, Physician to the exiled ex-King. In hindsight, a prompt lower limb amputation might have saved the young monarch's life. From a medico-historical point of view, this case concerns equally both Greece and France, as two eminent French physicians were implicated. Professors Fernand Widal (1862–1929) and Pierre Delbet (1861–1957) were solicited to treat the ill Sovereign at the Tatoi Palace, in Athens.
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