Три жалбе митрополита Павла Ненадовића из 1762. године
Lawsuits Filed by Metropolitan Pavle Nenadović in 1762

Summary/Abstract: Pavle Nenadović’s administration of the Metropolitanate of Karlovci (1749–1768) was marked by the struggle to preserve the Serbs’ privileges interpreted in a way that suited him and the Serbian Church. This interpretation often differed from the Court’s interpretation, especially in the centralising, reformatory period of Maria Theresa’s rule. In addition, there were many cases in which the privileges were infringed upon contrary to the Court’s attempts and Nenadović would report these to the authorities and collaborate with them on correcting these injustices. The political situation sometimes permitted meeting Nenadović’s expectations, while on other occasions the authorities took a significantly firmer stand, but this was not the solution they strived for. What they sought to achieve was rather the development of a permanent working system related to Serbian rights. It was for this reason that the Metropolitan was summoned to Vienna in 1762, where he stayed for a year. However, his three lawsuits, which he handed over to the ruler on his arrival, were perceived as insolent, as according to Maria Theresa, the letters accused her of infringing on the privileges, even though she was well known to be the main advocate of these rights. Nevertheless, this list of complaints on the part of the Metropolitan represents a list of realistic problems which burdened the relationship between him and his believers on the one side, and the Court on the other.

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