Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1343

 SERVIA.

(Kraljevina Srbiya.) Reigning Sovereign and Family.

Alexander I., King of Servia, born August 14 (new style), 1876 ; son of Milan I., King of Servia, born August 22, 1854, the son of Milos Obrenovic, grandson of Yefreni, half-brother of Prince Milos. King Milan succeeded to the throne as Prince Milan Obrenovic IV., confirmed by the election of the Servian National Assembly, after the assassination of his uncle. Prince Michail Obrenovic III., June 10, 1868 ; was proclaimed King March 6, 1882; married October 17, 1875, to Natalie, born 1859, daughter of Colonel Keschko, of the Russian Imperial Army; divorced October 24, 1888. King Milan abdicated March 6, 1889, and proclaimed his son Alexander King of Servia, under a regency until he should attain his majority (18 years). King Alexander, on April 13, 1893, being then in his seventeenth year, took the royal authority into his own hands.

The present ruler of Servia is the fifth of his dynasty, which was founded by Milos Todorovic Obrenovic, leader of the Ser- vians in the war of insurrection to throw off the yoke of Turkey, which had lasted since 1459. The war lasted from 1815 to 1829, when the Turkish Government was compelled to grant virtual independence to Servia. By the terms of the treaty, signed September 14, 1829, Milos T. Obrenovic was acknowledged Prince of Servia, and by a subsequent Firman of the Sultan dated August 15, 1830, the dignity was made hereditary in his family.

The independence of Servia from Turkey was established by article 34 of the Treaty of Berlin, signed July 13, 1878, and was solemnly proclaimed by Prince (afterwards King) Milan at his capital, August 22, 1878. The King's civil list amounts to 1,200,000 dinars.

Constitution and Government.

By the Constitution voted by the Great National Assembly January 2, 1889 (December 22, 1888, old style), and signed by the King on the 3rd, the executive power is vested in the King, assisted by a council of eight JSIinisters, who are, individually and collectively, responsible to the nation. The legis- lative authority is exercised by the King, in conjunction with the National Assembly, or ' Narodna-Skupshtina.' The State Council, or Senate, consists of 16 members, 8 nominated by the King, and 8 chosen by the Assembly ; it examines and elaborates the projects of laws, and authorises extraordinary loans for the municipalities. This body is always sitting. The ordinary National Assembly is composed of deputies elected by the peojtle, indirectly and by ballot. Each county can elect one depiity to every 4,500 tax-2>aying males, but should the sur[)lus be over 3,000, this number is also entitled to a deputy. The voting is Ity scridin dc listc. Each county must \)f represented by at least two deputies holiling University degrees, and are called the qualified deputies. Every male Servian 21 years of age, paying 15 dinars in direct taxes, is entitled to vote ; and every Servian of 30 years, paying 30 dinars in direct taxes, is eligible to the ordinary National Assciii])ly. The onlinary Assembly meets each year on November 1, and elections take place every thinl