Kingdom of Serbia

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of Serbia?

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Kingdom of Serbia

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A Southeast European monarchy that expanded significantly through Balkan conflicts and formed the basis for Yugoslavia.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of Serbia was a monarchy located in Southeastern Europe which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Principality was ruled by the Obrenović dynasty (replaced by the Karađorđević dynasty for a short time). The Principality of Serbia, under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, de facto achieved full independence when the very last Ottoman troops left Belgrade in 1867. The Congress of Berlin in 1878 recognized the formal independence of the Principality of Serbia, and in its composition Nišava, Pirot, Toplica and Vranje districts entered the South part of Serbia. In 1882, Serbia was elevated to the status of a kingdom, initially maintaining a foreign policy friendly to Austria-Hungary before turning to the Russian Empire and France following a coup d'état in 1903.

Career & Major Achievements

Between 1912 and 1913, Serbia greatly enlarged its territory through engagement in the First and Second Balkan Wars – Sandžak-Raška, Kosovo Vilayet and Vardar Macedonia were annexed. At the end of World War I in 1918 it united with Vojvodina and the Kingdom of Montenegro, and in December 1918 it merged with the newly created State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as Kingdom of Yugoslavia) under the continued rule of the Karađorđević dynasty. The Principality of Serbia was a state in the Balkans that came into existence as a result of the Serbian revolution which lasted between 1804 and 1817. Despite brutal oppression and retaliation by the Ottoman authorities, the revolutionary leaders, first Karađorđe and then Miloš Obrenović, succeeded in their goal to liberate Serbia after centuries of Turkish rule. At first, the principality included only the territory of the former Pashaluk of Belgrade, but in 1831–1833 it expanded to the east, south, and west.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the first decades of the principality, the population was about 85% Serb and 15% non-Serb. Of those, most were Vlachs, and there were some Turkicized Muslim Albanians, which were the overwhelming majority of the Muslims that lived in Smederevo, Kladovo and Ćuprija. The new state aimed to homogenize its population, especially after two Great Migrations of the Serbs also known as the Great Exoduses of the Serbs, in 1690 and in 18th century, between 1718 and 1739, from various territories under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Kosovo Vilayet, to the Kingdom of Hungary under the Habsburg monarchy. As a result, from 1830 to 1876, it has been estimated that up to 150,000 Albanians that lived in the territories of the Principality of Serbia emigrated or were expelled. In 1867 the Ottoman army garrisons retreated from the Principality, securing its de facto independence.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1690: 1690 Milestone — The new state aimed to homogenize its population, especially after two Great Migrations of the Serbs also known as the Great Exoduses of the Serbs, in 1690 and in 18th century, between 1718 and 1739, from various territories under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Kosovo Vilayet, to the Kingdom of Hungary under the Habsburg monarchy.
2. 1804: 1804 Milestone — The Principality of Serbia was a state in the Balkans that came into existence as a result of the Serbian revolution which lasted between 1804 and 1817.
3. 1817: 1817 Milestone — Since 1817, the Principality was ruled by the Obrenović dynasty (replaced by the Karađorđević dynasty for a short time).
4. 1830: 1830 Milestone — As a result, from 1830 to 1876, it has been estimated that up to 150,000 Albanians that lived in the territories of the Principality of Serbia emigrated or were expelled.
5. 1831: 1831 Milestone — At first, the principality included only the territory of the former Pashaluk of Belgrade, but in 1831–1833 it expanded to the east, south, and west.
6. 1867: 1867 Milestone — The Principality of Serbia, under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, de facto achieved full independence when the very last Ottoman troops left Belgrade in 1867.
7. 1878: 1878 Milestone — The Congress of Berlin in 1878 recognized the formal independence of the Principality of Serbia, and in its composition Nišava, Pirot, Toplica and Vranje districts entered the South part of Serbia.
8. 1882: 1882 Milestone — The Kingdom of Serbia was a monarchy located in Southeastern Europe which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882.
9. 1912: 1912 Milestone — Between 1912 and 1913, Serbia greatly enlarged its territory through engagement in the First and Second Balkan Wars – Sandžak-Raška, Kosovo Vilayet and Vardar Macedonia were annexed.
10. 1918: 1918 Milestone — At the end of World War I in 1918 it united with Vojvodina and the Kingdom of Montenegro, and in December 1918 it merged with the newly created State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as Kingdom of Yugoslavia) under the continued rule of the Karađorđević dynasty.

Notable Quotes by Kingdom of Serbia

“Nowhere else in the world can one see the miraculous and absurd situation that the modern ideas of political and social progress are advocated in parliament by village cash-loan givers, former municipal cops, and illiterate bench-sitters and chicken sellers”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of Serbia

True or False: “The Kingdom of Serbia achieved full international recognition immediately after the Serbian Revolution concluded in 1817.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While de facto independence was secured when Ottoman troops left Belgrade in 1867, formal international recognition came later at the Congress of Berlin in 1878.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abraham Gottlob Werner — Historical peer (Died in 1817) (1817): Pioneering German geologist, known for establishing early theories of Earth's crust.
• Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg — Historical peer (Born in 1817) (1817): Grand Duke of Luxembourg, ruling from 1890 until his death in 1905.
• Albert Bassermann — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Amy Beach — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Pioneering American composer and pianist, celebrated for her large-scale art music.
• Ahn Chang Ho — Historical peer (Born in 1878) (1878): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Alfred Döblin — Historical peer (Born in 1878) (1878): Pioneering German modernist novelist, essayist, and doctor, famed for Berlin Alexanderplatz.
• Adolf Butenandt — Historical peer (Born in 1903) (1903): Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.
• Alan Paton — Historical peer (Born in 1903) (1903): Pioneering South African author and anti-apartheid activist.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kingdom of Serbia