Veljko Petrović Вељко Петровић | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Hajduk Veljko byUroš Knežević, 1852 | |
| Nickname(s) | Hajduk Veljko Хајдук Вељко |
| Born | 1780 Lenovac, nearZaječar,Ottoman Empire (present-daySerbia) |
| Died | 1813 (aged 33) Negotin, Revolutionary Serbia |
| Allegiance |  Revolutionary Serbia |
| Years of service | 1803–1813 |
| Rank | buljukbašica,buljubaša,vojvoda |
| Unit | Stanoje Glavaš's unit (1804) Vulićević's Unit (1804–1807) Timok Valley forces |
| Battles / wars | First Serbian Uprising |
Veljko Petrović (Serbian Cyrillic:Вељко Петровић,Serbian pronunciation:[ʋěːʎkopětroʋitɕ];c. 1780 – 1813), known simply asHajduk Veljko (Хајдук Вељко, [xǎjduːk v̞ɛ̌ːʎkɔ]), was one of thevojvodas (military commanders) of theSerbian Revolutionary forces in theFirst Serbian Uprising against theOttoman Empire, in charge of the Negotin area. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the uprising.[1]
He was born inLenovac, nearZaječar,[1] in theCrna Rekanahija, into the family of Petar (hence he tookPetrović as his surname) and Petrinja.[2] He had two younger brothers,Milutin and Miljko.[2] His father was calledSirenjar Petar ("Peter the Cheese Maker") due to his multitude oflivestock which he possessed, and the amount of cheese he sold.[3][4] His father was a very calm person, though Veljko was an unruly kid.[4] In his youth he kept cattle,[3] even becomingčobanbaša ("head herder") among the local herders.[4] The local Turks often visited their house, eating their food, drinking and taking cheese, butter oil, and milk.[4]
Osman Pazvantoğlu'skrdžalije (Ottomanbrigands), who were deemed rebels by the Sultan, had fought the Imperial troops at Crna Reka, and then continued to attack local Turks loyal to the Sultan, and burned and devastated several villages in the region, including Lenovac.[4] This prompted Veljko, only 15 years old, to leave his parents and brothers forVidin.[4] There he was hired as a shepherd by a Turk, and after some time he left forPožarevac, where he was hired by the Vojvoda of Požarevac to prepare food.[4] As he had also spent some time there, atEaster time, he danced thekolo with his friends, forgetting to prepare the important dinner for his master.[4] For this, his master chased to beat him, thus Veljko fled, ending up in thehajduk (Serbian brigands) bands ofStanoje Glavaš.[4] In the winter time of 1803, Glavaš had arranged for Veljko to stay at the house of ajatak ("concealer", civil hajduk supporter) inDubona, in theSmederevo nahija, where he would work as a shepherd.[4] In the same village Veljko met Marija, a widow and relative of Glavaš, and married her, moving to her house.[4] Not long after the wedding, theSlaughter of the Knezes took place (January 1804), in which prominent Serb leaders were executed by theJanissarymilitary junta of theSanjak of Smederevo[4] (these janissaries, under the leadership ofKučuk Alija, had murderedsanjak-beyHadži Mustafa Pasha on 15 December 1801 and taken the rule of the sanjak). As a response to the executions, the Serbian population, without a central figure, took measures of self-defence, and spontaneously attacked the janissaries.[5]
Hearing ofKarađorđe's activities, Veljko immediately asked his wife for hajduk wear and weapons and joined Glavaš' bands.[4] When Karađorđe arrived atOrašac on theMeeting of the Lord, February 2, 1804, and was chosen by the people, Glavaš,Janko Katić,Vasa Čarapić, Jakovljević,[who?] Vule,[who?] and others, to be the "Supreme Leader of the Serb People", Veljko was present in Glavaš'četa (band of fighters).[4] As the uprising grew and spread, cautious Glavaš opted to withdrow, and Veljko then served the Smederevo VojvodaĐuša Vulićević fighting the Ottomans.[4] In the fall of 1805, Vojvoda Đuša was killed by the Turks in Smederevo.[4] Karađorđe put Đuša's younger brotherVujica Vulićević in his place.[4] Veljko became one of Vujica'sbuljukbašica (a commander of a few men).[6]
WithVujica Vulićević he fought to free Belgrade (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became abuljubaša / буљубаша and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas ofKrivi Vir and the surrounding Crna Reka area. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defendedSoko Banja against theTurkishs forces. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia and the Balkans. In 1810 he was decorated with the Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in thebattle of Varvarin, where he was wounded in his left arm and became slightly crippled. In 1811 he becameVoivoda of the Timok Valley and he was sent to Negotin, in the Timok Valley. In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at the village ofBukovče 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 defence, he ordered repair around his moat and was struck by a cannonball. He died almost immediately. TheBattle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of theSerbian 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 ofNegotin, his friend,Vuk Karadžić 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.
As a popular hero, there existed songs about him even during his lifetime. There exist over 70 lyrical and 10 epic poems about him. Some of the most known songs or epic poems include "My almond tree grew forth" (Расло ми је бадем дрво) and "Sickly there lieth Mustapha the Black" (Болан ми лежи Кара-Мустафа).
Serbian comic authorŽivorad Atanacković (1933–1998) created an adventurouscomic on the person of Veljko Petrović, with the theme of the First Serbian Uprising (Hajduk Veljko, 1966).
Some Bulgarian historians have portrayed fringe[citation needed] theories that Veljko was Bulgarian.[7]
He is included inThe 100 most prominent Serbs.
Хајдук Вељко, без сумње, један је од највећих јунака Првог српског устанка. Рођен у Леновцу код Зајечара, још од детињства био ...
"Studies" by various Bulgarian historians have also been known to reveal aspirations towards parts of the Socialist Republic of Serbia and parts of Northern Greece. Famous Serbian rebel leader Hajduk Veljko is portrayed as a Bulgarian insurgent, the Skull Tower (Cele kula) in Ni5 is presented as a Bulgarian cultural monument, etc..
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