Milan I
Konge af Serbien 1882-1889; brodersøns søn af Milosj Obrenovitj, proklameret som fyrste 1868 efter Michael Obrenotitjs drab, myndig 1872, ægtede 1875 Natalie Keschko. Indlod sig letsindigt i krig med Tyrkiet 1876 og 1877, led flere nederlag, men opnåede dog landsforøgelse og suverænetet ved Berlinkongressen 1878. Erklærede sig 1882 for konge og anerkendtes. Milan var ganske uskikket til at regere, upålidelig og hensynsløs, stærkt indblandet i alle partikampe, yderst udsvævende og i åbenlys strid med dronningen. Nedlagde 1889 kronen til fordel for sønnen Alexander, levede siden et skandaløst drikke- og spilleliv i Paris o.a. steder, bundforgældet og under hyppige fordøg på at vende tilbage til Serbien, hvordra han tilsjakrede sig penge for at blive borte. Døde i Wien. (HI7)
(Milan Obrenovi, prince (1868–82) and king (1882–89) of Serbia; grandnephew of Milo Obrenovi. He succeeded his cousin Michael Obrenovi as prince. He was educated in Paris, and a regency, which undertook constitutional reform in 1869, ruled for him until 1872. Under Russian influence he declared war (1876) on the Ottoman Empire in support of the rebellion in Bosnia and Hercegovina (see Russo-Turkish Wars). At the Congress of Berlin (1878) he secured Austrian support and obtained European recognition of the full independence of Serbia from the Ottoman Empire. In 1882 he took the title king of Serbia after signing a secret treaty granting Austria considerable influence. Heavy taxation, his pro-Austrian policy, his scandalous private life, and his unsuccessful campaign (1885) against Bulgaria aroused bitter opposition. After proclaiming (1889) a liberal constitution, he abdicated in favor of his son, Alexander (Alexander Obrenovi), and went abroad. He returned in 1897 and became commander in chief of the army but resigned upon his son’s marriage to Draga Main.