Lethal Facts About Alexander I Of Serbia, The Lovesick King
Alexander I may have had a brief reign as King of Serbia, but his life reads more like a soap opera—written in blood—than a fairy tale.
From his mommy and daddy issues to his controversial marriage to his explosive downfall, to say Alexander I was a controversial figure would be a massive understatement. Was he a maniacal tyrant or just a lovesick boy with a crown?
Read on and find out.
1. He Was Just A Pawn
Born in 1876, Alexander I was the first child born to King Milan I of Serbia and Queen Natalie. And, save for a brother who died in infancy, Alexander stayed their only child.
Considering his status, he should’ve been the apple of their eye—right? Well, not quite. While he was technically a prince, his parents treated him like more of a pawn. It was a move they’d come to regret.
2. His Parents Fought
Alexander I’s parents were political rivals, but their differences didn’t end there. Alexander I’s father, King Milan, was an epic philanderer. So epic, in fact, that it was impossible to hide from Queen Natalie.
Allegedly, Queen Natalie once slapped one of her husband’s mistresses in the middle of a crowd at a public reception. Drama!
Poor little Alexander I had no idea what kind of family he had been born into.
3. His Mother Made Him Disappear
In 1887, when Alexander I was just 11 years old, his parents’ feud had reached its boiling point—and Queen Natalie made a break for it. She spirited away the young heir apparent to the Russian Crimea, causing a major scandal. Immediately after they left, rumors of divorce and abdication swirled around the royal family.
Funny enough, no one knew just how close Alexander I actually was to the throne—but not for the reasons you’d expect.
4. His Father Called The Fuzz On Him
The royal couple tried to play nice for the next year, but they weren’t fooling anyone. Queen Natalie continued to take Alexander I on extended “trips” to Italy and Germany.
And once again, Alexander I found himself in the middle of his parents’ feuding. When Queen Natalie took Alexander I to Wiesbaden, it was the last straw for King Milan
He ordered German officers to take his son away from his mother. Hopefully, no handcuffs were involved.
