Kralja Petra I Street

 

One of the oldest Belgrade streets. It is thought that in the I and II century A.D. in this area were Roman forum, basilica and thermae (next to the present building of National Bank of Serbia, Kralja Petra I 12). In this street, in the XIX century, was the first official Belgrade pharmacy (instead of today's building at No. 8) and the first city hotel - "Kod Jelena" (between Gračanička and Čubrina streets, pulled down in 1938). Today, the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Cathedral Church, as well as the oldest Belgrade restaurant - the "?" cafe - are situated in this street. In the period from 1872 until 1904 its name was Dubrovačka, and in 1904-1946 Kralja Petra I. Then the lower part of the street was given back the name of Dubrovačka, and the upper part (from Dušanova street to the Cathedral Church) was named the 7. Jula Street (July 7, 1941 - the date of insurrection). In 1995 the upper part was given back the name of Kralja Petra I

KING PETAR I KARAĐORĐEVIĆ
(Belgrade, 1844-1921), Serbian ruler

He was educated in Belgrade, and then in Geneva, until 1862 when he moved to Paris where he completed military education in Saint-Cyr, and after that, as a second lieutenant, the higher military school in Metz (1867). During the French-Prussian war he has participated in several battles on the French side. He participated also in the insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 1875 and until May 1876, under the name of Petar Mrkonjić, in the battles against the Turks, leading the company of about 200 warriors. From there, he has tried to make peace with Milan Obrenović, offering him cooperation, but unsuccessfully. In February, 1883 he went to Montenegro, where he married the daughter of the Montenegrin Knez Nikola. He has lived with his family in Cetinje until 1890, when his wife died, and then he moved to Geneva, where he has stayed until 1903.

After the assasination of King Aleksandar Obrenović, he was elected King of Serbia in June 15, 1903 by the National Presidency. He has established parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Under the pressure of the "Black Hand" organization, on June 22, 1914, he stepped down, finding the excuse in illness, and refferes the royal authority to the crown-prince Aleksandar. During World War I, having crossed over Albania under extreme difficulties, he has lived in exile in Greece until 1919. During his rule, the culture and science experienced "Serbian golden age", and he himself has written the "War Diary 1914-1915".