The House of Karađorđević Serbian pronunciation: [karadʑɔ̌ːrdʑɛʋitɕ] is a Serbian and European Dynastic Family,
founded by Karađorđe Petrović, the Veliki Vožd of Serbia in the early 1800s during
the First Serbian Uprising. The Dynasty name Karađorđević is derived from the name of
the founder, Đorđe "Karađorđe" Petrović, and is typically spelled "Karadjordjevic"
while pronunciation is roughly anglicized as "Karageorgevitch," and was in previous
times rendered also as Kara-Georgevitch. The relatively short-lived dynasty had an
ongoing blood feud with the Obrenović dynasty after Karađorđe's assassination in 1817,
which was apparently authorized by Miloš Obrenović . The two Houses subsequently traded
the throne for several generations. In 1903, the Serbian Parliament chose Karađorđe's
grandson, Peter Karađorđe, then living in exile, for the throne of the Kingdom of Serbia.
He was duly crowned as King Peter I, and shortly before the end of World War I, representatives
of the three peoples proclaimed a Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes with Peter
I as sovereign. In 1929, the Kingdom was renamed Yugoslavia, under Alexander I, the son of
Peter I. In November 1945, the throne was lost when the League of Communists of Yugoslavia
seized power, during the reign of Peter II.
Ancestry According to some researchers, Karađorđe's
paternal ancestors most likely migrated from the Herzegovina-Montenegro hills to Šumadija,
during the Second Great Serb Migration in 1737–1739 under the leadership of Patriarch
Šakabenta, as a result of the Austrian-Turkish War.
After arriving in Šumadija, there is some conjecture about where the family ended up.
According to Radoš Ljušić, Karađorđe's ancestors most likely hailed from Vasojevići,
but he has said there is no certain historical information on Karađorđe's ancestors or
where they came from, folklore being the only real source. Most likely, Karađorđe's ancestors
hailed from Vasojevići. The Vasojevići clan claim descent from Stephen Constantine of
the Nemanjić dynasty. The Vasojevići were proud of Karađorđe, and saw him as their
kinsman. Montenegrin politician and Vasojević Gavro Vuković, supported this theory. Accordingly,
Alexander Karađorđević was given the title "Voivode of Vasojevići".
Additional origin theories include France, Herzegovina, Kuči, and Klimenti. Grigorije
Božović claimed that the family were Srbljaci in Vasojevići territory; Montenegrin historian
Miomir Dašić claimed that Karađorđe's family originated from the Gurešići from
Podgorica; folklorist Dragutin Vuković believed that Tripko Knežević "Guriš" [explanation
needed] was Karađorđe's great-grandfather; In the surroundings of Podgorica, there is
a local claim that Karađorđe's ancestors were initially from Vranj; a 2006 book by
journalist Milorad Bošnjak and machine engineer Slobodan Jakovljević, it was claimed that
Karađorđe's ancestor was an Albanian Catholic from Kelmend called Đin Maraš Klimenta;
while Dimitrije Tucović had earlier claimed that he was of Albanian descent.
Monarchs
The ruling members of the family were: Karađorđe Petrović, Leader of the First
Serbian Uprising Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia
Peter I, King of Serbia, King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes
Alexander I, Prince Regent, King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes/Yugoslavia
Peter II, King of Yugoslavia, King-in-exile from 1945 until his death in 1970.
Prince Paul, Prince Regent
Current claims to the throne
The Karađorđevićs are active in Serbian society in various ways. Politically, they
support the view that constitutional parliamentary monarchy would be the ultimate solution for
stability, unity and continuity. In addition, they support Serbia as a democratic country
with a future in the European Union. The last crown prince of Yugoslavia, Alexander,
has been living in Belgrade in the Dedinje Royal Palace since 2001. As the only son of
the last king, Peter II, who never abdicated, and the last official heir of the Kingdom
of Yugoslavia he claims to be the rightful heir to the Serbian throne in the event of
restoration. Prior to the fall of Slobodan Milosevic, he personally united the parliamentary
opposition in several major congresses. In the palace, he regularly receives religious
leaders and strives, as opportunity permits, to demonstrate his commitment to human rights
and to democracy. The Karađorđevićs are much engaged in humanitarian
work. Crown Princess Katherine has a humanitarian foundation while Crown Prince Alexander heads
the Foundation for Culture and Education, whose activities include student scholarships,
summer camps for children, etc. The Karađorđevics are also prominent in national sports activities.
Serbia and Yugoslavia
The Karadjordjević family initially was a Serbian Royal House, then the Royal House
of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and then the Royal House of Yugoslavia. When they last
reigned they were called the Royal House of Yugoslavia.
Crown Prince Alexander II was born in London but on property temporarily recognised by
the United Kingdom's government as subject to the sovereignty of the Yugoslav crown,
on which occasion it was publicly declared that the Crown Prince had been born on the
native soil of the land he was expected to eventually rule.
In 2006 Yugoslavia disintegrated geo-politically in such a way that Serbia re-emerged as the
national state, on which devolved rights and obligations of the former state of Yugoslavia.
Crown Prince Alexander, previously "of Yugoslavia", now also claims the throne of Serbia as the
senior patrilineal great-grandson of the last King of Serbia prior to its inclusion in Yugoslavia.
However, his use of the title of the Crown Prince of Serbia has been questioned because
he was born Crown Prince of Yugoslavia and held that title until the monarchy was abolished,
while the current nation of Serbia is a republic. Nonetheless, as is customary among former
dynasties, Alexander is accorded the title he claims by his kinsmen, the reigning monarchs
of Europe, and their courts. Heraldry
Royal Standards of Yugoslavia
Family tree See also
Karađorđević family tree References
Gavro Vuković. Slobodan Tomović, ed. Memoari, Volume 2. Obod.
Felix Phillip Kanitz. Srbija: zemlja i stanovništvo od rimskog doba do kraja XIX veka, Volume
1. Srpska književna zadruga. Milenko M. Vukićević. Karađorđe: 1752-1804.
Štampano u Državnoj štampariji Kraljevine Srbije.
External links Official site of the Serbian Royal Family
Crown Prince Alexander's Foundation for Culture and Education
Princess Katherine's Humanitarian Foundation