The Serbian

hajduks 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, ...

( sr, хајдуци / ''hajduci'') were

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 us ...

(

bandits Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an ...

) and guerrilla freedom fighters (

rebels Rebels may refer to: * Participants in a rebellion * Rebel groups, people who refuse obedience or order * Rebels (American Revolution), patriots who rejected British rule in 1776 Film and television * ''Rebels'' (film) or ''Rebelles'', a 2019 ...

) throughout Ottoman-held

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

, mainly in

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

, organized into bands headed by a '' harambaša'' ("bandit leader"), who descended from the mountains and forests and robbed and attacked the Ottomans. They were often aided by foreign powers, such as 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 ...

and

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 ...

, during greater conflicts. The hajduks are seen as part of the

Serbian national identity Serbia is the nation state of the Serbs, who are Serbia's dominant ethnic group. Serbs are also dominant in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the 19th century, the Serbian national identity was manifested, with awareness o ...

. In stories, the hajduks were described as heroes; they had played the role of the Serbian elite during Ottoman rule, they had defended the

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of ...

against Ottoman oppression, and prepared for the national liberation and contributed to it in the Serbian Revolution. The

Chetniks The Chetniks ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Четници, Četnici, ; sl, Četniki), formally the Chetnik Detachments of the Yugoslav Army, and also the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland and the Ravna Gora Movement, was a Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav royali ...

also saw themselves as hajduks, freedom fighters. The hajduk movement is known as hajdučija (хајдучија) or hajdukovanje (хајдуковање). Ranks included '' buljubaša'' and '' harambaša'', adopted from the Ottomans. People that helped hajduks were called jataks. Jataks lived in villages and towns and provided food and shelter for hajduks. In return, hajduks would give them part of the loot. =16th century= Starina Novak (~1530–1601), a military commander in Wallachian service, is said to have been the oldest hajduk.

Deli-Marko Deli-Marko ( sr-cyr, Дели-Марко, "Wild Marko"; 1596–1619) or Marko Segedinac (, "Marko of Segedin"), was a Serb ''hajduk'' and military commander in Habsburg service, active during the Long Turkish War. He was mentioned for the first t ...

(fl. 1596–1619), hajduk and military commander in Habsburg service.

18th century

On 26 November 1716, Austrian general Nastić with 400 soldiers and 500 hajduks attacked

Trebinje Trebinje ( sr-Cyrl, Требиње, ) is a city and municipality located in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is situated on the banks of Trebišnjica river in the r ...

, but did not take it over. A combined Austro-Venetian-Hajduk force of 7,000 stood before the Trebinje walls, defended by 1,000 Ottomans. The Ottomans were busy near Belgrade and with hajduk attacks towards

Mostar , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = Mostar (collage image).jpg , image_caption = From top, left to right: A panoramic view of the heritage town site and the Neretva river from Lučki Bridge, Koski Mehmed Pasha ...

, and were thus unable to reinforce Trebinje. The conquest of Trebinje and Popovo field were given up to fight in Montenegro. The Venetians took over

Hutovo Hutovo is a village in the municipality of Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the cros ...

and Popovo, where they immediately recruited militarily from the population.

Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39)

The Serbs established a Hajduk army that supported the Austrians. The army was divided into 18 companies, in four groups. In this period, the most notable obor-kapetans were

Vuk Isaković Vuk Isaković ( sr-cyr, Вук Исаковић; fl. 1696-1759) was a Serb military commander in Austrian service during the Austrian-Ottoman Wars. He was the inspiration for the main character, Vuk Isakovič (Вук Исакович), in the ''Seo ...

from Crna Bara,

Mlatišuma Staniša Marković ( sr-cyr, Станиша Марковић; 1664–1740), known as Mlatišuma (Млатишума), was a Habsburg Serbian '' obor-kapetan'' of Kragujevac. He had joined the Austrians in the Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18, and ...

from

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

Kosta Dimitrijević Kosta may refer to: * Kosta, Estonia, a village in Vihula Parish, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia * Kosta, Greece a community in Greece * Kosta, Sweden, a village in Sweden * Coastal Andhra, region in India * Kosta Glasbruk, a glassworks in Sweden ...

from

Paraćin Paraćin ( sr-Cyrl, Параћин, ) is a town and municipality located in the Pomoravlje District of central Serbia. It is located in the valley of the Velika Morava river, north of Kruševac and southeast of Kragujevac. In 2011 the town had a ...

. The most notable obor-kapetans were

from Crna Bara, Mlatišuma and

from

. Apart from the obor-kapetans, other notable commanders were kapetans Keza Radivojević from

Grocka Grocka ( sr-cyr, Гроцка, ) or Grocka na Dunavu ( sr-cyr, Гроцка на Дунаву, ) is a municipality of the city of Belgrade. According to the 2011 census results, the municipality has 83,906 inhabitants. Location and geography The ...

and Sima Vitković from Valjevo. In Kragujevac, there were two companies of 500 soldiers each. He conquered Kruševac with his militia, and carried much cattle. Colonel Lentulus ordered that part of the cattle be returned to the population, the second part was sent to Sekendorf, the third held by the colonel to the need of his army.

19th century

Great Eastern Crisis

During the

Great Eastern Crisis The Great Eastern Crisis of 1875–78 began in the Ottoman Empire's territories on the Balkan peninsula in 1875, with the outbreak of several uprisings and wars that resulted in the intervention of international powers, and was ended with the T ...

, set off by 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 ...

uprising against 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 ...

in 1875 in

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and Pars pro toto#Geography, often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of Southern Europe, south and southeast Euro ...

and

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 ...

(the Herzegovina Uprising), Prince Peter adopted the ''

nom de guerre A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individu ...

'' of hajduk

Petar Mrkonjić Petar Mrkonjić (before 1645 – after 1669) was a legendary hajduk from the Imotski region in the Dalmatian Hinterland, in modern-day Croatia, active during the Cretan War (1645–1669) between the Republic of Venice and Ottoman Empire as a gu ...

of Ragusa, and joined the Bosnian Serb insurgents as a leader of a guerilla unit.

Serbian Revolution

Among Serbian revolutionaries that had been active hajduks prior to the Revolution, were

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 ...

, Hajduk-Veljko, Stojan Čupić, Lazar Dobrić, and others.

List of notable hajduks

This is a list of notable people, in chronological manner. Hajduks who participated in the Serbian Revolution (1804–1815) are also found in :People of the Serbian Revolution.

Early modern period

Grujica Žeravica Grujica Žeravica ( sr-cyr, Грујица Жеравица; 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 subj ...

(fl. 1645), hajduk from Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia during Venetian-Ottoman war (1645-1649) * Starina Novak (~1530–1601), commander in Wallachian service *

Sava Temišvarac Sava Temišvarac ( sr-cyr, Сава Темишварац, "Sava of Timișoara"; 1594–1612) was a Serb military commander (''vojvoda'') in the service of the Transylvania and then the Holy Roman Empire. He was active during the Long Turkish War, ...

(fl. 1594–1612), Habsburg service * Deli-Marko Segedinac (fl. 1596–1619), Habsburg service * Petar Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Đorđe Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Mihailo Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Kuzman Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Nikola Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Vuk Rac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Đorđe Slankamenac (fl. 1596), Habsburg service * Živko Crni * Grdan (fl. 1596–d. 1612) * Teodor of Vršac,

Sava Ban The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally t ...

and Velja Mironić ( 1594), raised the Uprising in Banat * Jovan Rac (fl. 1653) *

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 ...

(fl. 1669 – died 1685), commander in Venetian service during the Cretan War *

Jovan Monasterlija Jovan Monasterlija ( sr-cyr, Јован Монастерлија; fl. 1683–1706) was a Serbian ''vice-voivode'' (podvojvoda) and Austrian (Holy Roman Empire) imperial officer that led a Serbian Militia against the Ottoman Empire and other enemie ...

(fl. 1689–1706), commander in Austrian service *

Arnold Paole Arnold Paole (''Arnont Paule'' in the original documents; an early German rendition of a Serbian name or nickname, perhaps Арнаут Павле, '' Arnaut Pavle''; died c. 1726) was a Serbian hajduk who was believed to have become a vampire afte ...

(d. 1726), militiaman in Austrian service, noted as alleged vampire * Vuk Isakovič (fl. 1696–1759), commander in Austrian service * Nikac Tomanović (fl. 1695–1755), commander in Montenegro * Koča Anđelković (1755–1789), commander in Austrian service, led the Koča's frontier rebellion * Stanko Arambašić (1764–1798), commander of Serb officers in Ottoman service * Lazar Dobrić (fl. 1790),

Serbian Revolution

Karađorđe 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 ...

(1768–1817), leader of the First Serbian Uprising and founder of modern Serbia *

(1763–1815), vojvoda in the First Serbian Uprising * Stojan Čupić, vojvoda in the First Serbian Uprising * Đorđe Ćurčija (d. 1804), vojvoda in the First Serbian Uprising *

Hajduk Veljko 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 force ...

(c. 1780–1813), vojvoda in the First Serbian Uprising * Stojan Abraš (1780-1813) participated as one of the leaders in the First Serbian Uprising * Pavle Irić * Jovan Mićić * Petronije Šišo

Rebels in Bosnia and Herzegovina

* Jovan Šibalija (fl. 1804–15), rebel leader in

Drobnjaci Drobnjaci (, ) are historical tribe and region, Drobnjak, in Old Herzegovina in Montenegro (municipalities from Nikšić to Šavnik, Žabljak and Pljevlja). Its unofficial centre is in Šavnik. The Serb Orthodox families have St. George (''� ...

, participated in the First Serbian Uprising * Šujo Karadžić (fl. 1804–15), rebel leader in Drobnjaci, participated in the First Serbian Uprising * Joko Kusovac (d. 1863), priest, serdar and rebel leader * Petar Popović–Pecija (1826–1875), led the Doljani Revolt (1858) and Bosanska Krajina Uprising (1875–78) * Luka Vukalović (1823–1873), led the Herzegovina Uprising (1852–62) * Mićo Ljubibratić (1839–1889), participated in the Herzegovina Uprising (1852–62) * Pero Tunguz (fl. 1875), * Lazo Škundrić (fl. 1875), * Petko Kovačević (fl. 1875), *

Prodan Rupar Prodan Rupar ( sr-cyr, Продан Рупар, 1815–1875) was one of the most prominent leaders of the Herzegovina Uprising (1875–77). Experience from the previous Herzegovina Uprising (1852–62) helped him to successfully lead the later upri ...

(1815–1877), leader in the

Herzegovina Uprising (1875–77) Herzegovina uprising or Herzegovinian uprising may refer to: * Herzegovina uprising (1596–97), fought by Serbs in Herzegovina against the Ottoman Empire, 1596–1597 * Herzegovina uprising (1852–62), fought by Serbs in Herzegovina against the ...

* Draga Mastilović (d. 1877), rebel leader *

Golub Babić Golub Babić ( sr-cyr, Голуб Бабић; 7 September 1824 – 19 December 1910) was a Bosnian Serb guerrilla chief and one of the most prominent rebel commanders of the 1875–77 Herzegovina Uprising in the Ottoman Empire's Bosnia Vilaye ...

(1824–1910), rebel leader in Western Bosnia. * Stojan Kovačević (1821–1911),

Rebels in Old Serbia and Macedonia

* Čakr-paša * Velika Begovica * Spiro Crne *

Micko Krstić Micko Krstić-Porečki ( sr-cyr, Мицко Крстић, 1855 – October 29, 1909), known as Vojvoda Micko, was a Serbian rebel and military leader active in the Poreče region. Origin and early life Krstić was born in Latovo, near Makedons ...

Gligor Sokolović Gligor Sokolović ( sr-cyr, Глигор Соколовић; 17 or 5 January 1870 or 1872 – 30 July 1910]) was one of the supreme commanders (''Great Voivode'') of the Serbian Chetnik Organization, Serbian Chetnik Movement, that fought the Ot ...

(1872–1910), in Ottoman Macedonia

Literature

Hajduks in epic poetry

In Serbian epic poetry, the hajduks are cherished as heroes, freedom fighters against the Ottoman rule. There is a whole ''cyclus'' regarding the hajduks and

uskoks The Uskoks ( hr, Uskoci, , singular: ; notes on naming) were irregular soldiers in Habsburg Croatia that inhabited areas on the eastern Adriatic coast and surrounding territories during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Bands of Uskoks fought a g ...

. Among the most notable hajduks in the epics were Starina Novak,

Mali Radojica Mali Radojica ( sr, Мали Радојица, en, Little Radojica) is a Serbian hajduk and Serb epic poem of the same name. The poem follows his life surviving torture by the Turks in an Ottoman prison, later successfully escaping with the h ...

Stari Vujadin Stari ( sla, Stari, "Old One") could have multiple meanings: * Stari, a List of rural localities in Vologda Oblast#Babushkinsky District, rural locality in Babushkinsky District of Vologda Oblast of Russia. * Stari, a nickname of Đuro Pucar. * Sta ...

, Predrag and Nenad, Novak,

, etc.

Novels

Hajduks are the theme of many novels, such as

Branislav Nušić Branislav Nušić ( sr-cyr, Бранислав Нушић, ; – 19 January 1938) was a Serbian playwright, satirist, essayist, novelist and founder of modern rhetoric in Serbia. He also worked as a journalist and a civil servant. Life Br ...

's ''Hajduci'' (1955), Miljanov et al. ''Srpski hajduci'' (1996), etc.

18th century

Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39)

19th century

Great Eastern Crisis

Serbian Revolution

List of notable hajduks

Early modern period

Serbian Revolution

Rebels in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Rebels in Old Serbia and Macedonia

Literature

Hajduks in epic poetry

Novels

See also

References

Further reading