Janko Mitrovic
Encyclopedia
harambaša Janko Mitrović was the commander of the Dalmatian Serb
army, in the service of the Republic of Venice
, from 1648 until his death in 1659. He participated in the Cretan War (1645–1669)
, alongside Ilija Smiljanić, as the supreme commanders of the Venetian Serb troops, of which he is enumerated in Serb epic poetry. His son, Stojan Janković
, followed in his father's footsteps and joined the war, becoming commander
Stojan began fighting alongside his father and Ilija Smiljanić early on, in the Cretan War. Ilija, as the more experienced, was named serdar in 1648 after his father, Serdar Petar had died. In February 1659, at the Cetina
river, both leaders Janko and Ilija Smiljanić succumb to wounds after battling the Turks. The same year, the well experienced 23-year-old Stojan is chosen as leader by the band. As leader, he constantly takes part in battles in the Frontier
. He was known to have defeated several Turkish contingents, and even himself slew the commanders, among which are notable: Ali-beg Durakbegović, Redžep-aga Filipović, aga Velagić, aga Pajalitović and Ibrahim-aga Kovačević. His son fell at Duvno in 1687.
Yugoslav writers Boško and Vladan Desnica
are descendants of Stojan's youngest brother Zaviša.
Serbs of Croatia
Višeslav of Serbia, a contemporary of Charlemagne , ruled the Županias of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim, his ancestral lands. According to the Royal Frankish Annals , Duke of Pannonia Ljudevit Posavski fled, during the Frankish invasion, from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs in western Bosnia, who...
army, in the service of the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, from 1648 until his death in 1659. He participated in the Cretan War (1645–1669)
Cretan War (1645–1669)
The Cretan War or War of Candia , as the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War is better known, was a conflict between the Republic of Venice and her allies against the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States, fought over the island of Crete, Venice's largest and richest overseas possession...
, alongside Ilija Smiljanić, as the supreme commanders of the Venetian Serb troops, of which he is enumerated in Serb epic poetry. His son, Stojan Janković
Stojan Jankovic
Stojan Mitrović Janković, also known as Knight Janko was the commander of the Dalmatian Serb army, in the service of the Republic of Venice, from 1669 until his death in 1687. He participated in the Cretan and Great Turkish War, as the supreme commander of the Venetian Serb troops, of which he is...
, followed in his father's footsteps and joined the war, becoming commander
Life
Janko was the son of Mitar, who hailed from Žegar. The Mitrovići resettled, together with others from Žegar, in Budim near Posedarja, then under Venetian control. Janko had three sons and a daughter:- StojanStojan JankovicStojan Mitrović Janković, also known as Knight Janko was the commander of the Dalmatian Serb army, in the service of the Republic of Venice, from 1669 until his death in 1687. He participated in the Cretan and Great Turkish War, as the supreme commander of the Venetian Serb troops, of which he is...
- Ilija
- Zaviša
Stojan began fighting alongside his father and Ilija Smiljanić early on, in the Cretan War. Ilija, as the more experienced, was named serdar in 1648 after his father, Serdar Petar had died. In February 1659, at the Cetina
Cetina
Cetina is a river in southern Croatia. It has a length of and its basin covers an area of . Cetina descends from an altitude of 385 m at its source to the sea level when it flows into the Adriatic Sea. It is the most water-rich river in Dalmatia....
river, both leaders Janko and Ilija Smiljanić succumb to wounds after battling the Turks. The same year, the well experienced 23-year-old Stojan is chosen as leader by the band. As leader, he constantly takes part in battles in the Frontier
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier was a borderland of Habsburg Austria and later the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which acted as the cordon sanitaire against incursions from the Ottoman Empire...
. He was known to have defeated several Turkish contingents, and even himself slew the commanders, among which are notable: Ali-beg Durakbegović, Redžep-aga Filipović, aga Velagić, aga Pajalitović and Ibrahim-aga Kovačević. His son fell at Duvno in 1687.
Family
He had three sons and a daughter:- Stojan
- Ilija
- Zavisa
Yugoslav writers Boško and Vladan Desnica
Vladan Desnica
Vladan Desnica was a Croatian and Serbian writer.-Life:He was born in Zadar, then part of Austria-Hungary...
are descendants of Stojan's youngest brother Zaviša.
See also
- Vuk MandušićVuk MandušićVuk Mandušić was a Croatian Serb military commander in the Croatian Military Frontier that fought the Ottoman Empire. He was born near Visovac on the Krka, in modern Croatia. His sabre is kept at the Visovac Monastery...
(fl. 1648), Serbian military commander in Austrian service
Sources
- Berber, S. 2004, "Istorijski podaci o uskočkom serdaru Stojanu Jankoviću", Norma, vol. 10, no. 1-2, pp. 151-161. (Serbian)
- Baština dvora Jankovića, Istorijski muzej Srbije, Beograd 2006 (Serbian)
- Epske narodne pesme, Uskoci, str. 17-43, Beograd, 1965 (Serbian)
- Rodoslov Jankovića i Desnica vid. Baština dvora Jankovića, Istorijski muzej Srbije, Beograd 2006, str. 92 (Serbian)
- http://www.kulajankovica.hr/?do=jandes