Kingdom of Yugoslavia
| King of Yugoslavia | |
|---|---|
| Former Monarchy | |
| Royal Standard | |
| Peter II | |
| First monarch | Peter I |
| Last monarch | Peter II |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Official residence | Royal Compound |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
| Monarchy started | 1 December 1918 |
| Monarchy ended | 29 November 1945 |
| Current pretender(s) | Alexander Karađorđević |
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was created by the unification of the Kingdom of Serbia (the Kingdom of Montenegro had united with Serbia five days previously, while the regions of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Vardar Macedonia were parts of Serbia prior to the unification) and the provisional State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (itself formed from territories of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire) on 1 December 1918.
Until 6 January 1929, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was a parliamentary monarchy. On that day, King Alexander I abolished the Vidovdan Constitution (adopted in 1921), prorogued the National Assembly and introduced a personal dictatorship (so-called 6 January Dictatorship). He renamed the country Kingdom of Yugoslavia on 3 October 1929, and continued to rule as a de facto absolute monarch until his assassination on 9 October 1934, during a state visit to France. After his assassination, parliamentary monarchy was put back in place.
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was defeated and occupied after the German invasion on 17 April 1941. The monarchy was formally abolished on 29 November 1945.
All monarchs were members of the House of Karađorđević. Peter I, previously King of Serbia (since 1903), was proclaimed King by representatives of South Slav states. The royal family continued through his son (Alexander I) and his grandson (Peter II).
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | Succession right | Royal house | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter I 1 December 1918– 16 August 1921 |
29 June 1844 Belgrade son of Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia and Persida Nenadović |
Princess Zorka of Montenegro 1883 5 children |
16 August 1921 Belgrade aged 77 |
previously King of Serbia, proclaimed King by representatives of South Slav states |
House of Karađorđević |
Held the title "King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes". Prince Alexander served as regent in his final years. | |
| Alexander I 16 August 1921– 9 October 1934 |
16 December 1888 Cetinje son of Peter I and Princess Zorka of Montenegro |
Maria of Yugoslavia 8 June 1922 3 children |
9 October 1934 Marseilles aged 45 |
son of the preceding | House of Karađorđević |
Changed title to "King of Yugoslavia" in 1929. Assassinated in Marseilles. |
|
| Peter II 9 October 1934– 29 November 1945 |
6 September 1923 Belgrade son of Alexander I and Maria of Yugoslavia |
Alexandra of Greece and Denmark 20 March 1944 1 child |
3 November 1970 Denver aged 47 |
son of the preceding | House of Karađorđević |
Prince Paul acted as regent until ousted on 27 March 1941; exiled on 17 April 1941 and deposed on 29 November 1945. |
Read more about this topic: Yugoslav Head Of State
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