Stojan Simić

Stojan Simić (Boljevci, 25 March 1797 – Belgrade, Principality of Serbia, 10 March 1852) was a Serbian politician and businessman.[1] He was known as a talented speaker and constitutional defender.[2]

A portrait of Simić by Uroš Knežević

Biography

Early political life

Simić and his younger brother Aleksa Simić were influential in Serbian politics during the first half of the 19th century. Together, they gave financial support for cultural and literary projects. Their father, Đorđe Simić, was a captain of the Rasina under Karađorđe during the First Serbian Uprising.

As representative of the newly liberated Serbia at Constantinople, Simić transcribed all of the Sultan's edicts (Hatišerif) relating to Serbia in three languages: Serbian, French, and Turkish. The work he did there served as a basis for the elaboration of the public law of the Principality of Serbia. Simić suggested he fought for "the free will of the people", and objected to autocracy, oligarchy, and authoritarianism.[3]

Legacy

Simić received a golden bull from the Ravanica monastery. He used this in Walachia to assist with the establishment of Belgrade's Grandes écoles. Simić also had a palace built in the center of Belgrade, which housed the Serbian court from 1842 to 1903, when King Alexander and Queen Draga were assassinated. In 1903, the building was demolished. A new royal palace was built on the same site. The portrait of Simić by Uroš Knežević[4] is currently in the National Museum of Belgrade.

Brother

Stojan's brother Aleksa Simić headed the customs administration (as bazrdjanbača) and performed a variety of functions in the field of culture. At the same time, he served as an intermediary between Prince Miloš and the Turkish authorities in Belgrade. Aleksa Simić also participated in the founding of the Gligorije Vozarević bookstore, the first bookstore in Belgrade.[5] This library formed the basis for the National Library of Serbia.

The brothers jointly restored the medieval Naupara monastery, built c. 1381, which was demolished by the Turks in 1454 and remained in ruins until 1835.[5] When the restoration was over, the brothers offered the church a bell, sacred books, and other objects necessary for religious ceremonies.[6]

References
  1. istoriju, MK Fondacija Srpski Legat je osnovana sa ciljem da svojim aktivnostima očuva; Srbije, tradiciju i kulturu Srbije; Zaboravljene, Nacionalne Vrednosti (2016-03-25). "Rođen je političar i ustavobranitelj Stojan Simić". Fondacija Srpski legat (in Serbian). Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  2. Bataković, Dušan T. (2014). The Foreign Policy of Serbia (1844-1867): IIija Garašanin's Načertanije: La politique étrangère de la Serbie (1844-1867): Načertanije d'Ilija Garašanin. Balkanološki institut SANU. ISBN 9788671790895.
  3. The Slavonic Review. School of Slavonic Studies in the University of London, Kings̓ College. 1923.
  4. Vasić, Pavle. "Istoriski portreti Uroša Kneževića" (PDF). Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Катинић, Надежда. "Учешће браће Стојана и Алексе Симића y културним прегнућима XIX века" (PDF) (in Serbian). p. 197. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. Милеуснић, Слободан (1997). Средњовековни манастири Србије (in Serbian). Православна реч.


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