The New Student's Reference Work/Czerny, George

Czerny (chĕr′ nḗ), George, meaning Black George, leader of the Servians in their struggles for independence, was born of poor parents, Dec. 21, 1766, near Kragujevatch, Servia.  He was concerned in a rebellion against the Turks in 1787, and afterward became a cattle-dealer.  In 1801 a detachment of janizaries broke into his house and plundered it.  Black George fled, vowing vengeance.  He managed soon to gather a band of discontented fellow-countrymen, and began a sort of guerrilla warfare against the Turks.  In course of time his little band increased in numbers, and in 1804 he was able to capture the fortress of Schabaz.  Later on he besieged Belgrade, and early in 1806 routed the Turks at the Rivers Drina and Morava.  Secretly aided by Russia, he captured Belgrade in December of that year (1806).  The treaty of Slobosje was extorted from the Ottomans two years later, after which Black George was elected governor by the people and recognized as prince of Servia by the sultan.  The Russians sustained the prince in his position till Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, when he was perforce left to shift for himself.  The Turks at once recommenced hostilities.  They were successful, and Czerny was compelled to flee to Austria, where he lived for some time.  Meanwhile the freedom of Servia had been again secured through the leadership of Milosch Obrenowitch.  When Czerny returned, in July, 1817, he was murdered at the instigation of the new leader, Prince Milosch.