Parents: Alexander I, king of Yugoslavia, and Maria of Romania
Born: 6 September 1923
House: Karadordevic
Spouse(s): Alexandra, daughter of Alexander I, king of Greece, and Aspasia Manos
Predecessor: Alexander I
Reign: 1934 – 1945
Brief: Peter was still in school in England when his father died in 1934, elevating the boy to the kingdom of Yugoslavia. His cousin, Paul, ruled in his name with a regency council until 1941. With few options available to them during World War II, Peter's government chose to join the Tripartite Axis in 1941. Two days later, though, Peter overthrew the pro-German government with the aide of the British and proclaimed himself of age to rule the country. Germany retaliated by attacking Yugoslavia and Greece in Operation Punishment. The government surrendered to the joint German, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Italian invasion on April 17th. Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia were all broken off to form puppet governments for its conquerers. Peter fled to Greece and then Palestine, eventually joining the exiled government ministers of half of Europe in London. While in the UK, Peter completed his education at Cambridge and joined the Royal Air Force. Civil war broke out in Yugoslavia as pro-communist Partisans fought pro-monarchy royalists, with the latter often collaborating with the Axis powers. Winston Churchill finally convinced the Allies to support the Partisans in order to win the war. Josip Tito was appointed commander-in-chief and prime minister. In the months after the war ended, Yugoslavia deposed Peter II. The young man moved to the United States and died in 1970 from complications from a liver transplant. He remains the only European monarch buried in US soil.
Brief: Peter was still in school in England when his father died in 1934, elevating the boy to the kingdom of Yugoslavia. His cousin, Paul, ruled in his name with a regency council until 1941. With few options available to them during World War II, Peter's government chose to join the Tripartite Axis in 1941. Two days later, though, Peter overthrew the pro-German government with the aide of the British and proclaimed himself of age to rule the country. Germany retaliated by attacking Yugoslavia and Greece in Operation Punishment. The government surrendered to the joint German, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Italian invasion on April 17th. Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia were all broken off to form puppet governments for its conquerers. Peter fled to Greece and then Palestine, eventually joining the exiled government ministers of half of Europe in London. While in the UK, Peter completed his education at Cambridge and joined the Royal Air Force. Civil war broke out in Yugoslavia as pro-communist Partisans fought pro-monarchy royalists, with the latter often collaborating with the Axis powers. Winston Churchill finally convinced the Allies to support the Partisans in order to win the war. Josip Tito was appointed commander-in-chief and prime minister. In the months after the war ended, Yugoslavia deposed Peter II. The young man moved to the United States and died in 1970 from complications from a liver transplant. He remains the only European monarch buried in US soil.
Date of Death: 3 November 1970
Successor: Alexander (as pretender)
Successor: Alexander (as pretender)
Other Monarchs Who Died Today:
- Constantius II, emperor of Rome (361)
- John III, emperor of Constantinople (1254)
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