Lazar Petrović

Lazar Petrović (Bašino Selo near Veles, 1855 – Belgrade, 11 June 1903), Serbian general, adjutant of King Aleksandar Obrenović and professor at Belgrade Military Academy.

Early Life

Petrović was born in Bašino Selo in Macedonia. Early in his life his family moved to Serbia where he after five years of high school in Kragujevac and Belgrade he enrolled in 1871 to Military Academy where he graduated, class of 1875, and got the rank of second lieutenant.

Military Carrier

In the Serbo-Turkish War he first served as the orderly of West Morava division (1876), then as a commander of a company. After the war he became the adjutant of the 1st infantry regiment. In 1881 Petrović became the orderly of Prince Milan of Serbia and this is when he got in close ties with the Obrenović dynasty. Most of his successes were to be thanked to his loyalty to the cause of King Milan and later his son Aleksandar.

In 1885 Petrović became the commander of the 19th battalion and as such served in the Serbo-Bulgarian War the same year. In 1887 he resigned from his post to become the head of Negotin County. He was reactivated two years later and appointed to command the 7th battalion. The rumor had it that this move of becoming a civilian was only taken since Petrović could not pass the exam for a major but got that rank when he returned to army as a high state official.[1] In 1892 he became the Infantry Non commissioned Officers’ School.

Petrović closely supported the young king Aleksandar when on April 1st , 1893 he overthrew the regency and took control of the kingdom.[2]

In 1895 Petrović was promoted to the post of the commander of the Danube infantry regiment. However, in 1896 he downgraded to the rank of commander of the 7th battalion again. From 1894 to 1896 he also taught Tactics at Belgrade’s Military Academy.

Adjutant and Death

In 1897-1898 he served as the adjutant of King Aleksandar Obrenović. After that he was sent as the military attaché to Constantinople. He returned to the position of king’s adjutant in 1901 and served as such until his death.

Petrović was on duty on the night when the officers stroke in the "May Overthrow" intending, and eventually succeeding to assassinate King Aleksandar and Queen Draga. As loyal to the Obrenović dynasty Petrović defended the and died in the exchange of fire with the attackers.

His nickname in Belgrade was Lepi Laza (“Laza the Pretty”).[3]

He held high decorations of Serbia as well as decorations of France, Austria-Hungary, Romania and Hawaii.

Notes

  1. ↑ S. C. Ćirković, Siluete i karakteri, Nadimci starih Beograđana 1830-1940, Belgrade 1999, p. 51
  2. ↑ http://www.klubmonarhista.rs/kralj-aleksandar-obrenovic
  3. ↑ S. C. Ćirković, Siluete i karakteri, p. 51

Reference