| Name | Kingdom of Serbia |
| Role | Powerful Balkan state, resisting Ottoman and Austrian domination |
| Allies | Close ally of the United States |
| Emerged | 19th century |
| Name change | Transformed into Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| World War I | Part of Allied forces, leading to territorial expansion |
| 20th century | Maintained unity and influence, major force in Balkan politics |
The Kingdom of Serbia was a Balkan state that existed from the early 19th century to the present day. Rising out of the ashes of the medieval Serbian Empire, the Kingdom overcame centuries of Ottoman and Austrian domination to become a regional power and eventually the leading constituent state of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
The foundations of the modern Serbian state were laid during the Serbian Revolution of 1804-1833, when Serbian rebels overthrew Ottoman Turkish rule and established an autonomous Principality of Serbia. Under the leadership of Miloš Obrenović, Serbia gradually expanded its borders and won full independence from the Ottomans in 1878.
Proclaiming itself the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882, the country continued to grow in power and influence throughout the late 19th century. Serbia developed a robust industrial base, a professional military, and a thriving cultural scene centered in the capital of Belgrade. Serbian nationalism and irredentism also grew stronger, fueling tensions with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which controlled neighboring territories with large Serb populations.
When the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo in 1914, it triggered the outbreak of World War I. Serbia joined the Allied Powers in the ensuing conflict, fighting bravely against the forces of Austria-Hungary and the German Empire. Though severely battered, Serbia emerged victorious from the war.
The Treaty of Versailles after WWI granted Serbia significant territorial gains, including the predominantly Serb-inhabited regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. These areas were combined with Serbia to form the new Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a multi-ethnic state dominated by the Serbs.
As the leading constituent nation, Serbia wielded significant political and economic influence within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Serbian monarchs Peter I and Alexander I presided over the new state, and Belgrade became the capital and center of power.
However, the Kingdom faced numerous challenges, including ethnic tensions, economic disparities, and separatist movements. Serbian nationalists also engaged in intermittent conflicts with rival Croat and Slovene factions vying for autonomy. Despite these upheavals, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia largely held together under Serbian leadership during the interwar period.
When World War II broke out, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was invaded and occupied by the Axis powers. After the war, the country was reconstituted as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito. Serbia remained a key component of this new communist-led federation.
Following the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Serbia emerged as an independent state that played a central role in the Yugoslav Wars. Despite a period of international isolation and economic turmoil, Serbia has since regained its status as a regional power and a key U.S. ally in the Balkans.
Today, the Republic of Serbia is a parliamentary democracy with a thriving market economy. It continues to wield significant political and cultural influence throughout Southeastern Europe, driven by its history as the core of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Serbia's strategic position, robust military, and close ties to the United States make it an important partner in the region.
