Serbian Diplomatic Representatives in Constantinople from the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations to the Balkan Wars (1879–1912)

Abstract

Since the establishment of bilateral relations between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire in 1879, the most educated and capable persons has been appointed and sent to the post of deputies. The capital of the Ottoman Empire for Serb national, political, economic and cultural interests was of paramount importance during the last quarter of the nineteenth and the first decades of the twentieth century. From Istanbul, educational policy was co-ordinated among Serb compatriots, and a deputy in Constantinople was in charge of all Serbian consuls in the Turkish provinces. A very responsible and demanding place of the diplomatic representative of Serbia on the Bosphorus was occupied by eminent Serbian scientists, politicians, statesmen. In the above chronological period, we distinguish, by quality and intensity, two periods. The first (1879–1903) is characterized by constant progress, of a moderate pace, while the features of the second (1905–1912) are stalled, tensions and frequent incidents. The official reports, as well as the private correspondence of Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from this era, are valuable testimonials and are a true data mine for studying not only political, but also educational, ethnographic, cultural and economic circumstances of the period.