Receb Ağa

Regep-aga, was a Pasha of III. degree and an Ottoman general, of Romanian origin (born around 1770 – died on October 1, 1814).

Early life

Historical records indicate that Regep-aga was born in the Rudaria area of Romania, at a place called Almaj. There are no records of the exact date of his birth, but the estimated time is around the year 1770. Based on the publications of priest Coriolan Buracu, the Ottomans made incursions to Rudaria during the Austro-Ottoman war of 1737 - 1739, taking families and children back to their lands. The restoration of peace in Shistov in 1791 practically put an end to the last incursions of the Ottoman in Almaj. Technically, it is quite possible that Regep-aga, could have been taken by the Ottomans in the period from 1737 to 1791. Records also show that, at the time of his taking, he could have been around the age of 12 to 14 years. Since historical records indicate that Regep-aga started his military career around the year 1800, and that his execution occurred in 1814, the year of his birth is estimated to be 1770.

Different records indicate that Regep-aga was Chiosa (Mustafa)-aga's son and Ibrahim-aga's nephew. Ibrahim-aga was Chiosa-aga's brother. Both Ibrahim-aga and Chiosa-aga, as Ottoman vassals, ruled the city of Orsova and the surrounding area until 1788, when the area was taken by Austrians. Following that event, the whole family, including Regep-aga's father and three younger brothers (Adem, Bechir, and Salih), moved to Ada Kaleh (then also known as Orsova Nouva). Ada Kaleh became strategically important at that time and was called Gibraltar of the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, from that time till 1816, Ada Kaleh was ruled by Regep-aga and his family. Regep-aga was recognized by the authorities for his talents and abilities, and he developed good relations with Ismail-aga (Bosneag, also cited in literature as Smail-pasa), an Ottoman officer close to Tahir-pasha, who was also a pasha at Ada Kaleh for a short period. Aga Ismail took Regep-aga under his wing and put him through high schools, eventually giving him his daughter Durduca, as a wife, with whom Regep-aga had a son by the name of Rifat.

Military career

It is thought that Regep-aga began his military career sometime after the start of the year 1800 when Ada Kaleh was under his uncle Ibrahim-aga's rule. In 1804, the First Serbian Uprising erupted in Belgrade. At that time, Regep-aga received the news that the escaped dahiyas had fled by boat on the Danube heading downstream and docked at Ada Kaleh. Based on the letter of Mihail Peic, archbishop of Zemun, addressed to Metropolitan of Karlovci, bishop Stefan Stratimirovic and dated August 1, 1804, the events unfolded as follows. When Regep-aga heard about the arrival of dahiyas, he sent a message to Karadjordje and both agreed that Regep-aga should approach the vizier Bechir-pasha to address the issue. In order to subdue the uprising, the vizier issued an order (katil-firman) to Ibrahim-aga, ordering him to cut off the heads of the dahiyas. Regep-aga also wrote a separate letter to his uncle, explaining the situation and asking him to proceed as instructed and execute the order. Milenko Stojkovic, the commander of the Pozarevac detachment, took the messages and went to the island. He arrived in Orsova on July 25, at 6 o'clock, and handed over the letters to Ibrahim-aga. Ibrahim-aga immediately gave the order and appointed 50 soldiers, who along with Milenko and the 27 of his lads, executes the dahiyas

Regep-aga climbed very fast the ladder of the military hierarchy and became a general, pasha of third degree and commander of the fortress Ada Kaleh in 1806. Various documents record Regep‑aga's connections with important people of the time, such as Tudor Vladimirescu or Karadjordje, leader of the anti-Ottoman uprising of the Serbs between 1804 and 1813. His record at that time was very controversial as alliances changed quickly, favors and good deeds as well as atrocities were committed

During the war waged by Serbs and Romanians from Timoc Valley and other parts of Serbia against Ottomans in 1813, Regep‑aga participated in the battles for conquest of the cities of Kladovo and Negotin, as deputy to the grand vizier. Fierce battles were fought at Negotin. The commander of the fortress was the famous outlaw Velcu, who had an aide, another outlaw of Vlach origin from Valea Timocului, Nicolae Abras. Abras would in a few years become the best friend and comrade of Iancu Jianu. Nevertheless, both cities fell into Ottoman hands again. A brutal massacre of civilians followed, including refugees from six neighboring villages who were under protection the Voivoda of Kladovo

Having conquered Kladovo and Negotin, Regep-aga expanded the territory under his rule to include the parts of south Banat in today's Romania. As Vuk Karadzic wrote in the work Geographical-statistical description of Serbia, Kladovo and Negotin were independent but since 1813, they have been subordinated to Ada Kaleh, who was then independent as a little pashalik. Some sources at that time even give him title of “prince” or even “king” of Ada Kaleh

After the defeat of the rebels, Regep-aga helped the rebel leader Karadjordje flee Serbia, eventually to Russia. Likewise, after the fall of the Negotin fortress, the outlaw of Romanian origin, Nicolae Abras, runs across the Danube, in the Almaj Mountains, to hide, probably on the territory of where, at that time, were groups of outlaws, as reports the chronicler N. Stoica de Hateg. Here, he is caught by the Austrian authorities and handed over to the Ottomans, as S. I. Garleanu relates in his book Outlawry and Outlaws, Encyclopedic Publishing House, Bucharest, 1969, p. 86: “Haiduc Velcu perishes cut off by the cannonball on July 20, 1813. The evacuation that followed because of the fierce attacks of Ottoman forces was successfully organized by Nicolae Abras, him being the last to leave the city. He had to escape to Banat. Not long after, the Austrian authorities extradite him to the Ottomans, and he sees himself in the hands of his ancestors’ enemy: Regep-aga of Ada Kaleh. Regep-aga condemns him to death by hanging, but eventually releases him into Romania”

His military successes did not pass unnoticed by the other local pashas, invoking intrigue and conspiracies. Regep-aga (now also a pasha and an Ottoman general) was not without ambitions himself. Some records indicated that he wanted the post of vizier of Belgrade pashalik. In the process, he gained enemies, especially among other Ottoman generals, who longed to take his place in the leadership of Ada Kaleh. Thus, by plotting in Belgrade and Rusciuc, Regep–aga was arrested on treason charges of aiding Karadjordje in organizing the First Serbian Uprising. It was also imputed by the pasha from Rusciuc that he was a Christian and a traitor. Obviously, the ambitions of the ruler of Ada Kaleh, as can be seen, have exceeded his abilities. So, failing to become a vizier in the pashalik of Belgrade, he was executed by the Ottoman authorities at Rusciuc, on October 1, 1814. Following his death, his brothers took over at Ada Kaleh, resisting Ottomans and siding with Milosh Obrenovic in the Second Serbian Uprising. Their final defeat came in 1816 when they were expelled from Ada Kaleh

Personal life

Regep-aga lived in a large house on Ada Kaleh.,. When the problem of Ada Kaleh's submersion was raised, as a result of building the accumulation lake from the Iron Gates, a group of professors and students from the Institute of Architecture in Bucharest went to the island of Ada Kaleh in the years 1962 – 1965 to evaluate the architectural monuments in order to prepare the demolition of buildings and for the reconstruction at the planned relocation site

One of the monuments that were planned to be moved to the island of Simian was the house of Regep-aga, built outside the fort, to the east, near the Turkish cemetery, on the north bank of the Danube. It was a brick and wood building, with two floors (levels, n.n.), with a large kitchen, many bathrooms, airy verandas, and a Turkish bath. It was the largest house on the island.  However, in 1971 the island disappeared under the waters of the reservoir, with the closure of the dam. However, before the destruction, a team of scientists led by the C.S. Nicolaescu Plopsor undertook an action of scientific research and rescue of all vestiges. From the island of Ada Kaleh, the relocation of the fortifications, the mosque, the old cemetery, the house of Regep Aga, and the tomb of Miskin Baba was expected. Unfortunately, only some of the architectural monuments from Ada Kaleh have been relocated to the island of Simian under the leadership of acad. S.C. Nicolaescu Plopsor. Because of his death, Regep-aga's house was not moved, being swallowed by the waters of the reservoir. Due to its specific imperial-style architecture, the house became a tourist attraction and known as Regep-aga Pasalic house, as his title became the family name of his descendants; some of which lived in the house till the end. Now, all that remains of it are a few drawings, photos and illustrations like the painting by Austrian painter Kanitz, held in the National Museum of Serbia, in Belgrade.

Regep-aga house on Ada Kaleh

There was a church in a village of Tufari, near Orsova, where, at the foundation, he was painted together with one of his brothers, with turban or fez on the head. This was the only church in Romania where Ottomans were painted. The church and the village disappeared unfortunately in the waters of the accumulation lake from the Iron Gates. From the writings of Ilie Salceanu, it turns out that Regep-aga supported many Romanians and Serbs in the area through loans or hosting them when they were in danger. One night he came to the commune and called all the elders of the village. And under the oath told them that he was originally Romanian and Christian from Tufari and as an endowment, he gave them money in gold and all the necessary material for the construction of the holy church, which they built after his death in 1815. Until the renovation of this church (in 1911), an Ottoman with a fez on his head was depicted in the church vestibule. The inhabitants, who forgot the tradition, decided that the "Turk with fez" – was pagan, and should be removed from the holy church.

In an Ottoman magazine from the interwar period, it is stated that: “he was very much respected by Francis I, Emperor of Austria, who in 1810 sent to him “a leading general with a special delegation". We also find out from “Reproductions according to the old notes from the various church books and protocols of the church of Mehadia”, of the priest Coriolan Buracu, further evidence of Regep-Aga's diplomatic skills when dealing with his Austrian counterparts. On this occasion all conversation was in Romanian, as only Romanians represented both the Ottoman and Austrian side