Issue: 2/2021

Adjutants of rulers of the Kingdom of Serbia 1882-1918.

Authors:
Slobodan Đukić

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On February 22nd 1882 the Principality of Serbia was declared Kingdom with prince Milan Obrenović becoming its king. Rise of Serbia to the status of a kingdom caused an increased in the number of adjutants and court officials. King Milan moved to a new court that was built in Belgrade in 1884. Rulers of the Obrenović dynasty made their close relatives or most trusty officers their adjutants. However, during turbulent political events – dynastic overturns and coups – adjutants shared their rulers’ destiny. Some paid for their loyalty with their lives, while others were forced out of service. After the May Coup in 1903, a number of conspirators started working for the court as a part of king Peter the I Karađorđević’s and his sons’ entourage. During the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 and the First World War of 1914-1918, the king acted as the Supreme Commander while his adjutants were a part of the Supreme Command.