Miloš Obrenović (1780-1860)
Serbian prince (knez) and progenitor of the dynasty of Obrenović which ruled over Serbia since 1815 till 1903 with a break between 1842 and 1859. He was involved at an early date in commercial affairs with his older brother Milan. After the start of insurrection in 1804 both of them joined it. Milan was the voivode of Rudnik, Požega and Užice districts (nahija). Miloš distinguished himself in battles, and after Milan's death (1811) inherited the title of voivode. Close to the end of insurrection, Miloš defended Užice, and after that constructed a ditch at Ravanj. He refused to emigrate after the insurrection collapse. He assisted Turks in breaking the rebellion of Hadžii (hajji) Prodan (district of Čačak, 1814), but due to increasing dissatisfaction of people, decided to start the Second Serbian Insurrection on 24 April 1815. After a short period of warfare, Miloš started negotiations and through exhausting diplomatic battle succeeded to gain autonomy for Serbia and hereditary principality for himself, as well as to disband feudal system and drive Turks away from Serbia (who remained only in several towns). Displeased with constitution, he abdicated in favour of his sons (Milan - who died early, and Mihailo) and stayed in Wallachia and Vienna until February 1859. After the expulsion of Aleksandar Karađorđević he returned to Serbia on 7 February 1859 and on 27 September 1860 died in his konak (lodge) in Topčider.