Janko Mitrović ( sr-cyr, Јанко Митровић; 1613–1659) was a ''
harambaša Harambaša ( sr-cyr, Харамбаша) was the rank for a senior commander of a ''hajduk'' band (brigand gangs).
Etymology
It is derived from the Turkish word for 'bandit leader' ( < 'bandit' + 'head') and, like some other
Morlach army'', in the service of the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
, from 1648 until his death in 1659. He participated in the
Cretan War (1645–69) Cretan War may refer to multiple wars involving the island of Crete, including:
*Cretan War (205–200 BC), a war between King Philip V of Macedon and Rhodes
*Cretan War (1645–1669), a war between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire
Se ...
, alongside Ilija Smiljanić, as the supreme commanders of the Venetian Morlach troops, of which he is enumerated in Croatian and Serb epic poetry (as Janko of Kotari, Јанко од Котара). His son, Stojan Janković, followed in his father's footsteps.
Life
Janko was the son of Mitar (born c. 1585), whose family hailed from village Zelengrad or Žegar in the area of
Bukovica Bukovica may refer to:
Croatia
*Bukovica, Dalmatia, a geographical region in Croatia
*Bukovica, Sisak-Moslavina County, a village near Topusko
* Bukovica, Brod-Posavina County, a village near Rešetari
* Nova Bukovica, a village and municipality ...
. Janko had brothers Jovan, Stjepan, Pavle, and Andrija, and probably was among the youngest brothers. Vukadin Mitrović was also a ''harambaša'' in Venetian service, possibly another brother, or a cousin.
Mitrović in 1646 was recorded as a defender of Šibenik, and in 1649 was rewarded with a monthly payment of 4 ducats. Stojan, who was Janko's eldest son, began fighting alongside him and Ilija Smiljanić early on, in the Cretan War (1645–69). Ilija, as the more experienced, was named ''serdar'' in 1648 after his father, serdar Petar Smiljanić had died.Berber, p. 3 In 1648, when the Ottoman army took their village, the ''Mitrovići'' and 70 other Žegar families settled in the small village of Budin near Posedarje, under Venetian control. In January 1654, with 100 horsemen and 150 other soldiers prevented Ottoman's destruction of Posedarje for which was rewarded by the authorities. After the death of Filip Smiljanić, in 1656 was named as a serdar. Under his command were people of
Ražanac
Ražanac is a village and municipality in the Zadar County in Croatia.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census, the municipality had 2,940 inhabitants, 98% of which were Croats.
In 2021, the municipality had 2,746 residents in the following 6 ...
Cetina
The Cetina () is a river in southern Croatia. It has a length of and its basin covers an area of . From its source, Cetina descends from an elevation of above sea level to the Adriatic Sea. It is the most water-rich river in Dalmatia.Naklada Nap ...
river, both leaders Janko and Ilija Smiljanić succumb to wounds after battling the Turks. Janko was buried on 28 February 1659 in the Catholic church of St. Elias in
Zadar
Zadar ( , ), historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian, ; see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar ...
, which was until the mid-18th century part of the parish of the
Zadar Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Anastasia () is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Zadar, Croatia, seat of the Archdiocese of Zadar, and the largest church in all of Dalmatia (the coastal region of Croatia).
The church's origins date back to a Christian basi ...
, in which death registers were kept at that time. Janko's wife was Antonija, and they had three sons, Stojan, Ilija and Zaviša, and a daughter Ana.Berber, p. 6 According to one document, stating that they had many people of the same confession faithful to the Roman Church, it is argued that they were Roman Catholics.
Notes
See also
*
Vuk Mandušić
Vuk Mandušić ( sr-cyr, Вук Мандушић; Vučen Mandušić, ''Vucen Mandussich''; 1645 – died 13 July 1648) was the ''capo direttore'' of the Morlach army, one of the most prominent ''harambaša'' (rebel leaders) in the Dalmatian ...