Слика последњег руског цара код Срба у 20. веку
The Image of the Last Russian Emperor among the Serbs in the 20th Century

Author(s): Milana Živanović
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), International relations/trade
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Emperor Nicholas II; Serbia; Yugoslavia; Russia; Soviet Union; anti-communism; Russophilia;
Summary/Abstract: Relations between Russia and Serbia, Kingdom of Yugoslavia or FNRY and Soviet Union have been changing during the 20th century. They went through different phases - from support, protection and war alliance to the absence of diplomatic relations, split and conflict. The perception of Russian Emperor Nicholas II among the representatives of Serbian elite, society and media also changed. He was given positive or negative mark and the image was a reflection and an indicator of relations between the two countries. In the period of intense political relations and alliance during the pre-war years and World War I, Serbian politicians and diplomats have depicted the last Russian Emperor as the protector and guardian. After the war, the anti-Communist regime in the newly formed Kingdom of SHS/Yugoslavia refused to recognize the Soviet Union and based on war perception and execution of Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks’ order, the government which consisted of the pre-war ruling dynasty and elite, and Serbian Orthodox Church glorified Nicholas II as a saviour of the state and martyr. Serbian residents also have shared this sense and it culminated with a public demand for his canonization in 1930. However, after Yugoslavia has recognized the Soviet Union in 1940, it slowly started making changes in public mentioning of Russian Emperor. In the period after the World War II, very little was written about the Nicholas II by the Serbian historians. But after the mid-1970s, they have started to clear up the role of the last Russian tsar in the World War I, which continued in the 21st century.

• Details
• Contents