Miloš Obrenović

He participated in the First Serbian uprising to its very end in 1813. He was one of the few leaders of the rebellion that stayed in Serbia to face the vengeful returning Turks. Accordingly, in April 1815 he instigated the Second Serbian uprising becoming Serbia's apsolute leader.

By 1817 the Turks beat Miloš's armies but not before he negotiated with Marashli-pasha. Miloš's diplomacy achieved Serbia's autonomy under the Ottomans leaving him in power though recognizing the Ottoman state. Serb citizens often rebelled against Miloš's autocratic rule. Following a rebellion of Serb citizens against his autocratic and often brutal methods of rule, Miloš adopted a Constitution in 1835. This caused negative reactions from neighbouring Austria, the ruling Ottoman Empire and Russia. Metternich's Austria particularly ridiculed the constitution for giving Serbia a flag and a ministry of foreign affairs. Miloš withdraw the constitution at the demand of Russia and Turkey. It is believed that the three great empires saw the constitution as too much of a provocation for their own autocratic rule.

In two Sultan's Hatisherifs , first in 1830 and a second in 1833 which expanded the same rights to a wider area, Serbia was proclaimed a suzerain principality with Miloš Obrenović as hereditary prince. A Metropolitante of Serbia was established in Belgrade, autonomous from the Patriarch of Constantinople. Russia's status as the guarantor of Serbia's autonomy was also recognized.