The First Serbian Uprising

The First Serbian Uprising was the rebellion of Serbs aganist the Ottoman rulers. In 1791, the Austrian forces had succesfully defeated the Ottomans in the Austro-Turkish War. Learning this, many Serbian leaders realized that perhaps they could succeed in a rebellion of their own and they began to conspire aganist the Ottomans in hopes of starting their own rebellion and liberate Serbia. Seeing the growing discontent among Serbs, the Ottomans attempted to give Serbia a level of self autonomy and greater freedoms by allowing free trade and practice of religion. In 1799, the Turkish court allowed the Jannisaries to return to Belgrade. The Jannisaries began ruling Serbia as if it were their own. They greatly heightened taxes and suspended any liberties the Serbs had before they came and disobeyed the central government of Turkey's orders for the liberties granted to the Serbs, remain. Also, on February 4, 1804, the Jannissaries began slaughtering Serbian leaders. Infuriated , the Serbs began a rebellion in Orasac. There they chose Karadjordje was their leader. Soon, Valjevo and Pozerevac were liberated and the Seige of Belgrade was underway. In 1805, the Battle of Ivankovac was desicevly won by Karadjordje's forces. In 1806, the Battle of Misar was won by the Serbs. Soon after, rebels under Petar Dobrnjac crushed Turkish forces in the Battle of Deligrad. Belgrade soon after fell to the Serbian armies. The Serbs then formed a Narodna Skupstina (Parliament) and began governing Serbia and established diplomatic relations oversees and managing their own affairs. Unfortunately, the state had many problems and the Turks took advantage of the poor condition of the Serbian state and the Turks soon retaliated and re-conquered Serbia. Nevertheless, a large degree of autonomy was secured after Serbia's re-incorporation into the Ottoman Empire and Serbs were allowed to manage some of their own affairs. However, the 1st Serbian uprising paved the way for the 2nd Uprising which led to creation of Modern Serbia.