Nikšić (tribe)

The Nikšić tribe (Serbian: pleme Nikšići/племе Никшићи) was one of the historical tribes in the Ottoman Sanjak of Herzegovina, constituting the Nikšić nahija. It was part of Old Herzegovina, that in 1858 was de facto incorporated into the Principality of Montenegro.

History

According to oral tradition collected by Serbian historian Petar Šobajić, the tribe had originated from Nikša, who was the son of ban Ilijon of Grbalj and maternally a Nemanjić.[1][2] Nikša had moved from lands around Morača monastery to what is now Župa Nikšićka directly after the death of Serbian prince Stefan Vukanović Nemanjić (13th century), his relative.[1][2] It is considered that the tribe wasn't founded by only one individual, yet several related families, who were led by certain Nikša, a prominent figure.[3] The tribe who gave its name to the old župa (county) of Onogošt,[2] found there native tribe; in the West Riđani (the strongest tribe), Lužani lived in Župa, while Drobnjaci in the North to the mountains Vojnik and Durmitor.[1] Until 14th century were a very strong tribe, repressing Lužani and Drobnjaci, and tradition talks about many conflicts between them and Riđani.[3] In the 16th century there lived only Nikšići and Riđani.[3]

First mentioned of the tribe (vlachs nikšiki) is in 1399 Dubrovnik letter to Jelena Balšić. In the same year are mentioned in Kotor documents (Nichsich de Zenta). In 1447 is recorded that captured Dubrovnik messenger and sold him to the Turks. In 1455 are listed among tribes and villages in Zeta who signed an agreement with Venetians in Vranjina.[3] They simultaneously used the name Onogošti until 17th century and further.[4]

The tribe was led by the vojvoda, which had been established after conflicts within the tribe as a compromise.[5] Nikšić was conquered by the Ottomans and was organized into the Ottoman Sanjak of Herzegovina in the late 15th century.

The burning of Saint Sava's remains after the Banat Uprising provoked the Serbs in other regions to revolt against the Ottomans.[6] Grdan, the vojvoda of Nikšić, organized revolt with Serbian Patriarch Jovan Kantul. In 1596, an uprising broke out in Bjelopavlići, then spread to Drobnjaci, Nikšić, Piva and Gacko (see Serb Uprising of 1596–97). It was suppressed due to lack of foreign support.[7]

After the Congress of Berlin (1878), Piva, Banjani, Nikšići, Šaranci, Drobnjaci and a large number of the Rudinjani formed the Old Herzegovina region of the Principality of Montenegro.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kovijanić 1974, p. 141.
  2. 1 2 3 Zapisi. 3. Cetinjsko istorijsko društvo. 1929. p. 97. Јовановићи су огранак племена Никшића. Њихов родоначелник Никша био је син грбаљскога бана Илијона, а сестрић Немањића. Никша је дошао у Жупу одмах иза смрти цара Душана. Од њега се у Жупи развило Јако племе, које је доцније натурило своје име старој жупи Оногошту. Од овог племена био је чувени херцеговачки војвода Грдан Никшић, који је 1597 — 1612 дизао буне противу Ту- рака и склапао савезе с европским владарима.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kovijanić 1974, p. 142.
  4. ↑ Kovijanić 1974, p. 143.
  5. ↑ Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti 1971, p. 225
    Тако је војвода Грдан Никшић био њихов за- једнички војвода и даље његови потомци и рођаци насљеђивали су војводство кроз читави XVII внјек: Јован, Гаврило, Петар и Вука- шин. Сама та чињеница говори да су Никшићи ...
  6. ↑ Bataković 1996, p. 33.
  7. ↑ Ćorović, Vladimir (2001) [1997]. "Преокрет у држању Срба". Историја српског народа (in Serbian). Belgrade: Јанус.

Sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.