May Coup (Serbia)

May Coup
Illustration of the May Coup published in 1903 in the French newspaper Le Petit Parisien
Native name Мајски преврат, Majski prevrat
Date10–11 June [O.S. 28–29 May] 1903
LocationBelgrade, Kingdom of Serbia
Also known asMay Overthrow
TypeMilitary coup
MotiveRegime change
TargetRoyal Palace, Belgrade
Organised byDragutin Dimitrijević Apis and other officers
ParticipantsOfficer faction within the Royal Serbian Army
OutcomeSuccess
BurialSt. Mark's Church (Royal couple)

The May Coup (Serbian: Мајски преврат, romanizedMajski prevrat) was a coup d'état involving the assassination of the Serbian King Alexander Obrenović and his consort Queen Draga inside the Royal Palace in Belgrade on the night of 10–11 June [O.S. 28–29 May] 1903. This act resulted in the extinction of the Obrenović dynasty that had ruled the Kingdom of Serbia since the middle of the 19th century. A group of Serbian Army officers led by captain Dragutin Dimitrijević (Apis) organized the assassination. After the May Coup, the throne passed to King Peter I of Serbia.[1]

Along with the royal couple, the conspirators killed prime minister Dimitrije Cincar-Marković, minister of the army Milovan Pavlović, and general-adjutant Lazar Petrović.[2] The coup had a significant influence on Serbia's relations with other European powers; the Obrenović dynasty had mostly allied with Austria-Hungary, while the Karađorđević dynasty had close ties both with Russia[3] and with France. Each dynasty received ongoing financial support from their powerful foreign sponsors.[4]

  1. ^ Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, pp. 3–12
  2. ^ Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, pp. 3–12
  3. ^ C. L. Sulzberger, The Fall of Eagles, p. 202
  4. ^ Sulzberger, p. 202.

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