Ilija Barjaktarović
Serbian voivode
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Ilija Barjaktarović (Serbian: Илија Барјактаровић; 1771–spring 1828) was a Serbian vojvoda (commander) in the First Serbian Uprising (1804–13), notably serving as commander at Deligrad (1809–13).
c. 1771
Ilija Barjaktarović | |
|---|---|
Илија Барјактаровић | |
The triangular redoubt of Barjaktarević which was successfully defended by the Serbian rebel army during the Battle of Deligrad (1806) | |
| Born | Ilija Barjaktarović c. 1771 Izvor, Paraćin nahiya, Sanjak of Niš |
| Died | spring 1828 Svilajnac, Ćuprija nahija, Principality of Serbia |
| Other names | Barjaktarević, Deda Ilija |
| Children | Sava and Radovan |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Revolutionary Serbia |
Service years | 1804–13 |
Rank | vojvoda |
| Unit | Paraćin nahija Deligrad |
| Commands | Deligrad (1809–13) |
Barjaktarović was born in c. 1771 in the village of Izvor in the Paraćin nahiya.[1] He was a respected and successful merchant and associate of leader Karađorđe before joining the uprising.[1] Karađorđe informed Mitesser about the defeat of Turks at Batočina and Jagodina in a letter dated 16 April 1804.[2] Karađorđe then defeated Kučuk-Alija at Paraćin, resulting in the expansion of uprising in that area, under Barjaktarević.[2]
Older historiography claimed that Barjaktarović first joined in 1805; following the Serbian victory at Ivankovac (18 August 1805) under the command of bimbaša Milenko Stojković, the Ottoman troops retreated to Paraćin.[3] Karađorđe, Stojković and other leaders went to Izvor and asked Barjaktarović to join the uprising and he gathered 200 men the next day.[4] He was shortly afterwards appointed the vojvoda of Paraćin.[4]
Among Barjaktarović's leading men were knez Veljko from Paraćin and buljubaša Šunda.[4] In the period of 1809–13 he was most often garrisoned at Deligrad.[4] As the commander of Deligrad and holder of the Constantinople Road and the area towards Niš, Barjaktarović was the intermediate of diplomatic missions.[4]
Following the retreat from Deligrad in 1813, Barjaktarović was in exile in the Habsburg Monarchy and then returned to Serbia in 1815.[4] New Serbian leader Miloš Obrenović appointed him a member of the magistrate of the Ćuprija nahija in Svilajnac.[4] He was among the signatories of the "people's act" to knez Miloš dated 17 January 1827.[4]
Barjaktarović died in springtime 1828 and was buried at the Svilajnac church.[5]
Barjaktarović had military prowess as well as judicial, administrative and diplomatic capabilities.[4] He was described as small, chubby, hairy, brown-haired and dark-eyed.[5] He survived his two sons, Sava to smallpox and Radovan was poisoned, due to which he grieved and wore a long beard. He was called Deda Ilija (grandpa) due to his calm nature.[5]