0062 The Blind Guslar Statue
Slepi Guslar
Djuro Milutinović the Blind
Large Kalemegdan Park
Belgrade, Serbia
GPS: 44.821156, 20.451019


Djordje (Djuro) Milutinović (1774–1844) was born in 1774 in Grahovo, Nikšić.

He lost his eyesight at the age of sixteen or seventeen, and from then on he began to compose epic songs of current events on the gusle.

The gusle is a single-stringed musical instrument traditionally used in the Denaric Alps region of Southeastern Europe.

The instrument is always accompanied by singing; musical folklore, specifically epic poetry.

Because he was 'only a blind musician,' authorities would often dismiss Djuro as harmless, and this worked in his favor.

Djuro became known as a trusted messenger of military plans and diplomatic secrets during the preparation and eve of the First Serbian Uprising for strategists located in Serbia and Montenegro.

During 1813, Djuro was in close contact with Serbian revolutionaries.

After the fall of the First Serbian Uprising, and the invasion of Serbia by the Ottoman Turks, Djuro along with other refugees were taken from the borders of Serbian lands.

He first went to Graz and then to Moldavia, with other Serbian emigrants.

While in the territories now known as Romania, he and other bards brought their songs together with their unique way of singing known as the "Serbian style" or "measure."

The events of his time became documented through his epic poems.

In 1817, he returned to Serbia, where he was seen and valued guest in Prince Miloš Obrenović's Palace.

He lived in the royal residence until his death on September 9, 1844.

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