Jovan Monasterlija

Jovan Monasterlija (; fl. 1683–1706) was a Serbian vice-voivode (podvojvoda) and Austrian (Holy Roman Empire) imperial officer that led a Serbian Militia against the Ottoman Empire and other enemies of the Austrian Emperor. He was titled leader of the Serbian nation by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I.

Early life Fleeing from Ottoman repression they moved to Srpski Kovin (Ráckeve) in 16th century. They came from Monastir (Bitola), hence his epithet "Monasterlija" (Turkish: Monastirli, of Monastir). To avoid Ottoman repression after the Long Turkish War the family had settled Komárom County in 1606, together with other Serbs from Kovin.

The Monasterlija (or Manastirlija) family gained nobility status from Emperor Ferdinand III in 1665, when Petar Monasterlija was ennobled. Jovan, the son of Petar, was born in Komárno. Jovan married a young woman Ana from a Serbian noble family Rašković.

Career

1688–92 Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria, led the capture of Belgrade in 1688 from the Ottomans, with the full support of Serbian insurgents under the command of Monasterlija. Between 1689 and 1692, central parts of present-day Serbia were controlled by the Habsburg crown. In 1689 Monasterlija was sent to defend Golubac.

In 1689 Louis William was appointed as chief commander of the Imperial army in its invasion of the territory of present-day Serbia. Before the invasion Louis William recruited Serb rebels all over territory of present-day Serbia, whose infantry units were called hayduks while cavalry units of Serb rebels were called Serb husars. On August 29, 1689 Serbian Militia under the command of Pavle Nestorović Deak as a vanguard unit of the Habsburg army were victorious against a vanguard unit of the Ottoman army during the Battle of Batočina.

Jovan Monasterlija, who was appointed as captain of Serbian Militia in 1690, recruited Serbs into his units in the summer of 1690 on the southern border of the Austrian Empire. The Austrian retreat from Kosovo prompted the Great Migration of the Serbs, under the leadership of Serbian Patriarch Arsenije III. On 11 April 1691, he was appointed the commander of the Serbian Militia (which came to be known as "Monasterlija's Serbs" ), after Serbs demanded their own leaders while going to battle. His command was of more than 10,000 volunteer Serb soldiers, and was to be under the direct supervision of the Aulic War Council. The Serbian soldiers were highly regarded by Leopold. During the Battle of Slankamen on August 19, 1691, Serbian Militia with 10,000 Serbs under the command of Jovan Monasterlija participated in the important victory over Ottoman forces.

Aftermath Monasterlija was the only Vice-Voivode; his successor, captain Mojsije Rašković was appointed "Oberst der serbischen National-Miliz" on July 8, 1707.

Ranks "Rascian obercapitain" (after 1692) "Anführer und Commandant der serbischen National-Miliz"