Tanasko Rajić
Encyclopedia
Atanasko Tanasko Rajić was a Serbian voivode (military commander) and revolutionary
, the barjaktar (flag bearer) in the First Serbian Uprising
led by Karađorđe against the occupying Ottoman Empire
, and the captain in Obrenović's Second Serbian Uprising
, during which he died (1815).
, under Rudnik
. As he was born on the slava
(Serbian feast day) of Saint Athanasius the Great
(Atanasije), he was named Atanasko, Tanasko.
He was a friend of Janićije Đurić, the later secretary of Karađorđe. One of his sons married Perunika, the younger sister of Đurić. With Karađorđe and other Šumadija
n rebels, he clashed many times with the Ottoman Turks
. In his area, Sali-aga was known for his cruelty. Tanasko gathers his friends and plan an attack on Sali-aga. He was part of the talks between prominent Serbs in planning the uprising. In the evening of Sretenje Gospodnje
, 1804, Tanasko, Karađorđe, Stanoje Glavaš
, Janićije Đurić, and 70 other armed Šumadians arrived at Orašac
. The next day, the Orašac assembly elected Karađorđe, leader of the Serbs. Karađorđe handed over a red and white war flag and appointed Tanasko the flag-bearer of the Serbian revolution
.
After the outbreak of the uprising, Tanasko went to his home village and gathered and organized people for the siege of Rudnik which would follow. Tanasko was indignant to Sali-aga and promised that he would personally kill him and save Rudnik from violence. On 2 March, 1804, the Serbian army led by Tanasko surrounded the city, demanding the surrender of Sali-aga. The Ottomans refused, and prepared for battle, waiting for Kučuk Alija from Belgrade
. Tanasko commanded the operation. Turkish reinforcements arrived from Čačak
, resulting in a great battle in the outskirts of town. The Turks were defeated, with their horses and weapons seized. Tanasko was wounded in the arm.
Tanasko did not participate in forming the first state government. He remained a soldier, known for his bravery. Sali-aga was delivered to and beheaded by Tanasko. He further participated against the fightings against Ali Gušanac on the Morava river when he and his army fortified Crni Vrh
near Jagodina
and awaited Gušanac. Gušanac fled from the battle, and his army was disarmed. voivode Jovan Kursula also participated in this battle. After the victory, there was political arguing between Tanasko and Karađorđe, due to the leader's centralism. Tanasko returned to his village and stayed there until 1813. When Serbia faced serious difficulty, Tanasko reconciled with Karađorđe, and planned the defense. After the failure of the uprising, Tanasko returns to his village, becoming a witness to Ottoman retaliation.
Although he was gotten to the years, he immediately joined Miloš Obrenović's Second Serbian Uprising
and returned to the battlefield. As chief commanders of the Serb rebels, Tanasko sought to expel the Ottomans from the Čačak nahija (district). On 6 June, 1815, the two sides met at the Ljubić hill. The Ottoman commander Imšir Pasha went to destroy the Serbian positions near Čačak. The rebels hurried and fortified the trenches of Ljubić, 1.5 km's north of Čačak, where Imšir was holding.
The battle began in the morning, with a Ottoman surprise attack on Serbian positions, and the Serbs managed in the beginning. Tanasko commanded the cannon batteries in the surrounding hills. Just before the battle, Tanasko was elevated to captain in Obrenović's Serbian army. In the beginning of the battle, Tanasko had successfully attacked the Ottoman positions, but Ottomans had his position encircled. The situation became difficult, and Tanasko held on to his cannons. When the Ottomans advanced on the trenches where Tanasko was situated, he continued to command, climbed onto a top and began to shoot at the Ottomans. The Ottomans surrounded him and had him cut into pieces. The Serbian army later gathered and won the battle. Imšir Pasha also died in the battle, and the Ottoman army retreated to Čačak.
, the site of the battle in which he died. His weapons are in the Military Museum (Belgrade)
.
Schools in Čačak (and Ljubić) and Pirot are named after him. A street in Čačak is named after him, as well as in Kraljevo. A Yugoslav Army
-barrack was in Čačak. The Cultural and Artistic Association from Ljubić is named "Tanasko Rajić". A local football team in Pirot is named "FK Tanasko Rajić".
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...
, the barjaktar (flag bearer) 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...
led by Karađorđe against the occupying Ottoman Empire
History of Ottoman Serbia
The territory of what is now the Republic of Serbia was part of the Ottoman Empire throughout the Early Modern period.Ottoman culture significantly influenced the region, in architecture, cuisine, linguistics, and dress, especially in arts, and Islam....
, and the captain in Obrenović's Second Serbian Uprising
Second Serbian Uprising
The Second Serbian Uprising was a second phase of the Serbian revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after the re-annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire, in 1813. The occupation was enforced following the defeat of the First Serbian Uprising , during which Serbia...
, during which he died (1815).
Life
Atanasko was born on , 1754, in the village of StragariStragari
Stragari is a village and municipality situated in the central part of Šumadija District in Serbia. The municipality of Stragari is one of the five municipalities of Kragujevac city.- Geography :...
, under Rudnik
Rudnik
Rudnik is a mountain in central Serbia, near the town of Gornji Milanovac. Its highest peak Cvijićev vrh, named after geologist and biologist Jovan Cvijić, has an altitude of 1132 meters above sea level...
. As he was born on the slava
Slava
The Slava , also called Krsna Slava and Krsno ime , is the Serbian Orthodox tradition of the ritual celebration and veneration of a family's own patron saint. The family celebrates the Slava annually on the patron saint's feast day...
(Serbian feast day) of Saint Athanasius the Great
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
(Atanasije), he was named Atanasko, Tanasko.
He was a friend of Janićije Đurić, the later secretary of Karađorđe. One of his sons married Perunika, the younger sister of Đurić. With Karađorđe and other Šumadija
Šumadija
Šumadija is a geographical region in Serbia. The area is heavily covered with forests, hence the name...
n rebels, he clashed many times with the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. In his area, Sali-aga was known for his cruelty. Tanasko gathers his friends and plan an attack on Sali-aga. He was part of the talks between prominent Serbs in planning the uprising. In the evening of Sretenje Gospodnje
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, which falls on 2 February, celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante...
, 1804, Tanasko, Karađorđe, 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...
, Janićije Đurić, and 70 other armed Šumadians arrived at Orašac
Orašac (Aranđelovac)
Orašac is a village in the municipality of Aranđelovac in Central Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 1462 people. It is best known as the starting point of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804....
. The next day, the Orašac assembly elected Karađorđe, leader of the Serbs. Karađorđe handed over a red and white war flag and appointed Tanasko the flag-bearer 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...
.
After the outbreak of the uprising, Tanasko went to his home village and gathered and organized people for the siege of Rudnik which would follow. Tanasko was indignant to Sali-aga and promised that he would personally kill him and save Rudnik from violence. On 2 March, 1804, the Serbian army led by Tanasko surrounded the city, demanding the surrender of Sali-aga. The Ottomans refused, and prepared for battle, waiting for Kučuk Alija from Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. Tanasko commanded the operation. Turkish reinforcements arrived from Čačak
Cacak
Čačak is a city in central Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Moravica District of Serbia. Čačak is also the main industrial, cultural and sport center of the district...
, resulting in a great battle in the outskirts of town. The Turks were defeated, with their horses and weapons seized. Tanasko was wounded in the arm.
Tanasko did not participate in forming the first state government. He remained a soldier, known for his bravery. Sali-aga was delivered to and beheaded by Tanasko. He further participated against the fightings against Ali Gušanac on the Morava river when he and his army fortified Crni Vrh
Crni Vrh (Jagodina)
Crni Vrh is a mountain in central Serbia, near the city of Jagodina. Its highest peak Crni vrh has an altitude of 707 meters above sea level. It is a small ski resort, with a mountaineering hut at the top, and two tracks of around 750 meters each....
near Jagodina
Jagodina
Jagodina is a city and municipality located in central Serbia, 136 km south of Belgrade, on the banks of Belica River. Its name stems from the word for strawberry in Serbian. It is the administrative centre of the Pomoravlje District of Serbia...
and awaited Gušanac. Gušanac fled from the battle, and his army was disarmed. voivode Jovan Kursula also participated in this battle. After the victory, there was political arguing between Tanasko and Karađorđe, due to the leader's centralism. Tanasko returned to his village and stayed there until 1813. When Serbia faced serious difficulty, Tanasko reconciled with Karađorđe, and planned the defense. After the failure of the uprising, Tanasko returns to his village, becoming a witness to Ottoman retaliation.
Second Serbian Uprising
The Second Serbian Uprising was a second phase of the Serbian revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after the re-annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire, in 1813. The occupation was enforced following the defeat of the First Serbian Uprising , during which Serbia...
and returned to the battlefield. As chief commanders of the Serb rebels, Tanasko sought to expel the Ottomans from the Čačak nahija (district). On 6 June, 1815, the two sides met at the Ljubić hill. The Ottoman commander Imšir Pasha went to destroy the Serbian positions near Čačak. The rebels hurried and fortified the trenches of Ljubić, 1.5 km's north of Čačak, where Imšir was holding.
The battle began in the morning, with a Ottoman surprise attack on Serbian positions, and the Serbs managed in the beginning. Tanasko commanded the cannon batteries in the surrounding hills. Just before the battle, Tanasko was elevated to captain in Obrenović's Serbian army. In the beginning of the battle, Tanasko had successfully attacked the Ottoman positions, but Ottomans had his position encircled. The situation became difficult, and Tanasko held on to his cannons. When the Ottomans advanced on the trenches where Tanasko was situated, he continued to command, climbed onto a top and began to shoot at the Ottomans. The Ottomans surrounded him and had him cut into pieces. The Serbian army later gathered and won the battle. Imšir Pasha also died in the battle, and the Ottoman army retreated to Čačak.
Legacy
A monument to him was erected in the hill of Ljubić, near ČačakCacak
Čačak is a city in central Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Moravica District of Serbia. Čačak is also the main industrial, cultural and sport center of the district...
, the site of the battle in which he died. His weapons are in the Military Museum (Belgrade)
Military Museum (Belgrade)
The Military Museum in Belgrade was founded in 1878. The museum has over 3000 ancient and modern items. These include Roman swords and helmets, Greek helmets and daggers, Serbian heavy knight's armor, axes, shields, helmets, crossbows, armoured gloves, as well as Western medieval weapons...
.
Schools in Čačak (and Ljubić) and Pirot are named after him. A street in Čačak is named after him, as well as in Kraljevo. A Yugoslav Army
Yugoslav Army
Aside from the Yugoslav People's Army, the terms Yugoslav Army, Army of Yugoslavia, or Military of Yugoslavia may refer to:* Yugoslav Partisans , the Yugoslav resistance army during World War II...
-barrack was in Čačak. The Cultural and Artistic Association from Ljubić is named "Tanasko Rajić". A local football team in Pirot is named "FK Tanasko Rajić".
Sources
- Milica Baum, "Belgrade", A. S. Barnes, 1970, p. 87
- Nebojša Damnjanović, Vladimir Merenik, "The first Serbian uprising and the restoration of the Serbian state", Historical Museum of Serbia, Gallery of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, 2004, pp. 72-74
- Dojčilo Mitrović, "Tanasko Rajić, ustanički barjaktar i tobdžija", Likovi i događaji iz srbske prošlosti, Prosveta, 1952
- Novosti Online, "Rano bez oca", 29 May 2006,