In the first volume of Memoirs, Simeon Piščević-a Serbian nobleman, military officer, and sharp observer of his time-chronicles his remarkable journey through the turbulent political and military landscape of mid-18th-century Europe. Born into a distinguished family and rising to prominence in the Austrian and Russian empires, Piščević offers rare insight into the experiences of South Slavs who navigated imperial loyalties, shifting borders, and identity struggles at a time when Europe was being reshaped by war and diplomacy.

This volume covers his early life, the legacy of his family in Habsburg service, his formative education, and the early years of his military career. Far from being just a soldier’s tale, Piščević’s writing is rich with reflection and conscious of his own role. His observations shed light not only on military matters, but also on the complexities of cultural and national affiliation in the borderlands of the Habsburg and Ottoman worlds.

This is the first translation of the Memoirs into English, making this foundational text of Serbian and Balkan historiography accessible to a wider audience for the first time. A vital resource for historians, and a compelling read for anyone interested in the lived experience behind the grand narratives of empire.