The janissary commanders murdered the Ottoman Vizier in 1801 and occupied the sanjak , ruling it independently from the Ottoman Sultan . Tyranny ensued ; the janissaries suspended the rights granted to Serbs by the Sultan earlier , increased taxes , and imposed forced labor , among other things . In 1804 the janissaries feared that the Sultan would use the Serbs against them , so they murdered many Serbian chiefs . Enraged , an assembly chose Karađorđe as leader of the uprising , and the rebel army quickly defeated and took over towns throughout the sanjak , technically fighting for the Sultan . The Sultan , fearing their power , ordered all pashaliks in the region to crush them . The Serbs marched against the Ottomans and , after major victories in 1805 – 06 , established a government and parliament that returned the land to the people , abolished forced labor , and reduced taxes
murdered many Serbian chiefs
Slaughter of the Knezes
First Serbian Uprising