The Serbian people’s greatest contributions to science, art and culture were made by the individuals included on the list of the 100 most famous Serbs. The list was compiled in 1993 by an expert committee comprising academics from the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, which then published a book titled The 100 Most Famous Serbs .
For the purpose of this tourism in Serbia website, a short-listed selection of famous personalities, who have special significance outside the borders of Serbia, has been compiled. A number of important individuals from recent history have also been added to the list and there is a section on contemporary individuals who have achieved worldwide fame.
Stefan Nemanja (1114-1200)
Serbian grand prince and founder of the Nemanjić dynasty
Saint Sava (1169-1236)
Educator and the first archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian church
King Milutin (1253-1321)
One of the most powerful mediaeval Serbian leaders
Emperor Dušan (1308-1355)
The first Serbian emperor and legislator
Prince Lazar (1329-1389)
Holy Emperor Lazar, cult figure of the Serbian Kosovo myth
Despot Stefan Lazarević (1377-1427)
Modern ruler, diplomat, warrior and poet
Despot Đurađ Branković (1377-1456)
Serbian ruler and military leader
Count Sava Vladislavić – Raguzinski (1668-1738)
Serbian patriot, Russian count, merchant and secret agent
Đorđe ‘Karađorđe’ Petrović (1768-1817)
Leader of the First Serbian Uprising
Prince Miloš Obrenović (1780-1860)
Prince of Serbia and leader of the Second Serbian Uprising
Prince Mihailo Obrenović (1823-1868)
Reformer
King Petar I Karađorđević (1844-1921)
Establisher of the Serbian parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Field Marshal Živojin Mišić (1855-1921)
One of the most distinguished Serbian military leaders
Nikola Pašić (1845-1926)
The longest-serving Serbian politician and statesman
Dr Zoran Đinđic (1952-2003)
Philosopher, politician, prime minister and a role model for modern Serbia
Ruđer Bošković (1711-1787)
Polymath, astronomer and scientist
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1787-1864)
Linguist, ethnographer, historian and Serbian language reformer
Josif Pančić (1814-1888)
Doctor, botanist and the first president of the Kingdom of Serbia Academy
Jovan Cvijić (1865-1927)
Founder of Serbian geography
Mihajlo Pupin (1854-1935)
Scientist and inventor
Milutin Milanković (1879-1958)
Author of the theory of ice ages and creator of the most accurate calendar in existence
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)
One of the world’s greatest inventors
Dositej Obradović (1739-1811)
Literary author, philosopher, teacher and educator of the people
Petar II Petrović Njegoš (1813-1851)
One of the greatest Serbian poets, ruler and bishop of Montenegro
Borisav Stanković (1876-1927)
One of the most important Serbian realist authors.
Branislav Nušić (1864-1938)
The greatest Serbian comic writer
Branko Radičević (1824-1853)
Serbian poetry is divided into that which came before him and that which came after him
Vojislav Ilić (1862-1894)
Realist poet and bohemian
Đura Jakšić (1832-1878)
Writer, painter and bohemian
Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638)
Celebrated Dubrovnik baroque poet
Ivo Andrić (1892-1975)
1961 winner of Nobel Prize for Literature
Isidora Sekulić (1877-1958)
Serbian writer and first female Academy member
Jovan Dučić (1871-1943)
Serbian poet, writer and diplomat
Jovan ‘Zmaj’ Jovanović (1833-1904)
Children’s poet, lyricist of Serbian romanticism, doctor and publisher
Jovan Sterija Popović (1806-1856)
The father of Serbian drama, comedy writer
Laza K. Lazarević (1851-1891)
Doctor and progenitor of the Serbian psychological story
Laza Kostić (1841-1910)
Serbian poet, journalist and translator
Meša Selimović (1910-1982)
Distinguished Serbian writer from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Milan Rakić (1876-1938)
Serbian poet, diplomat and Academy member
Milena Pavlović-Barili (1909-1945)
One of the most interesting European painters from the interwar period
Miloš Crnjanski (1893-1977)
Writer, story-teller, romanticist and playwright
Nadežda Petrović (1873-1915)
The most important Serbian female painter from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century
Paja Jovanović (1859-1957)
Typical representative of Serbian academic realism
Radoje Domanović (1873-1908)
Author of Serbian satirical short stories
Sava Šumanović (1896-1942)
One of the most important Serbian painters of the 20th century
Stevan Mokranjac (1856-1914)
Serbian classical composer and music teacher
