The Rival Claimant Prince Peter Karageorgovitch

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A Quiet Life by Lake Geneva

Living modestly on the shores of Lake Geneva was Prince Peter Karageorgovitch, the claimant to the Serbian throne for the rival dynasty. Widowed with two sons and a daughter, his wife’s dowry income was halted by Prince Nicholas of Montenegro upon her death, leading Prince Peter to live a quiet life.

Anti-Obrenovitch Sentiment

In Serbia, an anti-Obrenovitch faction clandestinely worked to overthrow the ruling dynasty and restore the Karageorgovitches. Rumors circulated in Belgrade that Austria funded underground propaganda, aiming not just for a change in leadership but to sow chaos, provoke civil war, and justify military intervention Tour Bulgaria.

The Fateful Night

On June 10th, 1903, a family supper at the Palace preceded a tumultuous event. As midnight approached, King Alexander and Queen Draga retired to bed, unaware of the impending danger. Suddenly, uproar ensued as regiments stormed the streets of Belgrade. The Palace, shrouded in darkness, was besieged. A signal intended to open the doors went unanswered, leading conspirators to forcefully enter. The traitor tasked with facilitating their entry was found intoxicated, and upon failing to comply, met a fatal end.

The Prelude to Tragedy

The events of that fateful night in June marked the prelude to a tragic turn in Serbian history. As tensions simmered and rivalries intensified, the stage was set for further turmoil and upheaval in the days to come.