The May Coup: A brief overview of Serbia's historic political uprising.

On June 10, 1903, a pivotal event in Serbian history known as the May Coup (also called the May Overthrow) took place, marking a violent turning point in the country's political landscape. The coup resulted in the assassination of King Alexander I of Serbia and his wife, Queen Draga, by a group of Serbian Army officers. This event ended the Obrenović dynasty's rule and led to the ascension of the Karađorđević dynasty, which significantly altered Serbia's domestic and foreign policies, setting the stage for the country's future in the Balkans and Europe. Background: The Obrenović Dynasty and Growing Discontent The Obrenović dynasty, which had ruled Serbia on and off since the early 19th century, was facing growing unpopularity by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. King Alexander I, who ascended to the throne in 1889 after his father, King Milan I, abdicated, was increasingly seen as an autocratic ruler. His reign was marked by controversial decisions, including his suspension of the constitution and his marriage to Draga Mašin, a widow of lower nobility, which was widely unpopular among both the public and the political elite. Many in Serbia, particularly among the military and nationalist circles, were dissatisfied with King Alexander's rule. The marriage to Queen Draga was especially controversial, as it dashed hopes of a strategic marriage to a foreign princess, which could have strengthened Serbia's international alliances. Moreover, rumors that Queen Draga’s brother might be named heir to the throne only heightened tensions. These growing discontents culminated in a conspiracy among a group of army officers who were determined to remove the Obrenović dynasty from power. The May Coup: Events of June 10, 1903 The May Coup was carefully planned by a group of Serbian military officers led by Captain Dragutin Dimitrijević, also known as "Apis." In the early hours of June 10, 1903, the conspirators stormed the royal palace in Belgrade with the intent to overthrow and eliminate the royal couple. The coup was brutal. After breaking into the palace, the officers located King Alexander and Queen Draga, who had tried to hide in a secret chamber. Both the king and queen were assassinated, and their bodies were mutilated and thrown from a window. Several other members of the royal household and government officials were also killed during the coup. The violence of the coup shocked both Serbia and the international community. However, the conspirators quickly took control of the situation, declaring an end to the Obrenović dynasty’s rule. Consequences: The Rise of the Karađorđević Dynasty Following the assassination of King Alexander and Queen Draga, the Serbian crown was offered to Peter Karađorđević, a member of the Karađorđević dynasty, which had been in exile. Peter was a descendant of Karađorđe Petrović, the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. Peter I was crowned king later in 1903, marking the beginning of the Karađorđević dynasty's rule. His ascension to the throne was welcomed by many in Serbia, as he was seen as a more liberal and nationalist ruler compared to his predecessors. Under King Peter I, Serbia adopted a more democratic constitution, which included stronger parliamentary powers and civil liberties, fostering a period of political liberalization. Impact on Serbia and the Balkans The May Coup had profound and far-reaching consequences for Serbia and the broader Balkan region: Shift in Foreign Policy: The overthrow of the Obrenović dynasty led to a significant shift in Serbia's foreign policy. The new Karađorđević regime distanced itself from Austria-Hungary, with which the Obrenović rulers had maintained close ties, and instead sought closer relations with Russia and other Slavic nations. This realignment contributed to the growing tensions in the Balkans and eventually played a role in the alliances that would shape World War I. Rise of Nationalism: Under the Karađorđević dynasty, Serbia increasingly positioned itself as a leader of the South Slavs (Yugoslavs), fostering the idea of a unified Slavic state in the Balkans. This nationalist sentiment fueled conflicts with neighboring states and with Austria-Hungary, which had significant Slavic populations under its rule. Prelude to World War I: The May Coup, by setting Serbia on a path of heightened nationalism and antagonism towards Austria-Hungary, indirectly contributed to the events leading up to World War I. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in 1914, carried out by a Bosnian Serb nationalist with connections to the Black Hand (a secret society founded by some of the same figures behind the May Coup), can be seen as a continuation of the nationalist fervor that had been ignited in 1903. Legacy The May Coup of 1903 remains a significant and controversial event in Serbian history. It marked the violent end of one royal dynasty and the rise of another, setting Serbia on a new political and ideological course that would have lasting effects on the Balkans and Europe. The coup is often viewed as a moment of both national tragedy and transformation, reflecting the intense political struggles and ambitions of the time. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #Serbia #MayCoup #Obrenovic #Karadjordjevic #BalkanHistory #EuropeanHistory