Grand Cross for Military Virtue (Latin: "Virtuti Militari")
Alexandar I got Polish decoration for Virtuti Militari with a good reason. Alexandar I personal commanded over victorious Serbian army in military operations that led directly to final disaster of Austro-Hungaria (Serbian army pursued panicked Austrians to the Vienna), as military power and as a state. It opened way to Poland to achieve her independence. Having in mind complete Serbian and Alexandar`s personal involvement in resistance to Austro-Hungaria, new Polish state decorated Alexandar I.
Virtuti Militari
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuti_Militari
The Order Virtuti Militari (Latin for "To Military Valour") is Poland's highest military decoration for courage in the face of the enemy. It was created in 1792[1] by Poland's King Stanisław August Poniatowski and is considered as one of the oldest military decorations in the world still in use.
It is awarded in five classes either for personal heroism or to commanders for leadership. Some of the heroic actions recognized by an award of the Virtuti Militari are equivalent to those meriting the Commonwealth's Victoria Cross, and the U.S. Medal of Honor.
Encyclopedia > Virtuti Militari
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Virtuti-Militari
Recipients (1920 - 1939)
I Class (6 awarded):
* Grand Cross with Star, I Class: "for a commander who has achieved victory in a battle of strategic importance, resulting in total defeat of the enemy, or a successful defense that has decided the fate of a campaign."
Marshal of Poland Józef Piłsudski
Ferdinand Foch
King of Romania Ferdinand I
King of the Belgians Albert I
King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Alexander I (King of Yugoslavia)
King of Italy Vittorio Emmanuele III
Prince Czartoryski's intention was to make conditions for the establishment of independent Poland by using the Eastern question. Assuming that Russia and Austria intended to divide the Balkans between themselves in the near future, as they had done with Poland (only now without Prussia which had no direct interests in the East), Czartoryski and his associates made a project of a vast Southern Slav state that should be created around Serbia, and lean on France and Great Britain in its foreign policy.
Close contacts of the Polish émigrés with the Serbian Constitutionalists was the result of their common hostility towards Russia. The leading Constitutionalists in exile, Toma Vucic Perisic and Avram Petronijevic, made an acquaintance in Constantinople with Czartoryski's representatives, Michel Czaykowski and Ludwig Zwierkowski (pseudonym Dr. Lous Lenoir), who were sent to the Near East during the crisis (1839-1840). With the help of Polish representatives, who sent Zwierkowski to Belgrade, the Constitutionalists organized a revolt in Serbia in 1842, and expelled Prince Michael Obrenovic. After that, Alexander Karadjordjevic officially became the new Prince. In order to help organize the convocation of the Assembly (Skupstina) for the purpose of reinstating Prince Alexander to the Serbian throne, at Russia's ultimatum, Czaykowski himself arrived in Belgrade in 1843. Through the mediation of Polish representatives in Constantinople and Paris, Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic was recognized both by France and Great Britain as the lawful ruler of Serbia. For this reason, in his congratulations to the Prince, Czartoryski emphasized his own contribution to the recognition of the new Serbian régime (8).
Source: Ilija Garasanin's "Nacertanije"; A REASSESSEMENT; Institute for Balkan Studies; Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences: Belgrade, Dusan T. Batakovic
http://www.rastko.rs/istorija/batakovic/batakovic-nacertanije_eng.html
Serbian King Petar I Karadjordjevic - father of King Alexandar I
Alexandar I Karadjordjevic was member of dynasty that greatly contributed to Polish independence after 1918 year. Karadjordjevic dynasty was key player of Polish intelligentsia in Polish path to freedom. In that time Peter I, father of King Alexandar I, had even Polish support during dynastic turmoils in Serbia (before 1904 year). Prince Czartoryski's was personal involved. Behind the scene was mutual Polish-Serbian plan for restoration of political and military realm of Sarmatia Europae and/or Great Moravia. First stage in that plan was Serbian liberation from Ottoman Turkish and Austro-Hungarian oppression and occupation. Then, vast southern Slavic state (Yugoslavia) needed to be formed around Serbia parallel with restoration of full independence of Polish state. Obviously, Polish-Serbian axis needed to attract Czechs and Slovaks, too. Czechoslovakia was created and military alliance with Yugoslavia was established. Idea was noble, things were in the move. Then, Alexandar I was assassinated in German organization by Croatian `ustashe` and pro-Bulgarian Macedonian `IMRO` during his visit to France, in 1934.
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Yugoslavia
King of Yugoslavia Alexandar I
Alexander I Karađorđević (16 December 1888 [O.S. 4 December] – 9 October 1934) was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929–34) as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1921–29).
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