29 Facts About Milivoje Blaznavac

Milivoje Petrovic Blaznavac was a Serbian general and politician who served as regent from 1868 to 1872, as well as head of government from 1872 to 1873.

Between 1842 and 1855, Blaznavac served as a confidant of Stevan Knicanin in multiple capacities, during which time he climbed the ranks of the army.

Milivoje Blaznavac would continue his ascent with the help of Ilija Garasanin after Knicanin's death in 1855.

Milivoje Petrovic Blaznavac was born on 16 May 1824 in Blaznava.

Milivoje Blaznavac's father, Petar, was a rural merchant and shopkeeper, and his mother served in the residence of Prince Milos Obrenovic.

Milivoje Blaznavac used this rumor to his advantage, however its veracity is unknown.

Milivoje Blaznavac finished elementary school in his native village of Blaznava, after which he learned the dyer's trade.

Milivoje Blaznavac intercepted and destroyed a written order sent out from Belgrade to the governors of the districts of Cacak and Uzice to come to the aid of Prince Mihailo.

Milivoje Blaznavac stayed in police work until 1845, leaving from the position of secretary of the command.

Milivoje Blaznavac was dispatched to Vienna to follow the deposed Prince Milos Obrenovic.

Milivoje Blaznavac gained the prince's trust and reported on his plans to take advantage of the revolutions of 1848 to cross into Serbia and stage a coup.

Milivoje Blaznavac lured the prince to Zagreb, and with the help of Ljudevit Gaj, arranged his arrest under the pretense of him being a Hungarian agent.

Milivoje Blaznavac learned of Blaznavac's role in his arrest after his release and the two never reconciled.

Milivoje Blaznavac studied chemistry in Vienna and Paris, after which he spent some time at the military academy in Metz.

Milivoje Blaznavac gained the trust of Ilija Garasanin and started using the power struggle between Garasanin and Prince Alexander to his advantage.

Milivoje Blaznavac communicated with several foreign consulates, including both the Austrians who were supportive of the prince, as well as the Russians and French who were opposed to him.

However, Ilija Garasanin hesitated, and soon after Milivoje Blaznavac was arrested and expelled to his native village of Blaznava and deprived of all titles.

Still, knowing of his message to Osman Pasha, Prince Mihailo hesitated to allow Milivoje Blaznavac to take up a higher post.

Together, Ilija Garasanin and Anka Konstantinovic successfully lobbied for Milivoje Blaznavac to be named Minister of War in April 1865.

Milivoje Blaznavac exploited the power struggle that emerged between her mother Anka and Ilija Garasanin, relaying information from both sides as a double agent, as well as to the prince himself.

Milivoje Blaznavac had in fact himself proposed to Katarina not long before the prince had done so, in the hopes of marrying into the royal family.

However, Milivoje Blaznavac staged a coup d'etat with the help of the Belgrade garrison and proclaimed Milan Obrenovic, the fourteen-year-old grandson of Prince Milos's brother Jevrem, the new prince.

Milivoje Blaznavac made Blaznavac the first-ever General in the Serbian army, as well as his Prime Minister in late 1872, which however turned out to be short-lived.

Milivoje Blaznavac died suddenly of a heart attack on 5 April 1873.

Milivoje Blaznavac was buried in the family tomb of Jevrem Obrenovic in Rakovica.

Milivoje Blaznavac was married to Katarina Konstantinovic, former fiancee of Prince Mihailo Obrenovic.

Milivoje Blaznavac was a suitor for Katarina's hand even before Prince Mihailo began to show an interest in her.

In Svetozar Markovic, a 1980 feature film and 1981 miniseries directed by Eduard Galic depicting the life of early Serbian socialist thinker Svetozar Markovic, Milivoje Blaznavac is portrayed by Dusan Janicijevic.

In Because My Thoughts Are Struggling, a historical drama film directed by Milorad Milinkovic, Milivoje Blaznavac is portrayed by Nebojsa Dugalic.