Battle of Grahovac
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Grahovac occurred from 28 April to 1 May 1858, when the Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš, elder brother of Knjaz Danilo
, led a strong army of 7,500 and won a crucial battle against the Turks (army of between 7,000 to 13,000) at Grahovac. The Turkish forces were routed. A considerable arsenal of war trophies were left in Montenegrin hands, to come in handy again in the final wars of independence in 1862 and 1875-1878.
commander, Hussein Pasha, captured the villages of Vilusi
and Grahovo
and continued his advance towards Grahovac, a small village located on a plateau elevated slightly above the captured area. The core of Montenegrin resistance was in Grahovac, which was the main bastion of defence of Montenegro
according to military plans. This battle was a prelude to the war of 1862 where Montenegro
and the Principality of Serbia would briefly fight the Ottoman Empire
.
On 1 May, the fighting started again as the Ottomans got military support from Bosnia
. But this time, Montenegrins took charge and attacked the Ottomans, forcing them into a successive retreat. The biggest problem for Montenegrins was a well-armed Ottoman artillery, which was constantly bombarding their positions with cannons. Eventually, Montenegrins decided to charge across the battlefield and take over the cannons. After they saw two of the commanders, Serdar Đuro Kusovac and priest Luka Jovović, being killed while charging, the rest of the Montenegrin troops, including the guardsmen, began a rapid advance with a shout: "Forward, to avenge our commanders". The offensive was successful, and by capturing Ottoman cannons, Montenegrins had officially won the battle.
, Rudine, Nikšić
's Župa, more than half of Drobnjaci
, Tušina, Uskoci, Lipovo, Upper Vasojevići
, and part of Kuči
and Dodoši.
Prince Danilo has granted all the battle survivors the "Grahovo medal" for their credits, and duke Mirko Petrović was proclaimed the Grand Duke of Grahovo. On the site of the Hussein pasha's headquarters, in 1864 King Nicholas I built a church, and in 2008, Montenegrin government revealed an obelisk
which honours the battle and its participants. Both on the church and the obelisk, reads the same inscription: "The monument to your bravery is Montenegro and its freedom."
Knjaz Danilo
Prince Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš , , , son of Stiepo/Sava Petrović-Njegoš and wife Angelika Radamovich.Prince Danilo I, was the prince-bishop and later prince of Montenegro from 1851 to 1860...
, led a strong army of 7,500 and won a crucial battle against the Turks (army of between 7,000 to 13,000) at Grahovac. The Turkish forces were routed. A considerable arsenal of war trophies were left in Montenegrin hands, to come in handy again in the final wars of independence in 1862 and 1875-1878.
Background
On 28 April 1858, OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
commander, Hussein Pasha, captured the villages of Vilusi
Vilusi
Vilusi is a village in Lohusuu Parish, Ida-Viru County in northeastern Estonia....
and Grahovo
Grahovo
Grahovo is a tribe in western Montenegro. It contains the village of Grahovac, which was the sight of the Battle of Grahovac.-History:In the early 17th century, during the Sanjak of Scutari, Grahovo was commanded by Mile Perin....
and continued his advance towards Grahovac, a small village located on a plateau elevated slightly above the captured area. The core of Montenegrin resistance was in Grahovac, which was the main bastion of defence of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
according to military plans. This battle was a prelude to the war of 1862 where Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and the Principality of Serbia would briefly fight the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
Battle
The fighting itself started on 29 April, early in the morning. The Ottomans attacked Grahovac while Montenegrins were stubbornly defending, determined not to retreat at any cost. Most of 3,000 Ottoman and 1,000 Montengrin casualties were made on that day. On 30 April, Hussein Pasha offered a truce to Montenegrin Serdar and commander in charge Mirko Petrović-Njegoš refused it, although he did allow the Ottomans time to bury their dead. He also refused to send men to disrupt the Ottomans supply of water. Although this would have given him a tactical advantage he considered it a dishonorable move.On 1 May, the fighting started again as the Ottomans got military support from Bosnia
Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire
The Bosnia Vilayet was an Ottoman vilayet, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia. It bordered Kosovo Vilayet to the south. Before the administrative reform in 1864, it was called the...
. But this time, Montenegrins took charge and attacked the Ottomans, forcing them into a successive retreat. The biggest problem for Montenegrins was a well-armed Ottoman artillery, which was constantly bombarding their positions with cannons. Eventually, Montenegrins decided to charge across the battlefield and take over the cannons. After they saw two of the commanders, Serdar Đuro Kusovac and priest Luka Jovović, being killed while charging, the rest of the Montenegrin troops, including the guardsmen, began a rapid advance with a shout: "Forward, to avenge our commanders". The offensive was successful, and by capturing Ottoman cannons, Montenegrins had officially won the battle.
Aftermath
This major victory had had even more diplomatic significance. The glory of Montenegrin weapons was soon immortalised in the songs and literature of all the South Slavs, in particular the Serbs in Vojvodina, then part of Austria-Hungary. This Montenegrin victory forced the Great Powers to officially demarcate the borders between Montenegro and Ottoman Empire, de facto recognizing Montenegro's centuries-long independence. Montenegro gained GrahovoGrahovo
Grahovo is a tribe in western Montenegro. It contains the village of Grahovac, which was the sight of the Battle of Grahovac.-History:In the early 17th century, during the Sanjak of Scutari, Grahovo was commanded by Mile Perin....
, Rudine, Nikšić
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
's Župa, more than half of Drobnjaci
Drobnjaci
Drobnjaci is an Old Herzegovinian clan and region in northern Montenegro . Its unofficial centre is in Boan/Šavnik. The Drobnjaci families are predominantly Serb Orthodox, with a majority declaring as Serbs, the rest as Montenegrins...
, Tušina, Uskoci, Lipovo, Upper Vasojevići
Vasojevici
The Vasojevići tribe is the largest Serb clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka in the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North, Mateševo in the West to Plav in the East. The clan is one of seven "highland clans"...
, and part of Kuči
KUCI
KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...
and Dodoši.
Prince Danilo has granted all the battle survivors the "Grahovo medal" for their credits, and duke Mirko Petrović was proclaimed the Grand Duke of Grahovo. On the site of the Hussein pasha's headquarters, in 1864 King Nicholas I built a church, and in 2008, Montenegrin government revealed an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
which honours the battle and its participants. Both on the church and the obelisk, reads the same inscription: "The monument to your bravery is Montenegro and its freedom."
See also
- Princedom of Montenegro
- Knjaz Danilo PetrovićKnjaz DaniloPrince Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš , , , son of Stiepo/Sava Petrović-Njegoš and wife Angelika Radamovich.Prince Danilo I, was the prince-bishop and later prince of Montenegro from 1851 to 1860...
- Montenegrins