Story Highlights
- historical event:
- As the older brother, Prince George was supposed to inherit the throne rather than Alexander, but an unusual turn of events came to pass. Namely, George really was the heir all the way up to 1909, when he killed a servant in a fit of rage.
This day in 1972 marked the death of Serbian prince George Karađorđević, the older brother of the well-known known Alexander I of Yugoslavia (best known for being assassinated in Marseilles – the first assassination of a head of state caught on film). As the older brother, Prince George was supposed to inherit the throne rather than Alexander, but an unusual turn of events came to pass. Namely, George really was the heir all the way up to 1909, when he killed a servant in a fit of rage. He was only 21 at the time. Because of that incident, he gave up the throne and left it to his younger brother, Alexander. Some have also suggested that George’s abdication was the result of international intrigues.
Interestingly, George outlived his brother, King Alexander. Indeed, he lived a full 38 years longer, until this day in 1972, dying at the age of 86.
After he abdicated, George took up mathematics and various other interests. He had poor relations with his brother Alexander, and spent most of the pre-World War II period in prison. He was released after the war, and allowed to live in Belgrade during the time of Tito’s Yugoslavia. He did not have any children.
