Hajduk Veljko Petrovic
Encyclopedia
Veljko Petrović known simply as Hajduk
Veljko (Хајдук Вељко), was a one of the voivodes (military commanders) of the Serbian Revolution
ary forces in the First Serbian Uprising
against the Ottoman Empire
.
near Zaječar
.
In his youth, Veljko Petrovic was a shepherd and a servant. As a young man of 22, he defended his sister from an attack by two Turks, killed them both, and joined the hajduk
s. At first he travelled to Vidin
and joined the band of the famed ex-janissary
outcast and local overlord Osman Pazvantoglu
. His hasty temper got the best of him there, and he killed two band members before finding himself on the run once again.
In 1803, he joined Stanoje Glavaš
's army unit, so he could step up to knez of "Smederevo Nahija", to duke Djuša (Ђуша). When Duke Djuša (Dušan Vulićević) asked of Stanoje to supply him a brave and trusting man, Stanoje picked Veljko. From 1804, he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness often caused him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards to Karadjordje (Карађорђe). With Dusan Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became a buljubaša / буљубаша and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defended Soko Banja from the Turks
. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia
and the Balkans
. In 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in the battle of Varvarin
, where he was wounded in his left arm, and because of it he was slightly crippled. Year 1811 he become Voivoda of the Timocka Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Timocka Krajina In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.
Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813. The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Walachia). In total, 16,000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, which was defended by 3,000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, built a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka. In the moats, together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko. Also, there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abrašelibalta among many others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of heroic defense, he ordered repair around his moat was struck by a cannon ball. He died almost immediately. The Battle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian
rebels. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words: "Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem". (I'll give my head, but not Krajina)
Just before the Battle of Negotin
, his friend suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.
Hajduk
Hajduk is a term most commonly referring to outlaws, highwaymen or freedom fighters in the Balkans, Central- and Eastern Europe....
Veljko (Хајдук Вељко), was a one of the voivodes (military commanders) of the Serbian Revolution
Serbian revolution
Serbian revolution or Revolutionary Serbia refers to the national and social revolution of the Serbian people taking place between 1804 and 1835, during which this territory evolved from an Ottoman province into a constitutional monarchy and a modern nation-state...
ary forces in the First Serbian Uprising
First Serbian Uprising
The First Serbian Uprising was the first stage of the Serbian Revolution , the successful wars of independence that lasted for 9 years and approximately 9 months , during which Serbia perceived itself as an independent state for the first time after more than three centuries of Ottoman rule and...
against 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...
.
Life
He was born in LenovacLenovac
Lenovac is a village in the municipality of Zaječar, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 204 people....
near Zaječar
Zajecar
Zaječar is a city and municipality in the eastern part of Serbia. According to the 2011 census the town has a population of 36,830, and its coordinates are 43.91° North, 22.30° East...
.
In his youth, Veljko Petrovic was a shepherd and a servant. As a young man of 22, he defended his sister from an attack by two Turks, killed them both, and joined the hajduk
Hajduk
Hajduk is a term most commonly referring to outlaws, highwaymen or freedom fighters in the Balkans, Central- and Eastern Europe....
s. At first he travelled to Vidin
Vidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
and joined the band of the famed ex-janissary
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
outcast and local overlord Osman Pazvantoglu
Osman Pazvantoglu
Osman Pazvantoğlu was a Bosnian Ottoman soldier, a governor of the Vidin district after 1794, and a rebel against Ottoman rule...
. His hasty temper got the best of him there, and he killed two band members before finding himself on the run once again.
In 1803, he joined Stanoje Glavaš
Stanoje Glavaš
Stanoje Stamatović Glavaš , was a Serbian hajduk and a hero in the First Serbian Uprising. In 1790s, with Lazar Dobrić, he was the co-leader of a hajduk company based in Austrian-held Srem, which frequently crossed the Ottoman border, and attacked Ottoman forces and caravans in Pashaluk of...
's army unit, so he could step up to knez of "Smederevo Nahija", to duke Djuša (Ђуша). When Duke Djuša (Dušan Vulićević) asked of Stanoje to supply him a brave and trusting man, Stanoje picked Veljko. From 1804, he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness often caused him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards to Karadjordje (Карађорђe). With Dusan Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became a buljubaša / буљубаша and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defended Soko Banja from the Turks
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...
. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. In 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in the battle of Varvarin
Varvarin
Varvarin is a small town and municipality in the Šumadija region of central Serbia. Population of the town is 2,133, and population of the municipality is 17,772. It is part of the Rasina District of Serbia.-Features:...
, where he was wounded in his left arm, and because of it he was slightly crippled. Year 1811 he become Voivoda of the Timocka Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Timocka Krajina In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.
Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813. The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Walachia). In total, 16,000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, which was defended by 3,000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, built a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka. In the moats, together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko. Also, there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abrašelibalta among many others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of heroic defense, he ordered repair around his moat was struck by a cannon ball. He died almost immediately. The Battle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
rebels. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words: "Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem". (I'll give my head, but not Krajina)
Just before the Battle of Negotin
Negotin
Negotin is a town and municipality in the Bor District of north-eastern Central Serbia. It is situated near the borders between Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. It is the judicial center of the Bor District. The population of the town is 16,716 while municipality has 36,879.-Name:The etymology of the...
, his friend suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.