Ciciripi
Sfiduesi Demokrat
[h=1]Vasojevići[/h]
The Vasojevići tribe (Serbian Cyrillic: Васојевићи, Vasojevići, pronounced [ʋâso̞je̞ʋit͡ɕi]) is the largest Serb clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka in the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North, Mateševo in the West to Plav in the East. The clan (pleme, tribe) is one of seven "highland clans" (Vasojevići,Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). Vasojevići is also the name of the region inhabited by the Vasojevići.
Although the unofficial center is Andrijevica in north-eastern Montenegro, the tribe stems from Lijeva Rijeka in central Montenegro. The tribe was formed by various tribes that were united under the rule of the central Vasojevic tribe. These tribes later migrated to the Komovi mountains and the area of Lim. The emigration continued into Serbia and other parts of Montenegro.
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[h=2][edit]History[/h]The Vasojević clan, and Vaso, the founder itself, is mentioned for the first time in a document found in an archive of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), dated 1444.[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP] Most of the clan's history prior to the 16th century has naturally been passed on through oral history.
According to a folk myth, the founder of the clan was Vaso.[SUP][5][/SUP] According to one myth Vaso was a descendant of the Nemanjić Dynasty, which ruled the Serbian Grand Principality, Kingdom and Empire (1166–1371). Vaso's great grandfather was Stefan Konstantin, the rival King, who was defeated by his half-brother Stefan Uroš III in 1322. Stefan Konstantin had a son, Stefan Vasoje, who was brought up at the court of Dušan the Mighty. Stefan Vasoje participated in the battles of Dušan, and when he had received sufficient experience, he was put by the Emperor as voivode at Sjenica. Stefan Vasoje had a son, Stefan Konstantin II (1342–1389, known as Vojvoda Vasojević Stevo in folklore), who participated in the Battle of Kosovo (1389), where he died. The legend further alleges that Vaso, one of five sons of Stefan Konstantin II (all brothers are founders of clans), moved to Lijeva Rijeka.[SUP][6][/SUP] However, the Vasojevici stem from different tribes, of no common kinship and ancestry, which were united under the rule of a central tribe that extended its name to the other clans.[SUP][7][/SUP]
Vaso's descendants gradually expanded to the north-east and inhabited the region by the river Lim called Polimlje – the area around the Komovi mountains, Andrijevica andBerane [SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP]
Komovi Mountains, Kom Vasojevićki on the left
Thus, they formed the largest tribe (pleme) of all seven highland clans of Montenegro (i.e. Vasojevići, Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). In modernMontenegro the area of Vasojevići falls into following municipalities: Berane, Podgorica, Kolašin, Plav and Bijelo Polje (around 15% of Montenegro).[SUP][8][/SUP] One of the highest mountains of the modern day Montenegro is named after the tribe: Kom Vasojevićki (2461 meteres) and the whole area inhabited by the clan is frequently called "Vasojevići".[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP]
Part of the tribe that stayed free from the "Turkish occupation" lives in the area of Lijeva Rijeka and Andrijevica (Upper Nahija) – they are all called Upper Vasojevići. Lower Vasojevici (or Lower Nahija) inhabited the area of Berane. Most of the Lower Vasojevići were within the "Turkish reign" until Balkan Wars in XX c.[SUP][4][/SUP]
Clan members were perceived as noblemen and rarely mingled with common folk – people who did not have a common ancestor. Vasojevići called them Ašani (earlier also Asa and Hasa)[SUP][9][/SUP] and today this term has come to denote Vasojevići of other origin.[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP]
In the 18th century the folklore of the tribe was influenced by the Orthodox millenarianism that had developed during the mid Ottoman era. According to one such folk legend, an elder of the Vasojevići, Stanj, foretold Greek priests the advent of a Serbian messiah, a dark man (crni čovijek) who would liberate the Serbs from the Turks. These myths as part of the official Serbian Orthodox doctrine provided both a de facto recognition of Ottoman rule and the denial of its legitimacy.[SUP][10][/SUP]
During the Second World War, the Vasojevići were divided between the two armies of Serb Chetniks (royalists) and Yugoslav Partisans (communists) that were fighting each other [SUP][11][/SUP] (vojvoda Pavle Đurišić formed the most successful Chetnik units out of mainly Vasojevići). As a result the conflict spread within the tribal structures.[SUP][11][/SUP]
Though sense of clan affiliation diminished in recent years, is not a thing of a past. Clan's association and organizations still exist (e.g. Udruženje Vasojevića "Vaso"). It could be clearly seen during the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006 with the Vasojevici united opposition (see below).
[h=2][edit]Notable descendants of the Vasojevići tribe[/h]By the beginning of the World War II there were more than 3600 Vasojevići “houses” in Polimlje and Lijeva Rijeka.[SUP][3][/SUP] Many notable Serbs (or people with Serbian roots, vide Milla Jovovich) are Vasojevići by origin, e.g.:
[h=2][edit]Ethnicity of the Vasojevići and the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006[/h]In May 2006, Montenegro gained independence after a referendum on the future of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. However, 72% of voters in Andrijevica municipality, the unofficial centre of the Vasojevići region, voted against Montenegrin independence. It was the second highest result against breaking the state union with Serbia (after Pluzine municipality).[SUP][15][/SUP]
The People's Assembly of Vasojevići stated many times that, apart from being Montenegrin, all Vasojevići are Serb [SUP][16][/SUP][SUP][17][/SUP][SUP][18][/SUP] and, thus, strongly oppose and have always opposed Montenegrin secession from Yugoslavia.[SUP][19][/SUP][SUP][20][/SUP] The Montenegrin census of 2003 revealed that 89,81% of the Vasojevići declared themselves as Serb while 9,43% declared themselves as Montenegrin.
In the aftermath of the referendum some villages have been abandoned as Vasojevići have sold their houses and moved to Serbia.[SUP][21][/SUP][SUP][22][/SUP] Similar cases have been observed in other places of Montenegro, however not in the same degree of organisation and ferocity as in the Vasojevići region.
[h=2][edit]Structure of the Vasojevići Tribe[/h]It is a tradition of all Montenegrin Clans to show respect to ancestors by knowing precisely genealogy and the history of the tribe and a family. This also allows members of the clan to be unite, to act together and always to recognise kin.[SUP][5][/SUP]
In a book "Pleme Vasojevići" written in 1935, R. Vešović describes the structure of the Vasojevići.[SUP][3][/SUP] The list of families was exhausting when the book was completed but since then new families may have developed. Sometimes, with the very distant genealogy, slight variations of names, chronology and relationships exist concurrently but there is no doubt among the Vasojevići members which family belongs to which brotherhood, branch and sub-branch.[SUP][5][/SUP] Never has any family questioned the structure depicted below.[SUP][3]
Vasojevi
[/SUP]
The Vasojevići tribe (Serbian Cyrillic: Васојевићи, Vasojevići, pronounced [ʋâso̞je̞ʋit͡ɕi]) is the largest Serb clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka in the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North, Mateševo in the West to Plav in the East. The clan (pleme, tribe) is one of seven "highland clans" (Vasojevići,Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). Vasojevići is also the name of the region inhabited by the Vasojevići.
Although the unofficial center is Andrijevica in north-eastern Montenegro, the tribe stems from Lijeva Rijeka in central Montenegro. The tribe was formed by various tribes that were united under the rule of the central Vasojevic tribe. These tribes later migrated to the Komovi mountains and the area of Lim. The emigration continued into Serbia and other parts of Montenegro.
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[h=2]Contents[/h] [hide]
- 1 History
- 2 Notable descendants of the Vasojevići tribe
- 3 Ethnicity of the Vasojevići and the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
- 4 Structure of the Vasojevići Tribe
- 5 References
- 6 Bibliography
- 7 External links
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[h=2][edit]History[/h]The Vasojević clan, and Vaso, the founder itself, is mentioned for the first time in a document found in an archive of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), dated 1444.[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP] Most of the clan's history prior to the 16th century has naturally been passed on through oral history.
According to a folk myth, the founder of the clan was Vaso.[SUP][5][/SUP] According to one myth Vaso was a descendant of the Nemanjić Dynasty, which ruled the Serbian Grand Principality, Kingdom and Empire (1166–1371). Vaso's great grandfather was Stefan Konstantin, the rival King, who was defeated by his half-brother Stefan Uroš III in 1322. Stefan Konstantin had a son, Stefan Vasoje, who was brought up at the court of Dušan the Mighty. Stefan Vasoje participated in the battles of Dušan, and when he had received sufficient experience, he was put by the Emperor as voivode at Sjenica. Stefan Vasoje had a son, Stefan Konstantin II (1342–1389, known as Vojvoda Vasojević Stevo in folklore), who participated in the Battle of Kosovo (1389), where he died. The legend further alleges that Vaso, one of five sons of Stefan Konstantin II (all brothers are founders of clans), moved to Lijeva Rijeka.[SUP][6][/SUP] However, the Vasojevici stem from different tribes, of no common kinship and ancestry, which were united under the rule of a central tribe that extended its name to the other clans.[SUP][7][/SUP]
Vaso's descendants gradually expanded to the north-east and inhabited the region by the river Lim called Polimlje – the area around the Komovi mountains, Andrijevica andBerane [SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP]
Komovi Mountains, Kom Vasojevićki on the left
Thus, they formed the largest tribe (pleme) of all seven highland clans of Montenegro (i.e. Vasojevići, Moračani, Rovčani, Bratonožići, Kuči, Piperi and Bjelopavlići). In modernMontenegro the area of Vasojevići falls into following municipalities: Berane, Podgorica, Kolašin, Plav and Bijelo Polje (around 15% of Montenegro).[SUP][8][/SUP] One of the highest mountains of the modern day Montenegro is named after the tribe: Kom Vasojevićki (2461 meteres) and the whole area inhabited by the clan is frequently called "Vasojevići".[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP]
Part of the tribe that stayed free from the "Turkish occupation" lives in the area of Lijeva Rijeka and Andrijevica (Upper Nahija) – they are all called Upper Vasojevići. Lower Vasojevici (or Lower Nahija) inhabited the area of Berane. Most of the Lower Vasojevići were within the "Turkish reign" until Balkan Wars in XX c.[SUP][4][/SUP]
Clan members were perceived as noblemen and rarely mingled with common folk – people who did not have a common ancestor. Vasojevići called them Ašani (earlier also Asa and Hasa)[SUP][9][/SUP] and today this term has come to denote Vasojevići of other origin.[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP]
In the 18th century the folklore of the tribe was influenced by the Orthodox millenarianism that had developed during the mid Ottoman era. According to one such folk legend, an elder of the Vasojevići, Stanj, foretold Greek priests the advent of a Serbian messiah, a dark man (crni čovijek) who would liberate the Serbs from the Turks. These myths as part of the official Serbian Orthodox doctrine provided both a de facto recognition of Ottoman rule and the denial of its legitimacy.[SUP][10][/SUP]
During the Second World War, the Vasojevići were divided between the two armies of Serb Chetniks (royalists) and Yugoslav Partisans (communists) that were fighting each other [SUP][11][/SUP] (vojvoda Pavle Đurišić formed the most successful Chetnik units out of mainly Vasojevići). As a result the conflict spread within the tribal structures.[SUP][11][/SUP]
Though sense of clan affiliation diminished in recent years, is not a thing of a past. Clan's association and organizations still exist (e.g. Udruženje Vasojevića "Vaso"). It could be clearly seen during the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006 with the Vasojevici united opposition (see below).
[h=2][edit]Notable descendants of the Vasojevići tribe[/h]By the beginning of the World War II there were more than 3600 Vasojevići “houses” in Polimlje and Lijeva Rijeka.[SUP][3][/SUP] Many notable Serbs (or people with Serbian roots, vide Milla Jovovich) are Vasojevići by origin, e.g.:
- Milla Jovovich - an American supermodel, actress, musician, singer, and a fashion designer.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Slobodan Milošević - former President of Serbia and of Yugoslavia.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Jelena Janković - a Serbian professional female tennis player - currently the world number 5 player in a WTA list.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Karađorđe Petrović - leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, and the founder of the Serbian ruling dynasty - House of Karađorđević.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Petar Bojović - one of four famous Serbian vojvode (field-marshal) in Balkan Wars and World War I.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Žarko Obradović - Serbian politician and a current Minister of Education in the Government of Serbia.
- Svetozar Marković - an influential Serbian political activist of the 19th century.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Vjera Mujović -an actress and writer of novels
- Gavro Vuković - voivode, writer, deputy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, son of famous Montenegrin senator, hero and tribe chief: Miljan Vukov.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Momčilo Cemović - Presidents of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (Prime Minister) from 1978 till 1982.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Radoslav Cemovic - Former karate champion,Yugoslav national karate team 1968-1970
- Dragoslav Šekularac - a SFR Yugoslavia former football superstar player and coach.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Radovan Zogović - one of the greatest Montenegrin poets of 20th century.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Mihailo Lalić - a famous novelist of Serbian and Montenegrin literature. He is considered by some to be among the greatest Montenegrin authors.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Stefan Babović - Serbian football player currently playing for FK Partizan and the Serbia national football team.
- Jovan Žujović - an anthropologist, known as a founder of geology in Serbia.[SUP][13][/SUP]
- Milutin Šoškić - a legendary Serbian goalkeeper who played for SFR Yugoslavia.[SUP][12][/SUP]
- Milić Vukašinović - drummer, rock singer and guitarist, most notable for his stint with Bijelo dugme.
- Lazar Mutap - voivode of the First Serbian Uprising and one of the initiators of the Second Serbian Uprising.[SUP][12][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP]
- Miljan Vukov Vešović - famous Montenegrin senator, voivode, hero and a tribe chief.[SUP][12][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP]
- Iguman Mojsije Zečević - the chief of the i in 19th century. Along with Petar I Petrović Njegoš and Petar II Petrović Njegoš Zečević was one of the most important figures of that time in Montenegro.[SUP][12][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP]
- Ljubomir Bakić - deputy, President of the High Court in Cetinje, Montenegrin Minister of Justice from 1913 till 1915.[SUP][14][/SUP]
- Dojčilo Maslovarić - Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Holy See (Vatican) from 1996 till 2000, Minister of Foreign Affairs of F.R.Y. from 1994 till 1996.
[h=2][edit]Ethnicity of the Vasojevići and the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006[/h]In May 2006, Montenegro gained independence after a referendum on the future of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. However, 72% of voters in Andrijevica municipality, the unofficial centre of the Vasojevići region, voted against Montenegrin independence. It was the second highest result against breaking the state union with Serbia (after Pluzine municipality).[SUP][15][/SUP]
The People's Assembly of Vasojevići stated many times that, apart from being Montenegrin, all Vasojevići are Serb [SUP][16][/SUP][SUP][17][/SUP][SUP][18][/SUP] and, thus, strongly oppose and have always opposed Montenegrin secession from Yugoslavia.[SUP][19][/SUP][SUP][20][/SUP] The Montenegrin census of 2003 revealed that 89,81% of the Vasojevići declared themselves as Serb while 9,43% declared themselves as Montenegrin.
In the aftermath of the referendum some villages have been abandoned as Vasojevići have sold their houses and moved to Serbia.[SUP][21][/SUP][SUP][22][/SUP] Similar cases have been observed in other places of Montenegro, however not in the same degree of organisation and ferocity as in the Vasojevići region.
[h=2][edit]Structure of the Vasojevići Tribe[/h]It is a tradition of all Montenegrin Clans to show respect to ancestors by knowing precisely genealogy and the history of the tribe and a family. This also allows members of the clan to be unite, to act together and always to recognise kin.[SUP][5][/SUP]
In a book "Pleme Vasojevići" written in 1935, R. Vešović describes the structure of the Vasojevići.[SUP][3][/SUP] The list of families was exhausting when the book was completed but since then new families may have developed. Sometimes, with the very distant genealogy, slight variations of names, chronology and relationships exist concurrently but there is no doubt among the Vasojevići members which family belongs to which brotherhood, branch and sub-branch.[SUP][5][/SUP] Never has any family questioned the structure depicted below.[SUP][3]
Vasojevi
[/SUP]
