Ristić or Ristich, Jovan

Ristić or Ristich, Jovan (both: yō'vän rē'stich) [key], 1831–99, Serbian statesman. A leader of the liberal party, he was repeatedly foreign minister and was three times premier (1873, 1878–80, 1887). Ristić hoped to make Serbia the nucleus of a large South Slav state, and in the 1878 Treaty of Berlin, Serbia gained full independence and additional territory. After the abdication of King Milan, Ristić headed (1889–93) the council of regency for Milan's son, Alexander.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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