Vasojevići
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The Vasojevići tribe (Serbian: Vasojevići/Васојевићи) is the largest Highland clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka on the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje on the North, Mateševo on the West to Plav on the East. Vasojevici are one of seven Serbian Highland Clans (Vasojevići, Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). Vasojevići is also the name of the region inhabited by the Vasojevići.
Although the present day unofficial centre of the tribe is Andrijevica (a town in north-eastern Montenegro), the tribe actually stems from Lijeva Rijeka (Left River) in central Montenegro. The founder of the tribe, Vaso, moved there after the Battle of Kosovo. The tribe soon multiplied and started moving under Komovi mountains and then down the river Lim. This emigration continued into Serbia and all parts of Montenegro.
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[edit] History
It has to be noted that the Vasojevići are mentioned for the first time in a Dubrovnik (Ragusa) archive in 1444[1][2]. Apparently, Vasojevići history before XVIth century survived to this day (with several variations) only as word of mouth passed through dozens of generations.
According to legend Vasojevići trace back to Stefan Nemanja (XII c.), Grand Prince of Rascia, founder of the Nemanjić dynasty and, following his death, an Orthodox Christian Saint (Symeon)[3]. However the history of the clan begins with the Vasoje – a nobleman and a member of the Nemanjić dynasty (XIV). Vaso (either Vasoje's 4th great grand father[4] or 3rd great grand father[3]) was the founder of the Vasojevići tribe. Stevo Vasojević, praised in poems and songs as the vojvode who fought and died heroically during the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 [5][6] is believed to be either the grandfather or great-grandfather of Vaso[1][4].
After the fall of Smederevo fortress (1459) and the subsequent fall of the whole Serbian Empire, Serbs from Kosovo, Metohija and Šumadija fled from the incoming Turks to Bosna and, after its fall (1463), into Herzegovina. Vaso fled along with these waves of refuges. In 1465 he moved from Hercegovina to Lijeva Rijeka in Zeta (modern day Montenegro). His descendants gradually expanded to the north-east and inhabited the region by the river Lim called Polimlje – the area around the Komovi mountains, Andrijevica and Berane [1][2][4]
Thus, they formed the largest tribe (pleme) of all seven Serbian Clans in Montenegro (i.e. Vasojevići, Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). In modern Montenegro the area of Vasojevići falls into following municipalities: Berane, Podgorica, Kolašin, Plav and Bijelo Polje (around 15% of Montenegro)[7]. One of the highest mountains of the modern day Montenegro is named after the tribe: Kom Vasojevićki (2461 meteres) and the whole area inhabited by the clan is frequently called "Vasojevići" [1][2].
Part of the tribe that stayed free from the "Turkish occupation" (needs verification) lives in the area of Lijeva Rijeka and Andrijevica (Upper Nahija) – they are all called Upper Vasojevići. Lower Vasojevici (or Lower Nahija) inhabited the area of Berane. Most of the Lower Vasojevići were within the "Turkish reign" (needs verification) until Balkan Wars in XX c. [2]
Clan members were perceived as noblemen and rarely mingled with common folk – people who did not have a common ancestor. Vasojevići called them Ašani (earlier also Asa and Hasa)[8] and today this term has come to denote Vasojevići of other origin. [1][2][4]
As with all Serb clans, the Vasojevići were fond of Serb folklore and Serb epic poetry. In the 18th century, an elder of the Vasojevići, Stanj, foretold Greek priests the advent of a Serbian messiah, a dark man (crni čovijek) who would liberate the Serbs from the Turks[9]. Indeed, soon after, Đorđije Petrović (Vasojević himself) incited a First Serb Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. He was known as Karađorđe kara meaning "black" in Turkish ("Black George"). He was the founder of the Serbian royal House of Karađorđević.
During the Second World War, the Vasojevići were divided between the two armies of Četnici (royalists) and Partisans (communists) that were fighting each other [10] (vojvoda Pavle Đurišić formed the most successful Chetnik units of Serb clans, including mainly Vasojevići). Thus, as a result, Vasojevići were cold-bloodedly killing each other[10].
Though sense of clan affiliation diminished in recent years, is not a thing of a past. Clan's association and organizations still exist (e.g. Udruženje Vasojevića "Vaso"). It could be clearly seen during the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006 with the Vasojevici united opposition (see below).
[edit] Notable descendants of the Vasojevići tribe
By the beginning of the World War II there were more than 3600 Vasojevići “houses” in Polimlje and Lijeva Rijeka[1]. Many notable Serbs (or people with Serbian roots, vide Milla Jovovich) are Vasojevići by origin, e.g.:
- Milla Jovovich - a American supermodel, actress, musician, singer, and a fashion designer[11].
- Slobodan Milošević - former President of Serbia and of Yugoslavia[11].
- Jelena Janković - a Serbian professional female tennis player - currently the world number 5 player in a WTA list[11].
- Karađorđe Petrović - leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, and the founder of the Serbian ruling dynasty - House of Karađorđević[11].
- Petar Bojović - one of four famous Serbian vojvode (field-marshal) in Balkan Wars and World War I[11].
- Žarko Obradović - Serbian politician and a current Minister of Eucation in the Government of Serbia.
- Svetozar Marković - an influential Serbian political activist of the XIX century [11].
- Gavro Vuković - voivode, writer, deputy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, son of famous Montenegrin senator, hero and tribe chief: Miljan Vukov[11].
- Momčilo Cemović - Presidents of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (Prime Minister) from 1978 till 1982[11].
- Dragoslav Šekularac - a SFR Yugoslavia former football superstar player and coach[11].
- Radovan Zogović - one of the greatest Montenegrin poets of 20th century[11].
- Mihailo Lalić - a famous novelist of Serbian and Montenegrin literature. He is considered by some to be among the greatest Montenegrin authors[11].
- Stefan Babović - Serbian football player currently playing for FC Nantes and the Serbia national football team.
- Jovan Žujović - an anthropologist, known as a founder of geology in Serbia[12].
- Milutin Šoškić - a legendary Serbian goalkeeper who played for SFR Yugoslavia[11].
- Milić Vukašinović - drummer, rock singer and guitarist, most notable for his stint with Bijelo dugme.
- Lazar Mutap - voivode of the First Serbian Uprising and one of the initiators of the Second Serbian Uprising [11][12].
- Miljan Vukov Vešović - famous Montenegrin senator, voivode, hero and a tribe chief [11][12].
- Iguman Mojsije Zečević - the chief of the Vasojevići in XIX century. Along with Petar I Petrović Njegoš and Petar II Petrović Njegoš Zečević was one of the most important figures of that time in Montenegro. [11][12]
- Ljubomir Bakić - deputy, President of the High Court in Cetinje, Montenegrin Minister of Justice from 1913 till 1915 [13].
- Dojčilo Maslovarić - Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Holy See (Vatican) from 1996 till 2000, Minister of Foreign Affairs of F.R.Y. from 1994 till 1996.
[edit] Ethnicity of the Vasojevići and the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
In May 2006, Montenegro gained independence after a referendum on the future of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, with a 0.4% over the limit. However, 71.89% of voters in Andrijevica municipality, the unofficial centre of the Vasojevići region, voted against Montenegrin independence. It was the second highest result against breaking the state union with Serbia (after Pluzine municipality)[14].
The People's Assembly of Vasojevići stated many times that, apart from being Montenegrin, all Vasojevići are Serb [15][16][17] and, thus, strongly oppose and have always opposed Montenegrin secession from Yugoslavia [18][19]. The Montenegrin census of 2003 revealed that 89,81% of the Vasojevići declared themselves as Serb while 9,43% declared themselves as Montenegrin. As Montenegro gained independence Vasojevići continue to demand autonomy [20][21][22].
In the aftermath of the referendum some villages have been abandoned as Vasojevići have sold their houses and moved to Serbia [23][24]. Similar phenomena have been observed in Montenegro however not with the same degree of organisation and ferocity as in the Vasojevići region.
[edit] Structure of the Vasojevići Tribe
It is a tradition of all Montenegrin Clans to show respect to ancestors by knowing precisely genealogy and the history of the tribe and a family. This also allows members of the clan to be unite, to act together and always to recognise kin.[4]
In a book "Pleme Vasojevići" written in 1935, R. Vešović describes the structure of the Vasojevići[1]. The list of families was exhausting when the book was completed but since then new families may have developed. Sometimes, with the very distant genealogy, slight variations of names, chronology and relationships exist concurrently but there is no doubt among the Vasojevići members which family belongs to which brotherhood, branch and sub-branch [4]. Never has any family questioned the structure depicted below[1].
All people of the Vasojevići are descendants of three Vaso sons: Raja, Novak and Mioman. Hence the three great brotherhoods (bratstva) of the Vasojevići[1]:
- Rajevići
- Novakovići
- Miomanovići
[edit] Rajevići
Rajevići are the biggest brotherhood of Vasojevići. They divide into three branches (again after Raja’s sons or grandsons: Đuro, Dabet and Uglješa Demir-Kovač).
[edit] Lopaćani
Families that descend from Lopaćani are:
- Raketići
- Marsenići
- Popovići
- Radulovići
- Vešovići
- Vulevići
- Bojovići
- Đukići
- Miloševići and Velidžinkići
- Čukići
- Golubovići and Lalevići
- Dragićiević
- Ivanovići
- Mikovići
- Novovići
- Pavićievići
- Raičevići
- Vasović
- Neradovići
- Aleksići
- Spasojevići
- Vukaśinovići
- Stojanovići and Stojkovići
- Vukićevići and Boričići
- Labani and Mijovići
- Ivanovići
- Jelići
- Kiković
- Mirkovići
- Perovići
- Radovojevići
- Radunovići
- Ugrenovići
- Vukanići
- Karadžići and Sakovići
- Folići
- Zulevići
[edit] Dabetići
Families that are descendants of Dabetići are:
- Deletići
- Đekići
- Lekići
- Mirčići
- Novovići
- Rajovići
- Vukovići
- Labovići
- Ćirovići
- Grozdanići
- Rosnići
- Lazarevići
- Kuburovići
- Laskovići
- Osmanlijići
- Stanisavići – Ilići
- Radunovići – Drndari
- Vulinići (or Vuline)
- Dragojevići
- Ivanovići
- Zonjići
- Arsenijevići
- Protići
- Vuksanovići
- Lakićevići
- Stanići
- Lalići
- Lašići
- Žirići
- Kojići
- Mitrovići
- Palevići and Garčevići
[edit] Kovačevići
Families of Kovačevići branch are:
- Kastratovići
- Mićovići
- Vojvodići
- Đurišići with Martinovići and Jojići
- Bradići
- Đurkovići
- Marijanovići
- Medonići
- Otaševići
- Plavšići
- Rakići
- Ružići
- Simovići (Carevići)
- Stanići
- Obradovići
- Jukići
- Miketići
- Savići
- Vučevići
- Vuksanovići
- Zekići
- Katanići (Raičevići)
- Aletići
- Bacanovići
- Novičići
- Šarovići
- Vulići
- Dedovići
- Đinovići
- Milovići
- Tajići
[edit] Novakovići
Novakovići brotherhood are second biggest of Vasojevići. Novak had three sons from whom all the Novakovići families begin: Nikač, Vuksan or Vuica and Rečko. All the families of Novakovići brotherhood are as follows:
- Dragovići
- Lekići
- Adžići
- Babovići
- Lakovići
- Vukovići
- Ćulafići
- Mimovići
- Milikići
- Tomovići
- Radevići and Đekići
- Mujovići
- Kićovići
- Lakušići
- Račići
- Jelići
- Vukići
- Asanovići
- Boričići
- Ljubići
- Mišovići
- Nikolići
- Pantovići
- Radunovići
- Ivanovići
- Milevići
- Radonjići
- Dujovići and Marnići
- Bakići
- Prelići
- Orovići
- Kočanovići
- Pajovići
- Salevići
- Bandovići
- Djekovići
- Radojevići
- Radosavljevići
- Vukadinovići
- Matovići
- Žujovići
[edit] Miomanovići
Miomanovići are the smallest brotherhood of Vasojevići and their families are:
- Delevići
- Cemovići
- Joksimovići
- Mićovići and Boičići
- Ćeranići
- Markovići
- Štipalji
- Zečevići
- Saičići
- Maslovarići along with Dubac
- Gubernići
- Fatići
- Novovići
- Miškovići
- Vukovići
- Leposavići
- Đerkovići
- Turovići
- Jovovići
- Vučeljići
- Vujovići
- Savovići
- Vukičevići
- Stijovići
- Ćorac-Šunjevići
- Bajići and Šarbajići
- Mališići and Nedići
- Kruščići
- Vučetići
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i R-J. V. Vesović, 1935, "Pljeme Vasojevići", Državna Štampa u Sarajevu, Sarajevo
- ^ a b c d e M. P. Cemović, 1993, "Vasojevići" (IInd edn), Izdavacki cavjet Zavicajnog udruzenja Vasojevicia, Beograd
- ^ a b Bogdan Lalević-Ivan Protić, Vasojevići u crnogorskoj granici, Srpski etn. zbornik 5, Beograd 1903
- ^ a b c d e f Ko su i od koga su Dragovići i Lekići iz Djulićia I. R. Dragović, Beograd, 1997
- ^ Kosovski ciklus epskih pjesama
- ^ "Pogibija Pavla Orlovića i Steva Vasojevića na Kosovu"
- ^ Pribijanje uz rođake
- ^ Predanja o zajedničnom poreklu nekih crnogorskih i nekih arbanaških plemena[1]
- ^ From Rum
- ^ a b http://books.google.com/books?id=ipQ8AAAAIAAJ&q=vasojevic&dq=vasojevic&hl=sv&pgis=1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o http://www.dan.cg.yu/?nivo=3&rubrika=Ljudi%20i%20dogadjaji&datum=2008-09-13&clanak=158634
- ^ a b c d http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/plemena/crnogorsko_pleme_vasojevici_korijeni_i_prapreci.htm
- ^ http://www.pobjeda.co.me/citanje.php?datum=2006-07-16&id=95335
- ^ Electoral Commission website
- ^ "Vasojevicki Zakon u Dvanaest Tocaka, part 1". http://www.srpsko-nasledje.co.rs/sr-l/1999/01/article-16.html.
- ^ "Vasojevicki Zakon u Dvanaest Tocaka, part 2". http://www.srpsko-nasledje.co.rs/sr-l/1999/02/article-18.html.
- ^ Milija Komatina, Crna Gora I Srpsko Pitanje: Prilog Izucavanju Integrativnih i Dezintegrativnih Tokova (Montenegro and the Serbian Question: A Contribution to the Study of Integrative and Disintegrative Currents) (Belgrade: Inter Ju Press, 1966), page 171
- ^ Udruzenie Vasojevicia Vaso
- ^ Vasojevici za Srpstvo i Jugoslaviju
- ^ Balkanization? You Just Wait... | Newsweek International | Newsweek.com
- ^ Vasojevići traže autonomiju
- ^ KURIR
- ^ Zbogom Montenegro, odosmo u Šumadiju
- ^ Celo selo na prodaju
[edit] Bibliography
- M. P. Cemović, 1993, "Vasojevići" (IInd edn), Izdavački savjet Zavićajnog udruženja Vasojevića, Beograd
- R-J. V. Vesović, 1935, "Pljeme Vasojevići", Državna Štampa u Sarajevu, Sarajevo
- I. R. Dragović, 1997, "Ko su i od koga su Dragovići i Lekići iz Đulića", Beograd
- B. Lalević, I. Protić, 1903, "Vasojevići u crnogorskoj granici", Srpski etn. zbornik 5, Beograd
