Figure 1.--Aleksandar was the son of Milan Obrenović IV. He was born August 14, 1876. He was only about 13 when his father abdicated. After his father's suprise abdication, the young Alexander was proclaimed King and a regency established under his mother, Natalija Obrenovic. Alexand was not eligible to rule until his majority when he reached age 18. As he grew older, he began to take increasing issue with his mother and the ministers she appointed. He decided not to wait until he reached age 18. While only 17 he staged in essence a coup d'état against his nother (1893). He declared his majority, dismissed his mother, and the ministers she had appointed. He seized personal control of the government. He appointed radical ministers. The young King's actions were well received by the Serbian public. But the young king would meet a trrible fate.

Serbia was a medevial Christian kingdom until conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Serbia remerged in the 19th century, first during the Napoleonic Wars, but after being again suppressed by the Ottomans, again later in the 19th century. Several other Balkan states rmerged as Ottoman power receeded. he lack of defined boundaries and mixed populations created a unstable situation and several wars, both with the Ottomans and other Balkan states. Serbian nationalism was the spark that set off World War I. After the War, Serbia became the nucleus for Yugoslavia

Basic History

The history of Serbia and other Balkan states is less familar than that of many Western European countries. We thus are roviding some basic historical information to put the Serbian royal family in historical perspective. We trace the country's history from the Medieval era through the Ottoman Empire to the creation of Yugoslavia. Serbia was a medevial Christian kingdom until conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Serbia remerged in the 19th century, first during the Napoleonic Wars, but after being again suppressed by the Ottomans, again later in the 19th century. Several other Balkan states rmerged as Ottoman power receeded. he lack of defined boundaries and mixed populations created a unstable situation and several wars, both with the Ottomans and other Balkan states. Serbian nationalism was the spark that set off World War I. After the War, Serbia became the nucleus for Yugoslavia

Serbian Monarchs

HBC in this section traces the Serbian royal from the medieval era family by each individual ruler. This is the format we have followed througout our HBRC site. The royal dynasty was ended by the Ottomans, but a new royal dybasty rose during the 19th century Napoleonic Wars. Unlike some other Blkan countries, it was a local family, mot a transplanted German royal family. The Serbian royal family became the royal family of the new Yugsolav kingdom following World War I.

Yugoslav Monarchs

HBC in this section traces the Yugoslavian royal family by each individual ruler with the creation of Yugoslavia after World War I. The Serbian royal family became the royal family of the new Yugoslav kingdom following World War I. The monarch was ended by the Communists after Workd War II.

Created: 11:33 PM 9/10/2006
Last updated: 11:45 PM 11/20/2006