Veljko Petrović
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Hajduk Veljko Petrović (Serbian Cyrillic Вељко Петровић) (ca.1780-1813) was the Duke (Војвода/Vojvoda in Serbian) of the First Serbian Uprising rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Lenovac near Zajecar.
In his youth Veljko Petrovic was a shepherd and a servant. As a young man of 22, he defended his sister from an attack by two Turks, killed them both, and joined the hajduks. At first he travelled to Vidin and joined the band of the famed ex-janissary outcast Pazvan-Oglu. His hasty temper got the best of him there, and he killed two band members before finding himself on the run once again.
In 1803, he joined Stanoje Glavaš's army unit, so he could step up to headman of "Smederevo Nahia",to duke Djuša (Ђуша). When Duke Djuša (Dušan Vulićević) ask of Stanoje a brave and trusting man Stanoje had no better man than Veljko. From 1804 he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness influenced on him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards neither to Karadjordje (Карађорђe). With Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he fought bravely. In the year 1807 he becomes buljubaša (буљубаша) and is granted permission from the Council (Soviet) to spread rebellion in Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809 he bravely defend Soko Banja from the Turks. His personal bravery was extraordinary, and because of his bravery he was known allaround. Hasty and always a hajduk, Veljko had little discipline, and the Council had much trouble with him. In the year 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in the battle of Varvarin, where he was wounded in his left arm, and because of it he was slightly crippled. Year 1811 he become Voivoda of Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Krajina. Year 1813. few Turkish horseman attack him at village of Bukovče where Veljko smash them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.
Big battles take place around Negotin in summer of 1813. Veljko penetrate to Vidin, then around Bukovče he encounter smaller Turkish squads. But Turks begin to siege Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Wlacchia). In total amount 16 000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, who was defended by 3000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, build a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which was Veljko, was named Baba Finka (granny Finka). In the moats together with Veljko was his brothers Milutin and Miljko as there was brave buljubaše and bimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abraš, Delibalta and others. The expected aid that Veljko asked didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered to assemble all tin metal objects trough Negotin and to be made ammunition out of it, and he ordered to put metal coins in cannons. Day and night he patrol the moat. One morning after twenty days of defence when he ordered repair around mote he was struck by cannon ball. He could barely say just "Get!", and he died. His brother Milutin in nightfall bury him at Negotin church. After Veljko's death Turks have conquered the Negotin and soon all Krajina. Still is remembered his famous words : Glavu dajem, Krajnu ne dajem. (Head i give, but not Krajna)
Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend suggested to him that he sends his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great haiduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.
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