Second Serbian Uprising of 1815

a popular uprising against Turkish oppression in Serbia; actually, the continuation of the first Serbian uprising of 1804-13.

The second Serbian uprising began on April 11 in the Valjevo District (Belgrade Pashaluk). On May 7 the insurgents won their first victory over the Turks at the Ljubić Mountains near the city of Čačak. On May 17 the city of Palež (modern Obrenovac) was liberated, and the way was opened for the establishment of ties with the Austrian Serbs, who were helping the insurgents by providing weapons and equipment. On July 3 the rebels took the city of Požarevac. The Turks moved two armies against the rebels: one from Bosnia and the other from Rumelia. The leader of the insurgents, Milos Obrenovic—an active participant in the uprising of 1804-13—was forced to begin negotiations with the commander in chief of the Turkish armies. Relying on the diplomatic support of Russia, Milos concluded an armistice with the Rumelian wali, Marashla Ali Pasha (Aug. 28, 1815). On Oct. 10, 1815, Milos and Marashla Ali Pasha made a verbal agreement regulating the amount of the taxes paid to the spahis (Turkish landlords). In addition, the Serbs received the right to collect the taxes paid to the sultan; Serbian princes were to participate in the trials of Serbians on an equal standing with Turkish officials; and a Serbian national office was established as the supreme administrative and judicial body for Serbs. Milos became supreme prince of Serbia. Although the second Serbian uprising was crowned only by partial success, it created a basis for the subsequent struggle for internal Serbian autonomy, which was achieved in the 1830’s with the establishment of the Serbian principality.