The Serbian Free Corps (german: Serbische Freikorps), known simply as ''frajkori'' ( sr-cyr, фрајкори), was a volunteer
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
composed of ethnic
Serbs
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 ...
, established by the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...
, to fight 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) ...
during the
Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791) The term Austro-Turkish War may refer to:
* Austro-Turkish War (1593–1606)
* Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664)
* Austro-Turkish War (1683–1699)
* Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718)
* Austro-Turkish War (1737–1739)
* Austro-Turkish War (1788–17 ...
. The conflict with Turkish forces ultimately proved inconclusive. The rebellion in the
Sanjak of Smederevo
The Sanjak of Smederevo ( tr, Semendire Sancağı; sr, / ), also known in historiography as the Pashalik of Belgrade ( tr, Belgrad Paşalığı; sr, / ), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman administrative unit (sanjak), that existed between the 1 ...
and militia's operations resulted in the
period of Habsburg-occupied Serbia, which took place from 1788 to 1792. Ultimately, the Serbian volunteer corps had the legacy of promoting the creation of future paramilitaries, such as during the
First Serbian Uprising
The First Serbian Uprising ( sr, Prvi srpski ustanak, italics=yes, sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; tr, Birinci Sırp Ayaklanması) was an uprising of Serbs in the Sanjak of Smederevo against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 18 ...
.
History
A Serbian ''
freikorps
(, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, regar ...
'' of 5,000 soldiers had been established in
Banat
Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of T ...
(
Banat Military Frontier
The Banat Military Frontier or simply Banat Frontier ( sr, Банатска крајина/Banatska krajina; ro, Granița militară Bănățeană) was a district of the Habsburg monarchy's Military Frontier located in the Banat region. It was for ...
), composed of refugees that had fled earlier conflicts in the Ottoman Empire.
The Corps would fight for liberation of Serbia and unification under Habsburg rule.
The main commander was the Austrian major
Mihajlo Mihaljević. There were several freikorps along the Habsburg-Ottoman frontier.
Mihaljević's Free Corps, the most notable, was active from
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 the ...
to
Podrinje
Podrinje ( Serbian Cyrillic: Подриње) is the Slavic name of the Drina river basin, known in English as the Drina Valley. The Drina basin is shared between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with majority of its territory being located in ...
, and across the
Morava there was the Braničevo Free Corps; in Croatia the St. George Free Corps; in Bosnia they were called ''
Seressaner
The Seressaner (german: Serezaner, hr, serežani, sr, сережани) were an Habsburg military police unit in Lika, Croatian Military Frontier. The name is derived from Saracens ("tent dwellers").
The Seressaner troops were established aft ...
''.
[ Other Serb militias were the Kozara Militia and Prosar Militia, established in Bosnia in 1788, composed of 1,000 soldiers each.]
Among volunteers were Aleksa Nenadović and Karađorđe Petrović
Đorđe Petrović ( sr-Cyrl, Ђорђе Петровић, ), better known by the sobriquet Karađorđe ( sr-Cyrl, Карађорђе, lit=Black George, ; – ), was a Serbian revolutionary who led the struggle for his country's independ ...
, Stanko Arambašić Stanko Arambašić ( sr-Cyrl, Станко Арамбашић; Levač in the village of Kolare, Ottoman Empire, today Serbia, 1764 - Smederevo, Ottoman Empire, 21 September 1798) was a Serbian Free Corps commander who liberated parts of Serbia dur ...
and the prominent Radič Petrović
Radič Petrović ( sr-cyr, Радич Петровић; 1738–1816), known as Captain Radič (''kapetan Radič''), was a Serbian Revolutionary commander (''vojvoda''), earlier a Military Frontier guard and volunteer in the Austro-Turkish War ( ...
and most distinguished of all, Koča Anđelković
Korun "Koča" Anđelković ( sr-cyr, Коча Анђелковић, 1755 – 7 September 1788), known as Captain Koča (Kapetan Koča), was a Serbian leader of the Serbian Free Corps, the Habsburg military unit that fought the Ottomans durin ...
. The Orthodox clergy in Serbia supported the rebellion.
Koča's militia quickly took over Palanka and Batočina, attacked Kragujevac
Kragujevac ( sr-Cyrl, Крагујевац, ) is the fourth largest city in Serbia and the administrative centre of the Šumadija District. It is the historical centre of the geographical region of Šumadija in central Serbia, and is situated on ...
, and reached the Constantinople road, cutting off the Ottoman army from Sanjak of Niš
The Sanjak of Niš ( Turkish: Niş Sancağı; Serbian: Нишки санџак, romanized: ''Niški Sandžak''; Albanian: Sanxhaku i Nishit; Bulgarian: Нишки санджак, romanized: ''Nishki sandzhak'') was one of the sanjaks of the Ot ...
and Sanjak of Vidin
The Sanjak of Vidin or the Vidin Sanjak ( bg, Видински санджак, sr, Видински санџак, tr, Vidin Sancağı) was a sanjak in the Ottoman Empire, with Vidin as its administrative centre. It was established after the Batt ...
.
The Austrians used the Corps in two failed attempts to seize Belgrade, in late 1787 and early 1788.
Organization
According to a document from 6 November 1789, the Free Corps included:
* 1 squadron of hussars
A hussar ( , ; hu, huszár, pl, husarz, sh, husar / ) was a member of a class of light cavalry, originating in Central Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely ...
,
* 18 companies of fusilier
Fusilier is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While fusilier is derived from the 17th-century French language, French word ''fusil'' – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has ...
s,
* and 4 companies of musketeer
A musketeer (french: mousquetaire) was a type of soldier equipped with a musket. Musketeers were an important part of early modern warfare particularly in Europe as they normally comprised the majority of their infantry. The musketeer was a pre ...
s,
with a total of 5,049 soldiers.
Dress
Their uniforms were similar to that of the frontiersmen, with some changes.
Aftermath
In 1793, the Austrians established the new free corps on the border, for Serbians and Bosnians.[
]
Legacy
On the eve of the First Serbian Uprising
The First Serbian Uprising ( sr, Prvi srpski ustanak, italics=yes, sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; tr, Birinci Sırp Ayaklanması) was an uprising of Serbs in the Sanjak of Smederevo against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 18 ...
, the Užice
Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 59,747. The Cit ...
and Sokol nahije established volunteer detachments, called ''frajkori'', that had the task of sabotage against Ottoman military plans, and their concentration in this region of Serbia.
Notable people
*Koča Anđelković
Korun "Koča" Anđelković ( sr-cyr, Коча Анђелковић, 1755 – 7 September 1788), known as Captain Koča (Kapetan Koča), was a Serbian leader of the Serbian Free Corps, the Habsburg military unit that fought the Ottomans durin ...
, captain 1789
* Aleksa Nenadović, commander 1804
*Vuča Žikić Vuča Žikić ( sr-Cyrl, Вуча Жикић, mid-18th century – 14 April 1808), known as Captain Žika,Milićević 1888, p. 641 was an important figure in the First Serbian Uprising. He was the founder, builder and commander of Deligrad fortifica ...
, captain 1808
* Petar Novaković Čardaklija, captain 1808
*Radič Petrović
Radič Petrović ( sr-cyr, Радич Петровић; 1738–1816), known as Captain Radič (''kapetan Radič''), was a Serbian Revolutionary commander (''vojvoda''), earlier a Military Frontier guard and volunteer in the Austro-Turkish War ( ...
, captain 1816
*Karađorđe Petrović
Đorđe Petrović ( sr-Cyrl, Ђорђе Петровић, ), better known by the sobriquet Karađorđe ( sr-Cyrl, Карађорђе, lit=Black George, ; – ), was a Serbian revolutionary who led the struggle for his country's independ ...
, sergeant 1817
See also
*Serbian Militia
The Serbian (Rascian) Militia ( lat, Rascianica militia; sr, Рашка Милиција or ) was a military unit of the Habsburg-Austrian army consisting of Serbs, that existed in ca. 1686–1704.
During the Great Turkish War (1686–99)
Af ...
*Serbian Militia (1718–39)
The Serbian (Rascian) Militia ( lat, Rascianica militia; sr, Рашка Милиција or ) was a military unit of the Habsburg-Austrian army consisting of Serbs, that existed in ca. 1686–1704.
During the Great Turkish War (1686–99)
Af ...
References
Sources
*
*
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18th-century Freikorps
Military history of Austria
Military history of Serbia
18th century in Serbia
18th-century establishments in Serbia
Serbia under Habsburg rule
Vojvodina under Habsburg rule
History of Banat
Cavalry units and formations
Infantry units and formations
Habsburg Serbs
Military units and formations of the Early Modern period
Military Frontier
Serbian mercenaries
1787 establishments in the Habsburg Monarchy
1792 disestablishments in the Habsburg Monarchy
Military units and formations established in 1787
Military units and formations disestablished in 1792
Volunteer military units and formations
Army of the Habsburg Monarchy