OPLENAC

The founder of the Dynasty, Djordje Petrovic, called Karadjordje, settled in what is today's Topola at the beginning of 19th century. There he established a home for himself and his family. At that time, Topola was a small village community below Oplenac Hill. It was formerly called Kamenica and it owes its name to the great number of white poplars there. The first organized rebellion against the Ottoman's started from the hinterland of Topola in 1804 and grew into the First Serbian Insurrection.Karadjordjevic's Topla was burnt down and destroyed three times. The first time it was destroyed by the Ottoman's in 1804, in 1813 the Ottoman's destroyed the walls built by Karadjordje and finally in 1877 when as revenge for the Topolska rebellion the army punished the town by burning and destroying it.

In 1904 King Peter I visited Topola and decided to restore his home and establish a Foundation in the memory of his great ancestor. He chose the peak of little Oplenac, at an altitude of 337 meters (just over 1000 feet), where the King built a church consecrated to Saint George where all the members of Karadjordjevic Royal Family can find eternal peace. The architect was Kosta Jovanovic. The construction began in 1907 and after interruption during the wars 1912-1913, it was finally finished in 1934 when the crypt was again consecrated. In 1947 Josip Broz (Tito) and his accomplices enacted the illegal act exiling the Royal Family and the confiscation of all their properties. The church was turned into a museum and church services ceased. This situation lasted until October 1991 when the church was again consecrated and regained its preliminary function.

The founder of the Dynasty Karadjordje Petrovic and his grandson King Peter I are buried in the interior of the church in marble tombs, other members of the dynasty are buried in the crypt: Karadjordje’s mother Marica and his wife Jelena, Karadjordje’s sons Prince Alexander I and his wife Princess Persida, the daughters of the Prince Aleksandar and Princess Persida Kleopatra, Jelena and Jelisaveta and sons Aleksije, Svetozar, Andreja, Djordje and Arsen, Persida Nikolajevic, the granddaughter of the eldest daughter of Prince Alexander I, wife of King Peter I Princess Zorka and their children Milena, Djordje (with his wife Radmila), HM King Alexander I and Andrija, Prince Tomislav, the second son of the King Alexander I and brother of King Peter II. The daughter of the Prince Aleksandar Poleksija is buried outside the family crypt, beside the old Topola Church. HM Queen Marija, HM King Peter II, HM Queen Alexandra, Prince Andrej, Prince Pavle, Princess Olga and Prince Nikola are buried abroad waiting to join shortly the other members of the Royal Family in the place of eternal peace of the Karadjordjevic’s.

The foundation was established to be at the disposal of the Royal Family and it consists of vineyards, orchards, a forest and various buildings within the Oplenac complex of the foundation and outside of it (Villa of King Peter I, Villa of the King, Villa of the Queen, kitchen, electricity generator, guard’s quarters (destroyed after the Second World War), wine cellar, vineyard house, stables, the building housing the Foundation (now a hotel) and garages while outside there is Karadjordje barracks, Karadjordje’s House, hospital, farm for poultry Kolebancevo, etc.). Until the Second World War the Marshal of the Court managed the Foundation while after the war it was under special administration.

The operation of the Foundation was formally renewed in 1992. Today, at its head there is an Administrative Board whose president is appointed by the Head of the Royal House (HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar). Prof. Dr. Slobodan Perovic, a member of the Crown Council, is currently occupying this position. The director of the Foundation is Mr. Miladin Gavrilovic .