Stevan Knicanin
Encyclopedia
Stevan Petrović, KCMT
, known simply as Stevan Knićanin (Стеван Книћанин, Stephen of Knić; 1807-1855) was a Serbia
n voivode (commander) of the Serbian volunteer squads in Serbian Vojvodina
during the 1848 revolution
.
near Kragujevac
(hence his surname), in the Ottoman Empire
(today Serbia
). During the rule of Prince Miloš Obrenović, Knićanin's political career began as a commissioner of the Jasenica
municipality in 1835, and in 1839 as a commissioner of the Smederevo
district, but he eventually joined the opposition as a Constitutionalist and supporter of the rival Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević of the House of Karađorđević. Since he supported "ustavobranitelji" (the defenders of the constitution), he was expelled from Serbia
in 1840-1841. He returned in 1842, after Aleksandar Karađorđević had acceeded the throne on September 14, after being elected the Prince of Serbia at the National Assembly in Vračar
.
As part of the Revolutions of 1848
, 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. They met at Sremski Karlovci
and Novi Sad
. Several thousand Serbs met at the May Assembly
in Sremski Karlovci
on May 1, 1848. The delegates chose prominent Austrian-Serb general Stevan Šupljikac
as voivode, the civil and military commander (Duke). Josif Rajačić
was elected the patriarch of the Serbs. The Serbs demanded a national unit consisting of Banat
, Bačka
, Baranja and part of Srem
, known collectively as Vojvodina
. This was completely against the Hungarian authorities visions.
From May 1848 onward, Serbs of Vojvodina
directly sought aid from the Serbian Principality, and on May 10, general Stratimirović, head of the main committee, appealed to Prince Aleksandar for assistance and urged Knićanin to intercede. Knicanin 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 at July 25. Among others who arrived were: the brother and nephew of Hajduk Veljko, council member Milutin Petrović, major Stanojlo Petrović, captain Sava Petrović and voivode prota Nenadović
.
From August 1848, Knićanin was a commander of the Serbian volunteer squads in the Serbian Vojvodina
, in which unit also Golub Babić 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
and Vršac
during the 1848 Revolution in what was then the Austrian Empire.
After his return to Serbia in May 1849, Knićanin was awarded with the title of voivode by Aleksandar Karađorđević, at that time it had only been given to Toma Vučić Perišić. He was a "Knight of Maria Therese
", the highest order of the Austrian army.
in 1854, he died on May 14, 1855, in Belgrade.
The village of Knićanin
in the Serbian province of Vojvodina
was named after him.
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
, known simply as Stevan Knićanin (Стеван Книћанин, Stephen of Knić; 1807-1855) was a 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...
n voivode (commander) of the Serbian volunteer squads in Serbian Vojvodina
Serbian Vojvodina
The Serbian Vojvodina was a Serbian autonomous region within the Austrian Empire...
during the 1848 revolution
Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas
From March 1848 through July 1849, the Habsburg Austrian Empire was threatened by revolutionary movements. Much of the revolutionary activity was of a nationalist character: the empire, ruled from Vienna, included Austrian Germans, Hungarians, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Ruthenians,...
.
Life
He was born on February 15, 1807 in KnićKnić
Knić is a village and municipality located in the Šumadija District of Serbia. According to 2011 census, the population of the village is 2,166, while population of the municipality is 14,205.-Famous residents:...
near Kragujevac
Kragujevac
Kragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia, the main city of the Šumadija region and the administrative centre of Šumadija District. It is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River...
(hence his surname), in 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...
(today 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...
). During the rule of Prince Miloš Obrenović, Knićanin's political career began as a commissioner of the Jasenica
Jasenica
The Jasenica is a river is central Serbia. It's 79 km long left tributary of the Velika Morava and gives the name to the Jasenica region.- River :...
municipality in 1835, and in 1839 as a commissioner of the Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
district, but he eventually joined the opposition as a Constitutionalist and supporter of the rival Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević of the House of Karađorđević. Since he supported "ustavobranitelji" (the defenders of the constitution), he was expelled from 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...
in 1840-1841. He returned in 1842, after Aleksandar Karađorđević had acceeded the throne on September 14, after being elected the Prince of Serbia at the National Assembly in Vračar
Vracar
Vračar is an urban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade. With an area of only , it is the smallest of all Belgrade's municipalities, but also the most densely populated. Vračar is one of the three municipalities that constitute the central area of the...
.
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
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
, 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. They met at Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci is a town and municipality in Serbia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, situated on the bank of the river Danube, 8 km from Novi Sad...
and Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
. Several thousand Serbs met at the May Assembly
May Assembly
May Assembly was the national assembly of the Serbs in Austrian Empire, held in 1 and 3 May 1848 in Sremski Karlovci, during which the Serbs proclaimed autonomous Serbian Vojvodina. This action was later recognized by the supreme Austrian authority in Vienna...
in Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci is a town and municipality in Serbia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, situated on the bank of the river Danube, 8 km from Novi Sad...
on May 1, 1848. The delegates chose prominent Austrian-Serb general Stevan Šupljikac
Stevan Šupljikac
Stevan Šupljikac, known simply as Vojvoda Šupljikac was a voivode and the first Duke of the Serbian Vojvodina, in 1848.-Life:...
as voivode, the civil and military commander (Duke). Josif Rajačić
Josif Rajacic
Josif Rajačić was a metropolitan of Sremski Karlovci, Serbian patriarch, administrator of Serbian Vojvodina and baron.-Life:...
was elected the patriarch of the Serbs. The Serbs demanded a national unit consisting of Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
, Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
, Baranja and part of Srem
Srem
Śrem is a town on the Warta river in central Poland. It has been situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; from 1975 to 1998 it was part of the Poznań Voivodeship...
, known collectively as Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
. This was completely against the Hungarian authorities visions.
From May 1848 onward, Serbs of Vojvodina
Serbian Vojvodina
The Serbian Vojvodina was a Serbian autonomous region within the Austrian Empire...
directly sought aid from the Serbian Principality, and on May 10, general Stratimirović, head of the main committee, appealed to Prince Aleksandar for assistance and urged Knićanin to intercede. Knicanin 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 at July 25. Among others who arrived were: the brother and nephew of Hajduk Veljko, council member Milutin Petrović, major Stanojlo Petrović, captain Sava Petrović and voivode prota Nenadović
Mateja Nenadovic
Prota Mateja Nenadović was a Serbian archpriest, writer, and a notable leader of the First Serbian Uprising. He is generally called Prota Mateja, since as a boy of sixteen he was made a priest, and a few years later became archpriest of Valjevo...
.
From August 1848, Knićanin was a commander of the Serbian volunteer squads in the Serbian Vojvodina
Serbian Vojvodina
The Serbian Vojvodina was a Serbian autonomous region within the Austrian Empire...
, in which unit also Golub Babić 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
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
and Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
during the 1848 Revolution in what was then the Austrian Empire.
After his return to Serbia in May 1849, Knićanin was awarded with the title of voivode by Aleksandar Karađorđević, at that time it had only been given to Toma Vučić Perišić. He was a "Knight of Maria Therese
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
", the highest order of the Austrian army.
Later years and death
As a result of a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1854, he died on May 14, 1855, in Belgrade.
Legacy
In 1850, Louis Kossuth wrote: "Bold Knicanin did wonders of bravery on the Lower Danube,"The village of Knićanin
Knicanin
Knićanin is a village in Serbia. It is located in the Zrenjanin municipal area, in the Banat region , Vojvodina province...
in the Serbian province of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
was named after him.
See also
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)