“There, Your Excellency! When the Russians make another Skull Tower like this, from Serbian heads, and place mine on top of them, only then will the Bulgarians get Niš!”
With these heavy words, Serbian Prince Milan Obrenović addressed the Russian consul at the end of the Second Serbo-Turkish War in 1878. During those pivotal days and weeks for the future of our young principality, a major diplomatic struggle was taking place over the southern Serbian territories, which had just been liberated from centuries of Turkish rule. The Treaty of San Stefano stipulated significantly smaller territorial gains for Serbia than those won by its army. To the detriment of our principality, a Greater Bulgaria was being created that was supposed to include even the city of Niš. For Prince Milan and the Serbian government, such an outcome was out of the question. Afraid that they might find themselves in the newly created Bulgarian state, Serbs from Vranje, Pirot, Trn, Breznik, and Niš sent telegrams to Prince Milan, thanking him for their liberation and pleading with him not to allow their homes to remain outside Serbia’s borders.
In the summer of 1878, however, the Treaty of San Stefano was revised at a great congress in the old German city on the Spree River. The main speaker was the powerful German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, while Serbia was represented in this diplomatic arena by the hero of our story, a seasoned diplomat and top intellectual – Jovan Ristić. On the stage of the Berlin Congress, he masterfully played the role of his life. When it was most difficult and, at the same time, most important, his diplomatic gift shone through. Thanks to Ristić’s political tact and patience, his negotiating skills, as well as the influence and respect he enjoyed in high European circles, Serbia secured the most that could be obtained at the time!
More than 140 years have passed since the largest international congress of the 19th century, and more than 120 since the death of this great diplomat. However, his legacy to his people has not faded at all; on the contrary, it still forms the foundation of modern and independent Serbia.
Jovan Ristić was born in Kragujevac on January 16, 1831, into a poor family. His father, Rista, died early, and he was left to live with his mother, Marija. From a young age, he strove to overcome poverty, achieving excellent results in elementary school. Even in his early youth, Ristić was distinguished by his exceptional intelligence and wit. Recognizing his great potential, a family friend sent him to Belgrade for further schooling, where Ristić successfully completed high school. In the principality’s capital, he soon became a member of the “Serbian Youth Society,” an organization founded at the Belgrade Lyceum, which immediately established close ties with Serbian students in the Habsburg Monarchy. Ristić, as a scholarship recipient of the Principality of Serbia, earned his Lyceum diploma and then continued his studies in Berlin, where he fit in exceptionally well with the social environment of this European metropolis, where he would have the opportunity to gain valuable experience and important acquaintances.
Ristić would earn a Ph.D. in philosophy at the prestigious University of Heidelberg, and during his studies in Germany, he would also meet the famous historian Leopold von Ranke. First as a professor and mentor, and later as a true friend and reliable ally, Ranke would play a very important role in the life of this Serbian diplomat. He was also a great admirer of our people and their heroic struggle for freedom and independence, and he wrote the work “The Serbian Revolution.” It should be noted that Jovan Ristić continued his successful studies at one of the most respected universities in the world, the Sorbonne in Paris. It is interesting that throughout his studies, the young Ristić imagined himself as a historian, while by a twist of fate, his life’s odyssey would assign him other, much more significant roles.
Upon his return to his homeland, Ristić soon entered state service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1854. His potential and high education were recognized by the then-prime minister, the experienced Serbian politician Ilija Garašanin. Not long after, he met young Sofija, his future wife and the daughter of the respected merchant Hadži Toma. Her family was highly respected and influential in Serbian society, and this marriage, in addition to wealth, would bring him the favor of many powerful Serbs of that time, especially the Obrenović dynasty. Jovan Ristić’s political and diplomatic career practically began with the return of this nation-building Serbian dynasty to the throne. Due to the strained relations between the Principality of Serbia and the Ottoman Empire, Garašanin sent Ristić to Constantinople in 1861. This mission would prove to be just the beginning of his successful and fruitful career, in which he would win numerous state successes for his country.
One of the first was certainly the withdrawal of the Turkish garrison from Belgrade in 1867. A great contribution to this historical moment for our country was made by the brilliant Ristić, who was already a respected Serbian ambassador. As a reward for his successful diplomatic service on the Bosphorus, Jovan Ristić was given the title of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Soon after, Prince Mihailo would also assign Ristić the position of prime minister, but given his liberal principles, he could not accept being the head of a government full of conservative politicians. At this point, a disagreement arose between the prince and his distinguished official, and Nikola Hristić was appointed to the position offered to Ristić. Although skilled and pragmatic in foreign policy matters, Jovan Ristić did not have enough tact and patience to curry favor with his rulers, first Mihailo and later Milan Obrenović. The following year, 1868, a brutal assassination took place in Košutnjak, which shook both Serbia and the entire Balkans. After the murder of Prince Mihailo, almost all power in the country was taken over by Colonel Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac. The situation threatened to escalate into a very dangerous security and political crisis in the state, which was prevented by Blaznavac, a controversial but very capable Serbian officer. At that time, among the ministers who were meeting, the question of Mihailo’s successor was raised, as well as the future of the country itself: “The late Prince Mihailo, unfortunately, had no heir,” said Ilija Garašanin to the assembled ministers. “Mihailo didn’t have one, but the dynasty does!” the determined Blaznavac replied sharply. He then designated the late ruler’s underage nephew, Milan Obrenović, who was also the grandson of the famous Gospodar Jevrem, as the new Prince of Serbia. The government and ministers could do nothing but obey the forceful Blaznavac. The colonel then mounted his horse and rushed towards the lined-up units on the main city streets: “Long live Serbian Prince Milan Obrenović IV!”
The colonel shouted as loud as he could, galloping through the town. Soon, the army accepted it with a roar, and the entire capital echoed: “Long live! Long live! Long live!” However, at that moment, the new prince was in Paris, where he was attending the Lyceum. Blaznavac sent Jovan Ristić to bring Milan to the country. Upon their return, the National Assembly formed a three-member Regency, of which Ristić was also a member. In the coming period, he would practically compete with the quick-tempered colonel for influence over the young, inexperienced prince. His appointment as regent would lead to the strengthening of the liberal current in the country. Ristić immediately began working on the reorganization of the state administration, and on his initiative, a discussion about the need for a new Constitution began. In June of the following year, 1869, the Regency Constitution, whose draft was written by Jovan Ristić himself, was passed. With it, he also wanted to introduce another progressive achievement of European monarchies of that time, based on the Prussian state apparatus. This refers to a bicameral system of assembly organization. This would largely prevent party manipulation and give people the opportunity to vote directly for their popular representatives.
Unfortunately, in Serbia at that time, which was still not sufficiently politically aware and emancipated, there was no understanding for such aspirations. It is interesting, however, that this concept of Ristić’s was only accepted by the future king Aleksandar Obrenović, who actually introduced it into our parliamentary practice with the April Constitution of 1901. With that state act, the Senate was formed as the upper house of parliament, alongside the National Assembly. This was the only time in Serbian history that such an arrangement of legislative power existed.
Regarding foreign policy, Ristić advocated for the national Serbian interests of the second half of the 19th century, and he primarily saw Russia as the main ally and collaborator on that path. The most difficult challenge in the life and career of Jovan Ristić would follow, as we saw at the beginning, after the Serbo-Russian victory in 1878. Although an ally of Serbia in that war, Russia greatly disappointed the Serbian public with the Treaty of San Stefano. It was then that the ingenious Ristić entered the political scene of the Old Continent. Prince Milan, as a proven fighter for Serbian national interests, appointed him as the main envoy of the Principality at the Berlin Congress. In the following weeks and months, he would tirelessly travel to European capitals, from legation to legation, in an effort to win as much as possible for Serbia. From his diplomatic activities at that time, the motto emerged: “Think what you will, but take what you can!”
He worked patiently and diligently, persistently insisting on being received and heard by the influential politicians and statesmen of the era. Among others, he was received by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, to whom Ristić presented Serbian aspirations and requests. Although Serbia did not have the official right to participate in the congress, thanks to Ristić’s acquaintances and skillful diplomacy, its voice was heard in distant Berlin during those days. After numerous talks and negotiations, the tireless Ristić finally concluded an economic agreement with the Austro-Hungarian Count Andrássy. It was decided that four liberated districts would be annexed to Serbia: Niš, Pirot, Vranje, and Toplica, while the Principality itself was granted international independence. Serbia thus regained a part of its enslaved people, increasing the territory of the principality by 40 percent.
This magnificent triumph of informal Serbian diplomacy rounded off the decades-long struggle of the Serbs for their independence. A satisfied Ristić then sent a telegram to the National Assembly in Kragujevac, informing the deputies of the outcome of the Berlin negotiations. On July 14, 1878, he would officially appear before the people’s representatives in his hometown and announce the won independence of the Principality of Serbia. Congratulations and sympathies for the “birth” of the 27th independent state in the world came from all sides. Ristić’s former mentor and professor, Leopold von Ranke, told his student in a letter:
“Independence is the greatest treasure Serbia could get. Independence is the foundation on which states are made and secure their future!” To these words of support, Jovan Ristić thanked him and added: “What freedom is to a man, independence is to a state!”
European public opinion, as well as the world press, did not hide their sympathy for the young Serbian principality and its heroic struggle. The American New York Times, in an article titled: “The youngest European state,” highlighted the great contribution of the Serbian army in the fight against the Ottoman power on European soil. Also, a London newspaper published an article under the title “Serbia, the youngest member of the European family.” Ristić himself, just like Prince Milan, realized after the past events that it was necessary to act more pragmatically. “Do not definitively break with any power, nor definitively bind yourself to any,” he would say.
After Berlin, new political and diplomatic battles in the Balkans would await Ristić in the coming years. Thanks to his engagement and cooperation with Metropolitan Mihailo, whom he sent for an audience with Patriarch Joachim III, the complete independence of the Serbian church was also soon won. Although subjected to fierce pressure and criticism, especially from Pašić’s radicals, Ristić’s government also successfully resolved the railway issue, which would ultimately be a grandiose legacy for future generations. Through Ristić’s personal efforts, in cooperation with King Milan, special attention was directed towards the development of Niš and other annexed southern Serbian towns. After a successful and fruitful state-building cooperation between these two great Serbs, but also growing animosity and mutual turbulence on a private level, the inevitable parting of King Milan and Ristić would come.
The last state function in his rich career would be the position of regent again, this time to the heir to the throne, Aleksandar, the last ruler of Serbia from the Obrenović dynasty. The period of the third regency was characterized by numerous political and party disputes, mainly between the radicals and the liberals. The political crisis was gaining momentum, so the seventeen-year-old Aleksandar decided to take power from the Regency a year earlier, declaring himself an adult in 1893. In this way, he carried out a coup d’état, supported, however, by the military circles of the kingdom. The support of the radicals, which the new king, an unquestionably bright and shrewd young man, had secured before this act, was crucial, as the radicals had a strong electoral base and a strong foothold among the masses. In such a constellation of forces, and given that the sudden change of regent was not condemned by Europe, Jovan Ristić could only accept the new state of affairs and submit his resignation to the king.
Towards the end of his life, this great Serbian statesman, historian, and diplomat would become president of the Serbian Royal Academy. In addition to his faithful and dedicated service to the homeland, Ristić also studiously engaged in scientific work, leaving valuable historical writings for future generations, such as: “External Relations of Serbia 1848-1872” and “Diplomatic History of Serbia 1875-1878.”
What Thomas Jefferson was to the newly formed American state, Jovan Ristić was to the Principality of Serbia. There is indeed a marvelous parallel between these two world-class statesmen. Only 5 years after Jefferson’s death, Ristić was born. Both were diplomatic representatives of their countries in European metropolises and spoke several foreign languages fluently. Both were at the head of influential political parties they personally founded, were at the very top of the state apparatus, and at one point in their political careers were considered the gray eminence in their countries. Our Ristić, like Jefferson, was a very gifted writer, and just like him regarding the Declaration of Independence, Jovan took the leading role in creating the Serbian Constitution. Also, both can be credited with a huge contribution to the increase of state territory. Namely, Jefferson played a key role in the purchase of the land of what is now the State of Louisiana from France, while Ristić, as we have already seen, contributed to the expansion of Serbia to its southern and eastern regions.
The doyen of Serbian diplomacy and one of the greatest statesmen in our modern history, died in Belgrade on September 4, 1899. He left an indelible mark on modern Serbian statehood and paved the way for the development of our diplomacy. It is Jovan Ristić, with his grandiose character and work, who will become an inspiration and role model for generations of subsequent Serbian ministers, ambassadors, and consuls in the international political arena.
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Written by: Luka Ugrica for the Center for International Public Policy Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons