Lesson 3 -The Serbian precedent Flashcards
What happened in Sanjak, central part of Serbia in Feb 1804?
The first nationalist uprisings in the Ottoman Empire took place led by Karadorde Petrovic.
Was it against the Sultan?
Originally, it was not directed against Sultan but against local renegade Janissaries, who opposed modernisation of Ottoman Empire, and had de facto taken control of Serbia in 1801.
What was the trigger of the revolt?
Trigger for revolt was actually the murder of 72 Christian nobles in Jan. 1804. The Janissaries feared that Porte would use Christians to
oust them and regain control of Serbia.
How did the rebels demands/actions change?
At first rebels demanded that Porte reasserted her authority in order to bring end to abuses committed by Janissaries and to disband them. However, after defeating renegade Janissaries in summer 1804, position of Serb rebels changed and by late 1805 insurgency
took increasingly nationalist character.
Did the Russians help the rebels?
Although the rebels received some support from
Russians in name of defence of Orthodox Christians and Slavs, this remained limited and was, in any case dependent on greater interests of Russia within framework of Napoleonic
Wars and war with Ottoman Empire.
What did the end of war with Russia enable the Ottoman Empire to do?
To redirect the army towards Serbia. On 7 Oct.
1813, Ottoman troops defeated army of Karađorđe and occupied most of Serbia.
Were all the local nobles with the rebels?
Some local nobles accepted the restoration of Ottoman rule in return for official positions. These included Miloš Obrenović, who was appointed as Grand Knez (prince).
Did this bring peace to the region?
No,
Why?
some Serbs:
◦ rejected Miloš Obrenović and continued to support Karađorđe (feuds between Obrenović and Karađorđević – name taken by Karađorđe’s heirs – dynasties shaped political history of Serbia and then Yugoslavia well into the 20th century);
◦ attacked Janissaries who had returned to Serbia.
What did the further atrocities committed by Janissaries lead to?
It forced Miloš Obrenović to lead a second Serbian Revolution on Psalm Sunday 1815. The aim was no to seek independence though.
Miloš still saw himself as vassal of Sultan and, in his political project, Serbia was to remain part of Ottoman Empire, but with high degree of autonomy.
What stopped the Porte getting full control back?
External events favoured Miloš Obrenović.
The end of the Napoleonic Wars meant that Russia could engage her forces in new war against the Ottoman Empire to support Serbian autonomy.
What did the Ottoman Empire therefore agree on.
In such circumstances, Sultan Mahmud II agreed to made Miloš Obrenović supreme Knez of all Serbia and allowed Serbs to have:
◦ their own parliament;
◦ their own army.
What did Serbia have to do in return?
In return, Serbia was to pay annual tribute of 2.3 m groschen (equivalent to around 10% of principality’s budget).
Who had the power now in Serbia?
The Governor of Belgrade was to represent Sultan but power in Principality of Serbia rested with Miloš Obrenović I. Over following years, Miloš did not hesitate to use threat of Russian
intervention to increase his autonomy vis-à-vis Porte.
When was the autonomy of the Principality of Serbia fully recognised?
The autonomy of the Principality of Serbia was fully recognised under the Treaty of Adrianople of 1829 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
