The Battle of Mljetičak was a battle between the Ottoman Empire and Montenegro. The battle took place in Mljetičak near Nikšič on 5th October 1840. The battle resulted in a Montenegrin victory and Ottoman pasha Smail Pasha Čengić was killed.
Background
In 1836, the Montenegrin army was defeated by the Turks at Grahovo, and nine Petrović cousins of Petar II Petrović Njegoš were killed. Smail-aga was mainly blamed for the defeat and death of Katunjan. The people of Piv supported Smail-aga, but the Drobnjaks didn’t, except for two men. After the battle, Smail-aga didn’t return to Drobnjak for four years. Hasan-bey Trebinjac kept the heads of the Petrovićs and refused to give them to Njegoš.
Bishop Rade could not forgive Smail-aga for killing his relatives. Njegoš secretly ordered Novica Cerović, Sujo Karadžić, and priest Dimitrije Golović to kill Smail-aga. The Drobnjak leaders agreed, and even Đok Malović joined. They met at the Morača monastery and planned the murder. The people from Drobnjak, Uskoci, Moračani, Rovčani, Bjelopavlići, and Piperi were all involved.
Battle
In 1840, the Drobnjaci rebelled against the Turks. To lure Smail-aga into Drobnjak, Đoko Malović wrote him a letter saying the people were rebelling. Smail-aga’s son, Rustem, came but was refused tribute and left. Later, Smail-aga visited Piva, then moved to Drobnjak, where he camped in Duža. After seven days, the Drobnjak leaders convinced him to move to Pošćenje and then to Mljetičak. [1]
On October 5, Smail-aga’s camp was attacked by around 100 rebels, including Drobnjaci, Moračani, and others. They surrounded the camp at dawn, and after a volley of shots, Smail-aga was killed by Mirko Aleksić. The Turks scattered, and the rebels destroyed most of Smail-aga’s army. Only two Turks escaped, with no casualties among the attackers. [2]
References
- ↑ https://www.mojenovosti.com/lat/index.php?option=btg_novosti&catnovosti=0&idnovost=147516&
- ↑ https://www.mojenovosti.com/lat/index.php?option=btg_novosti&catnovosti=0&idnovost=147516&
