The tyranny endured by the Serbs caused them to send a petition to the Sultan , which the dahije learned of . The dahije were concerned that the Sultan would make use of the Serbs to oust them . To forestall this they decided to execute leading Serbs throughout the sanjak , in an event known as the " Slaughter of the Knezes " , which took place in late January 1804 . According to contemporary sources from Valjevo , the severed heads of the leaders were put on public display in the central square to serve as an example to those who might plot against the rule of the dahije . This enraged the Serbs , who led their families into the woods and started murdering the '' subaşi '' ( village overseers )
Slaughter of the Knezes
Slaughter of the Knezes
First Serbian Uprising