Jovan Marinović, Serbia’s Outstanding European Diplomat, 1821–93

Jovan Marinovi!, dubbed “the Bosnian,” played an important role in the affairs of 19th century Serbia, both at home an abroad. Widely respected and esteemed in Europe as Serbia’s cooperative gentleman-diplomat, he was a key leader in Serbia’s painful transition towards constitutional liberalism, independence, and a recognized place as a leading Balkan country. As chief adviser to Serbian princes Mihailo and Milan Obrenovi!, he contributed much to Serbia’s emergence from vassaldom and isolation, This article will focus on Marinovi!’s key role as premier and foreign minister of Serbia, 1873–74. Born of impoverished and soon deceased parents in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1821, little Jovan at age four was taken by his uncle on horseback to the city of Kragujevac, autonomous Serbia’s first capital, during the reign of Prince Milo" Obrenovi!. In 1838, after completing secondary education in Kragujevac, Jovan at age seventeen entered Serbian state service in Prince Milo"’s office. Then in 1842 he was sent on a state stipend to Paris for advanced study where he became fluent in spoken and written French, an invaluable asset during his subsequent diplomatic career. Upon his return to Serbia, Marinovi! became a junior secretary in the powerful State Council (Dr#avni savet). Serving there until 1847, he was regarded as a diligent, highly intelligent worker who utilized his superb knowledge of French to maximum advantage. Soon he was named second secretary of the Council. During that service Marinovi! married the daughter of Belgrade’s richest man, merchant Mi"a Anastasijevi!. Soon Marinovi! and his bride were living on an exalted financial level in a luxurious Belgrade residence, quite an amazing rise for an impoverished Bosnian orphan! Through his wife Marinovi! became acquainted with the outstanding Serbian statesman, Ilija Gara"anin, who became