Peter I of Serbia
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| King Peter I Karageorgevich | |
|---|---|
| King of Serbia King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes | |
| Image:Kralj Petar I Karadjordjevic.jpg | |
| Reign | 11 June 1903 – 16 August 1921 |
| Coronation | HM King Peter I of Serbia (1903-1918) HM The King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (1918-1921) |
| Born | June 29, 1844 |
| Image:National flag of Serbia.svg Belgrade | |
| Died | August 16, 1921 (aged 77) |
| Image:Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (civil).svg Belgrade | |
| Buried | Saint George's Church in Oplenac |
| Predecessor | Alexander I (Obrenović) |
| Successor | Alexander I (Karageorgevich) |
| Consort | Princess Zorka of Montenegro |
| Issue | Helen Milena George Alexander I Andrew |
| Royal House | House of Karageorgevich |
| Royal anthem | Bože pravde ("God of Justice") |
| Father | Prince Alexander Karageorgevich |
| Mother | Persida Nenadović |
King Peter I of Serbia (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар I Карађорђевић, Petar I Karađorđević) (29 June 1844 – 16 August 1921), also known as King Peter the Liberator, was King of Serbia from 1903 to 1918 after which he became the first King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
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[edit] Early life and exile (1844-1903)
Peter was born in Belgrade to Prince Alexander of Serbia and his consort, Princess Persida Nenadović. Prince Alexander abdicated in 1858 and took his son with him into exile in present-day Romania.
The young noble spent much of his exile in France, where he received an education and even participated in Franco-Prussian War of 1871 as a French Army officer. On one occasion during the war, after being separated from his unit, he narrowly avoided capture by swimming across the near-frozen Loire River. He married Princess Zorka of Montenegro, daughter of King Nicholas I, in 1883. They had five children: Princess Helen in 1884, Princess Milena in 1886, Prince George in 1887, Prince Alexander in 1888 and Prince Andrew in 1890. Princess Milena died at the age of one in 1887, and Prince Andrew, the last child, died in childbirth along with his mother.
Peter returned to Serbia in 1903, when a military coup d'état removed King Alexander from the throne. Peter was crowned King of Serbia on 11 June.
[edit] Reign (1903-1921)
The Western-educated King attempted to liberalise Serbia with the goal of creating a Western-style constitutional monarchy, even translating John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty" into Serbo-Croatian.
Peter chose to "retire" due to ill health following the Balkan Wars which, from a Serb perspective, were a great success. Executive power passed to his son Alexander.
The King was relatively inactive during the First World War, although he did occasionally visit trenches to check up on his troops. One memorable visit in 1915 involved Peter, by then 71, picking up a rifle and shooting at enemy soldiers.
His last public appearance was on 1 December 1918, when he was proclaimed King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. King Peter I died in Belgrade in 1921 at the age of 77.
[edit] Succession
As his eldest son, Prince George was King Peter's presumed successor. This changed in 1909, when he kicked a servant to death in a fit of rage, after which the Crown Prince was forced to renounce his claim to the throne in favour of his brother Alexander.
[edit] Legacy
King Peter I is remembered for his modesty, attributed to his military background. He was immensely popular throghout his reign and remains one of Serbia's most popular leaders.
His children were influential in European affairs as adults. His son, King Alexander, joined Yugoslavia with the West and helped foster the "Yugoslav" national identity. His daughter, Princess Helen, married Prince Ioann Konstantinovich of Russia who was killed in the Revolution.
| Peter I of Serbia Born: 29 June 1844 Died: 16 August 1921
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Aleksandar Obrenović | King of Serbia 1903–1918 with Prince Alexander of Serbs (1914–1918) | Succeeded by Proclaimed King of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes |
| New title | King of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes 1918–1921 with Prince Alexander of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (1918–1921) | Succeeded by Alexander I of Yugoslavia |
| Styles of King Peter I | |
| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Sir or sire |
de:Peter I. (Jugoslawien) et:Petar I fr:Pierre Ier de Serbie hr:Petar I. Karađorđević it:Pietro I di Serbia nl:Peter I van Joegoslavië ja:ペータル1世 (セルビア王) no:Petar I av Jugoslavia pl:Piotr I Karadziordziewić pt:Pedro I da Iugoslávia ru:Пётр I Карагеоргиевич sr:Краљ Петар I Карађорђевић fi:Pietari I (Jugoslavia) sv:Peter I av Serbien tr:I. Petar
