SERBIAN DIPLOMATS

One of the pioneers of Serbian journalism and the founder of the Defenders of the Constitution movement, Davidovic significantly influenced the changes in the foreign policy of Prince Milos. He dedicated his life to the political and cultural progress of the young Serbian state.

Born in Zemun in 1789, Davidovic studied medicine in Vienna, where he met many prominent Serbs of that time, including Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic and Jernej Kopitar, who significantly affected his work. However, he soon left his studies, devoted himself to journalism and started first “Novine serbske” in 1813, and later the literary magazine “Zabavnik” (in a way, the forerunner of today’s Politika’s “Zabavnik”). He played a prominent role in the cultural life of Serbs in the Habsburg Monarchy.
During the first six years, “Novine serbske” recorded 1000 subscribers, of which one of the most important was Prota Mateja Nenadovic. It was noted that Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic published texts and polemics with opponents of reformist ideas about the Serbian language and spelling. The paper was published until 1821 and was of great importance in the development of Serbian journalism.

Prince’s Secretary

Returning to Serbia, more precisely to Kragujevac, in 1821, Dimitrije entered the service of Prince Milos Obrenovic, where he became the Prince’s secretary. At the beginning, he was entrusted with tasks of lesser importance, but working with a narrow circle of people close to the prince enabled him to be in the middle of all political events.

Prince Milos Obrenovic

In time, after a successful test of loyalty to Obrenovic, he became the Prince’s first secretary. In that position, often with no border between the private and state affairs, he proved to be very agile. He performed all the entrusted tasks on time, which was a bit unusual for the ruler’s environment.

Thus, his influence grew in the field of creating domestic and foreign policy. Some contemporaries considered him the prince’s first adviser, grand vizier and chancellor.
He delved more seriously into the problem of Serbian autonomy when he translated the Vlach hatisherif (1827). He was also comparing it with the requirements which Serbia submitted to Turkey. At the same time, he was making drafts for the Serbian hatisherif.

Thanks to his knowledge of Turkish language, he acted as a member of the delegation for negotiations with the Turks. He went on three missions in Constantinople and managed to complete the process of building a Serbian autonomous state.

As Prince’s secretary, he was responsible for the introduction of cultural institutions and the advancement of education. He was also the Minister of Education for a period of time, and occupied himself with literature and history.

“Novine serbske”, the first newspapers in Serbia and the official newspaper of the Principality of Serbia, started their publication in 1834. They were of a rather political character wile Davidovic was their editor.

Sretenje Constitution

Dimitrije respected the Prince, but he was often also in conflict with him and frequently submitted his resignations, which the Prince respectively denied. He was considered a man of the highest trust and the most deserving for the adoption of the Constitution of Sretenje, which he wrote in twenty days. The Constitution was very liberal in European politics at the time. It proclaimed the division of power into legislative, executive and judicial.

Cover page of the Sretenje Constitution

According to this Constitution, the president of the Council and all the officials, were elected and appointed by the Prince, with which was supposed to start a new period in the development of Serbian autonomy. However, the Constitution was in force for 55 days. Under the pressure of Russia, the Ottoman Empire and Austria, Prince Milos had to put it out of power, and Davidovic was soon removed from all state positions.

He was sent to Smederevo in 1835, and was given a house in the center of the city, a property in the area with 60 quality plum trees. In addition, he was also provided with 300 gold pennies a year. Davidovic lived alone there, as his wife and all his children died before him.

He passed away on his estate in 1838, where he was originally most likely buried. His remains were later transferred to the Smederevo cemetery, where the tomb was erected and preserved to this day.

He was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir VI degree, with the approval of Prince Milos, for his work on the Hatisherif from 1833.