Vojska Srbije u vpreme Prvog namesništva 1839-1840. godine

Abstract

The history of the Serbian Army during the period of three regencies (1839-1840, 1868-1872, 1889-1892) has not been in the focus of researches so far. There is no published monography on the topic. When we talk about the First regency, one of the reasons for an inadequate interest was the T Vojno-istorijski glasnik 2/2022. 53 short duration of it (only 9 months), and negative assessment of historians regarding it. The main reason for this negative attitude was the fact that the Army at that time was significantly decreased to only four thousand officers and soldiers. The Army comprised only four infantry battallions and one half-battery equipped with only six guns, while the Cavalry was completely abolished. At that time, the Army played a role of the police and boarder guard, with the most of its members acting like militia. Although military service was reduced from six to four years, military training was conducted for a few months. However, it has to be noticed that the Law on the establishment of military garrisons passed in June 1839 was the first written military law in Serbia since the time of the First Serbian Uprising. Owing to that Law, the Serbian Army was transformed from the semi-private guard of Prince Miloš Obrenović to the real state institution, subordinated to the State Council. It was the initial stage in the development of the military organization in Serbia towards the regular army, which was established in 1883.