Ioannina, a city with a rich history and cultural heritage, became a part of the Greek state after the Balkan Wars concluded with the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913. The Balkan Wars, which erupted in 1912, involved several Balkan states forming an alliance against the Ottoman Empire to seize territories inhabited by ethnic groups who identified with their national aspirations. The city was of significant strategic importance, situated in the Epirus region and having served as a key administrative center during Ottoman rule. With fierce fighting involving local and national troops, the Greek army successfully captured Ioannina in January 1913, after a prolonged siege that drew international attention. The incorporation of Ioannina into Greece was officially ratified on February 21, 1913, at a time when nationalist sentiments were high throughout the region. The local population embraced the change, as it fulfilled their desires for liberation and self-determination from Ottoman governance. This event was not only a milestone for the city but also for the unification efforts of Greece during a time of escalating nationalist movements in the Balkans.