Battle of Grahovo

The battle that ensued took place when a band of around 300 young men led by Joko Petrović-Njegoš, arrived at Grahovo and decided to attack the Ottoman army without waiting for reinforcements. The Ottomans retreated at first, and then ambushed the Montenegrins near the Čelina stream (Čelinski potok), resulting with Ottoman victory and 70 Montenegrin casualties, including nine members of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, including the Prince-Bishop's teenage brother.^[5]

In 1838, a treaty was signed which declared Grahovo to be a neutral zone under a hereditary Voivode (Duke) which his dignity was confirmed by the Montenegrin Prince and Ottoman Governors.^[6][7]

Four years after the Montenegrin defeat at Grahovo, seeking revenge for the death of his brother, Njegoš plotted the assassination of Smail-aga with the assistance of the local Christians from Herzegovina who lived on the territory under Smail-aga's control. Njegoš ordered a Montenegrin tribal leader, Novica Cerović, to ambush Smail-aga Čengić, the Ottoman commander who was responsible for killing Njegoš's brother Joko.^[8]

In late September 1840, Montenegrins attracted Čengić and his army deep into their territory, organized an ambush and murdered them by attacking their camp during the night. The assault occurred in the village of Mljetičak, north of Nikšić. In the ensuing clash, Smail-aga was shot and killed, after which his severed head was brought to Cetinje. As a sign of his gratitude, Njegoš made Cerović a senator.^[9]

Zlatar, Zdenko (2007). The Poetics of Slavdom (Volume II ed.). Peter Lang. ISBN 9780820481357.

Miller, William (1966), The Ottoman Empire and Its Successors, 1801-1927, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 0714619744

Roberts, Elizabeth (2007). Realm of the Black Mountain. Hurst. ISBN 978-1850658689.

H.M. Stationery Office (1920). Handbooks Prepared Under the Direction of the Historical Section of the Foreign Office: The Balkan states (2nd ed.). London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)