Veljko Petrović ( sr-cyr, Вељко Петровић, ;
c. 1780 – 1813), known simply as
Hajduk Veljko (Хајдук Вељко,
ǎjduːk v̞ɛ̌ːʎkɔ, was one of the ''
vojvodas'' (military commanders) of the
Serbian Revolutionary forces in the
First Serbian Uprising against the
Ottoman Empire, in charge of the Negotin area. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the uprising.
[Vojska, Vol. 13, Issue 622–630 (2004)]
Biography
Early life
He was born in
Lenovac
Lenovac is a village in the municipality of Zaječar, Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and C ...
, near
Zaječar,
[ in the Crna Reka ]nahija
A nāḥiyah ( ar, , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villages or sometimes smaller towns. In Tajikistan, it is a second-level division w ...
, into the family of Petar (hence he took ''Petrović Petrović ( sr-Cyrl, Петровић, ;) is a South Slavic language patronymic surname literally meaning ''Peter's son'', equivalent to the English last name of Peterson. In Eastern Slavic naming customs its counterpart is "Petrovich".
The surn ...
'' as his surname) and Petrinja.[Nenadović 1884, p. 735] He had two younger brothers, Milutin and Miljko.[ His father was called ''Sirenjar Petar'' ("Peter the Cheese Maker") due to his multitude of livestock which he possessed, and the amount of cheese he sold.][Nikolić 1898, p. 56]
/ref>[Nenadović 1884, p. 736]
/ref> His father was a very calm person, though Veljko was an unruly kid.[ In his youth he kept cattle,][ even becoming ''čobanbaša'' ("head herder") among the local herders.][ The local Turks often visited their house, eating their food, drinking and taking cheese, butter oil, and milk.][
Osman Pazvantoğlu's ''krdžalije'' (Ottoman ]brigands
Brigandage is the life and practice of highway robbery and plunder. It is practiced by a brigand, a person who usually lives in a gang and lives by pillage and robbery.Oxford English Dictionary second edition, 1989. "Brigand.2" first recorded usa ...
), who were deemed rebels by the Sultan, had fought the Imperial troops at Crna Reka, and then continued to attack local Turks loyal to the Sultan, and burned and devastated several villages in the region, including Lenovac.[ This prompted Veljko, only 15 years old, to leave his parents and brothers for Vidin.][ There he was hired as a shepherd by a Turk, and after some time he left for Požarevac, where he was hired by the Vojvoda of Požarevac to prepare food.][ As he had also spent some time there, at Easter time, he danced the '' kolo'' with his friends, forgetting to prepare the important dinner for his master.][ For this, his master chased to beat him, thus Veljko fled, ending up in the '' hajduk'' (Serbian brigands) bands of ]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 ...
.[ In the winter time of 1803, Glavaš had arranged for Veljko to stay at the house of a ''jatak'' ("concealer", civil hajduk supporter) in Dubona, in the Smederevo nahija, where he would work as a shepherd.][ In the same village Veljko met Marija, a widow and relative of Glavaš, and married her, moving to her house.][ Not long after the wedding, the Slaughter of the Knezes took place (January 1804), in which prominent Serb leaders were executed by the Janissary military junta of the Sanjak of Smederevo][ (these janissaries, under the leadership of Kučuk Alija, had murdered ''sanjak-bey'' Hadži Mustafa Pasha on 15 December 1801 and taken the rule of the sanjak). As a response to the executions, the Serbian population, without a central figure, took measures of self-defence, and spontaneously attacked the janissaries.
]
First Serbian Uprising
Hearing of Karađorđe's activities, Veljko immediately asked his wife for hajduk wear and weapons and joined Glavaš' bands.[ When Karađorđe arrived at Orašac on the Meeting of the Lord, February 2, 1804, and was chosen by the people, Glavaš, Katić, ]Čarapić Čarapić ( sr-cyr, Чарапић) is a surname found in Serbia and Croatia. The root of the word is ''čarapa'', .
A former noble lived in Grocka ''nahija'' (Belgrade region). Members of the family participated in the Serbian Revolution and the ...
, Jakovljević, Vule, and others, to be the "Supreme Leader of the Serb People", Veljko was present in Glavaš' ''četa
A cheta ( sq, çeta; rup, ceatã; bg, чета; gr, τσέτης; ro, ceată; tr, çete; sr, чета / ), in plural chetas, was an armed band organized by the mostly Bulgarian, Serbian, Albanian, Greek, Aromanian and Megleno-Romanian p ...
'' (band of fighters).[ As the Uprising developed, Glavaš lay away his weapon, and Veljko then served the Smederevo Vojvoda ]Đuša Vulićević Dušan "Đuša" Vulićević (Azanja, 1771 - Smederevo, 1805) was a voivode (duke) in Smederevo and one of the first Serbian revolutionary organizers of the First Serbian Uprising. He was one of the first victims in the battles for the liberation of ...
fighting the Ottomans.[ In the fall of 1805, Vojvoda Đuša was killed by the Turks in Smederevo.][ Karađorđe put Đuša's younger brother ]Vujica Vulićević
Vujica Vulićević also known as Vule Vulićević ( sr-cyr, Вујица Вулићевић; 1773–1828) was a Serbian ''voivode'' (military commander) in the First Serbian Uprising of the Serbian Revolution, led by ''Grand Leader'' Karađorđe ...
in his place.[ Veljko became one of Vujica's ''buljukbašica'' (a commander of a few men).][Nenadovic, p. 737]
With Vujica Vulićević
Vujica Vulićević also known as Vule Vulićević ( sr-cyr, Вујица Вулићевић; 1773–1828) was a Serbian ''voivode'' (military commander) in the First Serbian Uprising of the Serbian Revolution, led by ''Grand Leader'' Karađorđe ...
he fought to free Belgrade (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became a ''buljubaša / буљубаша'' and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defended Soko Banja
Sokobanja ( sr-cyr, Сокобања, ) is a spa town and municipality located in the Zaječar District of the eastern Serbia. As of 2011, the population of the town is 7,982, while population of the municipality is 16,021.
Geography
Sokobanja ...
from the Turks. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia and the Balkans. In 1810 he was decorated with the Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in the battle of Varvarin
The Battle of Varvarin ( sr-cyr, Варваринска битка) was fought on 5 September 1810 between Serbian Revolutionary forces supported by Russian troops and Ottoman forces near Varvarin, at the time part of the Ottoman Empire, (today ...
, where he was wounded in his left arm and became slightly crippled. In 1811 he became '' Voivoda of the Timok Valley'' and he was sent to Negotin, in the Timok Valley. In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at the village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.
Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813. The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška ( Walachia). In total, 16,000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, which was defended by 3,000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, built a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka. In the moats, together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko. Also, there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abrašelibalta among many others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of heroic defence, he ordered repair around his moat and was struck by a cannonball. He died almost immediately. The Battle of Negotin
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian
Serbian may refer to:
* someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe
* someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people
* Serbian language
* Serbian names
See also
*
*
* Old Serbian (disambiguat ...
rebels. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words: ''Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem''. (I'll give my head, but not Krajina)
Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend, Vuk Karadžić suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.
Legacy
As a popular hero, there existed songs about him even during his lifetime. There exist over 70 lyrical and 10 epic poems about him. Some of the most known songs or epic poems include "My almond tree grew forth" (''Расло ми је бадем дрво'') and "Sickly there lieth Mustapha the Black" (''Болан ми лежи Кара-Мустафа'').
Serbian comic author Živorad Atanacković Živorad (Cyrillic script: Живорад) is a Serbian masculine given name of Slavic origin. The name may refer to:
*Živorad Jevtić (born 1943), footballer
*Živorad Kovačević (1930–2011), politician
*Živorad Mišić (born 1986), footballe ...
(1933-1998) created an adventurous comic
a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...
on the person of Veljko Petrović, with the theme of the First Serbian Uprising (''Hajduk Veljko'', 1966).
Some Bulgarian historians have portrayed fringe theories that Veljko was Bulgarian.Review of International Affairs 1974
p. 11:
He is included in The 100 most prominent Serbs.
See also
* List of Serbian Revolutionaries
This is a list of Serbian Revolutionaries, participants in the Serbian Revolution (1804–1817).
See also
*Serbian revolutionary organizations
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
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*
{{Serbian revolutionaries
*
Revolutionaries
Revolutionaries
...
References
Sources
*
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrovic, Veljko
1780s births
1813 deaths
People from Zaječar
18th-century Serbian people
19th-century Serbian people
People of the First Serbian Uprising
Serbian revolutionaries
Serbian soldiers
Hajduks
Timok Valley
Characters in Serbian epic poetry
Burials at Serbian Orthodox monasteries and churches
People from Negotin