Knez Miloš Obrenović: From Takovo to Belgrade
Exactly 165 years ago, on September 26, 1860, Knez Miloš Obrenović, the leader of the Second Serbian Uprising and a statesman who fundamentally shaped Serbian statehood, died. His life, rule and personality marked the first half of the 19th century, while his name is still spoken with respect today. The memory of Knez Miloš is preserved by the inns, monuments and numerous historical records, and the people remembered him forever as the man who brought freedom and statehood to the Serbs.
The life of Knez Miloš: Vizier among Serbs and a Serb among viziers
Miloš Obrenović was born in 1780 in the village of Dobrinja near Požega. He spent his childhood in difficult conditions, and early on he distinguished himself by his ability and determination. During the First Serbian Uprising, he sided with Karađorđe, but it soon became clear that their paths would be different.
After the collapse of the uprising, Miloš remained in Serbia, while Karađorđe retreated across the Sava. On parting with Jakov Nenadović, he said the words that best describe his character and devotion to his family and homeland:
"I'm not going to Germany, nor do I have anywhere. If I were to flee to Germany with my bare life, while the Turks are robbing and selling my old mother, wife and children, God forbid."
The Second Serbian Uprising in Takovo
After the bloody collapse of the First Serbian Uprising, Serbia again fell under Turkish oppression. In such an atmosphere, Miloš Obrenović took over the leadership and on Sretenje, on February 15, 1815, he raised the Second Serbian Uprising in Takovo.
Unlike Karađorđe, Miloš did not rely only on weapons. While the insurgents were winning the battles near Ljubić and Dublj, he was simultaneously negotiating with the Turks. It was this combination of struggle and diplomacy that made it possible for Serbia to obtain the first forms of self-government in 1816, and for Miloš to be recognized as a Knez.
The first autonomy of Serbia
Knez Miloš was in power on two occasions - from 1815 to 1839 and again from 1858 to 1860. His first reign is remembered as the period in which Serbia became the Autonomous Principality of Serbia within the Ottoman Empire. Decisive was Hatiserif from 1830, which recognized Serbia's right to internal self-government, freedom from Turkish dahis and inheritance of princely power in the Obrenović dynasty. With Hatsherif, Serbia got the right to freedom of religion and in Belgrade, a Serb could be elected as a metropolitan, instead of a Greek.
Kragujevac: Capital of Knez Miloš Obrenović
During the reign of Knez Miloš, Kragujevac became the first modern capital of Serbia. It was there that the Knez organized state bodies, opened schools, started a printing press and passed the first laws. Kragujevac was a symbol of the new order and the place where Serbia took its first steps as a statesman. Later, Miloš turned his attention to Belgrade, which was still under strong Turkish influence.
The residence of Knez Miloš - a monument of an era
One of the brightest symbols of his time is the Konak of Knez Miloš in Topčider, built in 1831. This inn was not only a residence, but also the center of Serbian political life. In it, important decisions were made, deals were made and diplomacy was conducted. Although Serbia formally did not have power over the city, Miloš, out of defiance and vision of the future capital, built his palaces and residences right in Belgrade, wanting to show that he too lays claim to the Serbian metropolis. Thus, Belgrade slowly became a political and cultural center that would later permanently assume the role of the capital of Serbia.
Today, Konak knez Milos is a museum space that preserves original furniture, objects and documents from that time. Visitors can feel the spirit of the era and learn about the life and work of one of the most influential Serbian rulers. As historians point out, the inn is a symbol of the acquisition of statehood and the modernization of Serbia.
Obrenović family and dynasty
Miloš was the founder of the Obrenović dynasty, which marked the 19th and early 20th centuries in Serbia. He had several children with his wife Princess Ljubica. When Miloš retired in 1839, the throne was first taken over by his son Milan Obrenović II, but he only ruled for a few weeks due to a serious illness. Knez Mihailo Obrenović came to power after him, who ruled for the first time until 1842. He continued his father's politics, but three years later there was a change of dynasty. In 1842, Karađorđev's son Knez Aleksandar Karađorđević came to the throne. Then the capital was transferred to Belgrade
Knez Miloš among the people
Knez Miloš Obrenović was a charismatic and contradictory personality. The people remembered him for his simplicity and immediacy. He knew how to talk to the peasants, to dispense justice and instill hope in them. However, he was also very authoritative. His word was the law, and he knew how to severely punish the disobedient. He was also known for his business resourcefulness - he was one of the richest people of his time, with large estates, cattle and trade.
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