Ритуал и политика. "Књига кумства" краља Александра I Карађорђевића 1921–1934.

English title: Ritual and Politics. The Register of Godparenthood of King Alexander I Karađorđević (1921–1934)

The article Ritual and Politics: The Register of Godparenthood of King Alexander I Karađorđević (1921–1934) analyzes the institution of royal godparenthood as a form of symbolic politics, dynastic propaganda, and political communication in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes / Yugoslavia between 1921 and 1934.

The study is based on a systematic examination of the Book of Godparenthood of King Alexander I Karađorđević, preserved in the treasury of the Church of the Ascension in Čačak. This source records data on families whose children had the king as godfather through his envoys, as well as information on the children, place of residence, confession, fathers’ occupations, dates of godparenthood, royal envoys, and gifts.

Starting from godparenthood as a traditional ritual practice and a form of spiritual kinship, the article shows how this ritual was adapted in a modern monarchy to serve state integration, dynastic loyalty, and the construction of Yugoslav unity. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which traditional forms of connection between ruler and subjects were employed in the service of modern politics.

Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the article examines the geographic, confessional, social, and chronological distribution of royal godparenthoods. The findings show that godparenthoods were selectively directed toward politically sensitive regions and communities, especially former Austro-Hungarian territories and Catholic populations.

The study demonstrates that royal godparenthood functioned as a personalized mechanism of political communication. It was designed to reinforce dynastic loyalty, promote Yugoslav unity, and symbolically integrate diverse social, religious, and regional groups within the state.

In addition to the analytical section, the article presents a systematic presentation of the entire Book of Godparenthood, with all recorded data on the godparenthoods. This gives the article the character of both a scholarly analysis and a source publication. In this way, the study provides both an interpretation of a political ritual and a research apparatus for further studies of dynastic propaganda, symbolic politics, and political culture in interwar Yugoslavia.