| Veljko Petrović Вељко Петровић |
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|---|---|
| Nickname | Hajduk Veljko |
| Born | 1780 Lenovac, Zaječar, Ottoman Empire (modern Serbia) |
| Died | 1813 Negotin, Ottoman Empire (modern Serbia) |
| Allegiance | Revolutionary Serbia |
| Years of service | 1803-1813 |
| Rank | Buljubaša, Vojvoda |
| Unit | Stanoje Glavaš |
Veljko Petrović (Serbian: Вељко Петровић; Serbian pronunciation: [xǎjduːk v̞ɛ̌ːʎkɔ pɛ̌trɔv̞itɕ] ; ca. 1780–1813), known simply as Hajduk Veljko (Хајдук Вељко), was a one of the voivodes (military commanders) of the Serbian Revolutionary forces in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire.
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He was born in Lenovac near Zaječar.[1]
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 and local overlord Osman Pazvantoglu. 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 knez of "Smederevo Nahija", to duke Djuša (Ђуша). When Duke Djuša (Dušan Vulićević) asked of Stanoje to supply him a brave and trusting man, Stanoje picked Veljko. From 1804, he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness often caused him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards to Karadjordje (Карађорђe). With Dusan Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became a buljubaša / буљубаша and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defended Soko Banja from the Turks. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia and the Balkans. In 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 the Timocka Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Timocka Krajina In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.
Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813. The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Walachia). In total, 16,000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, which was defended by 3,000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, built a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka. In the moats, together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko. Also, there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abrašelibalta among many others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of heroic defense, he ordered repair around his moat was struck by a cannon ball. He died almost immediately. The Battle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian rebels. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words: "Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem". (I'll give my head, but not Krajina)
Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend suggested to him that he send 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 hajduk 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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