Grujica Žeravica ( sr-cyr, Грујица Жеравица; 1665–69) was a

Serb The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language. The majority of Serbs live in their na ...

hajduk A hajduk ( hu, hajdúk, plural of ) is a type of irregular infantry found in Central and parts of Southeast Europe from the late 16th to mid 19th centuries. They have reputations ranging from bandits to freedom fighters depending on time, p ...

'' commander active in the Ottoman territories of

Herzegovina Herzegovina ( or ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Hercegovina, separator=" / ", Херцеговина, ) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia. It has never had strictly defined geogra ...

and southern

Dalmatia Dalmatia (; hr, Dalmacija ; it, Dalmazia; see #Name, names in other languages) is one of the four historical region, historical regions of Croatia, alongside Croatia proper, Slavonia, and Istria. Dalmatia is a narrow belt of the east shore of ...

during the Venetian–Ottoman war (1645–69). The hajduks, Ottoman subjects, crossed into Venetian territory from where they "jumped into" Ottoman territory. These guerilla forces closely cooperated and were recruited by the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

to defend the Venetian–Ottoman frontier during the war. He was a comrade of acclaimed

Bajo Pivljanin Bajo Pivljanin ( sr-cyr, Бајо Пивљанин – 7 May 1685), born Dragojlo Nikolić, was a Montenegrin and Serbian ''hajduk'' commander mostly active in the Ottoman territories of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia. Born in Piva, at the ...

. Žeravica hailed from

Banjani Banjani ( sr-cyrl, Бањани) was a tribe of Old Herzegovina, and historical region in western Montenegro. Its territory comprises , west of Nikšić, in the centre between Nikšić and Bileća, from the top of Njegoš mountain to the Trebi� ...

, in the

Sanjak of Herzegovina The Sanjak of Herzegovina ( tr, Hersek Sancağı; sh, Hercegovački sandžak) was an Ottoman administrative unit established in 1470. The seat was in Foča until 1572 when it was moved to Taşlıca (Pljevlja). The sanjak was initially part of ...

(now in western

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

). A 1665 appeal of hajduk leaders to Venice was signed by Bajo Pivljanin and Grujica Žeravica. In December 1669 Antonio

Priuli The House of Priuli was a prominent aristocratic family in the Republic of Venice; they entered the Venetian nobility early in the 14th century. Their members include: *Andriana Priuli - wife of Francesco Cornaro, Doge of Venice (1625–1629) * ...

brought from Perast to Venice hajduk leaders including Pivljanin, Žeravica,

Vukosav Puhalović Vukosav Puhalović ( sr-cyr, Вукосав Пухаловић; 1665–69) was a Serb ''hajduk'' commander active in the Ottoman territories of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia during the Venetian–Ottoman war (1645–69). The hajduks, Ottoman s ...

and ''buljubaša'' Milošević. Earlier, in June, the Venetian ''

provveditore The Italian title ''prov ditore'' (plural ''provveditori''; also known in gr, προνοητής, προβλεπτής; sh, providur), "he who sees to things" (overseer), was the style of various (but not all) local district governors in the exten ...

'' issued the termination of the "chiefs that protect the

Kotor Kotor (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative c ...

area", the first three mentioned, and had them included in the list of soldiers having the right of pay and bread. He had the rank of ''harambaša'' ("bandit leader"). Grujica Žeravica is known from

Serbian epic poetry Serbian epic poetry ( sr, Српске епске народне песме, Srpske epske narodne pesme) is a form of epic poetry created by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The ...

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zeravica, Grujica 17th-century Serbian people 17th-century births 17th-century deaths Republic of Venice military personnel Serbian military leaders Serbs of Montenegro Venetian period in the history of Montenegro Hajduks Serbs from the Ottoman Empire Venetian Slavs Cretan War (1645–1669) Characters in Serbian epic poetry Military personnel from Nikšić

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