Tsonga, nicknamed Ali for his resemblance to the former heavyweight boxing champion, was the crowd favourite to win his first Grand Slam but Djokovic was too solid and too steely and it was the Serb who snatched his first major title 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.
"I am very happy to have won my first Grand slam here," the third seed smiled to the crowd. "I hope to see you here in this position many times more.
"I want to thank all the Serbian fans who came here to support me — I am so proud to be the first Serbian to win a Grand Slam title. I think it will be crazy house back in Serbia right now."
Monica Seles won three Australian Open titles while competing under the Yugoslav flag from 1991-1993.
Unseeded Tsonga came out swinging, needing 49 minutes to clinch the opener and fuel his country's hopes he could become the first Frenchman to win the Open in 80 years.
Djokovic had dealt with world number one Roger Federer in the semis but initially he could not out-muscle his burly opponent.
Tsonga crunched aces and slammed winners, taking the match to the world number three and keeping him on his heels. But Djokovic is a determined character and kept gunning away.
His reward came in the seventh game of the second set. Djokovic earned a break point when he belted a backhand return past the Frenchman and dictated the next point before Tsonga sent a forehand wide. The World No. 3 pummelled his chest with his fist and marched to his seat.
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