The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

was effected in 1102; their assembly of 1843-44 abolished the old established prerogative of the Serbian Church autonomy, and decided upon the introduction of Magyar as the official language in the administration of the Serbian Church. Painfully impressed and greatly alarmed the Serbs sent a deputation to try and effect an understanding between them and the Magyars, but the latter refused to listen to their grievances and Kossuth stated in the Magyar Assembly at Pressburg in 1847 that in the Crown-lands of St. Stephen he recognised no other nation but the Magyars.

In the meantime conditions in Austria had been going rapidly from bad to worse. The Magyars threatened to break out in open revolt, and Radetzky was imploring for more troops from Milan, as he could not answer for Lombardy, where national feeling was running as high as ever, and Piedmont was preparing an attack upon Austria. Zagreb in Croatia hailed the events of March 1848 as the prelude to a Constitution, and the fall of Metternich with rejoicing. A national committee was formed under Gaj and Kukulevic¢, who drew up a petition to the King demanding constitutional rights for Croatia.

In this last turn of events, Vienna saw a possible road to peace and salvation. Somebody pointed out to the Court that the office of the Ban of Croatia might be a most important one, and

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