Boško Čolak-Antić

Boško I. Čolak-Antić (Serbian Cyrillic: Бошко Чолак-Антић; 21 August 1871 – 24 March 1949), also known as Boshko Tcholak-Antitch, was a Serbian and Yugoslav diplomat and court official who served as an ambassador and Marshal of the Court for both the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Born into a family with a long-standing military tradition, Čolak-Antić was the great-grandson of Vojvoda Čolak-Anta Simeonović, a leader in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Throughout his career, Čolak-Antić played an important role in Serbian and Yugoslav diplomatic affairs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing to the development of the region's foreign relations.

After earning a doctorate in law from the University of Geneva, Čolak-Antić entered diplomatic service in 1898, marking the beginning of a career that would see him occupy several key roles in Serbian and later Yugoslav foreign relations. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary to Bulgaria and Consul in Egypt, where he advanced Serbia’s interests during a time of regional tension. During World War I, Čolak-Antić played an essential role in diplomatic efforts, notably in negotiations to align Bulgaria with the Allies. Following the invasion of Serbia, he joined the Serbian government in exile on Corfu. In the post-war years, Čolak-Antić continued his service as ambassador to Sweden and Romania, where he contributed to the formation of the Little Entente and the strengthening of Yugoslavia's diplomatic ties within Europe.

Appointed Marshal of the Royal Court for King Peter I and later for King Peter II during the Regency, Čolak-Antić served during critical periods including the interwar years and the onset of World War II. Known for his diplomatic acumen and close association with the Karađorđević dynasty, he remained influential in Yugoslav diplomacy until his retirement in 1939. His brother, General Vojin Čolak-Antić, was a notable cavalry officer and military attaché.

Early life and family

Boško I Čolak-Antić was born on 21 August 1871 in Kragujevac, then part of the Principality of Serbia, into the Čolak-Antić family, known for its historical contributions to Serbia’s military. The family traced its lineage back to Vojvoda Čolak-Anta Simeonović, a notable leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Čolak-Antić was the eldest son of Colonel Ilija Čolak-Antić, commander of the Serbian Ibar Army during the Serbo-Turkish war, and Jelena ( ''née'' Matić). His maternal grandfather was Dimitrije Matić, a prominent Liberal politician and philosopher who served as a minister and was president of the National Assembly when Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. Čolak-Antić had a younger brother, Vojin Čolak-Antić, who became a Yugoslav general, and a sister, Jovanka, who married the writer Ilija Vukićević.

After completing his secondary education and graduating from the Belgrade Higher School (Beogradska Velika škola) and the Faculty of Law, he pursued legal studies at the University of Geneva, where he earned his doctorate in law in 1894. Upon returning to Serbia, he began his career at the Ministry of Finance before transferring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1898, joining the diplomatic service in December of that year.

Diplomatic and Court career

Early diplomatic roles

Čolak-Antić's diplomatic career began in 1899 as the secretary of the Serbian delegation in Sofia. He was later appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Principality of Bulgaria. This appointment came three years after Ferdinand was recognised as King of the Bulgarians by the Great Powers, during a period of turmoil in neighbouring Ottoman provinces. Čolak-Antić expressed concern to his government about secret talks between the Bulgarians and the Ottomans regarding unrest in Macedonia, which bypassed representatives of other communities: Serbian, Greek, and Vlach. He warned his government about Bulgaria's expansionist intentions, as Macedonia was at the time the focus of diplomatic and political activity for both Bulgaria and Serbia. The rise of nationalistic visions led both countries to seek partitioning the Turkish territory and claiming it as historically theirs while preparing for war with the Ottoman Empire. Čolak-Antić's mission in Bulgaria ended in 1903, the same year the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising, a failed rebellion organised in Macedonia by a Bulgarian secret revolutionary society, intensified the path towards war.

Marshal of the Royal Court of Serbia (1904-1908)

In May 1903, by order of Foreign Minister Andra Nikolić, Čolak-Antić was recalled to Serbia. Following the change of dynasty and the coronation of King Peter I of Serbia on 21 September 1904, he was appointed acting Marshal of the Royal Court for King Peter I Karađorđević, a position he held while continuing to undertake diplomatic missions across Europe and the Middle East. On 16 October 1904, Čolak-Antić accompanied the Serbian King to Sofia, Bulgaria, along with Prime Minister Sava Grujić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Pašić, and Minister of War Radomir Putnik for an official visit with Ferdinand of Bulgaria.

Consul in Egypt (1908-1912)

His subsequent appointment was in Cairo, following an initiative to establish a Serbian diplomatic office in Egypt. In 1908, King Peter I appointed Čolak-Antić as the general consul and diplomatic agent in Cairo. That same year, he was also promoted to Marshal of the Court. At the time, Egypt was an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire under British dominance. During his tenure in Egypt, Čolak-Antić established a lifelong friendship with French Egyptologist Gaston Maspero, director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Maspero mentioned him several times in his memoirs, highlighting their close association. Čolak-Antić remained in Cairo until 1912, when he returned to Serbia at the onset of the Balkan Wars.

Balkan Wars and World War I

Restoration of diplomatic relations with Bulgaria (1913-1914)

After the Second Balkan War, in mid-December 1913, Čolak-Antić returned to diplomatic service as the Plenipotentiary Minister in Sofia. On 9 January 1914, royal embassies and consulates were informed via encrypted telegram that diplomatic relations between Serbia and Bulgaria had been restored. This occurred less than a year after Bulgaria had attacked its former ally and lost the Second Balkan War, marking the first restoration of diplomatic relations since Bulgaria became a kingdom. Despite the complex intertwining of Serbian and Bulgarian interests, the desire for stability in international relations and internal pressures facilitated the swift resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In this context, Čolak-Antić's appointment was accepted and validated by the Bulgarian government, and on 4 February 1914, he presented his letters of credence.

Outbreak of World War I (1914-1915)

On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. A month later, on 28 July, Austria-Hungary initiated hostilities by bombarding Belgrade, effectively starting the First World War. Although Bulgaria declared its neutrality, it simultaneously entered into secret negotiations with Austria-Hungary and Germany. In a telegram dated 1 July 1914, Čolak-Antić warned Prime Minister Nikola Pašić that a loan offered by the German Empire had bound the Bulgarian government to the camp of the Triple Alliance, posing an imminent danger to Serbia. He also informed Pašić that the Bulgarians had appointed eighteen vojvodes (military commanders) to various cities in Macedonia, indicating preparations that threatened Serbian interests in the region.

On 10 August 1915, Čolak-Antić met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Vasil Radoslavov, presenting a proposal from Serbian Prime Minister Pašić for a mutual settlement to resolve all disputes between the two countries, particularly regarding prisoners of war, without the need for Allied mediation. Radoslavov rejected the proposal, asking for more time, and assured Čolak-Antić that Bulgaria would remain completely neutral, regardless of the conflict between Austria and Serbia. Not trusting Radoslavov's assurances, Čolak-Antić informed his government that Bulgaria's participation on the side of the Central Powers seemed inevitable. His suspicions were confirmed when, on 24 August 1915, Radoslavov signed a secret agreement with the German Empire, followed by a treaty of friendship and alliance. Later that day, Radoslavov signed a military convention with Germany and Austria-Hungary, placing Bulgaria firmly in the camp of the Central Powers and making it an enemy of Serbia, Russia, France, and Britain, and an ally of the Ottoman Empire.

Bulgaria joins the Central Powers (1915)

On 9 September 1915, Tsar Ferdinand and Prime Minister Vasil Radoslavov of Bulgaria signed a decree for general mobilisation. Rumours of Bulgaria's military preparations began to circulate widely. Čolak-Antić promptly warned Prime Minister Nikola Pašić about these developments, emphasising the imminent threat to Serbia. Despite these warnings, the Bulgarian government continued to deny any aggressive intentions.

In Serbia, Field Marshal Radomir Putnik, the Chief of the General Staff, advocated for a pre-emptive strike against Bulgaria during its mobilisation, viewing it as Serbia's only viable option before another potential attack by Austria-Hungary. Čolak-Antić was dismayed when the British Foreign Secretary, Edward Grey, insisted on giving Bulgaria another chance, believing Bulgarian assurances of peaceful intentions towards the Allies.

The Triple Entente attempted to defuse the situation by issuing an ultimatum to Bulgaria, but these efforts proved unsuccessful. On 23 September 1915, recognising Bulgaria's alignment with the Central Powers, the Triple Entente severed diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. In response, and following orders from his government, Serbian Plenipotentiary Minister Čolak-Antić departed from Bulgaria, marking a significant escalation in the regional tensions.

War efforts and exile (1915-1918)

On 6 October 1915, the combined armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary launched a full-scale invasion of Serbia, escalating the conflict in the Balkans during the First World War. The Serbian army, already weakened by previous conflicts and epidemics, faced overwhelming forces on multiple fronts. On 11 October, without prior declaration of war, Bulgaria joined the offensive against Serbia from the east, placing immense pressure on the Serbian military and government. In response to these developments, Čolak-Antić immediately returned to Serbia. On 31 October 1915, he arrived in Raška and met with representatives from France, Great Britain, Russia, and Italy, facilitating discussions aimed at reinforcing Serbia's alliances and securing urgent aid. After spending the night in Raška, he escorted these representatives to Mitrovica for consultations with King Peter I, Prime Minister Nikola Pašić, and other government officials.

Facing overwhelming enemy forces and the risk of encirclement, the Serbian government and military leadership decided to conduct a strategic retreat through the mountains of Albania towards the Adriatic Sea. The retreat, undertaken during harsh winter conditions, resulted in significant loss of life due to severe weather, lack of resources, and disease. Upon reaching the Albanian coast, survivors were evacuated by Allied naval forces to the island of Corfu, where the Serbian government established itself in exile, and the army underwent reorganisation. In 1916, Čolak-Antić relocated to Salonika (Thessaloniki), where the reconstituted Serbian army joined Allied forces on the Macedonian Front. His brother, Vojin Čolak-Antić, now a colonel, commanded the 3rd Serbian Cavalry Brigade. In Salonika, Čolak-Antić was involved in the trial of Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijević (Apis) and other members of the Black Hand, which addressed internal conflicts within the Serbian military and government.

During this period, Čolak-Antić was reappointed as Marshal of the Court, navigating the complex relationships between the monarchy, government, and military during wartime. Amidst an atmosphere of mistrust between politicians and military officers, he reportedly stated: "Trust no one. Suspect everyone." For the remainder of the war, while the Serbian government operated between Corfu, Salonika, and Nice

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