The monument to Dositej Obradovic was first positioned at the entrance to Kalemegdan, on a square in front of the "Srpska kruna" hotel, which is today the Library of Belgrade. It was supposed to be the first in the line of monuments to other great people from history, initiating Belgrade's "Via Triumphalis", which was to end with the monument of Karadjordje. However, Karadjordje's monument was melted down by the Austrians in order to cast a monument to Franz Joseph, while Dositej was moved to the Academy park. Instead of him today there is the monument to Milan Rakic and instead of Karadjordje's monument there is the monument of gratitude to France.