Czerny George

Czerny George (Turkish Karadjordje)—i.e. Black George, the leader of the Servians in their struggles for independence, was born of poor parents, 21st December 1766, near Kragujevatch. He took part in a rising against the Turks in 1787, and was subsequently a cattle-dealer. In August 1801, a band of janizaries broke into his dwelling, and plundered it. Czerny fled, vowing vengeance. He soon collected a band of malcontents, and commenced a sort of guerilla war. Gradually his numbers increased, and in 1804 he captured the fortress of Schabaz. Subsequently, he invested Belgrade, and in the beginning of 1806 routed the Turks at the rivers Drina and Morawa. Assisted secretly by Russia, he captured Belgrade in December 1806. After the treaty of Slobosje (8th July 1808), he was elected governor by the people, and recognised as Prince of Servia by the sultan. The French invasion of Russia in 1812 compelled the latter country to let Servia shift for itself. Hostilities recommenced; the Turks were successful, and Czerny had to flee to Austria, where he lived for some time. Meanwhile, the freedom of Servia had again been secured through the leadership of Milosch Obrenowitch; and when, in July 1817, Czerny returned, he was murdered at the instigation of Prince Milosch.