Tihomilj Nikolić also nicknamed Teša (1832 – 1886) was a Serbian

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

and manager of the Military Academy in Belgrade. He succeeded the

Minister of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

Kosta Protić in August 1875.

Biography

Tihomilj Nikolić or Teša as everyone called him was born in

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 ...

, where he attends primary school. He graduated from the

Grande école A (; ) is a specialized top-level educational institution in France and some other countries such as Morocco and Tunisia. are part of an alternative educational system that operates alongside the mainstream List of public universities in Franc ...

and the Military Academy, and trained as artillery

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. He also graduated from the Royal Military Academy, then called ''École royale militaire''. As a state cadet, he continued his training (artillery) abroad, in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. Upon his return to Serbia, he joined the army as an artillery commander in

Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, 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 2022 census, the city proper has a popu ...

. In 1858, he was elected professor at the Military Academy in Belgrade and was promoted to the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

, who commanded a battery. Later, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was a personal companion of Prince Milan Obrenović. In 1873, as a colonel, he commanded the Belgrade garrison. He was the commander of the standing army in 1874 and 1875 at the eve of the Herzegovinian uprising, the government of

Danilo Stefanović Danilo Magnum Stefanović (8 May 1815 – December 2, 1886) was a Serbian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Serbia. Biography Danilo Stevanović was born on 8 May 1815 in Timișoara. He was the son of Jovan Stevanović, a Poreč tim ...

fell, in which he was the Minister of War during the Serbian-Turkish Wars. He was also in the Cabinet of Stevča Mihailović II with

Jovan Ristić Jovan Ristić ( sr-Cyrl, Јован Ристић; 16 January 1831 – 4 September 1899) was a Serbian politician, diplomat and historian. Biography Ristić was born in Kragujevac in a poor family where he attended elementary school. In 1842 he ...

Minister of War A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

, the Cabinet of

Ljubomir Kaljević Ljubomir Kaljević (1841, Užice – March 20, 1907, Belgrade) was a Serbian politician and academic who served as the Prime Minister of Serbia. Biography Kaljević completed Gymnasium in Belgrade and studied the state sciences in Heidelberg ...

where he held the post of Minister of Armed Forces as well as other later governments (1882–1883). He was a man that could be trusted, who prudently presented his views and easily won over the listeners. During his time, preparations were made for The First Serbian-Turkish War and under it ended. In the Second Serbian-Turkish War, he was the commander of the Ibar Army, which distinguished itself on Javor (mountain in Serbia). Teša distinguished himself as a capable royal commissioner during the suppression of the so-called

Timok Rebellion The Timok Rebellion ( sr-cyr, Тимочка буна, Timočka buna) was a popular uprising that began in eastern Serbia (now the region of the Timok Valley) on 28 September 1883, led by the People's Radical Party. It has been called the most imp ...

. He was married to the once divorced daughter of Jovan Obrenović who was connected with the

House of Obrenović The House of Obrenović or Obrenović Dynasty (, Обрeновићи / Obrenovići, ) was a Serbian dynasty that ruled Serbia from 1815 to 1842, and again from 1858 to 1903. They came to power through the leadership of their progenitor Milo ...

which may have helped Teša advance to the rank of general more rapidly during the reign of that dynasty. Teša was the first president of the Belgrade Gymnastics and Wrestling Society.

Decorations

Order of the Cross of Takovo The Order of the Cross of Takovo () was a Serbian state order. History It was instituted in the Principality of Serbia in 1865 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, which had started with the Tako ...

of the 1st order *

with Swords * Order of the White Eagle, 3rd Class – Commander's Cross * Monument to the War of Liberation and Independence 1876-1878 * Medal of the Restored Kingdom

Foreign decorations

Order of Franz Joseph The Imperial Austrian Order of Franz Joseph () was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria on 2 December 1849, on the first anniversary of his accession to the imperial throne. Classes The order was originally awarded in three classes: ''G ...

, First Class; *

Order of the Iron Crown (Austria) The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown (; ) was one of the highest orders of merit in the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary until 1918. It was founded in 1815 by Emperor Franz I of Austria as a re-establishment of the original Order of the Iron ...

, Knight Third Class; * Order of the Saviour of the 2nd class: Grand Commander ('Ανώτερος Ταξιάρχης') – wears the badge of the Order on a necklet, and the star of the Order on the right chest; *

Order of the Crown (Romania) The Order of the Crown of Romania is a chivalric order set up on 14 March 1881 by King Carol I of Romania to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania. It was awarded as a state order until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. ...

; *

Order of Saint Stanislaus The Order of Saint Stanislaus (, ), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It remained under the Congress Poland, Kingdom of Pola ...

2nd Class,

Imperial Russia Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor/empress, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * ...

; *

Order of the Medjidie Order of the Medjidie (, August 29, 1852 – 1922) was a military and civilian order of the Ottoman Empire. The order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdulmejid I. History Instituted in 1851, the order was awarded in five classes, with the Firs ...

, Second Class Order (Gold) - given by

Sultan Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...

; * Red Cross Medal (Belgium)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikolic, Tihomilj 1832 births 1886 deaths Military personnel from Kragujevac Serbian generals 19th-century Serbian people University of Belgrade alumni Royal Military Academy (Belgium) alumni Serbian military leaders Defence ministers of Serbia

Biography

Decorations

Foreign decorations

See also

References