Milivoje Blaznavac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac
Миливоје Петровић Блазнавац |
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| President of the Ministry of Serbia | |
| In office 22 August 1872 – 5 April 1873 |
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| Monarch | Milan I |
| Preceded by | Radivoje Milojković |
| Succeeded by | Jovan Ristić |
| Minister of War | |
| In office 10 August 1872 – 23 March 1873 |
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| Prime Minister | Radivoje Milojković Himself |
| Preceded by | Jovan Belimarković |
| Succeeded by | Jovan Belimarković |
| In office 2 April 1865 – 21 June 1868 |
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| Prime Minister | Ilija Garašanin Jovan Ristić Nikola Hristić |
| Preceded by | Hippolyte Mondain |
| Succeeded by | Jovan Belimarković |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 May 1824 Blaznava, Principality of Serbia |
| Died | 5 April 1873 (aged 48) Belgrade, Principality of Serbia |
| Spouse |
Katarina Konstantinović
(m. 1868–1873) |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature |  |
Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac (Serbian Cyrillic: Миливоје Петровић Блазнавац; 16 May 1824 – 5 April 1873) was an important Serbian general and politician. He served as a regent for Prince Milan from 1868 to 1872. He also led the government as Prime Minister from 1872 to 1873.
Blaznavac started his career as a police officer. He became involved in politics during a rebellion in 1842. He quickly rose through the ranks of the army. He was a trusted helper to Stevan Knićanin. After Knićanin's death, Ilija Garašanin helped him continue his rise.
In 1868, Prince Mihailo was assassinated. Blaznavac played a key role in making the young Prince Milan Obrenović the new ruler. Because Milan was underage, Blaznavac became one of three regents. His strong political style sometimes caused disagreements. He was known for favoring Austria in foreign policy.
After Prince Milan became old enough to rule in 1872, Blaznavac briefly served as head of the government. He died suddenly in April 1873.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac was born on May 16, 1824, in Blaznava. His father was a village merchant. His mother worked at the home of Prince Miloš Obrenović. There was a rumor that he might have been the prince's son. Blaznavac sometimes used this rumor to his advantage.
He finished elementary school in his village. Then, he learned the dyer's trade. But he soon joined the army. Later, he moved to the police force. He worked under Jovan Obrenović, who was the governor of the Rudnik district.
Service Under Prince Alexander Karađorđević
In 1842, there was a rebellion led by Toma Vučić Perišić. Blaznavac supported Vučić against the Obrenović family. He stopped an order that would have helped Prince Mihailo. Because of this, Jovan Obrenović punished him.
After Vučić's victory, Blaznavac moved to Belgrade. He started working for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He left the police in 1845. He then joined the army. In 1848, he became an adjutant (a military assistant) to Prince Alexander Karađorđević. During this time, he was a close friend of Stevan Knićanin. Knićanin was in charge of the prince's security.
Blaznavac later had a disagreement with Prince Alexander. But he remained loyal to Knićanin. He was sent to Vienna to watch the former Prince Miloš Obrenović. Blaznavac gained Miloš's trust. He reported on Miloš's plans to return to Serbia during the revolutions of 1848.
In 1848, Blaznavac went to Serbian Vojvodina. He fought with Serbian volunteer groups led by Stevan Knićanin. He was Knićanin's assistant in several battles. After returning to Serbia, Blaznavac decided to get more education. He studied chemistry in Vienna and Paris. He also spent time at a military academy in Metz. He received an award for his research.
During the Crimean War, Blaznavac went on several diplomatic trips. He met with important ministers and ambassadors in Vienna. In late 1854, Stevan Knićanin became Interior Minister. He made Blaznavac the commander of the military department. This put Blaznavac in charge of military matters in Serbia.
Knićanin died soon after. Blaznavac then sought new powerful friends. He gained the trust of Ilija Garašanin. He used the power struggles between Garašanin and Prince Alexander to his advantage. He talked with foreign consulates, including those from Austria, Russia, and France. In 1858, he was promoted to colonel. This was the highest rank in the Serbian army at the time.
Service Under Prince Mihailo Obrenović
In 1858, the Assembly voted to bring Prince Miloš Obrenović back to power. Blaznavac wanted to stage a coup to protect the Karađorđević family. But Ilija Garašanin hesitated. Soon after, Blaznavac was arrested. He was sent back to his village of Blaznava. He also lost all his titles.
After Prince Miloš died in 1860, Blaznavac returned to public life. He became the manager of a smelter in Kragujevac. Prince Mihailo was careful about giving Blaznavac a higher position. Blaznavac then became friends with Anka Konstantinović. She was the prince's cousin. Anka and Ilija Garašanin helped Blaznavac. He was named Minister of War in April 1865.
Blaznavac used political struggles to stay in power. He shared information between different groups and with the prince. He had wanted to marry Katarina Konstantinović, Anka's daughter, himself. This was before Prince Mihailo showed interest in her. Blaznavac sided with Anka. This helped him keep his position, even though his work was sometimes criticized.
Regent for Prince Milan
On May 29, 1868, Prince Mihailo was assassinated. The government planned to have the Grand National Assembly choose a new ruler. But Blaznavac led a coup d'état (a sudden takeover of power). He used the Belgrade army to declare Milan Obrenović the new prince. Milan was only fourteen years old. He was the grandson of Prince Miloš's brother, Jevrem.
Since Milan was a minor, Blaznavac became one of his regents. The other regents were Jovan Gavrilović and Jovan Ristić. Ristić was a moderate liberal. He used the regency to create a new constitution in 1869. This constitution gave more power to the National Assembly. This move reduced Blaznavac's influence. It also lessened the power of the army officers who supported him. Ristić also worked to reduce Blaznavac's strong pro-Austrian foreign policy. He tried to build stronger ties with Russia instead. This helped balance Serbia's relationships with these two powerful countries.
Premiership and Sudden Death
Prince Milan became old enough to rule in 1872. He was not happy with Ristić because of the new constitution. So, he made Blaznavac the first-ever General in the Serbian army. He also appointed him Prime Minister in late 1872. However, Blaznavac's time as Prime Minister was very short.
Blaznavac died suddenly from a heart attack on April 5, 1873. He was buried in the family tomb of Jevrem Obrenović in Rakovica.
Personal Life
Blaznavac was married to Katarina Konstantinović. She had previously been engaged to Prince Mihailo Obrenović. Blaznavac had actually wanted to marry Katarina even before Prince Mihailo showed interest in her. They had a son named Vojislav Blaznavac, who became a cavalry Colonel.
See also
- List of prime ministers of Serbia
Images for kids
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Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac
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Milivoje P Blaznavac Signature
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Blaznavac with the remaining two regents Jovan Ristić and Jovan Gavrilović
