the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

However, neither of these powers was ready to commit their resources behind
Karadjordje. Austrian Chancellor Clemence Metternich rejected the Serbian offer to
annex their country and offered to mediate their dispute with the Turks. 30 Thus,
Karadjordje realized that Russia was the only great power willing to support him against
Turkey. Besides, the pro-Russian faction grew stronger among the Serbs and pressured
Karadjordje to appeal to Alexander for the aid. However, Karadjordje had to overcome
Bagration’s refusal to accept the Serbian national council’s rejection of the Russian
representative. Prince Peter demanded the Serbs accept Rodofinikin and renew
cooperation with Russia. In addition, he gave Rodofinikin secret instructions to prevent
any Turkish attempt to negotiate an agreement with the Serbs. 31
With the threat of the Turkish invasion eliminated, the internal struggle in Serbia
soon intensified. Milovanovic influenced Karadjordje to get rid of his rivals. 32
Karadjordje’s opponents accused him of assuming dictatorial powers and manipulating
the delegations to distort facts during negotiations with Bagration. Faced with strong
opposition, Karadjordje conceded and new Serbian delegation included the members of
opposition. 33 On 6 December, they delivered a letter to Bagration inviting Rodofinikin to
return to Serbia and appealing for military aid. Bagration was also asked to set up an
29 Rodofinikin to Bagration, 24 October 1809, Ibid., 225. Dubrovin noted that Karadjordje
tended to exaggerate the threats and he misunderstood Russian actions in 1808-1809. During their
negotiations with the French, the Serbian delegates complained that Russia failed to fulfill its
promises. Meriage to Champagny, 21 February 1810, Ogis Bop [Auguste Boppe] ed.,
Karadjordje I Francuska. Dokumenti o dogadjajima Srbije sa Napoleonom I (1809-1814),
Otadzbina, XIX (1888), 336-38.
30 Meriage, Russia and the First Serbian Revolution, 197-98; Vucinich, “The Serbian
Insurgents and the Russo-Turkish War of 1809-1812,” in The First Serbian Uprising, 1804-1813,
146-51; Djordjevic, Politiçka istorija Srbije, 263-65.
31 Bagration to Rodofinikin, 1 December 1809; Rofodinikin to Bagration, 12 December 1809,
Bagration to Rumyantsev, 25 December 1809, 10 January 1810, VPR, V, 313, 325-26, 343, 682;
Arsenijevic-Batalaka, Istorija Prvog Srpskog Ustanka, 786-87; Djordjevic, Politiçka istorija
Srbije, 265-71.
226-27.
32 Dubrovin, “Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 2 (1865):
33 The delegation included Milan Obrenovic, Petar Dobrnjac and Archimandrite Melentje,
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