Alexander I, Karageorgevich (1888-1934)

Regent of Serbia 1912-21 and king of Yugoslavia 1921-34, as dictator from 1929. The second son of Peter I, King of Serbia, he was declared regent for his father in 1912 and on his father's death became king of the state of South Slavs - Yugoslavia - that had come into being in 1918.

Rivalries with neighbouring powers and among the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes within the country led Alexander to establish a personal dictatorship. He was assassinated on a state visit to France, and Mussolini's government was later declared to have instigated the crime.

As regent, Alexander distinguished himself in the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 and during World War I he was commander-in-chief of the Serbian army. He accompanied the army in its retreat before the Central Powers, then headed the Serbian government in exile at Corfu, and visited the Western Allies' capitals. In 1922 he married Marie, daughter of Ferdinand of Romania. He was succeeded by his son, Peter II.