History - OnThisDay - 22 August 1854: The start of the eventful life of King Milan I of Serbia
On 22 August 1854, Milan Obrenovic was born in Moldavia. There his
family lived in exile since 1842.
Family
Milan Obrenovic was the son of Milos Obrenovic and his Moldavian
wife Elena Maria Catargiu (in Serbia known as Marija Obrenovic).
Shortly after Milans birth his parents divorced. On 20 November 1861,
at the age of seven, Milan lost his father Milos who died fighting against
the Turks of the Ottoman Empire near Bucharest as foreign mercenary in
the Romanian army.
Milan was legally adopted by his cousing Mihailo Obrenovic III who had
returned to Serbia and where Mihailo had become the ruling prince in 1860.
Duty
On 10 June 1868, when Milan was only fourteen years old, his nephew,
the ruling Prince, was assassinated. This man did not have any male heirs and the
succession of the throne of Serbia was difficult.
As Milan was still underage to rule on his own, a regency was established to
rule in Milan's name. The three-man council was headed by Blaznavac.
On 22 August 1872 Milan was declared of age and he took the government
in his own hands. The principality of Serbia was still a part of the Ottoman
Empire though in reality it functioned as semi-independent state.
Milan carefully manoeuvred between the Austrian and the Russian geopolitical
interests in Serbia.
Love & Marriage
On 17 October 1875, Milan married Natalie Keschko at the St. Michael's
Cathedral in Belgrade in Serbia. Natalie was then 16 years old. She was
the daughter of Petre Ivanovich Keschko, an Imperial Russian Army
colonel. They were second cousins, so an approval of the church was
required, but the couple didn't ask such an official agreement.
From the beginning their relationship had troubles. Milan wasn't a
faithful husband, he had an affair with Clara Frewen. She was the
sister in law of Lord Randolph Churchill and the aunt of
Winston Churchill.
In 1886, the royal couple of Serbia separated after eleven years of marriage.
Reign
On 6 March 1882, the Principality of Serbia was declared a Kingdom and
Milan was proclaimed King of Serbia.
From 1885 till 1886 the war against Bulgaria took place and the Serbians
were defeated.
In March 1892 Milan renounced all his rights of the throne and even his
Serbian nationality. His son Alexander I had taken the government in
his own hands in April 1893. However in January 1894 Milan appeared in
Belgrade and his son gladly welcomed his experience and advice.
In July 1900 the good relations between father and son were interrupted.
Alexander banished Milan from Serbia. Milan left Serbia to Karlsbad and
then to Vienna.
Death
On 11 January 1901, Milan died unexpectedly.
Legacy
A few movies were made about the eventful life of Milan I.
* Timok Rebellion (1983)
* Tv miniseries: The End of the Obrenovic Dynasty (1985)
* Tv miniseries: The Last Audience (2008)
If anyone knows more information about this interesting Royal,
please let me know!
Source pictures: Wikipedia
family lived in exile since 1842.
Family
Milan Obrenovic was the son of Milos Obrenovic and his Moldavian
wife Elena Maria Catargiu (in Serbia known as Marija Obrenovic).
Shortly after Milans birth his parents divorced. On 20 November 1861,
at the age of seven, Milan lost his father Milos who died fighting against
the Turks of the Ottoman Empire near Bucharest as foreign mercenary in
the Romanian army.
Milan was legally adopted by his cousing Mihailo Obrenovic III who had
returned to Serbia and where Mihailo had become the ruling prince in 1860.
Duty
On 10 June 1868, when Milan was only fourteen years old, his nephew,
the ruling Prince, was assassinated. This man did not have any male heirs and the
succession of the throne of Serbia was difficult.
As Milan was still underage to rule on his own, a regency was established to
rule in Milan's name. The three-man council was headed by Blaznavac.
On 22 August 1872 Milan was declared of age and he took the government
in his own hands. The principality of Serbia was still a part of the Ottoman
Empire though in reality it functioned as semi-independent state.
Milan carefully manoeuvred between the Austrian and the Russian geopolitical
interests in Serbia.
Love & Marriage
On 17 October 1875, Milan married Natalie Keschko at the St. Michael's
Cathedral in Belgrade in Serbia. Natalie was then 16 years old. She was
the daughter of Petre Ivanovich Keschko, an Imperial Russian Army
colonel. They were second cousins, so an approval of the church was
required, but the couple didn't ask such an official agreement.
From the beginning their relationship had troubles. Milan wasn't a
faithful husband, he had an affair with Clara Frewen. She was the
sister in law of Lord Randolph Churchill and the aunt of
Winston Churchill.
In 1886, the royal couple of Serbia separated after eleven years of marriage.
Reign
On 6 March 1882, the Principality of Serbia was declared a Kingdom and
Milan was proclaimed King of Serbia.
From 1885 till 1886 the war against Bulgaria took place and the Serbians
were defeated.
In March 1892 Milan renounced all his rights of the throne and even his
Serbian nationality. His son Alexander I had taken the government in
his own hands in April 1893. However in January 1894 Milan appeared in
Belgrade and his son gladly welcomed his experience and advice.
In July 1900 the good relations between father and son were interrupted.
Alexander banished Milan from Serbia. Milan left Serbia to Karlsbad and
then to Vienna.
Death
On 11 January 1901, Milan died unexpectedly.
Legacy
A few movies were made about the eventful life of Milan I.
* Timok Rebellion (1983)
* Tv miniseries: The End of the Obrenovic Dynasty (1985)
* Tv miniseries: The Last Audience (2008)
If anyone knows more information about this interesting Royal,
please let me know!
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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