Rufim Njeguš ( sr-Cyrl, Руфим Његуш; 1594–1631) was the
Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1594 and 1636. He succeeded the Metropolitan duo of Nikanor and Stevan (s. 1591–93). Rufim Njeguš and Metropolitan
Visarion of Trebinje (s. 1590–1602) aided the
Banat Uprising
The Uprising in Banat was a rebellion organized and led by Serbian Orthodox bishop Teodor of Vršac and Sava Temišvarac against the Ottomans in the Eyalet of Temeşvar. The uprising broke out in 1594, in the initial stage of the Long Turkish W ...
(1594). In 1595
Francesco Antonio Bertucci tried to convince Rufim to accept union with the Catholic Church.
He was succeeded by
Mardarije Kornečanin (s. 1637–59). Rufim is famous as being the first metropolitan who actively took part in armed confrontations with 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) ...
, leading Montenegrin army in three major battles in 1601, 1604 and 1613.
Battle of Lješkopolje (1604)
Sanjak-bey
''Sanjak-bey'', ''sanjaq-bey'' or ''-beg'' ( ota, سنجاق بك) () was the title given in the Ottoman Empire to a bey (a high-ranking officer, but usually not a pasha) appointed to the military and administrative command of a district (''sanjak ...
of
Shkodër Ali-beg Mimibegović led an army of 12,000 from
Podgorica
Podgorica (Cyrillic: Подгорица, ; lit. 'under the hill') is the capital and largest city of Montenegro. The city was formerly known as Titograd (Cyrillic: Титоград, ) between 1946 and 1992—in the period that Montenegro form ...
and clashed with 400 Montenegrins in
Lješanska nahija. Rufim reinforced them with 500 Katunjani during the day and sent dozens of small three-members groups, in total amount of 50 warriors to spy and to attack the opponent from rear. The battle lasted through whole night, when at the dawn Montenegrins launched a sudden charge surprising the enemy. Ali-beg was wounded and retreated with 3,500 casualties, while his second-in-command Šaban Ćehaja was killed.
Battle of Kosov lug (1613)
Towards the end of September newly appointed Sanjak-bey of Shkodër Arslan-bey Balićević renewed attacks on Montenegrins, splitting his forces in two, and tasking first army with penetration to Cetinje and second army with suppressing rebellious forces around
Spuž
Spuž ( cnr, Спуж) is a small town seated near Zeta river, within the municipality of Danilovgrad in the central Montenegrin region.
Overview
It is located halfway between Podgorica and Danilovgrad, in the Bjelopavlići valley. It was part o ...
. Both armies failed, as the first one was stopped in Lješanska nahija again without reaching Cetinje, and the second one was defeated when Rufim personally led a side attack of 700 Katunjani in the aid of
Piperi,
Bjelopavlići
Bjelopavlići ( cyrl, Бјелопавлићи; sq, Palabardhi), ) is a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanian origin and a valley in the Brda region of Montenegro, around the city of Danilovgrad.
Geography
The ''Bjelopavlići'' valley (also kn ...
and
Rovčani
The Rovčani ( sr-Cyrl, Ровчани, ) are a historical tribe of Montenegro and one of the seven highlander tribes of the Brda region, alongside the Bjelopavlići, Piperi, Kuči, Bratonožići, Moračani and Vasojevići. The historical r ...
forces which were already engaging enemy around the village of Kosov lug. The battle resulted in Sultan's official recognition of Montenegrin autonomy, by issuing a
berat
Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier.
Berat is located in ...
which states that: "... no Turkish official, if not authorised by Sultan, can enter Montenegro without the permission from Montenegrins themselves".
strela sledeca stranakucicakucica
Legacy
Although informations about his life are scarce, Rufim is one of better known Metropolitans of Montenegrin history from predynastic period. His long tenure is well remembered and he is often mentioned as a contemporary of Patriarch Pajsije. In his "History of Montenegro" Sima Sarajlija lists as one of his more memorable deeds that he:
It is, thus, possible that it was him, rather than Metropolitan Rufim Boljević who famously converted Kuči Vojvode Lale Drekalov. Many authors, most notably Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov Popović ( sr-Cyrl, Марко Миљанов Поповић, ; 25 April 1833 – 2 February 1901) was a Brda chieftain and Montenegrin general and writer.
He entered the service of Danilo I, the first secular Prince of Monteneg ...
, cite Boljević as being the one, however the dates do not add up, since being mentioned in 1614, Lale precedes Boljević's tenure as Metropolitan by a couple of decades.
See also
* List of Metropolitans of Montenegro
Annotations
*Name: His name is mostly spelled ''Rufim Njeguš'' (Руфим Његуш), while his given name can be spelled as ''Ruvim'' (Рувим), and his byname as ''Njegoš'', as well. He is sometimes numbered Rufim II (Руфим II), to disambiguate from previous Rufim I (1561–1568), who was also from Njeguši (sometimes named Rufim Veljekrajski, after a village Velji Kraj in Njeguši tribe) and Rufim Boljević (Rufim III), the later metropolitan.
References
Bibliography
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Njegus, Rufim
16th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops
17th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops
Serbian Orthodox metropolitans of Montenegro
Ottoman period in the history of Montenegro
Clergy from Cetinje
16th-century births
Date of birth unknown
17th-century deaths
Date of death unknown