Stevan Petrović, KCMT ( sr-Cyrl, Стеван Петровић), known as Stevan Knićanin (Стеван Книћанин, ''Stevan of Knić''; 15 February 1807 – 14 May 1855) was a

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * Pertaining to Serbia in Southeast Europe; in particular **Serbs, a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans ** Serbian language ** Serbian culture **Demographics of Serbia, includes other ethnic groups within the co ...

voivode Voivode ( ), also spelled voivod, voievod or voevod and also known as vaivode ( ), voivoda, vojvoda, vaivada or wojewoda, is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe in use since the Early Mid ...

'' and military commander of the Serbian volunteers in

Serbian Vojvodina The Serbian Vojvodina () was a short-lived self-proclaimed autonomous province within the Austrian Empire during the Revolutions of 1848, which existed until 1849 when it was transformed into the new (official) Austrian province named Voivodes ...

during the

1848 revolution The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the springtime of the peoples or the springtime of nations, were a series of revolutions throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespre ...

Life

Stevan Petrović was born on 15 February 1807 in

Knić Knić () is a village and municipality located in the Šumadija District of central Serbia. According to 2022 census, the population of the town is 1,942, while population of the municipality is 11,729. History Rocky hills above the village of ...

near

Kragujevac Kragujevac ( sr-Cyrl, Крагујевац, ) is the List of cities in Serbia, 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 Se ...

(hence his nickname), during the

Serbian Revolution The Serbian Revolution ( / ') was a national uprising and constitutional change in Serbia that took place between 1804 and 1835, during which this territory evolved from an Sanjak of Smederevo, Ottoman province into a Revolutionary Serbia, reb ...

, the region at the time being part of the

Sanjak of Smederevo The Sanjak of Smederevo (, ), also known in historiography as the Pashalik of Belgrade (, ), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman administrative unit (sanjak) centered on Smederevo, that existed between the 15th and the outset of the 19th centuries. It ...

of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

(today

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

). During the rule of Prince

Miloš Obrenović Miloš Obrenović (; ; 18 March 1780 or 1783 – 26 September 1860) born Miloš Teodorović (; ), also known as Miloš the Great () was the Prince of Serbia twice, from 1815 to 1839, and from 1858 to 1860. He was an eminent figure of the Firs ...

, Knićanin's political career began as a commissioner of the Jasenica District ("Jasenički srez") in 1835, and in 1839 as a commissioner of the

Smederevo Smederevo ( sr-Cyrl, Смедерево, ) is a list of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Podunavlje District in eastern Serbia. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube, about downstream of the Serbian capital, ...

District, but he eventually joined the opposition as a Constitutionalist and supporter of the rival Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević of the Karađorđević dynasty. Since he supported " ustavobranitelji" (the defenders of the constitution), he was expelled from the

Principality of Serbia The Principality of Serbia () was an autonomous, later sovereign state in the Balkans that came into existence as a result of the Serbian Revolution, which lasted between 1804 and 1817. Its creation was negotiated first through an unwritten agre ...

in 1840–1841. He returned in 1842, as Aleksandar Karađorđević had acceded to the throne on 14 September, after being elected the

Prince of Serbia This is an archontological list of Serbian monarchs, containing monarchs of the medieval principalities, to heads of state of modern Serbia. The Serbian monarchy dates back to the Early Middle Ages. The Serbian royal titles used include Kny ...

at the National Assembly in

Vračar Vračar ( sr-Cyrl, Врачар, ) is an affluent urban area and Subdivisions of Belgrade, municipality of the city of Belgrade known as the location of many embassies and museums. According to the 2022 census results, the municipality has a popul ...

1848 revolution

During the 1848 Revolution, the Hungarians demanded national rights and autonomy within the Austrian Empire. However, they did not recognize the national rights of other nationalities which lived in the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary in that time. As part of the

Revolutions of 1848 The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the springtime of the peoples or the springtime of nations, were a series of revolutions throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespre ...

, the Serbs under Austria-Hungary demanded what they had in the previous century; recognition of Serbian as official language, equality of the Orthodox church as with Catholics, and annual church assembly gatherings.Jelavich, p. 316 They met at

Sremski Karlovci Sremski Karlovci ( sr-Cyrl, Сремски Карловци, ) is a town and municipality located in the South Bačka Districtautonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. It is situated on the banks of the Danube, from Novi Sad. According to the 202 ...

and

Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; #Name, see below for other names) is the List of cities in Serbia, second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannoni ...

. Several thousand Serbs met at the

May Assembly May Assembly ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Мајска скупштина, Majska skupština, separator=" / ") was the national assembly of the Serbs in Austrian Empire, held on 1 and 3 (O.S.) 3 and 15 (N.S.)May 1848 in Sremski Karlovci, during which the S ...

on 1 May 1848. The delegates chose prominent Austrian-Serb general

Stevan Šupljikac Stevan Šupljikac ( sr-cyr, Стеван Шупљикац; 1786 – 15 December 1848), known simply as Vojvoda Šupljikac was a Serbian ''voivode'' and the first voivode of the Serbian Vojvodina. Life He was born in Petrinja, in 1786. He ...

as ''voivode'', the civil and military commander (Duke).

Josif Rajačić Josif Rajačić ( sr-Cyrl, Јосиф Рајачић; 20 July 1785 – 1 December 1861), also known as Josif Rajačić-Brinski, was the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian Orthodox Archbishop and Metropolitanate of Karlovci, metropolitan of Sremski ...

was elected the patriarch of the Serbs. The Serbs demanded a national unit consisting of

Banat Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...

Bačka Bačka ( sr-Cyrl, Бачка, ) or Bácska (), is a geographical and historical area within the Pannonian Plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east. It is divided between Serbia and Hungary. ...

, Baranja and part of

Srem Syrmia ( Ekavian sh-Latn-Cyrl, Srem, Срем, separator=" / " or Ijekavian sh-Latn-Cyrl, Srijem, Сријем, label=none, separator=" / ") is a region of the southern Pannonian Plain, which lies between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is ...

, known collectively as ''

Vojvodina Vojvodina ( ; sr-Cyrl, Војводина, ), officially the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is an Autonomous administrative division, autonomous province that occupies the northernmost part of Serbia, located in Central Europe. It lies withi ...

''. This was completely against the Hungarian authorities visions. From May 1848 onward,

Serbs of Vojvodina The Serbs of Vojvodina are the largest ethnic group in this northern province of Serbia. For centuries, Vojvodina was ruled by several European powers, but Vojvodina Serbs never assimilated into cultures of those countries. Thus, they have consis ...

directly sought aid from the Serbian Principality, and on 10 May, general Stratimirović, head of the main committee, appealed to Prince Aleksandar for assistance and urged Knićanin to intercede. Knićanin was elected military commander. He had no prior experience in war, nor went to military school. In June and July a large wave of volunteers from the Principality entered Vojvodina. Knićanin arrived on 25 July. Among others who arrived were: the brother and nephew of

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 ...

, council member

Milutin Petrović Milutin Petrović (; Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, Serbian Cyrillic: Милутин Петровић; 1791–1861) was one of the ''vojvodas'' (military commanders) of the Serbian Revolutionary forces in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman ...

, major

Stanojlo Petrović Stanojlo Petrović (Serbian Cyrillic: Станојло Петровић; 13 February 1813 – 1893) was a Serbian officer, court secretary, advisor, and adjutant to both Prince Miloš Obrenović and his son Mihailo Obrenović III. Petrović and ...

, captain Sava Petrović and ''voivode'' prota Nenadović. From August 1848, Knićanin was a commander of the Serbian volunteer squads in the

, in which unit also

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 Vilay ...

fought in. The size of his army exceeded 8,000 or 10,000 men. His military knowledge was expressed in more occasions, especially in the battles near

Pančevo Pančevo (Serbian Cyrillic: Панчево, ; ; ; ; ) is a list of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the South Banat District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. It is located on the shores of rivers Timiș (ri ...

and

Vršac Vršac ( sr-Cyrl, Вршац, ) is a city in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. As of 2022, the city urban area had a population of 31,946, while the city administrative area had 45,462 inhabitants. It is located in the geographical ...

during the 1848 Revolution in what was then the Austrian Empire. After his return to Serbia in 1849, Knićanin was awarded with the title of

by Aleksandar Karađorđević, at that time it had only been given to

Toma Vučić Perišić ''Prince'' Toma Vučić Perišić (Serbian Cyrillic: Тома Вучић Перишић; 1787 – 13 July 1859) was a Serbian politician, military leader during the Serbian Revolution, Freemason and one of the most powerful and influential individ ...

.Kosta N. Hristić: „Zapisi starog Beograđanina“, Nolit, Beograd 1989, str. 516–517, He was a " Knight of Maria Therese", the highest order of the Austrian army. In 1849, he also became an honorary member of the

Society of Serbian Letters Society of Serbian Letters (, DSS), founded in 19 November 1841 and confirmed by the seal and signature of Mihailo Obrenović, prince Mihailo Obrenović. Establishment The founders were Jovan Sterija Popović and Atanasije Nikolić. The first me ...

, the first learned society in the

, which preceded the

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (; , SANU) is a national academy and the most prominent academic institution in Serbia, founded in 1841 as Society of Serbian Letters (, DSS). The Academy's membership has included Nobel Prize, Nobel la ...

Later years and death

As a result of a stroke in 1854, he died on 14 May 1855, in Belgrade.

Legacy

In 1850, Louis Kossuth wrote: "Bold Knićanin did wonders of bravery on the Lower Danube".p. 297
/ref> The village of Knićanin in the Serbian province of

was named after him.

References

Literature

* Jovan Mirosavljević, ''Brevijar ulica Novog Sada 1745–2001'', Novi Sad, 2002. *Barbara Jelavich
History of the Balkans: Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
*Vojna enciklopedija, Beograd, 1970., knjiga prva, strana 423. * *Radoš Ljušić, 2008
''Ilija Garašanin on Serbia's Statehood''

External links

*Nasa Borba
''Junak poput mramornog stuba ''
(Serbian) {{DEFAULTSORT:Knicanin, Stevan 1807 births 1855 deaths 19th-century Serbian people Serbian revolutionaries Serbian military leaders Knicanin, Stevan Petrovic People of Serbian Vojvodina People of the Revolutions of 1848 People from Knić Interior ministers of Serbia People from the Principality of Serbia