The majority of what is now the Republic of Serbia was incorporated in the Ottoman Empire from the mid 15th century until the early 19th century. From the early 18th century, Vojvodina was no longer incorporated in the empire as it was ceded to the Habsburgs.

The Slaughter of the Knezes was the organized assassinations and assaults of noble Serbs in the Sanjak of Smederevo in January 1804 by the rebellious Dahije. Fearing that the Sultan would make use of the Serbs to oust them, they decided to execute leading Serbs throughout the Sanjak. A total of 72 noble Serbs were assassinated, and their heads were put on public display. Notable victims were Aleksa Nenadović and Ilija Birčanin. The event triggered the Serbian revolution, aimed at putting an end to the centuries of occupation.