Novica Cerović
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Novica Cerović (Serbian Cyrillic: Новица Цepoвић; 1805–1895) was a Montenegrin vojvoda (duke) of the Drobnjak clan,[1] who is noted as having defeated and killed a local Ottoman tyrant, Smail-aga Čengić, on the auspices of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, the Prince-Bishop of Montenegro. He later became a senator in the Montenegrin government.[2]
Novica Cerović | |
|---|---|
Novica Cerović by Ferdo Quiquerez, 1889 | |
| Born | 27 October 1805 |
| Died | 1895 (aged 89–90) Tušina, Principality of Montenegro |
Life
Cerović was born in Tušina, a village near Šavnik in the Drobnjaci clan, then part of the Ottoman Empire (today in Montenegro). His most notable act was leading a successful assault to kill local Ottoman tyrant Smail-aga Čengić under the auspices of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš[3] thereby freeing parts of Herzegovina from the Ottoman Empire and joining them to the Principality of Montenegro.
Legacy
His heroism and the death of Smail-aga Čengić were the theme of Ivan Mažuranić's poem Smrt Smail-age Čengića, an epic poem celebrating the struggle for freedom.
There is a tower in Tušina named after him (the Tower of Duke Novica Cerović).
