Prince Michael

Michael Obrenović, son to prince Miloš, ruled over Serbia twice – the first time in the period 1839–1842, and the second 1860–1867. During his reign, the Turks finally left Belgrade. An immediate cause for such a resolution of the events was a murder committed at the Čukur-fountain. It happened that on 3 June 1852, some Turkish soldiers killed a Serbian boy and a Serbian gendarme, causing revolt among the Belgrade population. The Turks retreated to the fortress and thence bombarded the town of Belgrade. After the negotiations led by Prince Michael, a decision was made for the Turkish population to leave Serbia and only a few garrisons would stay, among which was the Belgrade one. So, Ali-Riza pasha, the last Turkish commander, surrendered the keys to Belgrade to Prince Michael on 19 April 1867, and the Turkish army finally  left Serbia. The event is celebrated during the Belgrade Days Festival, from 16 to 19 April. Prince Michael also initiated construction of a theatre (the present National Theatre). In 1868 he was assassinated in Košutnjak.

ART

A photography by Anastas Jovanović, the monument to Prince Michael on Square of Liberty, and various portraits.

HISTORY

Knez Mihailova ulica (Prince Michael’s street) gained its final shape during the Prince Michael’s reign, when a Belgrade City Plan was completed and got the Prince’s name in 1870, two years after his death.

OUTSTANDING FIGURES

Prince Michael did not have any legitimate heirs, so his successor on the throne was Milan Obrenović, a grandson to Miloš’s brother, Jevrem.