A course to liberty

The First Serbian Uprising, started in 1804 as a rebellion against Turkish governors (dahije), under the leadership of Karadjordje Petrovic, turned in the following year, right after the battle near Ivankovac, into a revolution, which spread on the neighbouring countries. The first revolutionary days had the influence of the Karadjordje’s personality, his resolutness, courage and military talent. He grew into a leader and a symbol of the nationalliberational processes.

The conquering of Belgrade in December 1806, rushed the Turkish citizens towards the Upper and the Lower town, leaving their houses and estates abandoned. The Serbs gained the full power and control of Belgrade when they conquered the Upper and the Lower town. In the autumn 1807, the Executive council issued the instructions for the organisation of the community authorities i.e. Magistrate. The newly established city government organized the public auction of the emptied Turkish houses, shops, estates and lands.

The Second Serbian Uprising (1815), and particularly the events that came afterwards, national (1833) and social (1835) liberation, exposed the diplomatic and stateship capability of Milos Obrenovic. Celebration festivities in the honour of the 1804-1815 uprisings and the liberation of Belgrade in 1896 were being held in Belgrade and all over Serbia. The 50 anniversary celebration in 1865 was especially solemn. Shortly before the celebration Prince Mihailo Obrenovic III issued the decree on the establishment of the Takovo cross and the silver medal aimed to decorate the still alive fellow soldiers of his father, Prince Milos.