Čedomilj Mijatović.pdf

7/28/2019 Čedomilj Mijatović.pdf

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/cedomilj-mijatovicpdf 1/28

Slobodan G. Marković

Count Čedomilj Mijatović, a Leading Serbian Anglophile*

Čedomilj Mijatović was born in 842, in the then small town o Belgrade

in the autonomous Principality o Serbia, on the northernmost border o European urkey. By that time, the Principality had become largely eman-cipated rom the Ottoman Empire, yet urkish inuence was still evidentand Belgrade resembled an Oriental town.

Lack o knowledge on Serbia in Britain in the rst hal o the nineteenth century

When Mijatović was two, a popular travelogue was published in Britainby Alexander William Kinglake under the title Eothen.2 Te book went

through numerous editions and long served the British public as an inu-ential source o inormation on the Near East. Kinglake entered urkey atBelgrade, eeling that he had come “to the end o this wheel-going Europe,and now my eyes would see the splendour and havoc o the East”. On Ser-bian (and Bulgarian) cultural heritage, he commented:

Tere are ew countries less inested by “lions” than the provinces onthis part o your route: you are not called upon to “drop a tear” overthe tomb o “the once “brilliant” anybody, or to pay your “tribute o respect” to anything dead or alive; there are no Servian or Bulgarianlitterateurs with whom it would be positively disgraceul not to orman acquaintance…4

* My thanks to Dr. Eric Beckett Weaver or commenting on an earlier version o thispaper. Spelled in various sources in English as Chedomille, Chedomil, CsedomilleMijatovi(t)ch, Miyatovitch, Mijatovics, Mijatović and Mijatovic.2 A. W. Kinglake, Eothen, or, races o ravel brought Home rom the East (London: JohnOllivier, 844). A. W. Kinglake, Eothen (reprint; Lincoln: University o Nebraska Press, 970), .

4 Ibid ., 27–28.



Balcanica XXXVIII06

In a word, Serbia was virtually unknown in Britain at the time, and the samemay be said o any Serb o prominence. Tree years later Mrs. AlexanderKerr translated Ranke’s History o Servia . She concluded in her oreword

that Serbia and the neighbouring states were “almost terra incognita ; even tothe travellers who visit Vienna and Constantinople”. British perceptions o the Serbs in the period rom the First Serbian

Uprising (804–8) to the end o the First World War passed throughseveral phases. Inormation on Serbia was rather limited in Britain duringthe nineteenth century, especially prior to the Eastern Crisis (87–878). Te nine years o the First Serbian Uprising and various battles betweenthe Serb rebels and Ottoman orces went almost unnoticed in Britain. Teonly Serb who was sporadically mentioned in Britain was the leader o theFirst Serbian Uprising Karageorge or “Czerny George” as he was called inTe imes .6 Somewhat greater interest in Serbia was taken only in the late80s and during the Crimean War, and it was inspired by British consider-ations o the Eastern Question, and eorts to halt Russian penetration intothe Balkans.7 In 87, Britain appointed her rst consul in the Principality o Serbia, and this immediately contributed to British prestige in Serbiasince the British consul became a condant o the Serbian Prince, Miloš.In the middle o the nineteenth century, Britain was much better known inSerbia than Serbia was in Britain, but even so, in Serbia inormation on thesuperpower was limited and vague.

Čedomilj Mijatović in the 1860s

Tere was renewed interest in Serbia during the second reign o PrinceMichael Obrenović (860–868), especially at the time o the Ottoman

Leopold Ranke, A History o Servia and the Servian Revolution, translated rom Ger-man by Mrs. Alexander Kerr (London: John Murray, 847).6 Karageorge was the rst South Slav whose obituary was published in Te imes : “Cz-

erny Georges”, Te imes , Saturday, no. 0244, 6 September 87, 2 F; Cedomir Anticand Slobodan G. Markovic, 170 Years o British-Serbian (Yugoslav) Relations (Belgrade:British Embassy in Belgrade, 2007), 7; see also Veselin Kostić, “Karadjordje u engleskimizvorima prve polovine XIX veka” [Karageorge in English sources o the rst hal o thenineteenth century], Anali lološkog akulteta 9 (992), 489–496. Kostić even believesthat Karageorge “was a airly well-known gure in England in the rst decades o thenineteenth century”.7 On the relations between Serbia and Britain in the 80s and during the Crimean

War, see Stevan K. Pavlowitch, Anglo-Russian Rivalry in Serbia, 1837–1839: Te Missiono Colonel Hodges (Paris–Te Hague: Mouton, 96); and Čedomir Antić, Neutrality as

Independence: Great Britain, Serbia and the Crimean War (Belgrade: Institute or Balkan

Studies, 2007).



S. G. Marković, Čedomilj Mijatović, a Leading Serbian Anglophile 07

bombardment o Belgrade in 862, the year Mijatović turned twenty. Atthe time o his birth his parents had been Austrian citizens. Tey both camerom southern Hungarian Serbian amilies who had immigrated to Hun-

gary some two hundred years earlier. His ather Milan (80–82) was alawyer who came to Serbia rom southern Hungary and became a teacher o Latin, history and geography at the Belgrade First Gymnasium (grammarschool). His stepather, Vasilije Berar (†87), was an inspector and directoro the state printing house. But young Čedomilj was primarily inuenced by his beautiul and mystical mother, Rakila Kristina (826–90), who was o mixed Serbian-Spanish origin. Given Mijatović’s amily background, Ger-man was his major oreign language, and he studied in German-speakingareas between 86 and 86: in Leipzig in Saxony; in Munich in Bavaria;and in Zurich in Switzerland. His studies concentrated on the so-calledstate sciences (Staatwissenschaten). Having completed his education, hegained banking experience while working or the National Bank o Austriaand Credit Anstalt.

Elodie Lawton Mijatović

During Mijatović’s studies in Leipzig a crucial change happened in his lie.He met his uture wie Elodie Lawton (82–908), previously a dedicatedabolitionist in Boston, who inuenced him signicantly, and turned him

into a devoted Anglophile. She returned to Europe in 86, and the ol-lowing year she met Mijatović again. Tey married in the Russian church inLeipzig in April 864.

A member o the Wesleyan Church, Elodie was able to imbue herhusband with Nonconormist religious devotion. Mijatović always remainedaithul to the Serbian Orthodox Church, but was strongly impressed by Protestant tenets and wanted to instil some religious zeal into it.

Elodie Mijatović (also spelled Miyatovich, Mijatovics and Mijato- vich) quickly learned Serbian and, by 86, translated Florence Nightingaleinto Serbian. In 872 she published Te History o Modern Serbia .8 (Teprevious history o Serbia had been published in Britain in 847, a trans-lation o the work by the amous German historian Leopold von Ranke,originally published in German in 829.) Since her book covers the eventsup to 87, or some time it was almost the only source or the history o Serbia between 84 and 87 available in English.

8 Elodie Lawton Mijatovics, Te History o Modern Serbia (London: William weedie,

872).



Balcanica XXXVIII08

In 874 Elodie Mijatović published a collection o Serbian popularstories entitled Serbian Folklore .9 Te oreword to this book was written by the Anglican priest William Denton. Finally, in 88, Elodie translated and

edited national poems on the Battle o Kosovo in a collection entitled Koss-ovo.0 Owing to the books published by Elodie Mijatović a reader interestedin Serbia was able to get a quite comprehensive picture o contemporary Serbian history and culture. By publishing these three books on Serbia inEnglish, Elodie Mijatović played a role in Britain resembling the one thatthe brothers Grimm and Leopold von Ranke had in unveiling Serbian his-tory and culture to the German-speaking public.

Elodie was also very active in the social lie o Belgrade, and becamea vital source o inormation or all British diplomats and travellers whohappened to be in Belgrade.

Early career

At the age o twenty-three Čedomilj Mijatović became proessor o po-litical economy at the Great School in Belgrade, the highest educationalinstitution in Serbia at the time. While holding this post, he wrote three very inuential textbooks, and started campaigning in avour o building arailway through Serbia. He gained support or this idea among merchantsand educated men, but many in Serbia opposed his campaign.

His rst important diplomatic mission was to London, at the begin-ning o 87. He was an unofcial representative o Serbia at the Black SeaConerence that, amongst other things, met to discuss Austro-Hungarianinitiatives to establish police control over the Danube and to suspend theauthority o the commission that covered all Danubian countries, includingSerbia. In the end, these initiatives were not accepted by the conerence, andMijatović was credited with organizing resistance to the Austro-Hungarianproposals. In his Memoirs Mijatović recalled the conerence as “Serbia’s rstdiplomatic victory over Austria”. Tis rst diplomatic mission to Britainlet a deep impression on Mijatović, and his aection or Britain remainedunshaken until the end o his lie.

9 Serbian Folk-lore , popular tales selected and translated by Madam Csedomille Mijatovics (London: W. Isbister & Co., 874).0 Madame Elodie Lawton Mijatovich, Kossovo: an Attempt to bring Serbian National Songs, about the Fall o the Serbian Empire at the Battle o Kosovo, into one Poem (London:

W. Isbister, 88). Count Chedomille Mijatovich, Te Memoirs o a Balkan Diplomatist (London, New

York, oronto and Melbourne: Cassel and Company, 97), 0.




Mijatović’s career was meteoric. In late 87, at the age o thirty-one,he became Serbia’s Finance Minister. At rst a protégé o the leader o thesubsequent Liberal Party, Jovan Ristić, he soon joined the club o the so-

called Young Conservatives, which turned into a sort o a personal party o Serbia’s ruler, Prince Milan Obrenović (Prince rom 868, and King 882–889). In the Government o Jovan Marinović, rom November 87 toDecember 874, Mijatović was Finance Minister or the second time, andin that capacity he was instrumental in bringing about important reorms.Mijatović introduced the metric system to Serbia. Serbia adopted the stan-dards o the Latin Monetary Union. Mijatović reintroduced the name o medieval Serbian silver coins or Serbia’s national currency – the dinar . Inhis own view, his most important achievement in this government was a law stipulating the portion o property that was not liable to seizure to cover apeasant’s debts. Tis minimal portion included the peasant’s house, yoke o oxen, plough and ve acres o land. Mijatović became Minister o Financeor the third time in 87 in the Government o Danilo Steanović.

Te peak o Mijatović’s political career

In the late 870s Mijatović’s political career stagnated or a while, but itsoon resurged to reach its climax. In 880 the group o Young Conserva-tives, o which Mijatović was a member, started the newspaper Videlo and

in October came to power. In the Government o Milan Piroćanac (880–88) Mijatović held two ministerial ofces: Foreign Aairs and Finance. Aclose riend o the ruler and in control o two key ministries, Mijatović wasconsidered by many diplomats as the most inuential person in the cabinet.Prince Milan relied on him or the most signicant missions. wo deci-sions that were to shape Serbia’s history or many years were implementedby Mijatović. One related to Serbia’s oreign policy and the other to hereconomy.

With Austria-Hungary and Russia dividing their respective sphereso inuence in the Balkans through Te Tree Emperors League (8 June88), Serbia was de acto placed within the Austro-Hungarian zone. Teruler o Serbia, Prince Milan, decided to turn a new page in his country’soreign policy, and arranged that a secret convention be signed with theHabsburg Monarchy. Mijatović was gradually entrusted by the ruler withcompleting this task, and on 28 June 88 he signed the Secret Conven-tion under which Serbia secured diplomatic and political backing rom theHabsburg Monarchy, but relinquished her independence in the eld o or-eign policy and her claim to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tus, only three yearsater Serbia’s independence was internationally recognized, she abandoned

an important attribute o her sovereignty.



Balcanica XXXVIII0

Having learnt about the contents o the Convention, the other twomost prominent members o the cabinet, Prime Minister Piroćanac andHome Minister Garašanin, threatened to resign in protest, but they eventu-

ally accepted the agreement. In return Mijatović had to resign as Ministero Foreign Aairs and kept only his tenure in the Ministry o Finance. Hislast act as Minister o Foreign Aairs was to sign, on 4 October 88,the Consular Convention and the Commercial Agreement with the UnitedStates o America. Tus diplomatic relations between the two countries were ofcially established.

During the talks that led to the signing o the convention with Aus-tria-Hungary, Mijatović was received in Vienna by Emperor Francis Josephand other dignitaries o the Empire. Te Emperor later decorated him withthe Order o the Iron Crown, First Class. Mijatović later claimed that thisdecoration gave him the right to use the title o count.

As the Minister o Finance Mijatović secured Serbia’s commitmentsin the reaty o Berlin, in which the Serbian government undertook tobuild the Serbian section o the Vienna–Constantinople Railway. SinceSerbia was unable to nance the project, a oreign creditor had to be ound,and a Parisian nancial society called Union Général was selected in 88.Unortunately it suered bankruptcy in early 882, bringing the already shaky Serbian nances very near to collapse. Having learned o the bank-ruptcy, Mijatović travelled quickly to Paris and there, supported by Austro-

Hungarian diplomacy, ound a solution. Another nancial house, ComptoirNational D’Escompte, took on the project without detriment to Serbia. Inspite o this success, the reputation o Mijatović’s Progressivist party su-ered a serious blow. It turned out that agents o the Union Général inBelgrade had tried to bribe many Progressivist MPs and politicians, andalthough opposition MPs had proved to be no less amenable to bribes roma representative o the Union Générale, Mijatović’s party had never recov-ered rom the blow.

Mijatović played an important role in preparing the law on establish-ing the National Bank o Serbia, passed by the Serbian Parliament in Janu-

ary 88. He had long advocated the establishment o such an institution,and at long last was able to see it come into being during his tenure.

Te rst pro-Serbian campaigns in Britain

Over most o the nineteenth century Serbia had neither the ability nor themeans to inuence British public opinion. Even to merely draw Britishattention was a huge task, since Serbia was just a dot on the map on theroad between Paris and India. o improve Serbia’s image meant rom the

very beginning to challenge two wisdoms o British diplomacy. One was



S. G. Marković, Čedomilj Mijatović, a Leading Serbian Anglophile

that the Ottoman Empire was the best guardian o British naval interestin the Eastern Mediterranean preventing the penetration o Russia, or o any other major power. Te other was that i independent, the small Balkan

Christian states would be Russian puppets and hence undesirable substi-tutes or the Ottoman Empire. Tereore, eorts to change Serbia’s imagein Britain meant convincing leading diplomats, politicians and journaliststhat an independent Serbia would be sel-sufcient and unwilling to sacri-ce her independence to any great power, particularly not to Russia.

Te rst Serbian ruler who became aware o the importance o cam-paigning or Serbia in Britain was Prince Michael Obrenović. In 86 heinitiated and partly nanced the rst pro-Serbian campaign in England. Te campaign came as a reaction to the quite anti-Serbian views o theForeign Ofce during the crisis ollowing the urkish bombardment o Belgrade in 862. Te campaign was undertaken by the Serbian senatorFilip Hristić who, at the end o January 86, went to London in company with the Serbian ruler’s wie, Princess Julia. Tey succeeded in drawing theattention o a signicant number o British journalists to Serbian aairs. Te Serbian liberal politician Vladimir Jovanović took an active part in thecampaign as well.2

At that time, some distinguished Englishmen became interested inSerbia and began deending her interests. Among them special note shouldbe given to the amous British “apostle o ree trade” and MP Richard Cob-

den (804–86), another MP named Gregory, the priest William Denton(8–888), and Dr. Humphrey Sandwith (822–88). Tey ormed therst Serbian lobby in Britain. Denton and Sandwith were also to play aspecial role during the Eastern Crisis. Denton’s book Servia and the Servians was published in 862. Written with an obvious aection or the Serbs, thebook was an important source o inormation on Serbia in Britain or many years.

Te second pro-Serbian campaign took place during the EasternCrisis (87–878). Te Eastern Crisis began with the insurrection o theSerbian Christians in Herzegovina in July 87. Initially, the British Con-

servative government o Benjamin Disraeli (PM 874–880) was not over-

2 While in Britain, both Hristić and Jovanović published several pamphlets on Serbianaairs and the Eastern Question: Te Case o Servia. By a Serb (London: Bell and Daldy,86); Te Debate on urkey in the House o Commons, on Friday, May, the 29th, 1863.With Remarks by Ph. Christitch, Servian Senator (London: C. W. Reynell, 86); Te Serbo-urkish Question; or, the Reciprocal Relation between the Serbian and urkish Gov-ernment. By a Servian (London: C. W. Reynell, 86); Vladimir Yovanovich, Te Serbian

Nation and the Eastern Question (London, 86).

William Denton, Servia and the Servians (London: Bell and Daldy, 862).



Balcanica XXXVIII2

ly concerned with it. But, when soon ater that atrocities were committedagainst Christians in Bulgaria (876), this event became known through-out Europe. As a result, the insurrection in Herzegovina and the atroci-

ties against Christians became the subject o a bitter debate in Britain. TeDaily News , a newspaper loyal to William Gladstone, ormer British PrimeMinister (868–874), published an article with horrible details o childrenmassacred, women violated, and young girls sold as slaves in Bulgaria. On6 September 876 Gladstone published his illustrious pamphlet BulgarianHorrors and the Question o the East which provoked sensation in Britainreaching a circulation o 200,000 copies by the end o the month.

Contrary to Gladstone, Disraeli’s opinion o urkey was quite a- vourable. During a visit in 80, he was impressed with turbans, and enjoyed smoking a six-eet-long pipe, and stretching himsel out on a divan.He dined with pashas and, as his biographer Maurois puts it, “could not seethese amiable gentlemen butchering little children.”4 Disraeli’s attitude wasshared by his Conservative Party and supported by the Court. Te Queenand Empress Victoria summed up her views on the Eastern Question inApril 877: “It is not the question o upholding urkey: it is the question o Russian or British supremacy in the world.”

In the summer o 876 both Montenegro and Serbia declared waron urkey, but in the autumn Serbia suered deeat, which, in February 877, led to a treaty with the Ottoman Empire based on the status quo

ante . Disraeli strongly condemned the war, which in his opinion was theresult o “the secret societies o Europe”. He held Serbia responsible or this“outrageous and wicked war”, a war that violated “every principle o publicmorality and honour.”6 In December 877, encouraged by Russia, Serbiadeclared war on urkey again, but this time, in the winter o 878, sheemerged victorious. Te second war with urkey took place simultaneously with the Russo-urkish War (April 877 – January 878). During these wars Disraeli’s government continued its pro-Ottoman stance, but thisaroused opposition rom academic and ecclesiastical circles, mainly amongthe Nonconormists and the small but inuential High Church wing o the

Church o England. Te anti-urkish campaign was led by a ervent Congregationalist,

W. . Stead, through Te Northern Echo, a provincial paper published inDarlington. Amongst the academics involved in the campaign, the mostdistinguished was Pro. E. A. Freeman, while High Church opposition to

4 André Maurois, Disraeli: A Picture o the Victorian Age (London: Penguin, 99), 48. R. W. Seton-Watson, Disraeli, Gladstone and the Eastern Question: A Study in Diplo-macy and Party Politics (New York: Te Norton Library, 972), 7.

6 Ibid ., 88–89.




urkey was led by Canon Liddon o St Paul’s. Gladstone was also very ac-tive. His determination to prevent urther atrocities polarized the Britishpublic, and or the rst time British party policies became shaped along the

lines o the Eastern Question and Balkan aairs. Both liberal urcopho-bia and conservative Russophobia became crystallized during this dispute,although party allegiances were not always a determining actor. Speakingo the importance o this issue, R. W. Seton-Watson concluded: “Te issuebetween urk and Russian became a predominant issue, and or the timesuspended personal intercourse between the warring actions and even divided amilies among themselves.”7

During the Serbian-urkish War (876–878), Elodie Mijatović andMrs. White, wie o the subsequent British ambassador to Constantinople,also worked towards swaying British public opinion in avour o Serbia. Teir work bore ruit, particularly in terms o humanitarian aid.8

Serbia’s circle o riends in Britain grew wider during the second cam-paign, but she nevertheless remained in the shadow o Bulgaria amongstthe British who supported Gladstone. Although more numerous than ever,most urcophobes were ervent Bulgarophiles, and support or Serbia wasnot high on their agenda.

Mijatović as Serbian Minister to the Court o St. James’s and the anti-Serbiancampaign

Te Progressivist Government resigned in October 88. Being an Anglo-phile, Mijatović had aspired to become the rst Serbian Minister to London.But he had to wait until October 884, when he became the second SerbianMinister to the Court o St. James’s. London society was amiliar to himrom his previous diplomatic mission and trips to England with his wie. Tis was his long-awaited opportunity to work systematically on improvingSerbia’s image in Britain. Te course o events in the Balkans prevented himrom achieving his goal. His diplomatic post in London soon ended, as he was appointed the sole Serbian negotiator in Bucharest, where peace nego-tiations were scheduled ollowing the Serbian-Bulgarian War. During thisstay in London Mijatović published a story in the esteemed collection In a Good Cause edited by Margaret yssen-Amherst (8–99).9 Te collec-tion was dedicated to the Princess o Wales, and the proceeds were intended

7 Ibid ., 7.8 Jelena Lazarević, Engleskinje u srpskom narodu [Englishwomen among the Serbs](Belgrade: Beogradsko žensko društvo, 929), 79–8.9 Baroness Margaret Susan Mitord yssen-Amherst, ed., In a Good Cause (London:

W. Gardner, Darton, & Co., 88).



Balcanica XXXVIII4

to support North-Eastern Hospital or children. Among the contributors tothis volume were Oscar Wilde, the Bishop o Radord, the Earl o Rosslyn,and Čedomilj Mijatović with a story entitled “Boyana”.20

In September 88, the Principality o Bulgaria united with EasternRumelia, and this was a breach o the reaty o Berlin. King Milan o Serbiademanded compensation rom the great powers, because unied Bulgaria was now bigger than Serbia, but his eort ailed. Eventually, Serbia attackedBulgaria on 4 November 88, and within two weeks suered a humiliat-ing deeat. It was owing to the Secret Convention with Austria-Hungary,signed by Mijatović, that Serbia was able to get out o the war withoutsuering serious consequences. British sympathies or Bulgarians, inspiredseveral years earlier by the Midlothian campaign, were still very much alive,and Serbia’s attack on Bulgaria aroused widespread condemnation in Brit-ain. Beore the war broke out Mijatović had sought to gain Britain’s un-derstanding or the Serbian ormula o “balance o power” in the Balkans,but without much success. Gladstone was overtly on Bulgaria’s side, andexpressed his satisaction over the unication o Bulgarian lands. Te only thing Mijatović could do was to send an open letter to Gladstone.2

In late 88 Mijatović was appointed as Serbia’s sole representativein peace negotiations with Bulgaria. Te imes covered almost every stepMijatović made rom the moment he let London in early January 886 un-til the treaty was signed in Bucharest. Since the then Prime Minister o Ser-

bia Garašanin was known to have headed the war party, Te imes overtly expressed hope that Mijatović would become his successor. “Tis would behighly desirable,” the London daily announced, “as M. Mijatovics does notshare the wild opinion that Servia can stand alone and snap her ngers atEurope.”22 Te instructions that Mijatović received in Belgrade rom KingMilan were phrased so as to allow him to nd an excuse or declaring waron Bulgaria again. He took a dierent approach, and his conciliatory stancein Bucharest was noticed. Te imes o 2 February wrote: “Although M.Mijatovics in point o conciliatory disposition is thought to be somewhat inadvance o his Government, it is believed that he will carry his policy.”2

In Bucharest Mijatović negotiated peace terms with Bulgaria’s repre-sentative Ivan Geshov, a leading Bulgarian Anglophile. Mijatović remem-bered in his Memoirs : “It was then the season or balls, social gatheringsand entertainments. Bulgaria’s delegate Ivan Gueshov, and mysel, cherish-ing admiration or the British people and their ways, entered at once into

20 “In a Good Cause”, Te imes , 8 July 88, 4 b.2 “Te Servian Minister and Mr. Gladstone”, Te imes , 20 October 88, 9 a.22 “Te Eastern Crisis”, Te imes , 8 January 886, b.

2 “Te Eastern Crisis”, Te imes , 2 February 886, a.




riendly relations.”24 Yet, at one point, Geshov demanded compensationrom Serbia. Mijatović had clear instructions rom Belgrade to declare warshould Bulgaria demand any compensation or the damage inicted in the

conict. Mijatović told Geshov that he would leave the conerence imme-diately and that the war would soon be resumed, and he walked towards thedoor. Te chairman, Medjid Pasha, appealed to him to return to the nego-tiation table, which Mijatović did. He accepted withdrawal o the Bulgariandemand, and agreed that all should act as i it had never been made. A mo-ment beore accepting the demand’s withdrawal he “remembered that that very morning the British Chargé d’Aaires, Mr. Francis Sanderson, told mehe had had a letter rom his brother Sir Tomas who sent his remembrancesto me, adding that they all hoped I would succeed in making peace”.2 Inthe end the two Anglophiles concluded peace on March 886. With its With itssingle article, the treaty was one o the shortest in diplomatic history: Article seul et unique. – L’état de paix qui a cessé d ’exister entre le Royaume de Serbie et le Principauté du Bulgarie le 2-14 Novembre, 1885, est rétabli à partir de l ’échange de ratication du present traité qui aura lieu à Bucharest .

Mijatović was a peacemaker because he ignored his instructions romBelgrade. Apparently he was more worried about what might happen to hisreputation in England i negotiations ailed, than about criticism rom Bel-grade or his conciliatory approach. He indeed had an unusual diplomaticcareer or a Serb. Not only that he had signed a secret convention with a

great power, but he was also able to take advantage o this convention twice:in Paris in 882 to prevent Serbia’s bankruptcy; and in Bucharest in 886 tosuppress Bulgaria’s justiable demands or compensation.

Te imes o March commented on the anticipated signing o thepeace treaty, summarizing British dissatisaction with Serbia and King Mi-lan during the crisis with Bulgaria: “It will remain on record, however, thatKing Milan made peace with ill grace, and thus brought to an undigniedclose a chapter in Servia’s history which rom rst to last has been discredit-able.”26 King Milan had indeed preerred war at that moment, and Mijatovićmay be credited with preventing the renewal o bloodshed between the two

nations who had had close relations beore the war. Te British mainstream view o the Serbo-Bulgarian War may be gleaned rom an entry in the tenthedition o the Encyclopaedia Britannica : “A more absolutely unjustiable warthan that begun by King Milan can hardly be conceived.”27

24 Mijatovich, Memoirs , 62.2 Ibid ., 6.26 “Te Eastern Crisis”, Te imes , March 886, a.27 Sir George C. Clarke, “Servo-Bulgarian War o 88”, in Te New Volumes o the

Encyclopaedia Britannica , 0th ed. (Edinburgh and London: Adam & Charles Black,



Balcanica XXXVIII6

Having concluded the peace treaty without any detriment to Serbia,Mijatović nearly became Prime Minister, but in the end became FinanceMinister again. During his two terms as Minister o Finance (October 880

– October 88; April 886 – June 887), state revenues doubled. Tis un-doubtedly was a success. Te problem was that expenditures in 880–887rose by 28%, causing persistent budgetary decits. His last major tenurein a Serbian government was as Minister o Foreign Aairs (April 888– March 889) in the Government o Nikola Hristić. In that capacity, herenewed, in February 889, the Secret Convention with Austria-Hungary, with validity until January 89. Tis time, however, Mijatović did notplay a prominent role in negotiations.

King Milan’s decision to abdicate on 6 March 889 eectively endedMijatović’s privileged position at the court. Moreover, since he was knownto be a devoted riend o King Milan’s, the abdication, and the rise to powero the King’s opponents, put Mijatović’s political career in jeopardy. TeRadical Party came to power in March 889, and began retaliation againsttheir political opponents. On 26 May 889, the Progressivists holding aparty meeting in Belgrade were severely beaten by a mob called togetherby the Radicals. Mijatović had had a special plan or 889: to mark the00th anniversary o the Battle o Kosovo by bringing the remains o theHoly Prince Lazar rom Srem (then in Austria-Hungary) back to Serbia. When the Radicals came to power the plan was scuttled: Austria-Hungary

was dissatised with this course o events and prevented the transer o therelics. Mijatović was sorely disappointed. His avourite ruler had abdicated,he was in conict with his key political ally Garašanin, and his project orthe translation o the relics had ailed. Faced with all these ailures, he letSerbia and moved to Britain in September 889.

London years, 1889–1903

Mijatović lived in a kind o sel-exile in Britain between September 889and the beginning o 894. Tanks to his books, he remained popular withthe Serbian public. Experiencing nancial problems, he became a corre-spondent or the Belgrade newspaper rgovinski glasnik (CommercialHerald). Tus, he became the rst Serbian correspondent rom London.He sent articles regularly in the years 89–89, sometimes dispatching

902), xxxii. Te Serbian-Bulgarian War inspired Bernard Shaw to write the play Arms and the Man in 89/4. It was Sidney Webb’s idea to take this war as the setting o hisplay. Paradoxically, Bulgarian characters were rendered in the least sympathetic manner.C. Vesna Goldsworthy, Inventing Ruritania (New Haven and London: Yale University

Press, 998), –7.




several instalments a week. He again became a newspaper correspondentrom 90 until the outbreak o the Great War. His high quality contribu-tions oered the Serbian public lucid analyses and insights into the London

Stock Exchange, the British economy, and British culture. In 902 he alsosent dispatches to the inuential Belgrade daily Male novine . His articlesmade quite an impression in Belgrade, and signicantly contributed to thebroadening o knowledge about Britain amongst Serbian businessmen andthe intellectual elite. During this period Mijatović published a small book,O uslovima uspeha (On Preconditions or Success). Popular among Serbianmerchants and young people, it ran through several editions. Te book wasmuch inuenced by the work o the British social reormer Samuel Smiles(82–904), notably by his bestseller Sel-help (89). During this periodMijatović also published a book on the last Byzantine emperor.28

In 894 Mijatović returned to Belgrade to assume the ofce o Min-ister o Finance or the last time, but his tenure ended ater only two months, when the Government resigned in April 894. Mijatović spent the rest o that year as Serbian Minister to Bucharest, but was recalled in late 894. InApril 89 he was given his avourite appointment. He became Serbian En- voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court o St. James’sor the second time, and kept this position until 900. In May–July 899,he represented Serbia at Te Hague Peace Conerence, where he advocated very progressive views. However, neither King Alexander nor the Serbian

Government shared his enthusiasm or the instruments o international law and international arbitration.

Te May Coup and the anti-Serbian campaign in Britain in 1903–1906

Mijatović’s diplomatic mission in London ended in 900. He assumed themost important diplomatic post or Serbia, that o Serbian Minister to Con-stantinople, but was recalled because he disapproved o King Alexander’smarriage with a woman who was a commoner and a widow. Mijatović be-came a Serbian senator in 90, and returned to London to try to establisha Serbian commercial agency. At the end o 902 he was appointed SerbianMinister to London or the third time.

It was in London that he received news o the tragic events thathad taken place in Belgrade in the early hours o June 90, when aconspiracy o Serbian army ofcers killed King Alexander Obrenović andhis unpopular wie Queen Draga. Te royal couple was brutally murdered

28 Chedomil Mijatovich, Constantine, the Last Emperor o the Greeks or the Conquest o Constantinople by the urks (A.D. 1453), ater the Latest Historical Researches (London:

Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 892).



Balcanica XXXVIII8

and their bodies thrown out o the window. Te new government electedPeter Karageorgević to be Serbia’s new king. Both the assassination andthe composition o the new Cabinet, hal o whom were regicides, aroused

widespread condemnation in Europe. In London, Mijatović ound himsel in a peculiar position. Te Westminster Gazette commented: “Te ServianMinister to the Court o St. James’s was ormally accredited by the lateKing Alexander and it would seem highly questionable how ar he remainsaccredited now that the dynasty has been destroyed by violence.”29 Te Bel-grade regicide was condemned throughout Europe, but only Britain and theNetherlands chose to break o diplomatic relations with Serbia. Te BritishGovernment withdrew its minister rom Belgrade, Sir George Bonham, on9 June. Horried by the events in Belgrade, Mijatović was the only Serbiandiplomat to resign rom his post as a result, on 22 June. Inuential politicalcircles in Belgrade never orgave him or this act.

Mijatović’s name became known round the world owing to a clairvoyant session he had attended together with the amous Victorian journal-ist William Tomas Stead on the night o 20 March 90. In Stead’s words,“the bloody tragedy in the palace was seen clairvoyantly three months be-ore it took place, and described in the hearing o at least a dozen credible witnesses”.0 Almost all British dailies, as well as the American and conti-nental press, commented on the prophecy.

British ofcial and popular reaction can be gleaned rom the way

Mijatović’s was treated in London beore his resignation. He receivedthreatening letters, and aced universal contempt or Serbia. Te daughtero his successor, Lena Yovitchitch, wrote a biography o her ather, and de-scribed the obstacles that Mijatović and her ather, Alexander Jovičić, acedin London:

Since the news o the Obrenovich tragedy had been received he(Miyatovich) met with the cold shoulder wherever he went. Ofcialdoors were suddenly closed, and the circumstances o the murderput a strain even on personal riendship… o mention Serbia wasenough to raise a wall o prejudice; English people could have no

association with a race who had murdered their King. Every one o Serbian descent must be made to eel responsible or that terribledeed. Tey were beyond the pale o a Society whose principles wereirreproachable; with the best o intentions Englishmen never lost anopportunity to proclaim the act that moral eelings were very high

29 Te Westminster Gazette , 4 June 90, 2 b.0 W. . Stead, “A Clairvoyant Vision o the Assassination at Belgrade”, Te Review o Reviews 28 (90), . See Te Westminster Gazette , June 90, 7 b; and “A Clairvoyant’s Prediction”, Te

New York imes , 2 June 90, 2 c.




in their country, that what had happened in Serbia could not becondoned and must be expiated by the entire nation.2

Te regicide greatly distressed the Mijatovićs. Being devoted Christians,

they were deeply shocked and shared British contempt or the regicide.Čedomilj Mijatović condemned the event in two books. Within weeks o the murder a book dealing with the Belgrade regicide appeared: Belgrade the White City o Death. Being the History o King Alexander and o QueenDraga . Te book was written by Mrs. F. Northesk Wilson, and signed in apeculiar way so that Mijatović practically gured as its co-author. Tis wasnot just a sign o courtesy. Te same ideas, even identical sentences, are to beound in Mijatović’s later works. Tereore, it seems that the role Mijatovićand his wie played in the writing o this book was signicant, i not over-

whelming.4

Te book was important in giving rise to a new metaphor. I the metaphor or Serbia beore 90 was Poor Man’s Paradise (the title o abook by Herbert Vivian), the metaphor or the country’s capital ater 90became White City o Death.

In another book, Royal ragedy , published on the occasion o thetriennium o the regicide (June 906), which in the Christian Orthodoxtradition is the last major commemoration or a deceased person, Mijatovićcompared the “royal tragedy” o Belgrade with Shakespeare’s Macbeth andstrongly condemned the regicide. Te book was very popular in Britain, andsubsequently ran an American edition.6

Mijatović ound himsel in a tormenting dilemma. As a Christianand pacist, he elt that the punishment o the regicides was necessary orSerbia’s moral recovery. As a Serb, he was ully aware that the break o dip-lomatic relations with the biggest and most powerul empire in the worldcould only be detrimental to Serbia. Tereore, he resorted to a compromise.

2 Lena A. Yovitchitch, Te Biography o a Serbian Diplomat (London: Te EpworthPress, 99), 90–9. Her real name was Flora Ames, according to the Catalogue o the Library o Con-gress.4 As acknowledged by Mrs. Wilson on p. : “Te Authoress begs to tender her grateulthanks to His Excellency M. Chedomille Mijatovich, Servian Minister at the Court o St. James, also Madame Elodie Mijatovich, or their kind help to her in the compilationo this volume.” Mijatović had published articles in the British press, under pseudo-nyms, even beore this. See, or instance, Te Pall Mall Gazette , 2 February 88. Belgrade, in Serbian: Beograd, means “white city”.6 Chedomille Mijatovich, A Royal ragedy. Being the Story o the Assassination o King

Alexander and Queen Draga o Servia (London: Eveleigh Nash, 906); Chedomille Mi- jatovich, A Royal ragedy: Being the Story o the Assassination o King Alexander and Queen

Draga o Servia , (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 907).



Balcanica XXXVIII20

He decided to advocate the re-establishment o diplomatic relations, butconditioned it on the punishment o some o the regicides. While remainingan opponent o the new order in Serbia, he undertook unofcial diplomatic

eorts to help re-establish diplomatic relations, and he joined the Society or the Legal Settlement o the Regicides Question which advocated thepunishment o the regicides.7

Te act that Mijatović was the only Serbian diplomat to resign in90 and his opinion voiced in public that the prime regicides should beprosecuted were received with indignation in inuential circles in Belgrade.In his letter to Te imes in February 906, Mijatović declared his member-ship o the Society or the Legal Settlement, and called or the resumptiono mutual relations. He pointed out: “o demand the legal punishment, andin one way or other to demand an expiation o the crime, is exclusively the

duty and the right o the Servian people, and I am sure that sooner or laterthey will make a generous use o their right, and accomplish their duty as atruly honourable and Christian nation.”8 He suggested that in the mean-time Britain should be satised with the removal rom active service o theleading regicides, a compromise solution suggested by Serbian Minister o Foreign Aairs Žujović.

Te inuential Serbian daily Samouprava attacked Mijatović severely ater the publication o his letter, even attributing to his resignation parto the responsibility or the break o Anglo-Serbian diplomatic relations.9 One has to say in Mijatović’s deence that his position was a very realisticone, and that he, more than anyone else in Serbia, was aware o Britishsentiment towards the new regime in Belgrade, and o the miserable imagethat Serbia had earned. It is or this reason that he made his compromise,and acted as he did. At the end o 90 he summed up the state o Anglo-Serbian relations in an air o resignation:

Te worst is that the longer this aair lasts the more difcult it willbe to settle it. Te axis o something that lasts long, o somethingthat has come into being, has always been in England more stablethan in other countries, and Englishmen who have almost got ac-

customed to excluding Serbia rom their Balkan combinations – notonly political but also economic and nancial – will hardly be latermore inclined to receive this, until recently sympathetically viewedcountry, back into their geography.40

7 See Mijatović’s letter in Te imes , February 906, 7 c; see a short article about theSociety in Te imes o 4 June 906, 4 b.8 Chedo Mijatovich, “Servia and Great Britain”, Te imes , February 906, 7 c.9 Samouprava 8, 6 February ( March N.S.) 906, 2.40 “Srbija i Engleska. Originalni dopis Pester Lojdu“ [Serbia and England. Original dis-

patch to Pester Lloyd], Pravda , 2 October 90, .




Being an experienced diplomat, however, he realized that it was too muchto expect any Serbian Government to punish the regicides, and he began toconsider removal o the leading regicides a workable compromise. Tereore

he reserved his disgust or his books, and directed his diplomatic eortstowards a more pragmatic solution. Diplomatic relations were renewed onthe third anniversary o the regicide, ater the Serbian Government had re-tired ve leading regicides. On the same day Mijatović wrote the orewordto his book Royal ragedy .4 Tus, he succeeded in both eorts. Diplomaticrelations were re-established, and his disgust with the regicide was clearly voiced in his book(s).

Ater the May Coup, Mijatović stayed in London until the end o his lie. His wie Elodie died in 908. Te same year he published his mostpopular book in English, Servia and the Servians , which went through threeBritish and three American editions.42 Ater 90 his reputation in Serbiasuered greatly due to rumours implicating him in a conspiracy to bringPrince Arthur o Connaught, beloved son o Queen Victoria, to the throneo Serbia. In 9 he met King Peter Karageorgević in Paris, and romthat moment on became ully reconciled with the new regime in Serbia. Tereore, it is not surprising that he was considered to be an unofcialmember o the Serbian delegation during the London Conerence in De-cember 92.

In February 94 he became the manager o the Balkan Agency Ltd.

and in April and June made his last two trips to Belgrade in order to makea contract with the Serbian Government or the supply o railway cars andcarriages. During his second visit he was oered an unexpected post. Be-ing known or his religious belies, and his translations o religious booksrom English, and being a widower, Mijatović seemed an ideal candidateor the new Archbishop o Skoplje, with the prospect o becoming the rstpatriarch once the Serbian Archbishopric restored its patriarchal status. Teoer was made by Prince-heir Alexander, and supported by leading politi-cians. At rst he thought he might accept the oer, and began to make plans

4 He was probably instrumental in helping Queen Draga’s sister to publish in Brit-ain her deence o her sister’s reputation: Christina Petrovitch Lunyevitza, “Te ruthconcerning the Lie o Queen Draga”, Te Fortnightly Review 80 (December 906),06–074.42 Chedo Mijatovich, Servia and the Servians (London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, 908):2nd British ed.: Chedo Mijatovich, Servia o the Servians (London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, 9); rd British ed.: Chedo Mijatovich, Servia o the Servians (London, Bath,New York and Melbourne: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, 9). American editions: ChedoMijatovich, Servia and the Servians (Boston: L.C. Page & company, 908); Chedo Mi-

jatovich, Servia o the Servians , new ed. (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 9);

Chedo Mijatovich, Servia o the Servians , new ed. (New York: Scribner, 94).



Balcanica XXXVIII22

or possible reorms. “I thought I could combine the most attractive quali-ties o the Anglican bishops with the best attributes o the Roman Catholicbishops, and inspire the Serbian Orthodox Church with the true spirit o

Christ.”4 However, this appointment threatened to arouse huge opposi-tion among Serbian bishops. In the end he declined the oer, and insteadaccepted appointment as Manager o the Serbian Commercial Agency inLondon. It is, o course, possible that state ofcials, aced with oppositionrom the Serbian Church, encouraged Mijatović to decline the oer.

Te campaign by the Mijatovićs – the third pro-Serbian campaign in Britain

Te third pro-Serbian campaign in Britain was led by the Mijatovićs. Elo-

die played the most prominent role in the 880s, while Čedomilj Mijatovićtook over in 892–89, and particularly in 906–96. In the rst periodhe published the abovementioned book on the last emperor o Byzantium,44 as well as seven contributions or the monthly Te Eastern and Western Re-view, two o them in a serial orm.4 Tis rst campaign meant more orimproving his reputation than Serbia’s image in Britain. Mijatović becamean honorary member o the Royal Historical Society in London soon aterthe publication o his book on Constantine XI in 892. He was the rstSerb to get this distinction.

In the ten years between 906 and 96 he ran a systematic cam-

paign aimed at improving knowledge on Serbia in Britain. For this purpose

4 Mijatovich, Memoirs , 0.44 C. note 29 above. Te book was later translated into Russian and Span-ish: Константинъ последний византийский императоръ или ЗавоеваниеКонстантинополя Турками (1453. г. ) (St Petersburg, 89); Estado social y moral del

Imperio Griego a la toma de Constantinopopla par los urcos (Madrid: Imprenta del Suerpode Artilleria, 898).4 His Excellency M. Chedomil Mijatovich, “Ancestors o the House o Orange. A

Genealogical Study o the French Family Seigneurs les Baux”, Te Eastern and West-ern Review : 2 (January 89), 9–0; : (February 89), 96–207; : 4 (April89), 279–290; “Ancestors o the House o Orange V. Les Baux o Serbia, Albania,and Roumania”, : (May 89), –6. His contribution on the House o Orangeseems to have been published as a separate book under the title “Te House o Or-ange”, but not a single copy has been preserved in public libraries in the UK. Te book

with this title is mentioned in contemporary encyclopaedias and articles: Who Was Who 1929–1940, A Companion to Who’s Who containing the Biographies o Tose who Died dur-ing the Period 1929–1940 (London: Adam and Charles Black, 980), iii, s.v. “Mijatovich,Chedomille”, 99; Enciclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europeo-Americana XXXV (Madrid98), s.v. “Mijatovich, jedomil”, ; W. . Stead, “Members o the Parliament o

Peace,” Te Review o Reviews 9 (899), .




he published two popular books, and prepared his memoirs or publication.He also wrote all major entries on Serbia or the eleventh edition o the En-cyclopaedia Britannica , and addressed dozens o letters to all leading dailies

in Britain.George Calderon was the reviewer o Mijatović’s most successulbook in English, Servia and the Servians , or Te imes Literary Supplement .Calderon correctly assessed Mijatović’s goal in writing this book: “One a-ter another the smaller and remoter nations o Europe seek to interpretthemselves to us, to make their psychology comprehensible to us by themouth o those among themselves who know us and know our language.”46 Indeed this was Mijatović’s goal throughout his campaign: to acquaint Brit-ons with Serbia. Calderon’s assessment that Mijatović did or Serbia whatCount Lutzow had done or Bohemia was quite attering.47 Servia and the Servians ran through three editions in Britain (908, 9, 9), and anadditional three in the USA (908, 9, 94).

In the wake o the May Coup, Serbia was among least avourably viewed countries in Britain. It is or that reason that Mijatović’s systematicendeavour to promote Serbia in Britain in the decade ollowing the re-es-tablishment o diplomatic relations was so outstanding. For a long time hestood alone in his eorts. Occasionally, he was joined by William Stead’sson Alred who, in 909, edited the book Servia by the Servians 48 in whichprominent Serbian scholars covered various aspects o lie in Serbia. It was

only during the Annexation Crisis (908–909) that some British opinionmakers took a more understanding approach to Serbia.

Co-operation with the Encyclopaedia Britannica

Successive editions o the Encyclopaedia Britannica testiy eloquently to thescope and evolution o British knowledge on Serbia. Te supplementary edition o 824 does not contain an entry on Serbia.49 In a volume o theseventh edition, published in 842, there is a small entry on “Servia” de-scribing her as ollows:

Servia, a province o urkey in Europe, bordered on the north by the rivers Danube and Save, which separate it rom Hungary; on

46 George Calderon, “Servia and the Servians”, Te imes Literary Supplement , 4 May 908, 7.47 Gra Franz Heinrich Hieronymus Valentin von Lűtzow (849–96) published inEnglish several inuential works on the history and culture o the Czech people.48 Alred Stead, ed., Servia by the Servians (London 909).49 Supplement to the Fourth, Fith, and Sixth Editions o the Encyclopaedia Britannica with

Preliminary Dissertations on the History o the Sciences , vi (Edinburgh 824).



Balcanica XXXVIII24

the east it is bounded by Bulgaria; on the west by Bosnia; and onthe south by Albania and Macedonia. It is about 90 miles in lengthrom east to west, ninety ve in breadth rom north to south, and it

is divided into our sagiacates…

0

Tat was hardly any more inormative than the rst edition published in77, where “Servia” had been described in our short lines. And yet, that was about all an interested British reader could nd about Serbia in 842.

Te next edition o the encyclopaedia oered a rather dierent view. Te unsigned entry on “Servia” in the eighth edition, published in 860 and written two or three years earlier, covered two double-column pages. It wasinormative and provided a airly good picture o Serbia. It claried Serbia’slegal position as “one o the Danubian principalities, nominally included inthe Ottoman Empire, but in reality only tributary to that power”, describedher mineral resources, and asserted that “the trade with oreign countriesis very active and daily increasing in importance”.2 Te text testies to agrowth o British interest in Serbia. On the whole, it might have servedas an unassuming advertisement or Serbia. It was an invitation to Britishcapital and British travellers to visit her.

Ater the Eastern Crisis (87–78) British knowledge o Serbia be-came considerably more substantial. An obvious proo is the entry on Ser-bia in the ninth edition o the Encyclopaedia Britannica published in 886.On some six double-column pages, it included subsections on orography,

geology, minerals, climate, products, exports and imports, population, gov-ernment and the army. An outline o Serbian history was oered, and noteven literature was neglected: subsections were included on early chronicles,Serbian ballads, the Ragusan era, Raich [Rajić], Obradovich [Obradović],Vuk Steanovich Karadjich [Steanović Karadžić], minor writers, Croatianliterature, Serbo-Croatian poetry, and Slavonic literature in general. At theend a section was devoted to Montenegro. Tere was a considerable im-provement in British knowledge o Serbia in ty years. In 8, Kinglake was not able to cite a single Serbian writer, in contrast to several mentionedin the leading British encyclopaedia in 886.

0 Te Encyclopaedia Britannica or Dictionary o Arts, Sciences, and General Literature , s.v.“Servia”, 7th ed. (Edinburgh 842), 8. Encyclopaedia Britannica; or, a Dictionary o Arts and Sciences, compiled upon a NewPlan, s.v. “Servia”, st ed. (Edinburgh: A. Bell and C. Macarquhar, 77), vol. iii, 80.2 Te Encyclopaedia Britannica or Dictionary o Arts, Sciences, and General Literature , 8thed. (860), xx, s.v. “Servia”, 6–6. W. R. M., Te Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary o Arts, Sciences, and General

Literatur e, 9th ed. (Edinburgh 886), xxi, s.v. “Servia”, 686–692.




Another improvement o Serbia’s image in the Britannica took place when Mijatović became its contributor. Te rst Serb to write orthe Britannnica , he collaborated or the tenth and eleventh editions. Te

tenth edition was actually a continuation o the ninth, published in 87–89 and then supplemented with additional eleven volumes in 902–90.Mijatović contributed to the 902 edition with an entry on Serbia on ourtwo-column pages in volume XXXII. His text provided an excellent over- view o Serbia and included the ollowing subsections: population, educa-tion, church, nance, deence, agriculture, commerce, railways and banks. Te last two sections were on recent history and literature.4

Te eleventh edition o the Encyclopaedia published by CambridgeUniversity Press in 90–, reafrmed Britannica ’s reputation worldwide.Its contributions were assessed very avourably, and its style considered thebest o all o Britannica ’s editions. It is still believed to be one o the bestencyclopaedias ever published, and certainly the most successul edition o the Britannica . Mijatović wrote a sizeable entry on Serbia (spelled “Servia”),as well as several entries on Serbian prominent historical gures: Iliya Ga-rashanin [Ilija Garašanin], Vuk Karadžić and Ivan Gundulich [Gundulić];Serbia’s modern rulers: Karageorge, and Milosh [Miloš] and Alexander Ob-renovich [Obrenović]; and on towns in Serbia: Belgrade and Nish [Niš].

Mijatović’s most substantial contribution to this edition o Britan-nica was his article on Serbia, published in volume 24, in 9. Te entry

covers eleven and a hal large pages with double columns. A map o Ser-bia is included in the introduction, as well as geographic, commercial anddemographic acts, inormation on Serbia’s constitutional system, religionand education. Te introductory part was signed by the editorial board, butMijatović’s inuence can be clearly distinguished in certain parts. Te intro-duction is ollowed by an extensive exposé on history (our and a hal pages),language (one column), and literature (two and a hal pages). All o this was written by Mijatović, with the exception o the nal historical section cov-ering the reign o King Peter I Karageorgević and the Annexation Crisis.

Te editorial board was obviously amiliar with the act that Mijatović

was a loyal supporter o the Obrenović dynasty, a personal riend o thelate King Milan, and a Progressivist. It was or these reasons that the lineson Serbian post-90 history were signed by the editorial board, and thatKing Milan was the only modern Serbian ruler on whom Mijatović did

4 C[hedomille] Mi[jatovich], “Servia”, Te New Volumes o the Encyclopaedia Britannica ,0th ed. (Edinburgh and London: Adam & Charles Black, 902), vol. xxxii, 8–22. C[hedomille] Mi[jatovich], “Servia”, Te Encyclopaedia Britannica . A Dictionary o

Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Inormation, th ed. (Cambridge: CUP, 9), vol.

xxiv, 686–698.



Balcanica XXXVIII26

not write an entry. Te entry on this ruler was written by Hugh Chisholm(866–924), co-editor o the tenth and chie editor o the eleventh edi-tion o the Britannica. In addition, an entry on Jovan Ristić was included. It

was written by James David Bourchier, the correspondent o Te imes orSouth-East Europe.Apart rom the entry on Serbia, Mijatović wrote a substantial entry

on Karageorge, whose biography was given in detail, including his short-comings. In spite o Mijatović’s sympathies or the Obrenović dynasty, heacknowledged: “It is impossible to exonerate Milosh Obrenovich rom re-sponsibility or the murder [o Karageorge], which became the starting-point or a series o tragedies in the modern history o Servia.” Karageorge,the leader o the First Serbian Insurrection, was assessed as “one o themost remarkable Servians o the 9th century. No other man could haveled the bands o undisciplined and badly-armed Servian peasants to suchdecisive victories against the urks”. In another entry Miloš Obrenović wasportrayed as a victim o Russian dissatisaction, and as closely collaborating with the British Consul General, a portrait that almost certainly made Brit-ish readers more sympathetic to him. Mijatović was a rare Serbian politician who sought to bring about a reconciliation between the two dynasties, and while ailing to do so in reality, he succeeded on the pages o the Encyclo- paedia Britannica .

In 94, the Encyclopaedia Britannica published A Short History o

Russia and the Balkan States , a book which carried over the articles on theBalkans and Serbia rom the eleventh edition.6 Te book included only articles on countries, but not on historical gures. It was quite popular atthe beginning o the Great War, and was increasingly sought or in Britainand the USA or its titles covering the Balkans.

At the beginning o the twentieth century almost all contributorsto the Encyclopaedia Britannica were Britons, mostly Oxbridge proessors.American contributors were not many, in spite o the act that its publica-tion has been based in the United States since 90. Only ew Europeansrom the Continent were engaged as contributors. Tus Mijatović’s entries

made Serbia one o the ew countries described by a native.Mijatović’s entries on Serbia and prominent Serbs in the tenth and

eleventh editions had a prolonged inuence on British readers. Namely, theeleventh edition was incorporated into the twelth (92–922) and thir-teenth editions (926), both o which had only three supplementary vol-umes. In the supplementary volumes only updates on Serbia’s history rom

6 Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, Prince Kropotkin, C. Mijatovich, and J. D. Bourchier, A Short History o Russia and the Balkan States (London: Te Encyclopaedia Britannica

Company, 94).




the Balkan War till the end o the Great War were added. Te updates were written by Robert William Seton-Watson.7 Special entries were added onthe Serbian campaigns o 94 and 9 during the Great War, as well as

on Serbo-Croat literature.8 Given the immense popularity and inuence o the Britannica at that time, one may say that, or many Britons and Ameri-cans, Mijatović’s entries were the main source o inormation about Serbia,and remained so or almost thirty years (902–29) until a completely new edition appeared in 929.

In the ourteenth edition the entries on Serbia and Yugoslavia were written by R. W. Seton-Watson.9 Tis edition also included an entry onSerbian war campaigns and on Serbo-Croat language and literature. A parto the latter entry was contributed by Dragutin Subotić (887–92), atthat time lecturer or Serbo-Croatian language and literature at the Uni- versity o London. In 98 Subotić published the rst Serbian grammar inEnglish, prepared in collaboration with Neville Forbes, Oxord proessoro Slavonic languages. Tus, yet another Serb became a contributor to the

Encyclopaedia Britannica , although to a much less extent than Mijatović. Te bibliography added to the entry on Serbia did not include a single work by the Mijatovićes, but it cited works by Slobodan Jovanović, StojanNovaković and Živan Živanović. Tis was the rst time that a bibliography on Serbia included a substantial number o reerences in Serbian. Undoubt-edly, this demonstrated an increased appreciation o Serbia and her culture

in Britain.A generational shit also took place. Much younger and political-ly much more inuential scholars took the lead in inorming Britons onSerbia and Yugoslavia. Yet, Mijatović’s contribution was preserved in theourteenth edition insomuch as his earlier texts were a basis or new en-tries on the same historical gures, although now the entries were unsigned. Te ourteenth edition preserved Mijatović’s name below the entry on Vuk Steanovich Karadjich.60 Tis edition was subjected to the new practice o continuous revision between 929 and 97, and during this whole pe-

7 R[obert] W[illiam] S[eton]-W[atson], “Serbia”, Te Encyclopaedia Britannica. A dic-tionary o arts, sciences, literature and general inormation, th ed. (London and New

York: Te Encyclopaedia Britannica Company, 926), vol. iii, 04–2.8 . G. G. H[eywood], “Serbian Campaigns”, ibid., 2–; D[ragutin] S[ubotic],“Serbo-Croat Literature”, ibid ., –6.9 R[obert] W[illiam] S[eton]-W[atson], “Serbia”, Te Encyclopaedia Britannica (Lon-don and New York: Te Encyclopaedia Britannica Company, 929), vol. xx, 4–.60 C[hedomille] Mij[atovich], “Karajich, Vuk Steanovich”, Te Encyclopaedia Britan-nica , 4th ed. (London, New York: Te Encyclopaedia Britannica Company, 929), vol.

xiii, 276–277.



Balcanica XXXVIII28

riod Mijatović’s name subsisted in the volumes that included an entry onKaradjich. Tis means that Mijatović gured in the list o contributors orseventy-one years (902–97).

Pro-Serbian euphoria in Britain during the Great War

During the Great War Mijatović published many letters and articles in Brit-ish dailies, but his most remarkable action was his visit to the United Statesand Canada, in company with the most amous British suragette, Emme-line Pankhurst (88–928), who championed the causes o Britain’s smallallies (Belgium and Serbia) during the Great War. A visit to America withsuch a well-known person caused a sensation, brought crowds to Mijatović’s

lectures, and enabled him to give interviews to the leading dailies, includ-ing the lengthy one published in Te New York imes .6 Te visit took placebetween the end o January and the end o April 96. Mijatović’s tourincluded New York, Poughkeepsie, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Prov-idence, Hartord, Hamilton, Pittsburgh and Irvington, and visits to lead-ing American universities: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Chicago, and VassarCollege. In Canada he visited Montreal, Ottawa, oronto, North Bay, and Winnipeg, delivering pro-Serbian lectures.62

On his return to Britain he took part in a massive pro-Serbian pro-paganda event, the celebration o Kosovo Day in June–July 96. Tis

celebration was the climax o pro-Serbian propaganda in Britain duringthe First World War, and was part o the ourth pro-Serbian propagandacampaign in Britain.6 Te rst had been initiated by the Serbian PrinceMichael in 86; the second took place during the Great Eastern Crisis(87–78) when men such as William Gladstone, William Tomas Stead,Canon Henry Perry Liddon and Arthur Evans demonstrated pro-Chris-tian sympathies; the third campaign was organized by the Mijatovićs in892–9, and in its second phase, 908–6, was run by Čedomilj Mijatovićsingle-handedly. Finally, the ourth campaign, launched during the Great War, witnessed a nation-wide pro-Serbian euphoria in Britain that reachedits climax with the celebration o Kosovo Day in 96.

It was only the ourth campaign that succeeded in changing the Brit-ish perception o Serbia to any appreciable extent. King Peter Karageorgevićdied on 6 August 92. Te British holders o the Serbian Order o St

6 “Serbia’s Aged Envoy talks o his Nation”,Te New York imes , 2 January 96, SM 4.62 He described his visit to the USA and Canada in his Memoirs , 28–29 and 09–20.6 For more, see the pamphlet Kossovo Day (1389–1916). Report and two lectures [Lon-

don:] Kossovo Day Committee [96].




Sava were invited to attend a special requiem mass oered at St Magnus theMartyr, a church designed by the amous architect Sir Christopher Wren. Te mass was attended by British high dignitaries, including the Minister

o Interior Edward Shortt (862–9) as the King’s proxy and several rep-resentatives o the Foreign Ofce.64 Te requiem reected the tremendousshit in the British attitude towards Serbia that had occurred during theGreat War. Eighteen years earlier Britain had taken the lead in condemningthe new regime in Serbia headed by King Peter. Now high dignitaries o theBritish Empire came to pay tribute to the late King o Serbia. Moreover,King Peter and Prince Alexander were awarded high British decorations.6

Eforts to present British culture to the Serbs

Mijatović should also be given credit or his systematic eorts to presentBritish culture to the Serbian public. He was the most prolic and the mostinuential translator rom English into Serbian in the nineteenth century, with a bibliography which includes about a dozen translated titles. Most o them deal with religion, in particular with sermons o well-known Britishpreachers such as Dr. C. H. Spurgeon, Canon Liddon, and Dr. Macdu. Healso translated Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress and Dr. Brown’s Commentaries tothe Gospels . Particularly inuential in Serbia were the ollowing two titles:ravels in the Slavonic Provinces o urkey-in-Europe by Lady Georgina

Mary Muir Mackenzie and Adelina Paulina Irby (English edition in 867;Serbian translation at the request o Prince Michael Obrenović, Belgrade,868), and H. . Buckle’s Te History o Civilisation in England (Englishedition in 87; Serbian translation, Belgrade, 87). All his translations were inuential in Serbia, and Buckle’s book signicantly helped the emer-gence and development o liberalism in Serbia in the 870s and 880s.

His contribution to the British knowledge o Serbia was even greater.He authored or co-authored six books in English, and our o them dealt with Serbia:

. Chedomille Mijatovich, A Royal ragedy. Being the Story o the As-sassination o King Alexander and Queen Draga o Servia (London: EveleighNash, 906).

2. Chedo Mijatovich, Servia and the Servians (London: Sir Isaac Pit-man & Sons, 908).

64 “Requiem or King Peter”, Te imes , 6 September 92, .6 Prince Regent Alexander received rom King George V’s envoy General Sir ArthurPaget a distinguished order o chivalry, Order o the Bath, in Niš on 9 March 9.“Crown Prince Decorated”, Te Morning Post , 8 May 9.



Balcanica XXXVIII0

. Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, Prince Kropotkin, C. Mijatovich, J. D. Bourchier, A Short History o Russia and the Balkan States (London: TeEncyclopaedia Britannica Company, 94).

4. Count Chedomille Mijatovich, Te Memoirs o a Balkan Diploma-tist (London, New York, oronto, and Melbourne: Cassel and Co., 97).

Active until the last weeks o his long lie, he was able to write novels,newspaper articles, and several versions o memoirs. In 926 he marrieda British woman, Ada Prior, and recognized two o her sons as his own.During the Great War he began to use the title Count, which he claimed was o Austro-Hungarian origin, and he used it in spite o the act that theSerbian constitution banned titles o nobility or Serbian citizens. In the920s he experienced serious nancial difculties, although he was grantedthree small pensions by the state. During his last years he was blind and hadto dictate his texts to his riends. Although both he and his diverse achieve-ments had been largely orgotten by the time he died in 92, leading Brit-ish, American and Serbian newspapers published extensive obituaries.66

A lonely Anglophile

His contribution to the modernization o Serbia has been lasting. He har-monized the Serbian currency with European standards, and was instru-mental in establishing the National Bank o Serbia and in creating Serbia’s

rst railway. All these measures have had long-term eects. At the begin-ning o the twenty-rst century a traveller still arrives in Belgrade at theMain Railway Station, ounded during Mijatović’s tenure as Minister o Finance. Te name o Serbia’s currency is still the dinar , and the NationalBank is still one o Serbia’s most important institutions.

His long living in Britain made him a cultural bridge between thetwo nations. His role in Anglo-Serbian relations is unmatched in termso the scope o his inuence. His Anglophilia was not only a matter o hisprivate preerences, but had an eect through his systematic work on im-proving the two nations’ mutual knowledge. Many British experts on theBalkans were aware o this and held Mijatović in high esteem. James DavidBourchier, a correspondent or Te imes , remarked that “he is generally regarded by his ellow-countrymen as the most learned man in Servia”.67 William . Stead, who met him during the Peace Conerence at Te Hague,

66 “Count Miyatovitch. Trice Serbian Minister in London”, Te imes , 6 May 92, 2d; c. “Count Miyatovitch, Serb diplomat dies: wrote ‘World’s Shortest Peace reaty’ in886 ending war between Serbia and Bulgaria”, Te New York imes , May 92, N.67 J. D. Bourchier, “Te Great Servian Festival,”Te Fortnightly Review xlvi (889), 29; c.

Lady Grogan, Te Lie o J. D. Bourchier (London: Hurst and Blackett Ltd., 926), 89.




was so delighted with him that he wrote: “It was almost worth while creat-ing the Kingdom Servia i only in order to qualiy Chedomille Mijatovitchor a seat in the Parliament o the Nations.”68 Stead’s opinion o Mijatović

as a diplomat was equally high, as evidenced by a remark he made in 90:“He is ar and away the best known, the most distinguished, and the mostrespected diplomatist the Balkan Peninsula has yet produced.”69

Te leading British daily Te imes covered, especially through itsVienna correspondents, almost every step Mijatović made during the 880s.Mijatović was mentioned in nearly 00 contemporary articles, and he him-sel published more than twenty letters in this daily between 88 and90.70 Never beore had any Serbian minister, or any Serb or that mat-ter, enjoyed such sympathies rom Te imes as Miyatovich did in the lasttwenty years o the nineteenth century. When he resigned as President o the Serbian Royal Academy Te imes commented: “O all the statesmen inServia, M. Mijatovitch is probably the one who holds the highest characterin oreign countries. He has lled the principal ofces in Servia, not only those which are the rewards o party services, by those which are conerredby public consent, i not by public acclamation, on men whose abilities arenot judged by mere party conicts.”7

Mijatović’s entire working lie was strongly inuenced by the cultureo Victorian Britain. In introducing the Gothic novel to Serbian literature,he was inuenced by Sir Walter Scot. Te inspiration or his religious texts

came rom C. H. Spurgeon and Canon Liddon. Even his political views were inspired by British statesmen, especially Gladstone and Salisbury. InBritain he became amiliar with spiritualism, a sort o popular ascinationduring the Victorian era, and through the inuence o William TomasStead and Sir Oliver Lodge, he became an ardent believer in supernaturalphenomena.72 British inuence is observable in the eld o parliamentari-anism as well. Mijatović advocated the British model o budgetary debates,

68 W. . Stead, “Members o the Parliament o Peace,”Te Review o Reviews 9 (899),

.69 W. . Stead, “A Clairvoyant Vision o the Assassinations at Belgrade,” Te Review o Reviews 28 (July 90), .70 A bibliography o his letters to Te imes and o all his works in English is givenin Slobodan G. Marković, Gro Čedomilj Mijatović. Viktorijanac medju Srbima [CountChedomille Mijatovich. A Victorian among the Serbs] (Belgrade: Dosije Press andBelgrade Law School, 2007), 49–420, 422–42.7 Te imes , 2 November 889, .72 He mentions spiritualistic experiences in almost all o his works, summarizing thetopic in an article: Chedo Miyatovich, “What led me to Occultism”, Te Occult Review

2 (January – June 9), 82–94.



Balcanica XXXVIII2

but the Serbian parliament, consisting mostly o peasant MPs, did not quiteunderstand his eort. His ree-trade ideas were inspired by British practice.Finally, he wanted to transmit to the Serbs Protestant labour and capital

ethics as ormulated in Samuel Smiles’ bestsellers and in the works o somePresbyterians.It would be air to describe Mijatović as a Serbian Walter Scot

amongst writers, a Serbian Liddon in religiously inspired literature, anda Serbian Smiles in the philosophy o trade, in a word, a lonely Victo-rian amongst the Serbs.7 ogether with the Serbian liberal philosopherand economist Vladimir Jovanović, he was a rare Anglophile amongst thenineteenth-century Serbs. As such, he naturally sought both to improveSerbia’s image in Britain and to bring Britain closer to the Serbs. O course,a solitary individual, even one as energetic as Mijatović, could only accom-plish limited results in so enormous a task. His greatest achievement in theeld o Anglo-Serbian relations was paving the way or a radical change o British perceptions o Serbia during the Great War rather than changingSerbia’s image. His role in bringing Britain closer to the Serbs was evengreater. Serbian entrepreneurs and businessmen who read rgovinski glasnik were oered hundreds o his dispatches rom London, and this made Brit-ain much better known in Serbia in the late nineteenth and early twentiethcenturies. While he did much in accomplishing his mission, Anglophiliaremained an eccentric orientation among the twentieth-century Serbs, al-

though at least one ruler (Prince Paul Karageorgević) and one great scholarand Prime Minister (Slobodan Jovanović) ollowed his path.

Faculty o Political Sciences University o Belgrade

7 Marković, Gro Čedomilj Mijatović , 40–40.

UDC 327.33(410:497.11)”18/19” 929:32]Mijatović Čedomilj

Documents

Čedomilj Mijatović.pdf