Figure 1.-- This is a modern painting by Paja Jovanovic. He painted it sometime around 1900. Jovanovic depicts the Serbs abandoning their homes during the Second Migration of the Serbs after the Austrian-Turkish War (18th century). The painting is called 'The Migration of the Serbs'. The First Migration of the Serbs was led by Patriarch Arsenije 111 Carnojevic. The Second depicted here was led by Patriarch Arsenije 1V Jovanovic. Austria and Turkey fought a series of wars in the Balkans. The Turks even besieged Vienna. The wars were finally ended by the Treaty of Karlorac (1699) and Belgrade (1739). The Ottoman Turks remained in control of most of Serbia until the 19th century. Historic scenes like this still have great resonance with Serbian nationalists.

The expanding Ottoman Empire after conqueing Serbia fought wars with the major European powers (Russia, Poland, Austria, Venice the Papal States, and other Italian states, and Spain. There was often alliances or understandings with other European powers involved in conflict s with the powers the Ottomans engaged. This was especially the case with France. The wars were fought on a broad front from the Steppes of southern Russia to naval engagements in the Mediterranean. The European powers often fought united to fight the Ottomans. The papacy helped organize these alliances, reffered to as the Holy Alliance. The composition of these alliances, however, varied over time. The turning point in these wars was the Spanish/Holy Alliance victory at Lepanto (1571). This guaranteed European naval mastery of the Miditerranean. It would, however, be some some before Ottoman armies would be decisively defeated. Thus Serb aspirations were first focused on the Austrians. The European powers, especially the Austrians, sought aid from the Serbs for the wars fought in the Balkans and southern Europe. One of the most important of these wars was the Austrian-Turkish War (1593-1606). The Serbs rose in Banat (the Pannonian region of Turkey (1594). The Sultan retaliated by burning the remains of St. Sava, the most revered relic of the Serbs people. Another major conflict was the Great War (1683-90) fought between the Ottomans and the Holy Alliance. The Holy Alliance was orgnized by the Pope and included Austria, Poland, and Venice. The Holy Alliance incited the Serbs to rebel against the Ottomans in hope of liberation. Uprisings and guerrilla actions spread throughout the Serb areas of the western Balkans. They were supported by the Austrian Army. Unable to defeat the Ottomans, however, the Austrians decided to withdraw their armies from Serbia. The Austrians encouraged the Serbian ppopulation to accompany them north and settle in Austrian territories of the northern Balkans. Fearful of Ottoman retaliation and drawn to the opportunity of living in a Christian land, large numbers of Serbs abandoned their homes and migrated north. They were led by Patriarch Arsenije Carnojevic in what has become known as the First Migration. As a result, areas of the Ottoman controlled southern Balkans were esentially de-populated. This was a factor in the Islamization of several areas (Raska, Kosovo and Metohija and to a lesser extent Macedonia). Prince Eugene of Savoy launched another Austria-Turkish (1716-18). The Serbs again sided with the Austrians. Thus the areas with Serbian populations (Dalmatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to Belgrade and the Danube basin) became battlegrounds in the war. The war was ended by the Treaty of Pozarevac. Austria made major gains. Turkey lost its possessions in the Danube basin, including Croatia, northern Bosnia, parts of Dalmatia and the Peloponnesus. The final Austrian-Turkish war was the Dubica War (1788-91). The Austrians urged the Christians in Bosnia to rebel against the Ottomans. At this time, Europe's attention turned inward with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The Serb focus shifted from the Austrians to the Russians. The rise of Russia in the 17th century was culminated by Tsar Peter's victories in the Great Northern War. Russia under Catherine turned south and achieved major victories against the Ottomans. The Serbs began to look increasingly on Russia as an ally against the Ottomans. Here there were linguistic, etnic, and cultural (especially religious) ties. Russian military victories against the Ottomans played a major role in Sebian independence. The Serbs and other Christian preoples in the Balkans exerted their independence in the 19th century and fought wars with the Ottomans and themselves. And during this process the Serbs increasing saw the Russiahns as an ally and the Austrians as a rival.

Background

The expanding Ottoman Empire after conqueing Serbia fought wars with the major European powers (Russia, Poland, Austria, Venice the Papal States, and other Italian states, and Spain. There was often alliances or understandings with other European powers involved in conflict s with the powers the Ottomans engaged. This was especially the case with France. The wars were fooght on a broad front from the Steppes of southern Russia to naval engagements in the Mediterranean. The European powers often fought united to fight the Ottomans. The papacy helped organize these alliances, reffered to as the Holy Alliance. The composition of these alliances, however, varied over time. The turning point in these wars was the Spanish/Holy Alliance victory at Lepanto (1571). This guaranteed European naval mastery of the Miditerranean. It would, however, be some some before Ottoman armies would be decisively defeated and the Serbs and other Christian peoples of the Balkans liberated.

The Austrians

Thus Serb aspirations were first focused on the Austrians. The European powers, especially the Austrians, sought aid from the Serbs for the wars fought in the Balkans and southern Europe. One of the most important of these wars was the Austrian-Turkish War (1593-1606). The Serbs rose in Banat (the Pannonian region of Turkey (1594). The Sultan retaliated by burning the remains of St. Sava, the most revered relic of the Serbs people. Another major conflict was the Great War (1683-90) fought between the Ottomans and the Holy Alliance. The Holy Alliance was orgnized by the Pope and included Austria, Poland, and Venice. The Holy Alliance incited the Serbs to rebel against the Ottomans in hope of liberation. Uprisings and guerrilla actions spread throughout the Serb areas of the western Balkans. They were supported by the Austrian Army. Unable to defeat the Ottomans, however, the Austrians decided to withdraw their armies from Serbia. The Austrians encouraged the Serbian ppopulation to accompany them north and settle in Austrian territories of the northern Balkans. Fearful of Ottoman retaliation and drawn to the opportunity of living in a Christian land, large numbers of Serbs abandoned their homes and migrated north. They were led by Patriarch Arsenije Carnojevic in what has become known as the First Migration. As a result, areas of the Ottoman controlled southern Balkans were esentially de-populated. This was a factor in the Islamization of several areas (Raska, Kosovo and Metohija and to a lesser extent Macedonia). Prince Eugene of Savoy launched another Austria-Turkish (1716-18). The Serbs again sided with the Austrians. Thus the areas with Serbian populations (Dalmatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to Belgrade and the Danube basin) became battlegrounds in the war. The war was ended by the Treaty of Pozarevac. Austria made major gains. Turkey lost its possessions in the Danube basin, including Croatia, northern Bosnia, parts of Dalmatia and the Peloponnesus. The final Austrian-Turkish war was the Dubica War (1788-91). The Austrians urged the Christians in Bosnia to rebel against the Ottomans. At this time, Europe's attention turned inward with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.

The Russians

The Serb focus in the 18th century shifted from the Austrians to the Russians. The rise of Russia in the 17th century was culminated by Tsar Peter's victories in the Great Northern War. Russia under Catherine turned south and achieved major victories against the Ottomans. The Serbs began to look increasingly on Russia as an ally against the Ottomans. Here there were linguistic, etnic, and cultural (especially religious) ties. Russian military victories against the Ottomans played a major role in Sebian independence. The Serbs and other Christian preoples in the Balkans exerted their independence in the 19th century and fought wars with the Ottomans and themselves. And during this process the Serbs increasing saw the Russiahns as an ally and the Austrians as a rival. And it would be this rivalry that would spark World War I with the assaination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian terrorist.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main Serbian history page]
[Return to the Main European history page]
[Return to the Main Serbian page]
[Australia] [Austria] [Belgium] [England] [France] [Germany] [Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [Korea] [Mexico] [New Zealand] [Scotland] [United States]

Created: 8:37 PM 2/24/2008
Last updated: 10:05 PM 10/16/2010