Position of Herzegovina under the Turkish Rule | Trebinje | Vijesti iz Trebinja | Fotografije

Position of Herzegovina under the Turkish Rule

Position of Herzegovina under the Turkish Rule

Autor Sanja Milenkovic
Utorak, 10 Juli 2007
As Turks were not hard-working people (they did not have working habits), but primarily soldiers (with “the gene” of warriors, conquerors and plunderers), they used the people from conquered countries and made them farmers by settling them on newly conquered territories. In Eastern Herzegovina Region there were not such migrations. Left bank of the Neretva River with Nevesinje, Gacko, Ljubinje, Bileca and Trebinje was populated by the Orthodox, while the right bank was inhabited by the Catholics. Since the Turks conquered this region, uprisings and mutinies were getting more and more serious (because of tyranny and violence), as Serbs could not accept the Turkish rule. Converting to Islam started as well. Serbian people have always been eager for freedom and accepted any suggestions regarding the fight of Christianity against Islam. Not surprisingly, the leaders of these uprisings were often priests. In Herzegovina, the centre of uprising was Tvrdos Monastery with metropolitan Visarion. Secular people were led by Grdan, the duke of Niksic. The uprising that broke out in 1956 was not successful, but Herzegovina did not give up from its fight against Agrajan. In 17th century, Herzegovina was a battlefield again (the time of Kandijski war, Turkey against Venice). Of course, the Orthodox people from Herzegovina were involved in it. The greatest success of Venice in this war (thanks to Serbian “Uskoci”) was the conquest of Gabela, Herceg Novi (1687), Risan and Zavala Monastery. In 1470 the Turks formed a special region out of Herzegovina (so called Sandzak) which was annexed to Bosnian region (Bosanski pasaluk) in 1763. At that time, Herzegovina comprised the following towns as well: Foca, Cajnice, Gorazde (eastern Herzegovina), then Niksic, Piva, Kolasin (which is Montenegro today), the area along the Lim and Tara River (Piva), including Mileseva. There were many uprisings against the Turkish rule in the first half of 18th century. Russian tsar, Peter the Great, sent colonel Mihajlo Miloradovic (a member of an old, noble Serbian family from Herzegovina called Hrabrena – Miloradovic) to Montenegro to a special mission. But let me first write a few words about this family. A famous tombstone necropolis Radimlja near Stolac-belongs to them! They are Orthodox Serbs, not so called nonbelievers. Their endowment is a well-known Zitomislic Monastery, as well. The monastery was overturned and built up again several times. This family migrated because of hardships that followed the Turkish conquest of Herzegovina. Namely, they did not want to convert to Islam and ran away. One way of turning to Islam was so called “blood toll” (danak u krvi), which was very painful for all Christians. Namely, Turkish janissaries would take away conquered Christian boys and youngsters. Blood toll would carry out every several years. The most famous Serbian who was taken away in this way was Mehmed –Pasha Sokolovic or Bajo-Bajica from the village of Rudo (this data was taken from the book “Mehmed –Pasha Sokolovic” by Radovan Samardzic). Mehmed–Pasha Sokolovic succeeded in achieving the highest rank in Turkish hierarchy. Although he was converted to Islam never did he forget his roots. He never hid his Serbian origin. He also helped restoration of Pecka Patrijarsija in 1557. Professor Sefik Pasic researched the origin of Muslim families in Herzegovina. His articles were published in The Oslobodenje newspaper from 24. 12. 1971 to 8. 01. 1972 ; issues. 8465-8478. We will quote professor Sefik Pasic: “While researching families from Herzegovina, specially Muslims, I came across some interesting facts and conclusions in general. What some researchers claimed before, I found to be true. Namely, most of Herzegovina is of SLAVIC origin. I researched over 3000 Muslim families and found that only 5 or 6 has a Turkish origin. Even those families which earlier belonged to other ethnical groups assimilated with the Slavs (it is the case with Wallachian, Albanian, Turkish and other communities) All mentioned is a proof that there is the same origin and that the families which belong to different religions-are related.” Professor Pasic continues:” Once in a café, at the table next to mine, sat two men: Zurovac and Ramovic. They were surprised when I made a remark that the relatives met to have a coffee together. “How come, relatives?”, they asked. But after a while, we came to a conclusion that they were cousins. Ramovic then told me:” Yes, I remember that there was a story in my family that one ancestor converted to Islam, but I did not know his name.” Let us give another example that will prove that all this is true. A famous family from Trebinje, Resulbegovic, that played an important role in the history of Trebinje and Ljubinje originates from Jozo Burovic from Herceg Novi (professor Sefik Pasic’s claim). His son’s name was Miso and he converted to Islam and got the name “Mehmed”, then “Resul” and that is how surname “Resulbegovic” appeared. In the 18th century, Stanislav Burovic when addressing to Ibrahim-Pasha calls him “my cousin”. The famous families from Trebinje: Hadzih(asanovic), Hadzi(ahmetovic) i Hadzi(smajlovic) that lived in Herceg Novi before, originate from Radovic family (merchant family). They got their family names by their first names, and also because their brothers went to pilgrimage. According to the story that was told from generation to generation some Salko married a girl from Dakovic family, Ljiljana. She was a daughter of the priest from Grahovo. Salkovic family got its name after this man. There is another version which claims that They originate from an aristocratic family of Bogcilo Korjenic, after whom the whole area around Lastva got its name. The same origin have Demirovic and Kapetanovic family. In Trebinje suburb, in Gornje Police, there is a fortress that locals call The Brankovica Tower (“Brankovica kula”). According to historic data, in 14th century this tower was a residence of the Duke of Trebinje, Mladen Mladenovic and his son Branko (in 1353 he was in Ohrid as a dignitary of his country. A leader of Sevastokrator area. Mladen Mladenovic was a founder of Brankovic family, and from the year of 1323 he was the master of Trebinje. Afterwards he was replaced by his son Branko after whom the Tower got its name. After the fall of Herzeg Novi and the beginning of Venice rule in 1687, the importance of Trebinje grew. In 1699, after the war ended Trebinje became the most important Turkish fortification. In the middle of the 17th century, Trebinje was the centre of captaincy (the exact date of foundation is not known), but it certainly happened before 1664. At that time there was an Old Town (it disappeared later). The construction of the new fortification “Ban Vir” started in 1706, and finished in 1721. The name “Ban Vir” was officially used for the last time on 23rd of September 1729. However, it was rarely used until 1738. We came across this name one more time between 1751 and 1775. Later it remained only a memory to the town, and later it was the name of a strong whirlpool in the Trebisnjica River. This town developed at that time mostly thanks to Osman-Pasha Resubegovic. The town of Trebinje was army centre of this region. Army garrisons were there until 1835. A town entrance was on the west side, one could enter it by crossing the drawbridge over a ditch. The ditch remained there until 1910 when it was partially covered up. In 1932 it was completely covered up. The four Towers (or so-called “tabije”) were a sort of a guardian of the town entrance. Except the fortification, rampart and ditch, Osman Pasha built the two mosques and an accommodation for himself and his family. Tsar’s mosque was built in 1719 in honour of sultan Ahmet the second. Before this, (in 18th century) no mosque existed in Trebinje! Osman-Pasha’s mosque was built in 1729, restored in 1910. The Clock Tower was built in the first half of 18th century, but there is no clear evidence about the time of its construction. But it is really obvious that it was built by a constructor from coastal area. The clock tower functioned until 1917 when the clock was taken from it. Turkish edifices outside the ramparts were a couple of towers and Osmanovic quarter (“Osmanovica mahala”) The people from Herzegovina, eager for freedom, continued with uprisings against the Turkish rule. Let us mention the Uprising 1852-1862, which was led by Luka Vukalovic. Nevesinje Uprising 1875-1878 was the most important event in the second half of the 19th century. It was even marked as the most important event in Europe, even in the world, not only in former Yugoslav area. It brought about some serious reactions of influential countries regarding the final solution of “eastern issue”. “First spark” of Nevesinje Uprising against Ottoman empire glittered on 27th of June (old calendar) or July the 9th (according to new calendar) in the village of Krekovi, place Mijatovci. This uprising was a signal not only to Serbs from Herzegovina , but to other conquered countries in Balkan peninsula-to start their final fight for freedom. This was also an appeal to the rest of the world to help stopping Turkish rage and violence. Austro-Hungarian state was worried about possible forming a strong Serbian state on Balkan peninsula , so the Berlin congress was convoked on 13th of June 1878. In the congress document, in article 25, it was said that Bosnia and Herzegovina should belong to Austro-Hungarian. History turned a new page. As numerous times before, they played with destiny of the people from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the diplomat table. Without any sympathy. After hard and bloody fights that Serbian people led (together with a part of Croatian people led by Don Ivan Music) the ultimate aim was not achieved-and that was annexation to “mother” Serbia. Serbs did not escape from hard economic and feudal conditions of living. Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to Turkish sources, 1865: Mostar region, Trebinje area (“Mostarski sandžak–Nahija Trebinje”),: "Orthodox–12.150, Muslims–3009, total 15.159. According to Austrian rule, in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1879, there were 1,158.164 people: Orthodox 496.485 (42.86%), Catholics 209.391 (18.12%), Muslims 448.613 (38.73%), Others 3. 675 (0.29%); Second census took place 6 years after, in 1885; but this time data were more confident and detailed. According to it, in 1885 there were 1, 336.091 people: Orthodox 571. 250 (42.76%), Catholics 265.788 (19.89%),Muslims 492.710 (36.88%), Others 6.343 (0.47%); Population according to last census in 1910. Mostar region, Trebinje area: Orthodox 16.294, Catholics 1.150, Muslims 5.339, Others 54, Total 22. 830; or more precisely 71.37%-Orthodox Serbs (data from the book “Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina)” by Djorde Pejanovic. Dodajte ovu vijest vašim društvenim grupama

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