KARADJORDJEVIC DYNASTY

Karadjordjevic also spelled Karageorgevic, Serbo-Croatian Karadordevici rulers descended from the Serbian rebel leader Karadjordje (Karageorge, or Karadorde). It rivaled the Obrenovic dynasty for control of Serbia during the 19th century and ruled that country as well as its successor state, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (called Yugoslavia after 1929), in 184258 and 190345. The first prince, Alexander (son of Karadjordje), reigned from 1842 to 1858. Thereafter, for nearly half a century, the Obrenovic dynasty was in power. Finally, in 1903, Alexander's son Peter I became king; he reigned as king of Serbia from 1903 to 1918 and then as king of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes until his death in 1921. He was followed by his son, Alexander I (reigned 192134), who in 1929 changed the name of the state to Yugoslavia; Alexander's son and successor, Peter II, reigned from 1934 to 1945, when the monarchy was abolished.