Miša Anastasijević
Mihailo "Miša" Anastasijević (Serbian Cyrillic: Миша Анастасијевић; February 24, 1803 – January 27, 1885) was a buisnessman and the second richest man in Serbia in the 19th century, through his successful salt export from Wallachia and Moldavia and business partnership with Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia. He was also the Captain of Danube, and acquired significant benefits from Prince Miloš. Anastasijević was the first public benefactor in Serbia and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade bourgeoisie.
Miša Anastasijević | |
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 Bust of Miša Anastasijević | |
| 1st President of the National Assembly of Serbia | |
| In office 30 November 1858 – 31 January 1859 | |
| Monarch | Aleksandar Karađorđević Miloš Obrenović I |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Živko Karabiberović |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mihailo Anastasijević February 24, 1803 Poreč, Pashaluk of Belgrade, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | January 27, 1885 (aged 81) Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania |
| Resting place | Clejani |
| Nationality |  |
| Spouse(s) | Hristina Urošević |
| Children | Sara Ružica Jelena Anka Persida |
| Parents | Anastas Ruža |
| Known for | 2nd richest person in Serbia Captain Miša's Mansion |
| Military career | |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Danube |
| Relations | Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia |
Life
He was born in Poreč, modern Donji Milanovac, Serbia. His father, Anastas, was a landowner and petty businessman. His mother, Ruža, was a homemaker. His stepmother Milja took care of him after his father's death. Miša and Milja twice crossed the Danube into Austria during the First Serbian Uprising of the Serbian Revolution. At 11 years, he was a teacher in his hometown, because he could read and write.
He was a business partner of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia, notably the richest. At the age of thirty he received the military title of Danube Captain and at the same time has acquired significant commercial benefits from Prince Miloš. His company soon gained control over salt exports from Wallachia and Moldavia. At the top of his career, Miša Anastasijević employed circa 10,000 workers and had a fleet of 80 ships. He was the first public benefactor in Serbia and organizer of various balls for the Belgrade bourgeoisie.
Anastasijević was called the “Prince of Danube” or “Danube Rothschild” for his wealth and business skills. Captain Miša Anastasijević married his daughter to a Prince from the ruling Karađorđević family and built the most impressive building in the city (Captain Miša’s Mansion), which was supposed to be the new court, although this plan failed. The building hosted almost every important educational and cultural institutions of the Principality of Serbia - Ministry of Education, the Belgrade Higher School, which became the University of Belgrade, First Belgrade Gymnasium, National Museum, Art Gallery and Library. Occasionally, its gala hall has been used for the meetings of the National Assembly (1864–1875) and Senate (1901–1903). Today, there is the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade.
His body is preserved at a church in Clejani, Romania. According to the Romanian newspaper Evenimentul zilei, it is naturally mummified and preserved in a truly remarkable state. (The article was entitled „Sfintul” Misa din Clejani, published 3 August 2003 in Evenimentul zilei).
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References
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