Miša Anastasijevic
Encyclopedia
Miša Anastasijević was the second richest man in Serbia
in the 19th century, through his successful salt export from Wallachia
and Moldavia
and business partnership with the richest, Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
. He was also the Captain of Danube, and acquired significant benefits from Prince Miloš. He was the first public benefactor in Serbia
and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade
bourgeoisie
.
, Serbia
. His father, Anastas, was a landowner and petty businessman. His mother, Ruža, was a homemaker. His stepmother Milja took care of him after his father's death. Miša and Milja twice crossed the Danube into Austria during the First Serbian Uprising
of the Serbian Revolution
. At 11 years, he was a teacher in his hometown, because he could read and write.
He was a business partner of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
, notably the richest. At the age of thirty he received the military title of Danube Captain and at the same time has acquired significant commercial benefits from Prince Miloš. His company soon gained control over salt exports from Wallachia
and Moldavia
. At the top of his career, Miša Anastasijević employed circa 10,000 workers and had a fleet of 80 ships. He was the first public benefactor in Serbia
and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade
bourgeoisie
.
Anastasijević was called the “Prince of Danube” or “Danube Rothschild
” for his wealth and business skills. Captain Miša Anastasijević married his daughter to a Prince from the ruling Karađorđević family and built the most impressive building in the city (Captain Miša’s Mansion), which was supposed to be the new court, although this plan failed. The building hosted almost every important educational and cultural institutions of the Principality of Serbia - Ministry of Education, the Belgrade Higher School, which became the University of Belgrade
, First Belgrade Gymnasium
, National Museum
, Art Gallery and Library. Occasionally, its gala hall has been used for the meetings of the National Assembly
(1864–1875) and Senate (1901–1903). Today, there is the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade
.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
in the 19th century, through his successful salt export from Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
and Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and business partnership with the richest, Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenovic I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1815 to 1839, and again from 1858 to 1860. He participated in the First Serbian Uprising, led Serbs in the Second Serbian Uprising, and founded the House of Obrenović...
. He was also the Captain of Danube, and acquired significant benefits from Prince Miloš. He was the first public benefactor in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
.
Life
He was born in Poreč, modern Donji MilanovacDonji Milanovac
Donji Milanovac is a town in eastern Serbia. It is situated in the Majdanpek municipality, in the Bor District. It is located on right bank of Lake Đerdap on Danube...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. His father, Anastas, was a landowner and petty businessman. His mother, Ruža, was a homemaker. His stepmother Milja took care of him after his father's death. Miša and Milja twice crossed the Danube into Austria during the First Serbian Uprising
First Serbian Uprising
The First Serbian Uprising was the first stage of the Serbian Revolution , the successful wars of independence that lasted for 9 years and approximately 9 months , during which Serbia perceived itself as an independent state for the first time after more than three centuries of Ottoman rule and...
of the Serbian Revolution
Serbian revolution
Serbian revolution or Revolutionary Serbia refers to the national and social revolution of the Serbian people taking place between 1804 and 1835, during which this territory evolved from an Ottoman province into a constitutional monarchy and a modern nation-state...
. At 11 years, he was a teacher in his hometown, because he could read and write.
He was a business partner of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenovic I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1815 to 1839, and again from 1858 to 1860. He participated in the First Serbian Uprising, led Serbs in the Second Serbian Uprising, and founded the House of Obrenović...
, notably the richest. At the age of thirty he received the military title of Danube Captain and at the same time has acquired significant commercial benefits from Prince Miloš. His company soon gained control over salt exports from Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
and Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
. At the top of his career, Miša Anastasijević employed circa 10,000 workers and had a fleet of 80 ships. He was the first public benefactor in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
.
Anastasijević was called the “Prince of Danube” or “Danube Rothschild
Rothschild
Rothschild is a common German surname. It is a habitational name from a house distinguished with a red shield , the earliest recorded example dating from the 13th century...
” for his wealth and business skills. Captain Miša Anastasijević married his daughter to a Prince from the ruling Karađorđević family and built the most impressive building in the city (Captain Miša’s Mansion), which was supposed to be the new court, although this plan failed. The building hosted almost every important educational and cultural institutions of the Principality of Serbia - Ministry of Education, the Belgrade Higher School, which became the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
, First Belgrade Gymnasium
First Belgrade Gymnasium
First Belgrade Gymnasium is a grammar school with a long tradition, founded in 1839, in Belgrade . It is located in the center of Belgrade, in 61 Cara Dušana Street, the place where once stood the Vidin Gate through which people could enter Belgrade. Near the school, the Church of Aleksandar Nevski...
, National Museum
National Museum of Serbia
The National Museum is the largest and oldest museum in Serbia. It is located in Republic Square, Belgrade, Serbia. The museum was established on May 10, 1844. Since it was founded, its collections have to over 400,000 objects including many foreign masterpieces...
, Art Gallery and Library. Occasionally, its gala hall has been used for the meetings of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Serbia
The National Assembly of Serbia is the unicameral parliament of Serbia. It is composed of 250 proportionally elected deputies elected in general elections by secret ballot, on 4 years term. The National Assembly elects the President of the National Assembly who presides over the sessions...
(1864–1875) and Senate (1901–1903). Today, there is the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
.
See also
- Award of Captain Miša Anastasijević, annual award given to the best companies of Serbia
- Captain Miša's MansionCaptain Miša's MansionThe Mansion of Miša Anastasijević is one of the most notable buildings in Belgrade, Serbia. It is the University of Belgrade's administration and governance building....
- University of BelgradeUniversity of BelgradeThe University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...