In his youth he was cattle-keeper but he was early showing great battle temper and determination. Even while young he was defending girls from Turkish violence. In 1787 after he killed a Turk he fled to Austria, joined the volunteers and excelled in failed attempt to capture the Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade. He partook in war between Austria and Turkey (1788-1791).
After Peace of Svištovo he stayed in Serbia, settled in Topola and occupied with cattle keeping and trade. When dahias seized rule in Serbia and prepared execution of influenced people, knezes and priests, they decided to kill Karadjordje as well. Informed about Turkish intentions, he saved while killing two men from company that was sent to execute him and then rebelled to mountains. Soon after that he was choosen in Orašac for leader of the rebellion at February 2nd 1804.
Courageous, determined and with great personal authority, he soon accomplished nice successes. In two months he stirred up to mutiny whole Belgrade pasaluk. At first whole mutiny was led under pretext of liberation from dahias, even for strengthening of central authority, but after Battle of Ivankovac in 1805 he started open combat with very Turkey and Sultan's authority for general liberation of Serbs. As army leader he excelled in 1806 in excellent victories in Battle of Mišar and Battle of Deligrad; by the end of that year he captured Belgrade and made alliance with Russia. In spring of 1809 he started successful offensive toward Montenegro but he had to return because of Turkish penetration from Niš toward Danube.
Endangered by Napoleon, in 1812 Russia had to settle peace with Turkey. Serbs then stayed alone and open to Turkish revenge. In 1813 Turks attacked Serbia from three sides; in hardest moment Karadjordje got ill and, weak from disease, he left Serbia on September 21st 1813 and crossed to Austria and, after some time, to Bessarabia, where he connected with secret Greek society Heteria, which was planning for liberation of all Christians from Turks. Helped by members of Heteria, Karadjordje went with fake passport to Serbia and stepped on Serbian soil on June 28th 1817.
Frightened by Karadjordje's coming, both for himself and for Serbia, which could perish again in another struggle, knez Miloš ordered his execution which was soon acomplished.
Karadjordje is the greatest personality of modern Serbia. He moved Serbs to fight in which old state is restored and a hinge is created around which all parts of Serb people could gather.
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Preceded by: None | House of Karadjordjević |
Succeeded by: Aleksandar Karadjordjević |
Translated with small changes from small encyclopedia "Sveznanje" published by "Narodno delo", Belgrade, in 1937 which is today in public domain. This article is written from the point of view of that place and time and may not reflect modern opinions or recent discoveries. Please help Wikipedia by bringing it up to date.