Tanasko Rajić
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Atanasije Rajić ( sr-cyr, Атанасије Рајић; 31 January 1754 – 6 June 1815), known by his nickname Tanasko (Танаско), was a Serbian ''vojvoda'' (commander) and
revolutionary A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates for, a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective to describe something producing a major and sudden impact on society. Definition The term—bot ...
, the ''barjaktar'' (flag-bearer) in the
First Serbian Uprising The First Serbian Uprising (; sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; ) was an uprising of Serbs in Orašac (Aranđelovac), Orašac against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 1804 to 7 October 1813. The uprising began as a local revolt ...
led by Karađorđe against the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, and the captain in Obrenović's
Second Serbian Uprising The Second Serbian Uprising ( / ''Drugi srpski ustanak'', ) was the second phase of the Serbian Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after the re-annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire in 1813. The occupation was ...
, during which he died (1815).


Life

Atanasije was born on , 1754, in the village of Stragari, below the Rudnik mountain. As he was born on the '' slava'' (Serbian feast day) of St. Athanasius (Atanasije), he was named Atanasije. He was a friend of Janićije Đurić, the later secretary of Karađorđe. One of his sons married Perunika, the younger sister of Đurić. With Karađorđe and other
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 t ...
n rebels, he clashed many times with the
Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks () were a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group in Anatolia. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century and founded the Ottoman Empire, in which they remained socio-politically dominant for the e ...
. In his area, Sali-aga was known for his cruelty. Tanasko gathers his friends and plans an attack on Sali-aga. He was part of the talks between prominent Serbs in planning the uprising. In the evening of '' Sretenje Gospodnje'', 1804, Tanasko, Karađorđe,
Stanoje Glavaš Stanoje Stamatović ( sr-cyr, Станоје Стаматовић), known as Stanoje Glavaš (Станоје Главаш; 21 February 1763 – 15 February 1815) was a Serbian hajduk and hero in the First Serbian Uprising. Life Glavaš was born i ...
, Janićije Đurić, and 70 other armed Šumadijans arrived at Orašac. The next day, the Orašac assembly elected Karađorđe, leader of the Serbs. Karađorđe handed over a red and white war flag and appointed Tanasko the flag-bearer of the
Serbian revolution The Serbian Revolution ( / ') was a national uprising and constitutional change in Serbia that took place between 1804 and 1835, during which this territory evolved from an Sanjak of Smederevo, Ottoman province into a Revolutionary Serbia, reb ...
. After the outbreak of the uprising, Tanasko went to his home village and gathered and organized people for the siege of Rudnik which would follow. Tanasko was indignant to Sali-aga and promised that he would personally kill him and save Rudnik from violence. On 2 March 1804, the Serbian army led by Tanasko surrounded the city, demanding the surrender of Sali-aga. The Ottomans refused and prepared for battle, waiting for Kučuk Alija from
Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...
. Tanasko commanded the operation. Turkish reinforcements arrived from
Čačak Čačak ( sr-Cyrl, Чачак, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Moravica District in central Serbia. It is located in the West Morava Valley. According to the 2022 census, the city itself has a population ...
, resulting in a great battle on the outskirts of town. The Turks were defeated, with their horses and weapons seized. Tanasko was wounded in the arm. Tanasko did not participate in forming the first state government. He remained a soldier, known for his bravery. Sali-aga was delivered to and beheaded by Tanasko. He further participated against the fightings against Alija Gušanac on the Morava river when he and his army fortified Crni Vrh near Jagodina and awaited Gušanac. Gušanac fled from the battle, and his army was disarmed. ''voivode'' Jovan Kursula also participated in this battle. After the victory, there was political arguing between Tanasko and Karađorđe, due to the leader's centralism. Tanasko returned to his village and stayed there until 1813. When Serbia faced serious difficulty, Tanasko reconciled with Karađorđe and planned the defence. After the failure of the uprising, Tanasko returns to his village, becoming a witness to Ottoman retaliation. Despite his advancing age, he immediately joined Miloš Obrenović's
Second Serbian Uprising The Second Serbian Uprising ( / ''Drugi srpski ustanak'', ) was the second phase of the Serbian Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after the re-annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire in 1813. The occupation was ...
and returned to the battlefield. As chief commanders of the Serb rebels, Tanasko sought to expel the Ottomans from the
Čačak Čačak ( sr-Cyrl, Чачак, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Moravica District in central Serbia. It is located in the West Morava Valley. According to the 2022 census, the city itself has a population ...
nahija (district). On 6 June 1815, the two sides met at the Ljubić hill. The Ottoman commander Imšir Pasha went to destroy the Serbian positions near Čačak. The rebels hurried and fortified the trenches of Ljubić, 1.5 km north of Čačak, where Imšir was holding. The battle began in the morning, with an Ottoman surprise attack on Serbian positions, and the Serbs managed in the beginning. Tanasko commanded the cannon batteries in the surrounding hills. Just before the battle, Tanasko was elevated to ''captain'' in Obrenović's Serbian army. In the beginning of the battle, Tanasko had successfully attacked the Ottoman positions, but Ottomans had his position encircled. The situation became difficult, and Tanasko held on to his cannons. When the Ottomans advanced on the trenches where Tanasko was situated, he continued to command, climbed onto a top and began to shoot at the Ottomans. The Ottomans surrounded him and had him cut into pieces. The Serbian army later gathered and won the battle. Imšir Pasha also died in the battle, and the Ottoman army retreated to Čačak.


Legacy

A monument was erected in his honour on the hill of Ljubić, near
Čačak Čačak ( sr-Cyrl, Чачак, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Moravica District in central Serbia. It is located in the West Morava Valley. According to the 2022 census, the city itself has a population ...
, the site of the battle in which he fell. His weapons are held on display at the Military Museum, Belgrade. Schools in Čačak (and Ljubić) and Pirot are named after him. Streets in Čačak and Kraljevo are named after him. A Yugoslav Army barrack was named after him, stationed in Čačak. The Cultural and Artistic Association from Ljubić is named "Tanasko Rajić". A local football team in Pirot is named "FK Tanasko Rajić". His great-grandson was Serbian poet Velimir Rajić.Riznica srpska
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See also

* List of Serbian Revolutionaries


References


Sources

* * *Milica Baum, "Belgrade", A. S. Barnes, 1970, p. 87 *Nebojša Damnjanović, Vladimir Merenik, "The first Serbian uprising and the restoration of the Serbian state", Historical Museum of Serbia, Gallery of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, 2004, pp. 72–74 *Novosti Online
"Rano bez oca"
29 May 2006, {{DEFAULTSORT:Rajic, Tanasko 18th-century Serbian nobility 19th-century Serbian nobility Serbian military leaders Serbian revolutionaries People of the First Serbian Uprising People of the Second Serbian Uprising Military personnel from Kragujevac 1754 births 1815 deaths