The Serbian Free Corps (german: Serbische Freikorps), known simply as ''frajkori'' ( sr-cyr, фрајкори), was a volunteer

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

composed of ethnic

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of ...

, established by the

Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...

, to fight the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...

during the

Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791) The term Austro-Turkish War may refer to: * Austro-Turkish War (1593–1606) * Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664) * Austro-Turkish War (1683–1699) * Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718) * Austro-Turkish War (1737–1739) * Austro-Turkish War (1788� ...

. The conflict with Turkish forces ultimately proved inconclusive. The rebellion in the

Sanjak of Smederevo The Sanjak of Smederevo ( tr, Semendire Sancağı; sr, / ), also known in historiography as the Pashalik of Belgrade ( tr, Belgrad Paşalığı; sr, / ), was an Ottoman administrative unit (sanjak), that existed between the 15th and the out ...

and militia's operations resulted in the period of Habsburg-occupied Serbia, which took place from 1788 to 1792. Ultimately, the Serbian volunteer corps had the legacy of promoting the creation of future paramilitaries, such as during the

First Serbian Uprising The First Serbian Uprising ( sr, Prvi srpski ustanak, italics=yes, sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; tr, Birinci Sırp Ayaklanması) was an uprising of Serbs in the Sanjak of Smederevo against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 1 ...

History

A Serbian ''

freikorps (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...

'' of 5,000 soldiers had been established in

Banat Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of ...

(

Banat Military Frontier The Banat Military Frontier or simply Banat Frontier ( sr, Банатска крајина/Banatska krajina; ro, Granița militară Bănățeană) was a district of the Habsburg monarchy's Military Frontier located in the Banat region. It was for ...

), composed of refugees that had fled earlier conflicts in the Ottoman Empire. The Corps would fight for liberation of Serbia and unification under Habsburg rule. The main commander was the Austrian major Mihajlo Mihaljević. There were several freikorps along the Habsburg-Ottoman frontier. Mihaljević's Free Corps, the most notable, was active from

Šumadija Šumadija (, sr-Cyrl, Шумадија) is a geographical region in the central part of Serbia. The area used to be heavily covered with forests, hence the name (from ''šuma'' 'forest'). The city of Kragujevac is the administrative center of ...

to Podrinje, and across the Morava there was the Braničevo Free Corps; in Croatia the St. George Free Corps; in Bosnia they were called ''

Seressaner The Seressaner (german: Serezaner, hr, serežani, sr, сережани) were an Habsburg military police unit in Lika, Croatian Military Frontier. The name is derived from Saracens ("tent dwellers"). The Seressaner troops were established after ...

''. Other Serb militias were the Kozara Militia and Prosar Militia, established in Bosnia in 1788, composed of 1,000 soldiers each. Among volunteers were

Aleksa Nenadović Aleksa Nenadović (1749 Brankovina, Valjevo, Serbia — 4 February 1804, Valjevo, Serbia) was ober knyaz of Tamnava—Posavina district of Valjevo nahiyah of the Belgrade Pashaluk. Family Aleksa Nenadović was member of Nenadović family from ...

and

Karađorđe Petrović Đorđe Petrović ( sr-Cyrl, Ђорђе Петровић, ), better known by the sobriquet Karađorđe ( sr-Cyrl, Карађорђе, lit=Black George, ; – ), was a Serbian revolutionary who led the struggle for his country's independ ...

, Stanko Arambašić and the prominent Radič Petrović and most distinguished of all, Koča Anđelković. The Orthodox clergy in Serbia supported the rebellion. Koča's militia quickly took over Palanka and

Batočina Batočina ( sr, Баточина, ) is a town and municipality located in the Šumadija District The Šumadija District ( sr, / , ) is one of eight administrative districts of Šumadija and Western Serbia. It is located in the central parts ...

, attacked

Kragujevac Kragujevac ( sr-Cyrl, Крагујевац, ) is the fourth largest city in Serbia and the administrative centre of the Šumadija District. It is the historical centre of the geographical region of Šumadija in central Serbia, and is situated on ...

, and reached the Constantinople road, cutting off the Ottoman army from

Sanjak of Niš The Sanjak of Niš ( Turkish: Niş Sancağı; Serbian: Нишки санџак, romanized: ''Niški Sandžak''; Albanian: Sanxhaku i Nishit; Bulgarian: Нишки санджак, romanized: ''Nishki sandzhak'') was one of the sanjaks of the Ot ...

and

Sanjak of Vidin The Sanjak of Vidin or the Vidin Sanjak ( bg, Видински санджак, sr, Видински санџак, tr, Vidin Sancağı) was a sanjak in the Ottoman Empire, with Vidin as its administrative centre. It was established after the Batt ...

. The Austrians used the Corps in two failed attempts to seize Belgrade, in late 1787 and early 1788.

Organization

According to a document from 6 November 1789, the Free Corps included: * 1 squadron of

hussars A hussar ( , ; hu, huszár, pl, husarz, sh, husar / ) was a member of a class of light cavalry, originating in Central Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely a ...

, * 18 companies of

fusilier Fusilier is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While fusilier is derived from the 17th-century French word ''fusil'' – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has been used in con ...

s, * and 4 companies of

musketeer A musketeer (french: mousquetaire) was a type of soldier equipped with a musket. Musketeers were an important part of early modern warfare particularly in Europe as they normally comprised the majority of their infantry. The musketeer was a pr ...

s, with a total of 5,049 soldiers.

Dress

Their uniforms were similar to that of the frontiersmen, with some changes.

Aftermath

In 1793, the Austrians established the new free corps on the border, for Serbians and Bosnians.

Legacy

On the eve of the

, the

Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 59,747. The C ...

and Sokol nahije established volunteer detachments, called ''frajkori'', that had the task of sabotage against Ottoman military plans, and their concentration in this region of Serbia.

Notable people

* Koča Anđelković, captain 1789 *

, commander 1804 * Vuča Žikić, captain 1808 * Petar Novaković Čardaklija, captain 1808 * Radič Petrović, captain 1816 *

, sergeant 1817

References

Sources

* * {{Authority control 18th-century Freikorps Military history of Austria Military history of Serbia 18th century in Serbia 18th-century establishments in Serbia Serbia under Habsburg rule Vojvodina under Habsburg rule History of Banat Cavalry units and formations Infantry units and formations Habsburg Serbs Military units and formations of the Early Modern period Military Frontier Serbian mercenaries 1787 establishments in the Habsburg Monarchy 1792 disestablishments in the Habsburg Monarchy Military units and formations established in 1787 Military units and formations disestablished in 1792 Volunteer military units and formations Army of the Habsburg Monarchy