:Morlachs (Venetian irregulars)
{{ infobox war faction
| name = Morlachs
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| war = the Cretan War (1645–69) and the Great Turkish War (1683–99)
| image =
| caption =
| active = 1645–1699
| ideology = Christianity
| leaders = See list
| clans =
| headquarters =
| area = Dalmatian hinterland
| size = 1,500 (Cretan War)
| partof = Venetian army
| predecessor =
| successor =
| allies = Republic of Venice
| split =
| opponents = Ottoman Empire
| battles =
| url =
}}
The Morlach troops was an irregular military group in the Dalmatian hinterland, composed of Morlachs (a pre-modern ethnic identity of Slavic speaking people of diverse ethnic origin{{cite journal |last=Madunić |first=Domagoj |date=2023 |title='La devotissima, e fedelissima natione de Morlacchi'. Morlaci/Vlasi o sebi samima. Identitetske diskurzivne prakse Morlaka pod mletačkom vlašću u doba Kandijskoga rata (1645. – 1669.) |trans-title='La devotissima, e fedelissima natione de Morlacchi'. The Morlachs/Vlachs about Themselves. Discursive Identity Practices of the Morlachs under Venetian rule during the War of Candia (1645-1669) |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/313300 |language=hr |journal=Povijesni prilozi |volume=42 |issue=65 |pages=59–87 |doi=10.22586/pp.v42i65.27860 |access-date=1 February 2024|doi-access=free }}), that was hired by the Republic of Venice to fight the Ottoman Empire during the Cretan War (1645–69) and the Great Turkish War (1683–99).{{sfn|Tea Mayhew|2008}}
Leaders
The leaders, called harambaša (tr. "bandit leader") and serdar ("commander-in-chief"), held several titles in Venetian service.
;Cretan War
- Stjepan Sorić, Catholic priest, "governator delli Morlachi"
- Ilija Smiljanić, "governator principale"
- Petar Smiljanić, "capo"
- Vuk Mandušić, "capo direttore"
- Janko Mitrović, "capo principale de Morlachi"
- Šimun Bortulačić, "governator"
- Jovan Dračevac, "governator"
- Petronije Selaković, Orthodox monk
History
In order to effectively operate in the Cretan War (1645–69), a solid reorganization was needed, with an officer commanding over several harambaše. At first this position was undetermined.{{cite book|title=Prilozi za književnost, jezik, istoriju i folklor, Volume 24, Parts 1-2|author=Univerzitet u Beogradu. Filološki fakultet|publisher=Државна штампарија Краљевине Срба, Хрвата и Словенаца|year=1958|language=Serbo-Croatian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpNHAQAAIAAJ|page=11}} Priest Stjepan Sorić is mentioned as "governator delli Morlachi", Petar Smiljanić as "capo", Vuk Mandušić as "capo direttore", and Janko Mitrović as "capo principale de Morlachi", Jovan Dračevac as "governator" etc.{{cite book| url=http://www.historiografija.hr/hz/1952/HZ_5_12_SUCEVIC.pdf| title=Istorija Kotarski Uskoka 1646–1749| author=Boško Desnica| location=Venice| publisher=SANU| volume=I-II| pages=140, 141, 142| year=1950–1951| language=Serbian}} This "Uskok" or "Morlach" army had less than 1,500 fighters.{{cite book|title=Istorija srpskog naroda, Volume 3, Part 1|author=Radovan Samardžić|publisher=Srpska knjiiževna zadruga|year=1981|language=Serbian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnNpAAAAMAAJ}} {{quote|Ускочку војску, у којој укупно није било ни 1.500 људи, предводили су, поред осталих, харамбаше Петар Смиља- нић, поп Стеван Суботић (Сорић) и калуђер Петроније Селаковић.}}
Legacy
The rebel fighters are enumerated in Croatian and Serbian epic poetry, of which there is a cyclus.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book|author=Tea Mayhew|title=Dalmatia Between Ottoman and Venetian Rule: Contado Di Zara, 1645-1718|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqgPAQAAMAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Viella|isbn=978-88-8334-334-6}}
Category:Military units and formations of the Republic of Venice
Category:Mercenary units and formations of the early modern period
Category:Cretan War (1645–1669)