Kapodistrias’ return coincided with the end of Venetian rule and the arrival of the French Republicans, who sought radical social change. In 1799, after a four-month siege of Corfu by Russian-Turkish forces, the French Republicans withdrew. And in 1800, the Ionian State was formed as the first modern Greek state, albeit mainly under Russian control. He became involved in politics until the Ionian State was abolished in 1807 with the arrival of the Imperial French.