This is an original photo of the Hatisherif (official imperial decree of the Sultan) written in Russian in 1838 granting autonomy to the Serbian province. This shows the Russian influence in the construct of a Serbian state, as well as the Ottoman collaboration.
Original:
“СУЛТАНСКИЙ ХАТИШЕРИФЪ
да Сербском народу признаются и подтверждаются
права, вольности и преимущества, подр условiями,
да Серб исполнi обязаности, верности и покорности,
и да плаћао исправно на предписане термине мојој
високой Порти данак, који је у планах опредѣљено
и заключено.
1. Сходно данле органическому Уставу, кој
дајемо Народу Сербскому, достоинство Княза
наследно е в Твоју лицу и Твојој фамилии за
награду Твое верности и Твое приверженности,
содржано благодеяние Високe Порте …”
Translated:
“SULTAN’S HATT-I SHARIF
Issued around the middle of Shawwal 1254
(from 12 to 23 December 1838), containing the Statute granted by His Imperial Majesty to the inhabitants of the Province of Serbia.
Inventory No. 115440
No. 2178
To my Vizier, Yusuf Muhlis Pasha
(may he be glorified!),
and to the Prince of the Serbian people,
Miloš Obrenović
(may his end be fortunate!).
By virtue of the privileges and freedoms granted to the inhabitants of My Province of Serbia, in recognition of their loyalty and devotion to Us, and in accordance with the contents of the above-mentioned Imperial Hatt-i Sharif, previously issued, I have, after consideration of various matters of state, deemed it necessary to grant to this Province an internal administration and to bestow upon it a national statute—permanent, particular, and privileged—under the condition that the Serbs shall, in the future, faithfully fulfill their duties with loyalty and obedience, and that they shall duly pay, at the prescribed times, to My Sublime Porte the tribute which has been determined and agreed upon.
Article 1
In accordance with the Organic Statute which I grant to the Serbian people, the dignity of Prince is conferred upon your person and your family as a hereditary right, as a reward for your loyalty and devotion, and in conformity with the Imperial Berat by which your rank is recognized.
Article 2
The internal administration of the land is entrusted to your faithful elders, and an annual revenue of 4,000 purses is assigned for your personal maintenance.
At the same time, I entrust to you:
Article 3
A) The appointment of various officials of the administration;
B) The supervision and regulation of land taxation;
C) Authority over the garrison troops necessary for policing and for the protection of order and peace in the land from any attack or disturbance;
D) The care and administration of public revenues and taxes of the country;
E) The authority to enforce orders upon officials and functionaries of the province and to establish necessary measures whenever required.”
Source
Sultan. Султанский Хатишериф, истекший около половине Шевала 1254 (одъ 12 до 23 Децемврій 1838). Сербия: 1838. National Library Collection. Number 15440.
