Yugoslavia

Alexander I (1888-1934) was king of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes from 1921 to 1929, and of Yugoslavia from 1929 to 1934. The son of Peter I of Serbia, Alexander was named crown prince in 1909. He led the Serbian armies in the Balkan Wars (1912-13) and in World War I. In 1918 the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was created with Alexander as regent. He succeeded his father as king in 1921.

Continual disorder followed the formation of the kingdom because of the ethnic, religious, and language differences among its various peoples. Hoping to end the discord and promote national unity, Alexander abolished the 1921 constitution and set up a royal dictatorship in 1929. He changed the name of the country to Yugoslavia, dissolved the parliament, centralized the government, and suppressed political parties.

Although a new constitution was issued in 1931, Alexander's personal rule continued. His policies failed to end the dissension and he was assassinated by a Macedonian terrorist while on a goodwill tour to France.