In July 2008, the Municipality of Gornji Milanovac bought an unsigned book from Srđan Stojančev, the president of Serbian Library Association, titled “СЕРБIЕ ПЛАЧЕВНО ПАКИПОРАБОЩЕНIЕ ЛЪТА 1813 ЗАШТО И КАКО?” and gave it as a present to our museum.  

This very rare and utterly interesting book found its place immediately in the historical collection. Following the restoration, it got its former charm and then became a part of the permanent exhibition of the Second Serbian Uprising Museum. In a nutshell, it is a hardback book of a small format with 106 pages in total. It was printed in Venice in 1815; to be more precise, in the printing house of Pan Teodosije. Pavle Solarić, the famous author and censor for Slovenian books, was its publisher and a salesperson. Based on the previous research, it was established that the author of the book was Mihailo Miljko Radonjić, from the village of Gornji Branetići on Suvobor mountain. This scholar was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Karađorđe’s government during the uprising. The text was written in the Church Slavonic language, in the form of a dialogue between motherland Serbia in captivity and her only Serbian son.

It explains the reasons for the failure of Karađorđe’s uprising as well as troubles that Serbia had with major powers. There is a part in the text where mother makes her son swear that he will make this treason public to the whole world. Radonjić explained that Belgrade bishop Leontije, Russian consul Rodofinikin (both Greeks in origin) and Rodofinikin’s heir Nedoba were to be blamed for the Serbian misery. With the help of Karađorđe’s scrivener Janićije, who was marked as another culprit, they used Serbian people and their uprising for their sole benefit, that way causing Serbia’s downfall. In the end, there is also an expressed hope that Russian emperor Alexander and real Russians will stand up for Serbia and save it. That is the purpose of this piece of writing.  

From the very first moment it appeared, the book caused a great turmoil and an intervention of Russian delegate in Vienna. Since they were in friendly relations with Russia, Austrian authorities immediately censored it. Even though it was forbidden, it made its way to the public and left a strong impression. When it comes to its contents and significance, the book represented a political pamphlet with pure national contents and strivings.

In addition, it should be stated that the Museum of Rudnik and Takovo Region prepared the critical edition of this book in cooperation with the public company “Službeni glasnik” from Belgrade. The original version of the text was translated into Contemporary Serbian language for that purpose. The whole work was completed in October 2009, when the modern version of the book titled “СРБИЈЕ ЖАЛОСНО ПОНОВНО ПОРОБЉЕЊЕ 1813. ГОДИНЕ: ЗАШТО И КАКО?” (The unfortunate re-enslavement of Serbia in 1813: why and how?) was published.