Danube Virtual Museum

Great Migration of Serbs in 1690

Title: Great Migration of Serbs in 1690
Author: Frank Juza
Chrolonology: 1600 - 1700
Museum: Belgrade City Museum
Country: Serbia
Closer Dating: 1690
Material: Paper
Dimensions: 59,8 × 46 cm
Production Technique: Ink
Bibliography: Pеtrоvić Bisеniја i drugi. Мuzеј grаdа Bеоgrаdа, ur. Sеfеrоvić Nаdа. Bеоgrаd: 2003.


Frank Juza’s ink drawing was probably commissioned and designed for reproduction, but for some unknown reason that did not happen. It is possible that the anonymous purchaser was not satisfied with Juza’s work. This piece features a historic event of the beginning of the migration of Serbian refugees across the confluence to Austria. The Serbs, after the fall of Belgrade in 1688 and penetration of the Habsburg army in the south, joined massive Christian army in an attempt to end Turkish tyranny.
Fortunes of war, and the French invasion of southern Germany, led to the withdrawal of the Austrians. Many Serbs retreated with the army unwilling to wait for the Turkish revenge. In the summer of 1690, refugees gathered beneath Belgrade, and there waited for Invitatorium from Emperor Leopold, which guaranteed Serbs collective ethnic, religious and economic rights. Upon the arrival of Invitatorium migration began to the North, to Saint Andrea and Komaron.