Early life
Dimitrije Davidović, born in Zemun on 12 October 1789, was the son of Gavrilo and Marija Georgijević. In 1789 his father, a regiment priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Austrian Army, was transferred to Zemun after the taking of the area from the Ottoman Empire. His grandfather, Very Rev. David Georgijević, was a professor at the famed Latin School (Latinska škola) at Sremski Karlovci, founded by Metropolitan Pavle Nenadović of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Dimitrije was a sickly child and as such was inclined to read and write instead of playing outdoors. He completed Serbian grammar school in Zemun and the Protestant lyceum of Kežmarok, and his post-secondary education, at Sremski Karlovci, was guided by his professor of Latin, his paternal grandfather Georgijević. From there he then went to the universities of Pest andPublishing pioneer
While studying medicine in Vienna in 1812, Dimitrije Davidović wanted to start a Serbian newspaper but could not get a license which was personally denied by Klemens von Metternich himself. About 1813, in conjunction with a fellow student, Dimitrije Frušić, he founded and edited a Serbian newspaper in Vienna called ''Novine serbske iz carstvujuščeg grada Viene'' (Serbian news from the Imperial City of Vienna), and ''Zabavnik'' (Entertainment), in which many interesting particulars respecting the literature and political history of Serbia was published. Like Stefan von Novaković, his predecessor, Davidović believed that any people who would like to be recognized as enlightened must have its national newspapers and magazines, which are essentially important for the four million Serbs living under the Habsburg yoke at the time. His ''Novine serbske iz carstvajuscega grada Viene'' (Serbian news from the Imperial City of Vienna)soon changed its direction from translations of travelogues, biographies, and writings on history to national issues (current events) and Serbian literature. Among the contributors in his newspaper and magazine wereSecretary to Prince Miloš Obrenović of Serbia
His talents gained him the favourable notice of Prince Miloš (Obrenović) of Serbia, who appointed Davidović secretary of his offices at Belgrade, and sent him on special diplomatic missions. According to prince Miloš's judgement Davidović was "exceptionally talented in diplomacy." He resided in Belgrade and enjoyed the continued favour of the court. He headed the Serbian diplomatic delegation in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey, from 1829 to 1833. He is considered by Serbian historians as one of the most important diplomats of his era. In one of Davidović's patriotic appeals on 3 August 1821 he pointed out the need for female children's education. Since the state was technically at war with the Turks and almost unable to concern itself with the opening of a girls' school which at the time was prohibited by Moslem (Turkish) law. He was Minister of Education and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 8 June 1834 to 2 December 1835.Candlemas Constitution
In 1835 he was placed at the head of a committee to draw up a Serbian constitution; and it was, after all, chiefly drawn up by himself. Called "Sretenje Ustav" ( Candlemas Constitution) it was drafted by Dimitrije Davidović to secure Serbia protection of citizens before the state and transformation of Serbia into a legal state with protected human and property rights for all. It was the first step toward power-sharing in modern Serb political history. But it was not to be expected that such sweeping changes could be affected without opposition, and no sooner the Sublime Porte and Austria brought their grievances against the implemented Sretenje. Prince Miloš yielded to them, but many of Davidović's followers were not so complacent, and it was only by threat of force of arms that the new constitution was abolished after being less than three weeks in force. Davidović and Prince Miloš sadly parted company under political pressure. Davidović withdrew from Belgrade to Smederevo, where he died three years later.Legacy
House of Dimitrije Davidović
The House of Dimitrije Davidović is located inSee also
* Avram Petronijević * Toma Vučić-Perišić * Ilija Garašanin * Aleksa Simić * Milutin SavićNote
References
* Translated and adapted from the Serbian Wikipedia: Димитрије Давидовић * Translated and adapted from Jovan Skerlić's Istorija nove srpske knjizevnosti (Belgrade, 1914, 1921) pages 152-153 * Historical Library in Serbian: http://www.istorijskabiblioteka.com/art:dimitrije-davidovićExternal links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davidovic, Dimitrije 1789 births 1838 deaths People from Zemun People from the Principality of Serbia Writers from Belgrade Serbian journalists Serbian diplomats Law of Serbia 19th-century Serbian people Burials at Serbian Orthodox monasteries and churches Foreign ministers of Serbia Education ministers of Serbia Interior ministers of Serbia Habsburg Serbs Emigrants from the Austrian Empire Prime ministers of Serbia Politicians from Belgrade