By the middle of the 15th century, most of modern Serbia had come under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, with some parts under control by periods by the Austrians and the Hapsburgs. 

In January 1804, Serbia was under the control of the Dahijas, a renegade section of elite Ottoman troops. Fearing control would be taken back by the Ottomans, they executed 70 Serb nobles in an event called the ‘Slaughter of the Dukes’. This event triggered the first Serbian uprising which began on February 14th. 

Initially, the uprising was supported by the Sultan of the Ottomans, but their demands for greater autonomy for Serbia led to military suppression by the Ottomans. The Serbians defended themselves against these attacks and by 1805 had formed a government. 

In 1813, after the end of the Russo-Turkish War, the Ottoman Empire turned its focus back to Serbia, retaking the country. 

A second uprising took place between 1815 – 1817, with the result that Serbia became a Principality. 

On February 15th 1835, the Principality of Serbia adopted the first Constitution in the Balkan region.The constitution was drafted by Dimitrije Davidović, Prime Minister of Serbia, Minister of Education and chief secretary of cabinet to Prince Miloš Obrenović I, and was adopted in the City of Kragujevac in 1835. 

It established a Serbian Parliament, with a royal dynasty and abolished feudalism and serfdom. The constitution was short-lived and was repealed in April 1835. 

It wasn’t until 1867 that the last Turkish troops left Serbia. 

Serbian Statehood Day is celebrated on the same day as Orthodox Candlemas (Sretenje), which is why that first constitution is known as the Sretenje Constitution (Candlemas Constitution).