Background
Miloš Obrenović was born on March 18, 1780, in Gornja Dobrinja, Serbia.
Miloš Obrenović was born on March 18, 1780, in Gornja Dobrinja, Serbia.
Miloš Teodorović, originally a herdsman, worked for his half-brother Milan Obrenović, then joined Karadjordje, who was leading the Serbs in a rebellion against their Ottoman Turkish rulers. In 1805 Miloš was appointed a commander in the rebel forces, but after his half brother was killed (1810), possibly by Karadjordje, he took the surname Obrenović and assumed an enmity toward Karadjordje. When Karadjordje fled into Hungary following the collapse of his revolt (1813), Miloš remained in Serbia. The Turks appointed him knez (prince) of three central Serb districts, and he cooperated with them in pacifying the country, even helping in the suppression of a new revolt (1814). But when the Turks began large-scale massacres, Miloš gathered his followers at Takovo, Serbia, and on Palm Sunday (April 1815) began his own revolt, quickly winning a series of military victories. Because the Turks feared that Russia might intervene on the Serbs’ behalf, a peace settlement was soon arranged (December 1815). The Turks recognized Miloš as prince of Serbia, which was granted a large degree of autonomy but remained a part of the Ottoman Empire; they also allowed the Serbs to retain their weapons and to hold their own national assembly, or Skupština.
Miloš, who shortly thereafter ordered that Karadjordje be murdered, consolidated his position and in November 1817 was named the hereditary prince of Serbia by the Skupština. Demonstrating himself to be a patient yet determined diplomat, Miloš then conducted prolonged negotiations with the Turks, who finally recognized Miloš’ position as hereditary and granted full autonomy to the Serb principality (August 28, 1830). Three years later Miloš also acquired possession of the eastern Serb lands that the Turks had originally excluded from his jurisdiction (May 25, 1833).
Despite his diplomatic successes, his achievements in promoting trade, reorganizing the army, and building roads and his agricultural and land-distribution policies favouring peasants with small landholdings, Miloš’ autocratic methods aroused strong opposition. In 1835 he was compelled to grant a constitution; and when Russia and Turkey forced him to repeal it (regarding it as too liberal), the Turkish sultan promulgated another constitution for Serbia in December 1838. In accordance with it, Miloš appointed a council of 17 senators, who immediately demanded his abdication. Naming his son Milan as his successor (June 13, 1839), Miloš Obrenović retired to his estates in Walachia.
Twenty years later the Skupština called on Miloš to return to the throne to replace Alexander Karadjordjević (reigned 1842–1858), whom it had deposed in December 1858. Resuming his autocratic methods, Miloš then adopted policies that defied Austria, which had gained a great deal of influence over Serbia during the preceding reign. He also demanded that the Turks again recognize his position as hereditary and reduce their military strength inside Serbia. Before he could accomplish his aims, however, he died on September 26, 1860.
Miloš Obrenović was a peasant revolutionary, who became prince of Serbia and who founded the Obrenović dynasty.
During his rule, he was the richest man in Serbia and one of the richest in the Balkans.
Miloš Obrenović was awarded the Order of the Iron Crown, Knight 1st Class (Austria), the Order of the Redeemer (Greece), the Order of St. Anna, 1st Class (Russia), the Order of St. Anna with brilliants, 2nd Class (Russia), the Order of the White Eagle (Russia).
Miloš Obrenović was given the epithet the Great. He was proclaimed Father of the Fatherland by the National Assembly.
In 1805, Miloš Obrenović married Ljubica Vukomanović. The couple had at least seven children.
Višnja Urošević was married to Obren Martinović from Brusnica, they had three children: Jakov, Milan and Stana.
Milan Obrenović was a Serbian Revolutionary.
Ljubica Vukomanović was Princess consort of the Principality of Serbia.
Milan Obrenović II was the ruling Prince of Serbia for just short of four weeks in 1839.
Mihailo Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1839 to 1842 and again from 1860 to 1868.
