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The Vasojevići ( Montenegrin and sr-Cyrl, Васојевићи, ) is a historical highland tribe (''pleme'') and region of
Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...
, in the area of the Brda. It is the largest of the historical tribes, occupying the area between Lijeva Rijeka in the South up to Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North,
Mateševo Mateševo ( cnr-Cyrl, Матешево) is a village in northern Montenegro, within Kolašin Municipality Kolašin Municipality is one of the municipalities of Montenegro. Located in Northern Montenegro, municipality is part and unofficial centre ...
in the West to Plav in the East. Likely of Albanian origin, most of the tribe's history prior to the 16th century has naturally been passed on through oral history. Although the unofficial center is Andrijevica in north-eastern Montenegro, the tribe stems from Lijeva Rijeka in central Montenegro. The tribe was formed by various tribes that were united under the rule of the central Vasojević tribe. These tribes later migrated to the Komovi mountains and the area of Lim. The emigration continued into what is 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 ...
and other parts of
Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...
. Though sense of tribal affiliation diminished in recent years, is not a thing of a past. Tribal association and organizations still exist (e.g. Udruženje Vasojevića "Vaso"). It could be clearly seen during the
2006 Montenegrin independence referendum An independence referendum was held in Montenegro on 21 May 2006. It was approved by 55.5% of voters, narrowly passing the 55% threshold. By 23 May, preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Natio ...
with the Vasojevići united opposition.


Geography

The Vasojevići are located in the area between Lijeva Rijeka in the south up to Bihor near Bijelo Polje in the north,
Mateševo Mateševo ( cnr-Cyrl, Матешево) is a village in northern Montenegro, within Kolašin Municipality Kolašin Municipality is one of the municipalities of Montenegro. Located in Northern Montenegro, municipality is part and unofficial centre ...
in the west to Plav in the east. To the south, the Vasojevići border the neighbouring Kuči and
Bratonožići The Bratonožići ( sr-Cyrl, Братоножићи, ) is a historical tribe (''pleme'') of Albanian origin in the Brda region of Montenegro. It appeared during the Ottoman period and was a captaincy of the Principality of Montenegro in the 19 ...
tribes. To the east is the border with
Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
, while the northeastern boundary has often changed in the past and gradually the Vasojevići expanded in that direction. Lijeva Rijeka is hilly terrain with forests, interspersed with streams and straits, and the same is true of all Upper Vasojevići. However, in Lower Vasojevići, there are more plains around the rivers, so the mountainous terrain is more gentle. In modern Montenegro, the area of Vasojevići falls into the following municipalities: Berane,
Podgorica Podgorica ( cnr-Cyrl, Подгорица; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. Histor ...
,
Kolašin Kolašin (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Колашин, ) is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 2,989 (2003 census). Kolašin is the centre of Kolašin Municipality (population 9,949) and an unofficial centre of Morača region, nam ...
, Plav and Bijelo Polje (around 15% of Montenegro). One of the highest mountains of Montenegro, Kom Vasojevićki (), is named after the tribe, and the whole area that the latter inhabits is frequently called “Vasojevići”.


History


Origins

Likely of Albanian origin, the Vasojevići ( Albanian: ''Vasaj'', also ''Vasoviqi'' or ''Vasojeviqi'') underwent a process of gradual cultural integration into the neighboring Slavic population. Vasojevići is not a tribe (''pleme'') with a common patrilineal ancestor, but was formed under the rule of a central tribe that extended its name to many other brotherhoods as it expanded in new territory.


Early history

The Vasojevići are first mentioned in a Ragusan Senate report filed by Ragusan merchants and dating to October 29, 1444. At that time, they were not described as a tribe but as a people, as they had not fully formed yet but were still a clan organized as a katun typically used by Vlach and Albanian pastoral communities. The report speaks of the Vasojevići (and of their leader Vaso) as when, together with the Bjelopavlići and the Piperi, they attacked Ragusan merchants and did some material damage to them near the village of Rječica (now Lijeva Rijeka). The Vasojevići are not mentioned in the Vranjina treaty of 1455, which may be explained by the fact that at that time they were apparently a small community in the territory of Piperi, which in the second half of the 15th century encompassed present-day Bratonožići and Lijeva Rijeka. The Vasojevići are mentioned in the 1485 Ottoman
defter A ''defter'' was a type of tax register and land cadastre in the Ottoman Empire. Etymology The term is derived from Greek , literally 'processed animal skin, leather, fur', meaning a book, having pages of goat parchment used along with papyrus ...
of
Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...
, where the village of Rječica was known by the alternative name of ''Vasojević''. According to this defter, the Vasojevići and
Bratonožići The Bratonožići ( sr-Cyrl, Братоножићи, ) is a historical tribe (''pleme'') of Albanian origin in the Brda region of Montenegro. It appeared during the Ottoman period and was a captaincy of the Principality of Montenegro in the 19 ...
were not yet established tribes and the formation of the Vasojevići as a tribe was a long process that most likely lasted until the end of the 16th century, when they separated from the
nahiyah A nāḥiyah ( , plural ''nawāḥī'' ), also nahiyeh, nahiya or nahia, is a regional or local type of administrative division that usually consists of a number of villages or sometimes smaller towns. In Tajikistan, it is a second-level divisi ...
of Piperi as a separate and fully formed tribal unit.


17th century

In 1613, the Ottomans launched a campaign against the rebel tribes of Montenegro. In response, Vasojevići along with the tribes of Kuči,
Bjelopavlići Bjelopavlići ( cyrl, Бјелопавлићи, ; ) is a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanians, Albanian origin and a valley in the region of the Brda (Montenegro), Brda, in Montenegro, around the city of Danilovgrad. Geography The ''Bjelopavl ...
, Piperi, Kastrati, Kelmendi, Shkreli and Hoti formed a political and military union known as “The Union of the Mountains” or “The Albanian Mountains”. In their shared assemblies, the leaders swore an oath of ''besa'' to resist with all their might any upcoming Ottoman expeditions, thereby protecting their self-government and disallowing the establishment of the authority of the Ottoman Spahis in the northern highlands. Their uprising had a liberating character, with the aim of getting rid of the Ottomans from their territories. Mariano Bolizza recorded in 1614 that Vasojevići had a total of 90 houses, of the Serbian Orthodox faith. It was commanded by ''Nicolla Hotaseu'' (Nikolla Hotasev) and ''Lale Boiof'' (Lale Bojov) and could field up to 280 soldiers. In 1658, the seven tribes of Kuči, Vasojevići,
Bratonožići The Bratonožići ( sr-Cyrl, Братоножићи, ) is a historical tribe (''pleme'') of Albanian origin in the Brda region of Montenegro. It appeared during the Ottoman period and was a captaincy of the Principality of Montenegro in the 19 ...
, Piperi, Kelmendi, Hoti and Gruda allied themselves with the
Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
, establishing the so-called “Seven-fold banner” or “alaj-barjak”, against the Ottomans. In 1689, an uprising broke out in Piperi, Rovca, Bjelopavlići, Bratonožići, Kuči and Vasojevići, while at the same time an uprising broke out in
Prizren Prizren ( sq-definite, Prizreni, ; sr-cyr, Призрен) is the second List of cities and towns in Kosovo, most populous city and Municipalities of Kosovo, municipality of Kosovo and seat of the eponymous municipality and District of Prizren, ...
,
Peja Peja or Peć, ), is the fifth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Peja's Lumbar ...
,
Pristina Pristina or Prishtina ( , ), . is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and District of Pristina, district. In antiquity, the area of Pristina was part of the Dardanian Kingdo ...
and
Skopje Skopje ( , ; ; , sq-definite, Shkupi) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It lies in the northern part of the country, in the Skopje Basin, Skopje Valley along the Vardar River, and is the political, economic, and cultura ...
, and then in Kratovo and Kriva Palanka in October ( Karposh's Rebellion).


18th and 19th century

During the Austro-Turkish War, which began in 1737, the
Serbian patriarch This is a list of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church, since the establishment of the church as an Autocephaly, autocephalous archbishopric in 1219 to today's patriarchate. The list includes all the archbishops and patriarchs that led the Se ...
Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta ( sr-cyr, Арсеније IV Јовановић Шакабента, ; 1698 – 18 January 1748) was the Archbishop of Peć and Serbian Patriarch from 1725 to 1737 and Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Habs ...
organized an uprising and the Orthodox population of Serbia and the Brda revolted. Alongside the patriarch, chiefs of the Vasojevići and other Brda tribes joined the Austrian forces in Serbia and helped them take
Niš Niš (; sr-Cyrl, Ниш, ; names of European cities in different languages (M–P)#N, names in other languages), less often spelled in English as Nish, is the list of cities in Serbia, third largest city in Serbia and the administrative cente ...
and
Novi Pazar Novi Pazar ( sr-cyr, Нови Пазар) is a List of cities in Serbia, city located in the Raška District of southwestern Serbia. As of the 2022 census, the urban area has 71,462 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 106,720 inha ...
, in July 1737. Led by the Serbian patriarch and the voivode Radonja Petrović of the Kuči tribe, another 3,000 highlanders arrived in a deserted
Novi Pazar Novi Pazar ( sr-cyr, Нови Пазар) is a List of cities in Serbia, city located in the Raška District of southwestern Serbia. As of the 2022 census, the urban area has 71,462 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 106,720 inha ...
, a day after the Austrian forces had withdrawn. On their way home, some of the Vasojevići and Kuči highlanders looted and burned Bihor. The Ottoman reprisals against the insurgents began in October 1737 and had terrible consequences for the people living in the valleys of the Ibar, West Morava, Lim and Tara rivers. The Ottoman army of Hodaverdi Pasha Mahmudbegović burned and destroyed every village in its path, which caused the migration of thousands of Serbs and also Catholic Albanians. By the end of 1737, the Ottoman army had ravaged the entire Vasojevići region, burning and destroying almost every village from Bijelo Polje to the Komovi Mountains. Most of the churches and monasteries were also burnt and destroyed, such as the monasteries of
Đurđevi Stupovi The Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery (, literal translation, lit. "Pillars of St. George") is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the vicinity of medieval Stari Ras and today's city of Novi Pazar, in the Raška (region), Raška region of Serbia. ...
and Šudikovo in 1738, the latter never being rebuilt. The defeat of Austria against the Ottomans led to a massive migration of the population of the Upper Lim valley, which became depopulated while part of its inhabitants was enslaved or even exiled to
Metohija Metohija (), also known in Albanian as Dukagjini, (, ) is a large drainage basin, basin and the name of the region covering the southwestern part of Kosovo. The region covers 35% (3,891 km2) of Kosovo's total area. According to the 2024 ce ...
in 1739. The Upper Vasojevići region was ''de facto'' incorporated into the
Principality of Montenegro The Principality of Montenegro () was a principality in Southeastern Europe that existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a Kingdom of Montenegro, kingdom by Nikola I of Montenegro, Nikola I, who then became King of M ...
in 1858, after the
Battle of Grahovac The Battle of Grahovac took place in the eponymous village of Grahovac from 11 to 13 May 1858, when the Montenegrin Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš led the army of Principality of Montenegro against the Ottomans, ending in a decisive Monten ...
, and confirmed 20 years later by the Treaty of Berlin, while the Lower Vasojevići area remained under Ottoman rule. In 1860, the Montenegrin government, as part of an assimilation campaign, issued an order that certain embroideries and ornaments were to be removed from various parts of the Vasojevići women's folk costume, such as the ''džupeleta'' ('' xhubleta'' in Albanian), jackets or aprons, and that traditional Montenegrin costumes were to be worn instead. Later on officials were sent to Vasojevići to enforce the ruling. Despite, the women of the Vasojevići tribe would retain their traditional folk costume until the beginning of 20th century.


20th century

At the beginning of the 20th century, while still under Ottoman rule, the Lower Vasojevići had become radicalized and were quick to stir up trouble. In a region on the border between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire, this was a challenge for both states. In 1911, an Ottoman offer to bring the Lower Vasojevići back under the authority of the Porte was not successful. Failing to pacify the tribesmen, the Ottoman authority decided to recruit and send them away from their homeland. This had the unexpected result that the Lower Vasojevići revolted in the summer of 1912, with the support of the Montenegrins. With the help of
paramilitaries A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...
from Rugova, Plav, Gusinje and other neighboring areas, the Ottoman regular army was able to suppress the revolt and devastated the Lower Vasojevići villages and crops, while the monastery of Đurđevi stupovi was looted and burned. During
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the
Kingdom of Montenegro The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe, present-day Montenegro, during the tumultuous period of time on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Officially it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolu ...
was occupied by the
Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...
army from January 1916 until the end of the war. A prominent member of the Vasojevići, the Brigadier-General Radomir Vešović was given the task of disbanding the Montenegrin army and negotiating terms with the occupying forces. Having failed to do so, the general killed the man sent by the Austrians to arrest him. This act of defiance triggered a resistance movement in Montenegro, especially among Vešović's Vasojevići kinsmen, followed by a harsh campaign of reprisals by the Austrians. Following the end of the war, a Great National Assembly was held in Podgorica, on 19 November 1918, to decide the future status of Montenegro. The election resulted in a victory for the
Whites White is a racial classification of people generally used for those of predominantly European ancestry. It is also a skin color specifier, although the definition can vary depending on context, nationality, ethnicity and point of view. De ...
( sr-lat, bjelaši), who supported unilateral unification with Serbia, while those who saw it as an annexation of Montenegro by Serbia were called the Greens ( sr-lat, zelenaši). Together with the Bjelopavlići, the
Drobnjaci Drobnjaci ( sr-Cyrl, Дробњаци, ) was a tribe and historical region, Drobnjak, in Old Herzegovina in Montenegro (municipalities from Nikšić to Šavnik, Žabljak and Pljevlja). Its unofficial centre is in Šavnik. The Serb Orthodox ...
, part of the Nikšići and the Grahovljani, the Vasojevići were among the tribes that supported the Whites and, after their victory, celebrated an effective pan-Serbianism.


World War II

During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the Vasojevići were divided between the two armies of Serb Chetniks ( royalists) and
Yugoslav Partisans The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian language, Macedonian, and Slovene language, Slovene: , officially the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska i partizanski odr ...
(
communists Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, d ...
) that were fighting each other (vojvoda Pavle Đurišić formed the most successful Chetnik units out of mainly Vasojevići). As a result, the conflict spread within the tribal structures. The partisans formed a distinct Vasojević battalion. In battles, against Chetniks and the Fascist Italian army, it routed 200 Chetniks and 160 Italian soldiers in defense of the position of Pešića Lake during the advance of the Chetniks from
Kolašin Kolašin (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Колашин, ) is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 2,989 (2003 census). Kolašin is the centre of Kolašin Municipality (population 9,949) and an unofficial centre of Morača region, nam ...
.


Breakup of Yugoslavia

As with other Montenegrin tribes, and although the sense of tribal belonging did not entirely cease, the Vasojevići as a tribe ceased to exist at the time of Communist Yugoslavia. However, the collapse of the Yugoslav state favored the resurrection of the northern Montenegrin tribes, traditionally closer to Belgrade. Tribal meetings were arranged in these historical tribal areas under the influence of Momir Bulatović's Socialist People's Party and the Serbian Orthodox Church, with the aim of countering the separatist authorities in Montenegro. Historically having close ties to Serbia, the Vasojevići were among the strongest supporters of Bulatović, who could count on the majority of the population of Andrijevica and Berane, the main towns in the Vasojevići region. On 12 July 1994, at a traditional St. Peter's Day gathering, prominent members of the tribe decided that their region would join Serbia if Montenegro was to secede from the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro or simply Serbia and Montenegro, known until 2003 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commonly referred to as FR Yugoslavia (FRY) or simply Yugoslavia, was a country in Southeast Europe locate ...
.


21st century

In May 2006, Montenegro gained independence after a referendum on the future of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. However, 72% of voters in Andrijevica municipality, the unofficial centre of the Vasojevići region, voted against Montenegrin independence. It was the second highest result against breaking the state union with
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 ...
(after Pluzine municipality). The People's Assembly of Vasojevići stated many times that, apart from being Montenegrin, all Vasojevići are Serb and, thus, strongly oppose and have always opposed Montenegrin secession from
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
. The Montenegrin census of 2003 revealed that 89,81% of the Vasojevići declared themselves as Serb while 9,43% declared themselves as Montenegrin. In the 2011 census, in most settlements linked to the Vasojevići the majority identified themselves as Serbs. In Andrijevica about 2/3 identified as Serbs and 1/3 as Montenegrins.


2010s

During the War in Ukraine, some locals of villages of Andrijevica, part of the Vasojevići tribe, decided to sell and give up land for free to Russia, stating that "we are brothers".


Anthropology


Culture

It is a tradition of all brotherhoods to show respect to ancestors by knowing precisely genealogy and the history of the tribe and a family. This also allows members of the clan to be unite, to act together and always to recognise kin. In terms of traditional customs, up to the end of the 19th century traces of a variant of the northern Albanian kanuns remained in use in Vasojevići. Two story houses were known as Kula The traditional clothing of the Vasojevići resembles that of other tribes of the Albanian-Montenegrin borderland. In particular, the woman's garment, a woolen bell-shaped skirt called ''oblaja'' or ''džupeleta'', is similar to the '' xhubleta'' worn by Albanian women from neighbouring Malisor tribes. Despite the efforts made to replace the Albanian traditional costumes with Montenegrin costumes in the 19th century, the women of the Vasojevići tribe preserved their traditional costume until the early 20th century.


''Srbljaci'' and ''Ašani''

From their first mentions in the mid-15th century until the end of the 17th century, the Vasojevići remained in their Brda cradle, the centre of which was Lijeva Rijeka. At that time, the neighbouring upper Lim valley was inhabited by Serbs, with whom the Vasojevići were in regular contact and whom they called ''Srbljaci'' (). However, these original ''Srbljaci'' emigrated en masse after 1651 and were slowly replaced by various brotherhoods and families from Montenegro and the Brda. The Vasojevići themselves gradually expanded into the upper Lim valley in the 18th century and began to call all the other brotherhoods and families they encountered ''Srbljaci'', whether they were recent newcomers from other Brda or Montenegrin tribes, or remaining descendants of the original ''Srbljaci''. At the same time a similar term emerged, ''Ašani'' (), which the Vasojevići used to refer to people living in Has, the name then given to the region around Berane. The name Has was then used by the Ottomans to designate an administrative unit of which Berane was the center, and its inhabitants were called the ''Ašani'' not only by the Vasojevići, but by the mountain tribes in general. And since Berane was at that time inhabited only by ''Srbljaci'', the name ''Ašanin'' acquired the same meaning as ''Srbljak'' in the region. Therefore, while ''Srbljaci'' originally had a broader meaning than ''Ašani'', the two terms gradually became synonymous with each other. Thus, since the 19th century, both terms have been used to refer to people of another origin living in the Vasojevići region.


Folk traditions

The Vasojevići are considered to be one family or clan, descended from a single male ancestor called ''Vasoje''. There are various folk tales about this ancestor, and the aforementioned Vasoje stands out among them, as does ''Vaso'', who is said to be his descendant, although these two names are often mixed up in different legends. This eponymous ancestor is said to have settled in Lijeva Rijeka at a time when the area was desolate, where he would have built a house on the right bank of the Nožica stream. Among the legends about the origins of the tribe, one considers that Vasoje was the grandson of Vukan Nemanjić and that Vaso was himself the great grandson of Vasoje. According to a folk myth, the three Vasojevići brotherhoods are descended from Raje, Novak and Mioman, the three sons of Vaso. Vaso's descendants gradually expanded to the north-east and inhabited the region by the river Lim, called Polimlje – the area around the Komovi mountains, Andrijevica and Berane. Thus, they formed the largest tribe (''pleme'') of all seven highland tribes of Montenegro (i.e. Vasojevići, Moračani, Rovčani,
Bratonožići The Bratonožići ( sr-Cyrl, Братоножићи, ) is a historical tribe (''pleme'') of Albanian origin in the Brda region of Montenegro. It appeared during the Ottoman period and was a captaincy of the Principality of Montenegro in the 19 ...
, Kuči, Piperi and
Bjelopavlići Bjelopavlići ( cyrl, Бјелопавлићи, ; ) is a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanians, Albanian origin and a valley in the region of the Brda (Montenegro), Brda, in Montenegro, around the city of Danilovgrad. Geography The ''Bjelopavl ...
). Part of the tribe that stayed free from the Turkish rule lives in the area of Lijeva Rijeka and Andrijevica (Upper Nahija) – they are all called Upper Vasojevići. Lower Vasojevici (or Lower Nahija) inhabited the area of Berane. Most of the Lower Vasojevići were within the Turkish reign until
Balkan Wars The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans, Balkan states in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan states of Kingdom of Greece (Glücksburg), Greece, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Montenegro, M ...
in the 20th century. Johann Georg von Hahn recorded one of the first oral traditions about Vasojevići from a Catholic priest named Gabriel in
Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...
in 1850. According to it the first direct male ancestor of the Vasojevići was ''Vas Keqi'', son of a ''Keq'' a Catholic Albanian who fleeing from Ottoman conquest settled in a Slavic-speaking area that would become the historical Piperi region. His sons, the brothers ''Lazër Keqi'' (ancestor of Hoti), ''Ban Keqi'' (ancestor of Triepshi), ''Kaster Keqi'' (ancestor of Krasniqi) and ''Merkota Keqi'' (ancestor of Mrkojevići) had to abandon the village after committing murder against the locals, but ''Keq'' and his younger son ''Piper Keqi'' remained there and ''Piper Keqi'' became the direct ancestor of the Piperi tribe. In the 18th century, the folklore of the tribe was influenced by the Orthodox
millenarianism Millenarianism or millenarism () is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming fundamental transformation of society, after which "all things will be changed". Millenarianism exists in various cultures and re ...
that had developed during the mid Ottoman era. According to one such folk legend, an elder of the Vasojevići, Stanj, foretold Greek priests the advent of a Serbian messiah, a dark man (''crni čovjek'') who would liberate the Serbs from the Turks. These myths as part of the official Serbian Orthodox doctrine provided both a de facto recognition of Ottoman rule and the denial of its legitimacy.


Ethnographic accounts

According to a memorandum created by the Austro-Hungarian consul F.Lippich, which studied the demographic structure of the area, the Vasojevići are considered the northern linguistic border of Albanian and constitute a case of slavicised Albanians.
Marie Amelie von Godin Marie Amelie Julie Anna, Baroness von Godin (March 7, 1882 - 22 February 1956), sometimes written as Maria Amalia, was a Bavarian women's rights activist, translator and Albanologist. Youth Amalie Marie Godin was brought up in a strict Catholic tr ...
in her travels still reported traces of bilingualism in the area of Vasojevici. According to her reports, although Albanian was no longer spoken in the area, some laments and oaths were still being sung and recited in Albanian.


Brotherhoods

The people of Vasojevići consider themselves as the descendants of three Vaso sons: Rajo, Novak and Mioman. Hence the three great clans ( sr-lat, bratstva) of the tribe: * Rajevići * Novakovići * Miomanovići In his book ''Pleme Vasojevići'', published in 1935, the historian Radoslav Vešović, who was a member of the tribe, describes the structure of the Vasojevići. The list of families was exhaustive at the time of writing, but new families may have developed since then. It happens that with a very distant genealogy, slight variations of names, chronology and relationships exist simultaneously, but there is no doubt among the Vasojevići members as to which family belongs to which brotherhood, branch and sub-branch. In fact, no Vasojevići family has ever questioned the structure described below. Rajevići is the biggest branch. It is in turn divided into three branches
(again after Raja's sons or grandsons: Đuro, Dabet and Uglješa Damir-Kovač). Families that descend from Lopaćani are: * Raketići ** Marsenići ** Popovići ** Radulovići ** Vešovići ** Vulevići * Bojovići * Đukići * Miloševići and Velidžinkići * Čukići * Golubovići and Lalevići ** Dragićiević ** Ivanovići ** Mikovići ** Novovići ** Pavićievići ** Raičevići ** Vasović * Neradovići ** Aleksići ** Spasojevići ** Vukašinovići * Stojanovići and Stojkovići * Vukićevići and Boričići * Labani and Mijovići ** Ivanovići ** Jelići ** Kiković ** Mirkovići ** Perovići ** Radovojevići ** Radunovići ** Ugrenovići ** Vukanići * Karadžići and Sakovići ** Folići ** Zulevići Families that are descendants of Dabetići are: * Deletići ** Đekići ** Lekići ** Mirčići ** Novovići ** Rajovići **
Vuković Vuković (, ) is a common family name found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, of which bearers are either Bosniaks, Croats, Montenegrins or Serbs, as well as medieval families long before idea of national identity ever ap ...
i * Labovići ** Ćirovići ** Grozdanići ** Rosnići * Lazarevići ** Kuburovići ** Laskovići ** Osmajlići ** Stanisavići – Ilići ** Radunović – Labani * Vulinići (or Vuline) ** Dragojevići ** Ivanovići ** Zonjići * Arsenijevići * Protići * Vuksanovići * Lakićevići * Stanići * Lalići ** Ostojići * Lašići * Žurići * Kojići * Mitrovići * Palevići and Garčevići Families of Kovačevići branch are: * Kastratovići ** Mićovići ** Vojvodići * Đurišići with Martinovići and Jojići ** Bradići ** Đurkovići ** Marijanovići ** Medonići ** Otaševići ** Plavšići ** Rakići ** Ružići ** Simovići (Carevići) ** Stanići * Obradovići ** Jokići ** Miketići ** Savići ** Vučevići ** Vuksanovići ** Zekići * Katanići (Raičevići) ** Aletići ** Bacanovići ** Novičići ** Šarovići ** Vulići * Dedovići * Đinovići * Milovići * Tajići Novakovići is the second biggest branch.
Novak had three sons (Nikač, Vuksan/Vuica and Rečko), of which all families hail from: All the families of Novakovići brotherhood are as follows: * Dragovići ** Lekići * Adžići * Babovići ** Lakovići ** Vukovići * Ćulafići * Mimovići * Milikići ** Tomovići * Radevići and Đekići * Mujovići * Kićovići * Lakušići * Račići ** Jelići ** Vukići * Asanovići * Boričići * Ljubići ** Mišovići ** Nikolići * Pantovići * Radunovići ** Ivanovići ** Malevići ** Radonjići * Dujovići and Marnići * Bakići * Prelići * Orovići * Kočanovići * Pajovići * Salevići ** Bandovići ** Đekovići ** Radojevići ** Radosavljevići ** Vukadinovići * Matovići * Žujovići Miomanovići is the smallest brotherhood of the Vasojevići. The families are: * Delevići ** Cemovići * Joksimovići * Mićovići and Boičići * Ćeranići *
Marković Marković ( sr-Cyrl, Марковић, ) is a common family name in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Austria and Serbia. It is a patronym of ''Marko (given name), Marko'', the local variant of the common European name "Marcus" or "Mark". ...
i * Štipalji * Zečevići * Saičići * Maslovarići * Dubaci * Gubernići * Fatići * Novovići * Miškovići * Vukovići * Leposavići * Đerkovići * Turovići * Jovovići * Vučeljići * Vujovići * Savovići * Vukičevići * Stijovići * Ćorac-Šunjevići * Bajići and Šarbajići * Mališići and Nedići * Kruščići * Vučetići


Notable people

By the beginning of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, there were around 3,600 Vasojevići “houses” in Polimlje and Lijeva Rijeka. Many famous
Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...
, Montenegrins, or people of Serbian or Montenegrin descent, are Vasojevići by origin, e.g.: * Karađorđe Petrović, Serbian revolutionary, leader of 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 ...
and first Grand Vožd of Serbia *
Slobodan Milošević Slobodan Milošević ( sr-Cyrl, Слободан Милошевић, ; 20 August 1941 – 11 March 2006) was a Yugoslav and Serbian politician who was the President of Serbia between 1989 and 1997 and President of the Federal Republic of Yugos ...
- former President of
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 ...
and of
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
. * Radomir Vešović - War Minister of the Kingdom of Montenegro, General of Division in III Army of Kingdom of SHS. *
Gavro Vuković Gavro Vuković ( sr-cyrl, Гавро Вуковић; 1852, Lijeva Rijeka, Principality of Montenegro – 29 July 1928, Berane, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Kingdom of SCS) also known as Voivode, Vojvoda Gavro ( sr-cyrl, Војвода Гавро) was a ...
- a jurist, senator of the Principality of Montenegro, a military commander, Yugoslav politician and writer.Dimitrije-Dimo Vujovic, Prilozi izucavanju crnogorskog nacionalnog pitanja /The Research of the Montenegrin Nationality/ (Niksic: Univerzitetska rijec, 1987), p. 172. * Avram Cemović, military officer who commanded Montenegrin units that captured Berane from Ottomans * Momčilo Cemović - Presidents of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (Prime Minister) from 1978 till 1982. Finance Minister of Yugoslavia from 1974 to 1978. *
Milla Jovovich Milica Bogdanovna Jovović; ; ( ; born December 17, 1975), known professionally as Milla Jovovich (), is an American actress and former fashion model. Her starring roles in numerous science fiction film, science-fiction and action films led th ...
- American actress, model, and musician * Petar Bojović - one of four famous Serbian vojvode (field-marshal) in
Balkan Wars The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans, Balkan states in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan states of Kingdom of Greece (Glücksburg), Greece, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Montenegro, M ...
and
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. * Đorđije Lašić, Montenegrin Serb military officer of the Royal Yugoslav Army. * Dragan Nikolić - one of the most recognizable actors in Serbian cinema. *
Puniša Račić Puniša Račić ( sr-cyr, Пуниша Рачић; 12 July 1886 – 16 October 1944) was a Montenegrin Serb, Serb leader and People's Radical Party (NRS) politician. He assassinated Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) representatives Pavle Radić and Đ ...
- Serbian and Yugoslav Radical politician who, in 1928, assassinated Croatian politician Stjepan Radić. *
Svetozar Marković Svetozar Marković ( sr-Cyrl, Светозар Марковић, ; 9 September 1846 – 26 February 1875) was a Serbian political activist, literary critic and socialist philosopher. He developed an activistic anthropological philosophy ...
- an influential Serbian political activist of the 19th century. *
Mihailo Lalić Mihailo Lalić ( sr-cyr, Михаило Лалић, ; 7 October 1914 – 30 December 1992) was a Serbian writer. Biography He was born in Trepča ( Andrijevica municipality) village in north-eastern Montenegro in 1914. His most important nov ...
- a famous novelist of Serbian and Montenegrin literature. He is considered by some to be among the greatest Montenegrin authors. * Radovan Zogović - one of the greatest Montenegrin poets of the 20th century. *
Jelena Janković Jelena Janković ( sr-Cyrl, Јелена Јанковић, ; born 28 February 1985) is a Serbian former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players, world No. 1 in women's singles by the W ...
- a Serbian professional female tennis player - formerly nr 1 ranked player in a WTA list. *
Milutin Šoškić Milutin Šoškić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милутин Шошкић; 31 December 1937 – 27 August 2022) was a Serbian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is considered one of FK Partizan's greatest players. Biography He was ...
- a legendary Serbian goalkeeper who played for
SFR Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...
. * Borislav Milošević - Serbian diplomat * Sofija Milošević - Serbian fashion model * Žarko Obradović - Serbian politician and a former Minister of Education in the
Government of Serbia The government of Serbia ( sr-cyrl, Влада Србије, Vlada Srbije), formally the Government of the Republic of Serbia ( sr-cyrl, Влада Републике Србије, Vlada Republike Srbije), commonly abbreviated to Serbian Governme ...
. * Slavica Đukić Dejanović - Serbian politician, former Minister of Health and former President of the National Assembly of Serbia * Ljubiša Jokić - former general in the
Military of Serbia and Montenegro The Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Војска Србије и Црне Горе, Vojska Srbije i Crne Gore, included ground forces with internal and border troops, naval forces, air and air defense forces, and civil d ...
* Divna Veković - first female medical doctor in Montenegro. * Vjera Mujović -an actress and writer of novels * Lidija Vukićević - Serbian actress and politician * Slavko Labović - Serbian-Danish actor * Milija and Pavle Bakić, co-founders of Galatasaray football club * Dragan Labović - Serbian basketball player *
Budislav Šoškić Budislav Šoškić (1925–1979) was a politician from Socialist Republic of Montenegro and member of League of Communists of Yugoslavia. Biography Šoškić was born in Novi Pazar and had studied at the University of Belgrade. He was the last Pre ...
- Montenegrin communist and President of the People's Assembly of Socialist Republic of Montenegro * Dejan Šoškić - Serbian economist, former
Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
of the National Bank of Serbia * Milić Vukašinović - drummer, rock singer and guitarist, most notable for his stint with
Bijelo dugme () is a Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav Rock music, rock band, formed in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1974. is widely considered to have been the most popular and the best-selling band ever to exist in the former S ...
. *
Bora Đorđević Borisav "Bora" Đorđević ( sr-Cyrl, Борисав, Бора Ђорђевић; 1 November 1952 – 4 September 2024), also known as Bora Čorba ( sr-Cyrl, Бора Чорба), was a Serbian singer-songwriter and poet. He was best known as th ...
, famous Serbian musician and singer * Željko Joksimović, famous Serbian musician and singer * Boban Rajović, famous Montenegrin folk singer * Blažo Rajović, Montenegrin footballer * Mileta Rajović, Danish footballer of Serb Montenegrin origin. * Goran Vukošić, popular Montenegrin folk singer. * Marko Vešović, Montenegrin footballer. * Siniša Dobrašinović, Montenegrin-born Cypriot football player *
Žarko Zečević Žarko Zečević ( sr-Cyrl, Жарко Зечевић; born 19 January 1950) is a Serbian retired basketball player, former football administrator, and current businessman. Known by his widely used nickname Zeka, he is most notable as the contr ...
, former Serbian basketball player, former football administrator and businessman * Vladimir Dašić, Montenegrin basketball player *
Bojan Bakić Bojan Bakić (Serbian Cyrillic: Бојан Бакић; born January 8, 1983) is a Montenegrin professional basketball player for Barsy Atyrau of the Kazakhstan Basketball Championship. Professional career The Montenegrin guard started his prof ...
, Montenegrin basketball player * Boris Bakić, Montenegrin basketball player * Ivan Djurkovic, Montenegrin handball player *
Sonja Barjaktarović Sonja Barjaktarović (born 11 September 1986) is a retired Montenegrin handball goalkeeper. She was the first goalkeeper of the Montenegro women's national handball team and helped them to win the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics ...
, Montenegrin handball player *
Tanja Bakić Tanja Bakić (born 14 September 1981) is a prominent Montenegro, Montenegrin poet, literary scholar, music writer and translator. She resides in Podgorica, where she has worked variously as an educator, editor, PR officer, interpreter and curator ...
. Montenegrin poet, essay and non-fiction writer * Vasilije Tomović, Montenegrin chess master * Mitar Milošević famous writer * Đorđije Pajković -Montenegrin Yugoslav politician, Presidents of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (Prime Minister) from 1962-1963 * Čedo Vuković - Montenegrin writer *
Stefan Babović Stefan Babović ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Бабовић; born 7 January 1987) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a deep-lying playmaker. He is the current chief operations officer (COO) of Victoria Group. During his foo ...
- Serbian football player currently playing for
FK Partizan Fudbalski klub Partizan ( sr-Cyrl, Фудбалски клуб Партизан, ; ), often referred to in English as Partizan Belgrade, is a Serbian professional Football club (association football), football club based in Belgrade. It forms ...
and the
Serbia national football team The Serbia men's national football team ( sr-Cyrl, Фудбалска репрезентација Србије, translit=Fudbalska reprezentacija Srbije) represents Serbia in men's international Association football, football competition. It is ...
. *
Branislav Šoškić Branislav Šoškić ( sr-cyrl, Бранислав Шошкић; 19 November 1922 – 4 April 2022) was a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro's Presidency from 1985 to 1986. He was a member of ...
- Montenegrin economist and politician, President of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro's Presidency in 1985-1986 * Stevo Vasojević* - legendary ancestor of the Vasojevići tribe and character in the Kosovo Cycle * Hadži-Prodan Gligorijević - Serbian
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 ...
in the
First Serbian Uprising The First Serbian Uprising (; sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; ) was an uprising of Serbs in Orašac (Aranđelovac), Orašac against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 1804 to 7 October 1813. The uprising began as a local revolt ...


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

* * http://sites.google.com/site/vasojevici {{DEFAULTSORT:Vasojevici Tribes of Montenegro Andrijevica Municipality Berane Municipality