The Seal of Karageorge

THE SEAL OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Sretenje 1804 – The Establishment of Modern Serbia

The First Serbian Uprising of 1804 marked the turning point in the history of the Serbian nation; the line of demarcation between a medieval enslaved country and a free civil state; a cornerstone of modern Serbia.

The second half of the 19th century brought significant changes to Serbia and its neighborhood, the changes that greatly influenced the establishment of a different awareness in the country that was deprived of freedom for centuries, which eventually led to the Uprising and the aspirations for achieving an independent state.

In this period, the Austro-Hungarian Empire regained its territories in Pannonia and drew the Ottoman army to the south banks of the Sava and the Danube, reaching the border with Serbia. The presence of the Habsburg monarchy on the edge of Serbian territories had momentous impact on the awakeness of the autonomous Serbian nation, because while under the Ottoman rule Serbian people were treated as “Christian raya”, in the territories under Austro-Hungary, the Serbs were aware of their Slavonic and Orthodox origin, which was, as a new idea, exported to the homeland, creating self-consciousness of one’s own particularity.

At the same time, the closeness of Austro-Hungary meant new trading opportunities, which made Serbian merchants in the Ottoman Empire wealthier, thus creating new elite in Serbia.

In this period, more and more Serbs began to travel across Europe, searching for new trading connections, but also education, gradually transferring new European ideas of rationalism and later romanticism into our region.

During the Austro-Hungarian wars against the Ottoman Empire, large number of the Serbs took part on the Habsburgs’ side, being introduced to modern military tactics and weapons.

However, the Uprising was mostly inspired by the events in Serbia. Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 forced the sultan to strip the Balkans of his troops to deploy them in the newly established front. Their place was taken by the janissaries who mostly were refugees from Hungary, ruled by "dahis". Dissociated from the central government in Istanbul, the janissaries soon introduced unprecedented terror in Serbia, which culminated in the murder of the most prominent Serbian leaders (“hacking of the headmen”) in February 1804, by which they intended to terrify the people and deter it from any thought of rebellion. The effect was quite opposite.

The personage of Djordje Petrovic – Karadjordje is inseparably connected with the First Serbian Uprising and the establishment of the modern Serbian state. Karadjordje was born in the village of Visnjevac on 15 November 1752. When he was 25 he took part as a volunteer in the Austro-Turkish war 1787-1791. In the Habsburgs’ army Karadjordje gained important military experience and soon distinguished himself by his bravery, for which he was awarded a gold medal. Upon returning to Serbia, Karadjordje joined the outlaws (“hajduks”), at first the bands of Lazar Dobric and Stanoje Glavas, and later he became a leader of a band of rebels himself. After the hacking of the headmen, on the Day of the Presentation of Our Lord, 14 February 1804, a meeting of Serbian leaders was held in Orasac. It was decided to start a rebellion against the dahis’ rule, and Karadjordje was chosen the leader of the Uprising. Only four years later, by the Constitution of 1808, Karadjordje was proclaimed hereditary Supreme Leader of Serbia.

At the beginning of the Uprising there was no clear plan of the rebels to liberate Serbian territories from the Ottoman Empire and declare independence. Many insurgents wanted only to get rid of the dahis’ rule and restore the relatively peaceful conditions from the period when Hadji Mustapha was the governor of Serbia. But, domestic politics in the Empire and the strong influence of conservative elements in Istanbul made it impossible for the sultan Selim III to meet such demands, and so instead of negotiated settlement, the sultan sent an army against the Uprisers.

Led by Karadjordje the Serbs obtained victories over the Imperial army in the battles of Misar and Ivankovac in 1805 and in the battle of Deligrad the following year. Near the end of 1806 Russia launched a war against the Ottoman Empire, which additionally weakened the Ottoman military presence in Serbia, enabling the Uprisers to liberate Belgrade. Turkey was forced to negotiate and offer the Serbs autonomy (“Icko’s Peace”), but Karadjordje wanted more. For the first time after several centuries, conditions were created for liberation of all Serbian territories and establishment of modern independent state.

By the end of 1807 led by The Supreme Leader Serbian the army liberated south Serbia and the Raska region, reaching the border of Montenegro. The following year in 1808 the foundations of modern Serbia were laid by the Constitutional Law.

Alongside of military achievements, Serbian Uprisers worked on establishing a modern state on the model of the contemporary developed European countries. Under the constitutional solutions of 1805, 1808 and 1811 the executive power was defined, divided between the hereditary Supreme Leader, People’s Assembly and the Executive Council (the Government). Armed rebels were turned into regular army in those years, organized according to the then European standards. Local authorities were founded in all liberated towns and villages, as well as schools and post offices. The Great School (future University) of Belgrade was founded in 1808.

All these endeavors of the First Serbian Uprising marked a crucial step forward to the establishment of modern Serbian state. After centuries of submission to the Ottoman Empire, Serbia returned to her European home.

There are few events in our history that can be compared to the First Serbian Uprising in significance, consequences and commitments that have been set for the Serbia and her people, since then until now and in the future. The principles of freedom, justice and courage that were raised high by the Uprisers on their flags are obliging for all of us and for those who will come after us. Two hundred years ago a solid foundation of our destiny was laid, which is a permanent monument to the people who had, ex nihilo, established the modern Serbian state.