Peter I of Serbia

Peter I of Serbia was King of Serbia from 15 June 1903 to 1 December 1918. On 1 December 1918, he became King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, holding that title until his death in 1921. He was remembered by Serbians as King Peter the Liberator and also as the Old King because he led the country during a time of great military success.

Peter was the fifth child and third son of Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia, and his wife, Persida Nenadović. After his father was forced to leave power, Peter lived in exile with his family. He fought with the French Foreign Legion in the Franco-Prussian War and later joined volunteers in the Herzegovina uprising (1875–1877) against the Ottoman Empire.

After King Alexander I Obrenović was murdered during the May Coup of 1903, Peter became the new king of Serbia. As king, he supported freedom and liberal ideas, and his time as ruler is often called a "golden age" because of the growth in politics, culture, and the economy. Peter was also the top leader of the Royal Serbian Army during the Balkan Wars. Later, during World War I, he and his army had to move through the Principality of Albania. Peter died in 1921 at the age of 77.

Early life

Peter was born in Belgrade on 11 July 1844. He was the fifth of ten children of Prince Alexander Karađorđević and Persida Nenadović. Peter was the grandson of Karađorđe, a leader of the First Serbian Uprising and founder of the Karađorđević dynasty. Because the Royal Court was being renovated, Peter was born in the home of a merchant named Miša Anastasijević.

Peter grew up mainly in Topola, the hometown of his family. He began his schooling in Belgrade.

Exile

Post-secondary education and Franco-Prussian War

In 1858, when Peter was fourteen and getting ready to go to Geneva for high school, his father had to leave the throne. The rival Obrenović family took over, and Prince Mihailo became the new ruler. Peter went to Paris in 1861 and studied at a school there. He later joined a famous military school and graduated in 1864. He spent time in Paris, learning about art, photography, and ideas about government.

When the Franco-Prussian War started in 1870, Peter joined the French Foreign Legion under a different name. He fought in two important battles but was captured by the Prussians. He escaped and kept fighting. He was also part of a group in Paris called the Paris Commune in 1871.

Guerrilla activities

When trouble started in the Balkans in 1875, Peter went to fight against the Ottoman Empire in Bosnia. He led a small group of fighters but faced many problems. Sometimes people suspected him of working with enemies, and his group split into three parts. Peter tried to make peace but kept getting into trouble. He was even put on trial in absentia and sentenced to death, though he was far away in Paris at the time.

Move to Cetinje

In 1883, Peter moved to Cetinje in Montenegro to marry Princess Ljubica. Their marriage caused tension between Montenegro and Serbia. After his father died, Peter became the head of his family. Sadly, Ljubica died in 1890 while having their fifth child. Peter stayed in Cetinje for many years, focusing on his children.

May Coup

In 1903, King Alexander and his wife Draga were killed by officers who did not support them. This ended the fight between two royal families. Peter was then asked to become the King of Serbia, which he accepted. People were very excited because they hoped he would help unite different South Slav groups.

Reign

Peter I became King of Serbia in 1903 after a royal couple was sadly killed. Many people in Serbia were happy about this change. Russia supported Peter's rule, while Austria-Hungary hoped it would help calm things down.

Peter was crowned king in Belgrade in 1904, marking the start of a new era. New royal items like a crown and sceptre were made for the ceremony. Only a few countries sent representatives to the event.

During Peter's reign, Serbia grew by taking over areas like Sandžak and Kosovo in 1912 during the First Balkan War. Serbia also gained land from the Ottoman Empire and temporarily controlled parts of Albania.

Peter worked with prime minister Nikola Pašić, though they sometimes disagreed. Peter saw Russia as Serbia's main ally, unlike the previous rulers who relied on Austria-Hungary.

The First Balkan War began in 1912 when the Balkan League—Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro—fought against the Ottoman Empire. They won quickly, capturing most of the Ottoman's European lands.

Because of his efforts in these wars, Peter's health declined. Internal military opposition caused problems, but crises were resolved with help from Russia and France. Peter passed his duties to his son Alexander in 1914.

Peter tried to make Serbia more democratic, supporting a free press and cultural growth. He was very popular after the successful Balkan Wars, which doubled Serbia's size and raised its status among South Slavs.

During World War I, Peter stayed mostly away from affairs but visited troops when needed. After Serbia was invaded, Peter led the army and refugees through difficult mountains to the sea. The king and his army were taken to Corfu by Allied forces. Peter was proclaimed King of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1918 and returned to Belgrade before his death in 1921.

Legacy

Three cities in Yugoslavia were named after King Peter I: Mrkonjić Grad in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Petrovgrad in Vojvodina (now called Zrenjanin), and Petrovac na Moru in Montenegro. Many monuments honoring him were destroyed after 1945, but some have been restored in recent years.

In Paris, France, there is an avenue named after him, Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie. A film about his life, titled King Petar of Serbia, was released in 2018.

Honours

Serbian decorations and medals
	Order of Saint Prince Lazarus, Collar (Royal Order only)
	Order of Karađorđe's Star, Grand Master
	Order of the White Eagle, Grand Master
	Order of Karađorđe's Star with Swords, Grand Master
	Order of the White Eagle with swords, Grand Master
	Order of Saint Sava, Grand Master
Serbian Service Medals
	Medal of the Serbian Red Cross
	Medal for Military Merit
	Commemorative Medal of the Election of Peter I as King of Serbia
	Commemorative Medal of the first Balkan War, 1912
	Commemorative Medal of the second Balkan War, 1913
	Commemorative Medal of the Albanian Campaign
International and Foreign Awards
	Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje, Knight (Montenegro)
	Order of Prince Danilo I, Knight Grand Cross (Montenegro)
	Order of the Tower and Sword, Grand Cross (Portugal)
	Order of Saint Andrew, Collar (Russia)
	Order of the White Eagle, Knight Grand Cross (Russia)
	Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Knight Grand Cross (Russia)
	Order of Saint Anna, 1st class (Russia)
	Order of Saint Stanislaus, Knight Grand Cross (Russia)
	Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, Collar (Italy)
	Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight Grand Cross (Italy)
	Order of the Crown of Italy, Knight Grand Cross (Italy)
	Order of Osmaniye, 1st class (Ottoman Empire)
	Order of the Medjidie, 3rd class (Ottoman Empire)
	Legion of Honour, Grand Cross (France)