The First and Second Serbian Uprisings

Preconditions for the Uprisings

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was in deep crisis. Central authority had weakened, and in the provinces, rogue Janissaries known as dahije (renegade warlords) were terrorizing the local population. In the Belgrade Pashalik, the dahije established a brutal regime, defying even the Sultan himself. In January 1804, they carried out the Slaughter of the Knezes — a mass killing of Serbian elders, fearing an organized resistance movement.

This event was the final straw. The Serbian people decided to take up arms.

The First Serbian Uprising (1804--1813)

At a popular assembly in Orasac in February 1804, Karadjordje Petrovic — a former cattle trader known for his bravery and determination — was elected leader of the uprising. Under his command, Serbian rebels began liberating territory after territory.

Initially, the uprising was directed against the dahije, not against the Sultan. However, as the rebels achieved more successes, it grew into a full-scale war of independence. In 1806, Belgrade was liberated, and Karadjordje effectively became the ruler of a reborn Serbian state.

Over the nine years of the First Uprising, the foundations of governance were established: the Governing Council (the first government), a system of courts, and schools. This was the first successful national liberation movement in the Balkans and one of the earliest in 19th-century Europe.

However, in 1812, Russia — which had been supporting the Serbs — signed a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire (the Treaty of Bucharest), and Serbia was left without an ally. In 1813, Ottoman forces crushed the uprising. Karadjordje and other leaders were forced to flee to Austria. The Ottomans took brutal revenge on the population, carrying out mass reprisals.

The Second Serbian Uprising (1815)

Just two years after the suppression of the First Uprising, the Serbs rose again. This time, the leader was Milos Obrenovic — a wise and diplomatic politician who chose a different strategy.

Milos Obrenovic launched the uprising in April 1815 and won a series of military victories. But unlike Karadjordje, he relied not only on military force but also on diplomacy. He entered into negotiations with Ottoman authorities, skillfully exploiting the contradictions between Istanbul and local pashas.

The result was the recognition of Milos as the supreme leader (knez) of the Serbian people. This status was secured through negotiations, and Serbia gained significant internal autonomy while formally remaining part of the Ottoman Empire.

Two Approaches — One Result

Karadjordje and Milos Obrenovic represented two different approaches to liberation: revolutionary and diplomatic. Karadjordje was an uncompromising warrior who would not accept half-measures. Milos was a pragmatist who achieved real concessions through negotiation.

Both approaches proved necessary. The First Uprising showed the world that the Serbian people were ready to fight for their freedom. The Second showed that they were capable of state-building and diplomacy.

A tragic fate linked the two leaders: in 1817, Karadjordje secretly returned to Serbia, and on the orders of Milos Obrenovic, he was killed. This marked the beginning of the feud between the Karadjordjevic and Obrenovic dynasties, which would define Serbian politics throughout the entire 19th century.

The Significance of the Uprisings

The Serbian Uprisings became a turning point in the history not only of Serbia but of the entire Balkans. For the first time in centuries of Ottoman rule, a Christian people had achieved recognition of their right to self-governance. This inspired other Balkan peoples — Greeks, Bulgarians, Romanians — to pursue their own struggles for freedom.

For modern Serbia, these uprisings are not merely historical events but the foundation of national identity. Sretenje (February 15) — Serbia's Statehood Day — is celebrated precisely in honor of the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising of 1804.