Issue: Description

OFFICER LJUBOMIR IVANOVIĆ (1836-1879): Between the Army and Politics

Authors:
Žarko Ilić

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Officer Ljubomir Ivanović was born on 26th October 1836 in Kraguje vac. After graduating in 1856 from the Artillery School, the precur sor of the later Military Academy, Ivanović was sent to France for further studies in military science, where he spent the following three years. Upon his return to the Principality of Serbia, he initially served in the General Military Department within the Main Military Administration. With minor interruptions, from 1860 to 1868 he held the position of aide-de-camp to Prince Mihailo. During the 1860´s, he carried out numerous military and diplomatic missions, most notably a year-long assignment at the Serbian agency in Istanbul as an unofficial military attaché, as well as work on im proving the Montenegrin army in the first half of 1867. He undertook dip lomatic and military missions on two further occasions during the 1870s. Between 1872 and 1874, Ivanović served as the Head of the General Military Department in the Ministry of War, and later held the office of Minister of Public Works in two governments (from June 1874 to February 1875). In 1874, he also served as aide-de-camp to Prince Milan. Afterward, he was appointed Head of the Artillery School. He distinguished himself particu larly during Serbia’s preparations for the war against the Ottoman Empire in the first half of 1876. Following the decree establishing the Main General Staff, he was appointed its Deputy Chief, and in early June became Chief of the Main General Staff, that is, Chief of the Supreme Command, a post he held during the First Serbo–Turkish War. In the Second Serbo–Turkish War, he served as Commander of the Second Šumadija Division. After the war, he was appointed, for the third time, as Head of the Artillery School, where he remained until his sudden death on 1st April 1879.