The House of KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ or KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ dynasty (, ; ) is the former ruling Serbian and deposed Yugoslav royal family.
The family was founded by KaraÃÂorÃÂe Petrovià(1768âÂÂ1817), the Veliki Voà ¾d () of Serbia during the First Serbian uprising of 1804âÂÂ1813. In the course of the 19th century the relatively short-lived dynasty was supported by the Russian Empire and was opposed to the Austrian-supported House of ObrenoviÃÂ. The two houses subsequently vied for the throne for several generations.
Following the assassination of the ObrenoviÃÂ King Alexander I of Serbia in 1903, the Serbian Parliament chose KaraÃÂorÃÂe's grandson, Peter I KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ, then living in exile, to occupy the throne of the Kingdom of Serbia. He was duly crowned as King Peter I, and shortly before the end of World War I in 1918, representatives of the three peoples proclaimed a Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes with Peter I as sovereign. In 1929, the kingdom was renamed Yugoslavia, under Alexander I, the son of Peter I. In November 1945 the family lost their throne when the League of Communists of Yugoslavia seized power during the reign of Peter II.
In English, the family name can be anglicized as Karageorgevitch (e.g., as with Prince Bojidar Karageorgevitch and Prince Philip Karageorgevitch) or romanised as Karadjordjevic. Its origin is as a patronym of the sobriquet KaraÃÂorÃÂe, bestowed upon the family's founder, ÃÂorÃÂe PetroviÃÂ, at the end of the 18th century.
ÃÂorÃÂe Petrovià(; ; â ), known by the sobriquet KaraÃÂorÃÂe (; ), was a Serbian revolutionary leader who led a struggle against the Ottoman Empire during the First Serbian Uprising. KaraÃÂorÃÂe Petroviàheld the title of Grand Voà ¾d of Serbia from 14 February 1804 to 3 October 1813.
According to some researchers, KaraÃÂorÃÂe's paternal ancestors most likely migrated from the Highlands (in what is today Montenegro) to à  umadija during the Second Great Serb Migration in 1737âÂÂ39 under the leadership of Patriarch à  akabenta, as a result of the Austro-Turkish War (in which Serbs took part). Serbian historiography accepted the theory that KaraÃÂorÃÂe's ancestors came from VasojeviÃÂi.
Some conjecture has arisen about where the family ended up after arriving in à  umadija. According to Radoà ¡ Ljuà ¡iÃÂ, KaraÃÂorÃÂe's ancestors most likely hailed from VasojeviÃÂi, but he has said there is no certain historical information on KaraÃÂorÃÂe's ancestors or where they came from, folklore being the only real source. Most likely, KaraÃÂorÃÂe's ancestors hailed from VasojeviÃÂi. Grigorije Boà ¾ovià(1880âÂÂ1945) claimed that the family were Srbljaci (natives) in VasojeviÃÂi territory. Contributing to Srbljak theory is the fact that the family celebrated St Clement as their Slava until 1890, while the patron saint of VasojeviÃÂi, i.e. Vaso's descendants, is Archangel Michael. King Peter I was allowed to change his Slava to St Andrew the First-called by Belgrade Metropolitan Mihailo in 1890, following the death of his wife, Princess Zorka, thus honoring the date on the Julian calendar when Serbian rebels liberated Belgrade during the First Serbian Uprising.
Furthermore, King Peter chose Voivode of VasojeviÃÂi Miljan Vukov Veà ¡oviàto be his bridesman during his wedding to princess Zorka in 1883. Upon being asked by his future father-in-law prince Nicholas why he chose Miljan amongst various Voivodes of Montenegro, he replied that he chose him because of heroism and relation describing him as Vojvode of my own blood and kin. His son, Alexander, who was born in Cetinje was nicknamed Montenegrin. The VasojeviÃÂi tribe claim descent from Stefan Konstantin of the Nemanjiàdynasty. The VasojeviÃÂi were proud of KaraÃÂorÃÂe, and saw him as their kinsman. Montenegrin politician and VasojeviàGavro VukoviÃÂ, supported this theory. Accordingly, Alexander KaraÃÂorÃÂevià(1806âÂÂ1885) was given the title "Voivode of VasojeviÃÂi" by Petar II in 1840. Other theories include: Montenegrin historian Miomir Daà ¡iàclaimed that KaraÃÂorÃÂe's family originated from the Gureà ¡iÃÂi from Podgorica in Montenegro. Folklorist Dragutin Vukoviàbelieved that Tripko Kneà ¾eviÃÂâÂÂGurià ¡ was KaraÃÂorÃÂe's great-grandfather; VukiÃÂeviÃÂ, writing in 1907, said that in the surroundings of Podgorica, there is a local claim that KaraÃÂorÃÂe's ancestors initially came from Vranj.
The family claimed descent from the VasojeviÃÂi tribe (in Montenegro) and had emigrated in the late 1730s or early 1740s. The family lived in MaÃÂitevo (in Suva Reka), from where grandfather Jovan moved to Vià ¡evac, while Jovan's brother Radak moved to Mramorac.
The KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂi are active in Serbian society in various ways. There is a view that constitutional parliamentary monarchy would be the ultimate solution for stability, unity, and continuity in Serbia. In addition, the family supports Serbia as a democratic country with a future in the European Union.
The last crown prince of Yugoslavia, Alexander, has lived in Belgrade at the Dedinje Royal Palace since 2001. As the only son of the last king, Peter II, who never abdicated, and the last official heir of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia he claims to be the rightful heir to the Serbian throne in the event of restoration. At the palace, Alexander regularly receives religious leaders and strives, as opportunity permits, to demonstrate his commitment to human rights and to democracy. The family are also much engaged in humanitarian work. Crown Princess Katherine has a humanitarian foundation while Crown Prince Alexander heads the Foundation for Culture and Education, whose activities include student scholarships, and summer camps for children.
On 27 April 2022, Prince Peter Karageorgevitch renounced his title of Hereditary prince â for himself and his descendants â and his younger brother Prince Philip became their father's heir apparent. The ceremony took place at Casa de Pilatos in Seville, Spain. Present were Peter's and Philip's mother Princess Maria Da Gloria of Orléans-Braganza, Duchess of Segorbe and their stepfather Ignacio, 19th Duke of Segorbe; Philip's wife Princess Danica; their half-sister Sol, Countess of Ampurias; Ljubodrag GrujiÃÂ, a member of the Crown Council and Chancellor of the Orders and Herald of the House of KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ; and Nikola StankoviÃÂ, Chief of Staff of the Crown Prince.
The KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ family initially was a Serbian Royal House, then the Royal House of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and then the Royal House of Yugoslavia. When they last reigned they were called the Royal House of Yugoslavia.
Crown Prince Alexander was born in London but on property temporarily recognized by the United Kingdom's government as subject to the sovereignty of the Yugoslav crown, on which occasion it was publicly declared that the Crown Prince had been born on the native soil of the land he was expected to eventually rule.
The list below includes male members of the KaraÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ dynasty. Bold denotes the current head of the House. Number in parentheses indicates the order of line of Succession to the throne, as of April 2022. The order of line of Succession is not official.