Knez Aleksandar Karadjordjevic

ALEKSANDAR KARADJORDJEVICH Prince 1842-1858

Alexander Karadjordjevich was the on of George Petrovich, founder of the Karadjordjevich dynasty and leader of the First Serbian Uprising Alexander spent his childhood and youth in exile with his parents. He came back to Serbia in 1839. He became a member of the Court, and later lieutenant in the army of Prince Michael Obrenovich. Since Michael was leading a despotic policy, he was forced by the Constitution Defenders to leave the country in 1842. He was replaced by Alexander. However, the Russian government was not satisfied with this decision and asked for elections to be cancelled, and a new assembly to be called, in order to elect a new prince. The new assembly only confirmed Alexander’s election. After coming to the throne with no personal merits, Alexander strove to strengthen his own power from the very beginning. Supported by the Constitution Defenders, he cruelly revenged on the followers of the Obrenovich Family. For that reason he came into a serious conflict with the most distinguished members of the new regime. Neither for his qualities nor education could Alexander play an important role in the political life of Serbia. He remained rather passive when different political parties were formed in Serbia, all of which decisively struggled for power. However, Alexander helped introduction of modern administrative system, judicature and school reforms. In 1844 the Civil Law, the realization of which had started at the time of Milosh Obrenovich, was proclaimed. The military system was updated as well. The foreign policy of Alexander Karadjordjevich is related to a successful end of political crisis, in which Serbia was involved because of the Crimean War led against Russia by England, France and Turkey, with the help of Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy. Prince Alexander was dethroned at the St Andrew Assembly in December 1858, when Milosh Obrenovich ascended the throne for the second time.