Leonid Solarević

Leonid Solarević (Serbian Cyrillic: Леонид Соларевић; 18 September 1854 in Belgrade – 20 April 1929 in Belgrade) was a Serbian military officer. As a colonel of the Royal Serbian Army, he was one of the main participants in the May Coup of 1903 against King Alexander I of Serbia. He also served as the 14th Dean of the Academic Board of the Military Academy in Serbia and its chief from 1904 to 1907.

General Leonid Solarević
Native name	Serbian Cyrillic: Леонид Соларевић
Born	(1854-09-18)September 18, 1854 Belgrade, Principality of Serbia
Died	April 20, 1929(1929-04-20) (aged 74) Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Allegiance	Principality of Serbia Kingdom of Serbia
Service / branch	Armed forces of the Principality of Serbia Royal Serbian Army
Years of service	1869–1900 1903–1910 1914–1918
Rank	General
Battles / wars	Serbian–Turkish Wars (1876–1878) Serbo-Bulgarian War World War I
Awards	Order of Karađorđe's Star Order of the White Eagle Order of the Cross of Takovo Order of Miloš the Great
Spouse(s)	Danica Kovačević
Children	5
Other work	Participant in the May Coup Minister of Army Chief of the Military Academy

Position at the Serbian court

After a career in artillery, Solarević became aide-de-camp to King Alexander I in August 1893, and the main aide-de-camp in May 1898. Due to his opposition to the King's marriage to Draga Mašin, he was retired at his own request in July 1900. At the same time, he was relieved of his duties as an officer.

Participation in the May Coup

On the day of the May Coup (10–11 June [O.S. 28–29 May] 1903) Solarević was reactivated, with the rank of colonel he had before retiring. On the same day, he was appointed commander of the Danube Divisional Area, assuming command in place of murdered Colonel Dimitrije Nikolić, a firm loyalist to the King and the Obrenović dynasty.

Later career

Following the coup, Solarević served as the Minister of Army in 1903, Chief of the Military Academy in 1904–1907, and became a general in 1907. After that, he was retired twice – at his own request in 1910, and at the end of World War I in 1918 (as he was reactivated in 1914).

Personal life

Solarević was married to Danica Kovačević, and had 5 children with her (3 sons and 2 daughters).

Bibliography

• Милић Милићевић; Љубодраг Поповић (2003). Генерали Војске Кнежевнине и Краљевине Србије (in Serbian). Војноиздавачки завод. pp. 213–217. ISBN 978-86-335-0142-2.
• Бјелајац, Миле С. (2004). Генерали и адмирали Краљевине Југославије 1918—1941 (in Serbian). Институт за новију историју Србије, Београд. p. 271. ISBN 978-86-7005-039-6.