From the First Serbian Uprising to Kingdom

The Road to Freedom

The first Serbian uprising began in 1804 under the leadership of Karadjordje Petrović, and soon grew into revolution marked by Karadjordje’s personality, himself becoming symbol of national-liberation process. After conquering Belgrade in 1806, the Serbs took over power in the city. The new government executed public sale of Turkish properties. The second Serbian uprising (1815), and especially the events that followed, such as obtaining national (1833) and social freedom (1835), emphasized diplomatic and state abilities of Miloš Obrenović. Marking the fiftieth anniversary of the uprising in 1865, Prince Mihailo Obrenović founded the Order of the Cross of Takovo, with it distinguishing living fellow fighters of his father prince Miloš.

  • Karadjordje Petrović (1752–1817), IAB, Lf ISP.
    Karadjordje Petrović (1752–1817), IAB, Lf ISP.
  • A document confirmed by court of purchase of an estate and water mill by Mladen Milovanović, an army commander in the first Serbian uprising, previously belonging to Kučuk Alija, a Belgrade dahia, Belgrade, 1808, IAB, ZArh.
    A document confirmed by court of purchase of an estate and water mill by Mladen Milovanović, an army commander in the first Serbian uprising, previously belonging to Kučuk Alija, a Belgrade dahia, Belgrade, 1808, IAB, ZArh.
  • Wax seal of Beligradski magistrat, 1812, IAB, ZArh.
    Wax seal of Beligradski magistrat, 1812, IAB, ZArh.
  • Report by Minister of Internal Affairs to Administration of the city of Belgrade on soldiers from Belgrade receiving the Order of the Cross of Takovo, Belgrade, 1865, IAB, UGB.
    Report by Minister of Internal Affairs to Administration of the city of Belgrade on soldiers from Belgrade receiving the Order of the Cross of Takovo, Belgrade, 1865, IAB, UGB.

Part of European Revolution – 1848

as commander of Serbian volunteers, who had the support of government in Belgrade. 8.000 volunteers were sent from principality and Belgrade gave shelter to numerous Serbian families from Banat, who fled the Hungarian army. For his credits with stifling revolution in 1848 Pavle Georgije Spirta, a member of a well-known family of Tzintzar merchants from Zemun, was enobled in 1853 by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I.

  • Stevan Petrović Knićanin, colour litograph, 1849, IAB, ZŠT.
    Stevan Petrović Knićanin, colour litograph, 1849, IAB, ZŠT.
  • Charter issued by Emperor Francis Joseph I ennobling Pavel Georgije Spirta, Vienna, 1856, IAB, ZDUP. (Page 1)
    Charter issued by Emperor Francis Joseph I ennobling Pavel Georgije Spirta, Vienna, 1856, IAB, ZDUP. (Page 1)
  • Charter issued by Emperor Francis Joseph I ennobling Pavel Georgije Spirta, Vienna, 1856, IAB, ZDUP. (Page 2)
    Charter issued by Emperor Francis Joseph I ennobling Pavel Georgije Spirta, Vienna, 1856, IAB, ZDUP. (Page 2)

Surrender of Tthe Towns

In 1862, Turks wounded a Serbian boy by the drinking fountain of Čukur, which incited a conflict between Serbian police and Turkish armed forces and culminated in the bombing of the city. Prince Mihailo made use of the incident and reopened the issue of Turkish army’s presence in Serbia. In April 1867, he managed to reach an agreement with the Turkish government (Porte), whereby Turkish garrisons left Belgrade, Užice, Soko, Šabac, Smederevo and Kladovo.

  • Proclamation issued by Prince Mihailo Obrenović at the beginning of bombing attacks, Belgrade, 1862, IAB, UGB.
    Proclamation issued by Prince Mihailo Obrenović at the beginning of bombing attacks, Belgrade, 1862, IAB, UGB.
  • Serbian delegation led by Prince Mihailo Obrenović, Constantinople, 1867, IAB, Zf.
    Serbian delegation led by Prince Mihailo Obrenović, Constantinople, 1867, IAB, Zf.

Milan Obrenović

Prince Mihailo was killed on 29th May 1868 in Košutnjak. On behalf of under-aged Milan Obrenović, governors were in charge of Serbia until 1872. They paid attention to organizing administration: in 1869 moderately liberal constitution was adopted. During Milan’s reign Serbia became a modern European kingdom (1882).

  • Proclamation of minor prince Milan Obrenović’s Regency when Milan Obrenović came to the throne, Belgrade, 1868, IAB, ZArh.
    Proclamation of minor prince Milan Obrenović’s Regency when Milan Obrenović came to the throne, Belgrade, 1868, IAB, ZArh.
  • Proclamation by Prince Milan Obrenović to his people before going to war with Turkey, Belgrade, 1877, IAB, ZDUP.
    Proclamation by Prince Milan Obrenović to his people before going to war with Turkey, Belgrade, 1877, IAB, ZDUP.

Cultural Identity

A fight for national language, literature based on it, and phonological orthography presented cultural segment of revolutionary activities in 1848. Vuk Stefanović Karadžić consistently and finally implemented Adelung’s principle “write as you speak”. When literary agreement was reached in Vienna in 1850 regarding common Serbian-Croatian literary language, Serbian as well as Croatian literates began to use it. After V. S. Karadžić had died, new orthography was officially introduced in 1868.

A period between the appearance of Vuk and first great victory of the national language in 1847 brought great progress in cultural life. A blossoming of political and literary periodicals had left a special influence.

By promoting political and cultural idea, which is the basis of a nation’s identity, women took part in renaissance.

  • Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1787–1864) wearing a fez, IAB, Lf ISP.
    Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1787–1864) wearing a fez, IAB, Lf ISP.
  • Transfer of Vuk Stefanović Karadžić’s remains from Vienna to Belgrade. Procession took place from the railway station and along Nemanjina Street, Belgrade, 1897, IAB, Zf.
    Transfer of Vuk Stefanović Karadžić’s remains from Vienna to Belgrade. Procession took place from the railway station and along Nemanjina Street, Belgrade, 1897, IAB, Zf.
  • Djuro Daničić, philologist, member of Society of Serbian Solemnness and first Secretary of Yugoslavian Academy of Science and Arts, IAB, Lf, ISP.
    Djuro Daničić, philologist, member of Society of Serbian Solemnness and first Secretary of Yugoslavian Academy of Science and Arts, IAB, Lf, ISP.
  • Decree issued by Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjević on preservation of ancient relics, castles, cities, ruins, Belgrade, 1844, IAB, UGB.
    Decree issued by Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjević on preservation of ancient relics, castles, cities, ruins, Belgrade, 1844, IAB, UGB.
  • Invoice of the editorial board of newspaper “Srbske novine”, Belgrade, 1861, IAB, UGB.
    Invoice of the editorial board of newspaper “Srbske novine”, Belgrade, 1861, IAB, UGB.
  • Milka Aleksić – Grgurova (1840–1924), actress and author, IAB, Zf.
    Milka Aleksić – Grgurova (1840–1924), actress and author, IAB, Zf.
  • Milica Stojadinović Srbkinja (1830–1877), first Serbian female author, IAB, Zf.
    Milica Stojadinović Srbkinja (1830–1877), first Serbian female author, IAB, Zf.
  • Mina Vukomanović (1828–1894), a painter, daughter and associate of Vuk Karadžić, IAB, Zf.
    Mina Vukomanović (1828–1894), a painter, daughter and associate of Vuk Karadžić, IAB, Zf.