to his country. He was appointed Minister of Police in 1822, and Minister of War in April 1826. He took part in, and also organized the defense during, the Battle of the Lerna Mills. He was a member of the National Assembly of Argos and member of the Provisional Government. Along with Georgios Mavromichalis and Germanos III of Old Patras, he was sent by the Government to Verona in search for financial resources but also to persuade the Great Powers to not act against Greece, in which he succeeded with the help of his friend Ioannis Kapodistrias. Kapodistrian period Andreas Metaxas was the prime mover behind Ioannis Kapodistrias' election. He was a devout supporter of Kapodistrias and remained his faithful ally to the end. In return Kapodistrias honored him by promoting him to high dignities. On his own initiative, he joined the Panellinion, was appointed head of the army and Emergency Commissioner of the Peloponnese. From this position Metaxas mainly helped organizing the tactical army. After the assassination of Kapodistrias in 1831, although pro-Russian, Metaxas opposed the election of Augustine Kapodistrias which he found disastrous. Nevertheless, he kept away from Ioannis Kolettis' disruptive tendencies. Despite that, he remained a member of the provisional government until the arrival of King Otto. Period of king Otto During the Regency he was appointed Prefect of Laconia, and later, in October 1835, member of the Council of State. Soon, however, he was exiled to Marseilles by the Regency for his liberal views. He was later called back and sent to Spain as ambassador of Greece. After his return to Greece in 1839, he was re-appointed to the State Council. He served as Minister for Military Affairs in the government of Alexandros Mavrokordatos during July and August 1841. He took over the leadership of the Russian Party after Theodoros Kolokotronis' death. Following the 3 September 1843 Revolution, he received a mandate by Otto to form a government to prepare elections for a constitutional assembly. A few days later, under the threat that he would resign unless his proposal was accepted, he managed to convince the cabinet to broaden the government with the participation of Alexandros Mavrokordatos and Ioannis Kolettis, leaders of the English and French party respectively. Metaxas was the first government leader in the political history of Greece who was named "prime minister". During his premiership, Metaxas managed to maintain order and conduct elections