King Alexander I

Who was he? The ruler of Yugoslavia, a nation formed from disparate territories in the aftermath of the First World War.

When was he assassinated? October 9, 1934.

Where was he assassinated? Marseilles, France.

Who did it? Vlada Chernozemski, an extreme Croat nationalist.

Why? Chernozemski's group, the Ustasha, was seeking independence for Croatia from Serb-dominated Yugoslavia. Fascist Italy encouraged the Utasha in the hope of extending Italian influence in the Balkans.

What happened? Chernozemski attacked Alexander's motorcade with a handgun during the opening leg of the King's state visit to France. Alexander was killed, along with the French Foreign Minister, Louis Barthou, and two civilians. Chernozemski also died.

What was the consequence? The assassination weakened Yugoslavia. When Germany overran Yugoslavia in 1941, Hitler installed a puppet Ustasha regime in a nominally independent Croatia.