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TheRiđani (Serbian Cyrillic:Риђани) was a historicaltribe and region inOld Herzegovina, modernMontenegro, that existed from the late medieval period until its annexion by thePrincipality of Montenegro in the mid-18th century.
Although the Riđani appear to have been predominantly aromanized people (Vlachs),Albanian names also appear among them, as was the case with one of their leaders, katunarŠimrak.[1]
The first mention of Riđani was in a 1335 document.[2] The territory where they lived was between theZeta river in theOnogoštžupa (county) and Ledenice nearRisan.[2] In the first half of the 15th century, the Riđani territory belonged to theDuchy of Saint Sava. Theirknez was Radivoj Sladojević.[3] In contemporary Ragusan documents, they are described asVlachs.[4]
The earliestRagusan sources about this tribe are early 15th-century records in which they are mentioned asVlachi Rigiani.[4] In 1429, the Ragusan senate invited them to take their livestock to Konavle mountains during the summer, for a certain fee.[5] Riđani frequently invaded the region of Konavle and robbed it, so Ragusans complained toStjepan Vukčić Kosača.[6]
In 1430 a deal is struck between Riđani and some villages near Risan (Morinje, Police). In it Riđani agrees to stop attacking the villages, determine grazing borders as well as allowing free passage of caravans and other transit through their area.Representatives of Riđan at the meeting wereRadjen Metiković,Vlatko Milobratović,Milorad Dragošević andVukosav Bukumirović.[7]
A 1441 document tells of their attacks and robbing of Ragusan merchant convoys.[5] One 1451 document indicate that Riđani populated the region betweenRisan,Kotor and Vrsinje.[8]Eventually, Riđani became one of three strong tribes in the region of Onogošt (Nikšić), besidesDrobnjaci andLužani.[9] All three of them were governed by oneban.[9] Ugren was among the most notable bans.[9]
After theOttomans captured the region populated by Riđani it became known as thenahija of Riđani, with its seat in Grahovo.[10] An Ottoman governor administered the nahija, while the tribe was governed by itsvojvoda (ofDrobnjaci andBanjani) or by theirknez (of Riđani).[11] In 1466 thesubaşi of Riđani was Širmerd.[12] In 1469 Riđani were one of the "Vlach" tribes that participated in the kidnapping of a young male and female population ofKonavle and Herzegovina. Two Riđani siblings,Dobretić andBukmir sold them for 16 ducats to Ottoman subaşi, vojvodas,martoloses and Muslims inTrebinje who in turn sold them as slaves.[13][14] Riđani were registered in the first Ottomandefter (tax registry) of theSanjak of Herzegovina,[when?] as part of the Novikadiluk (modern-dayHerceg Novi).[15]
In 1597, envoys ofSerbian PatriarchJovan Kantul and vojvodaGrdan, chieftain ofNikšići and Riđani tribes, reported toPope Clement VIII about the possibilities to raise an anti-Ottoman rebellion.[16]
In mid-17th century their chieftain wasRadul of Riđani.[17] Riđani distinguished themselves in the struggle against the Ottomans, particularly during the late 17th-centuryMorean War.[18] Riđani slowly fled west to Herzegovina, especially after the Ottomans established Nikšić as their stronghold, while remnants of Riđani with newly immigratedUskoks formed three tribal societies:Krivošije,Grahovo and Nikšićke Rudine.[18]In 1749 the Montenegrin tribal assembly (zbor), which was the supreme governing body of Montenegro, decided to accept Riđani as their own.[19] After this event, the tribe ceased to exist.[20]
Its name is preserved in toponyms and folk tradition. Some modern-day Serbo-Croatian families (including the Merćep family) descends from the Riđani.[20] According to some legends, they populated the territory of Krivošije and Cerovo Ždrijelo near Grahovo.[21] According to traditional belief, Riđani had been trying to migrate from their mountainous homeland to fertile lands ofGrahovo (nearNikšić), facing resistance of its native people.[4]