Matija Zmajević

Matija Zmajević (also Matej Zmajević; ; January 6, 1680 – August 23, 1735) was an admiral of the Russian Baltic Fleet. He was also a shipbuilder for Peter I of Russia, building a fleet in Voronezh.

Early life He was born in Perast in 1680, at the time located in Venetian Albania, now in Montenegro. His uncle, Andrija Zmajević, was an archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar and a poet. He was also a primate of Serbia. The family was in conflict with the Bujović family, another family from Perast. After Vicko Bujović was killed, Zmajević left Perast as he was accused of being involved in his death. In 1712, Tolstoy sent him with a recommendation to Peter I of Russia. In 1719, he was promoted to rear admiral and his fleet won the last naval battle of the Great Northern War, forcing the Swedes to sign the Treaty of Nystad. He was reprieved at the last minute and relegated to the post of governor of the Astrakhan area with the rank of vice-admiral, where he spent last years of his life. He was depicted on a Montenegrin stamp in 2012.