Serb clans
Encyclopedia
Serb clans is a general term referring to what are known as plemena (племена, tribes) and bratstva (братства, clan/brotherhood), traditional geo-political units of the Western Balkans (Montenegro
and Herzegovina
) that now richly attest social anthropology
and family history
(geneaology). The descendants of the clans are divided by regional and lately, national affiliation. It has traditionally been viewed as an ethnic Serb tradition.
The founders of the different clans have origin from the migrations following the fall of the Serbian Empire (e.g. Battle of Kosovo
), when Serbs took refuge in the mountains and continued the feudal organization. The clans served as a type of government during the Ottoman Empire
's occupation of Montenegro
.
s and tribe
s should be treated as only approximate.
. The tribes are necessarily not kin as they only serve as a geopolitical unit.
The Plemena enjoyed especially large autonomy in the period from the second part of 15th century till the middle of 19th century. The first mention of a tribe was in the 13th century in Herzegovina. In fact most of the tribes in were formed in the period between the 13th and 15th centuries. Following the Ottoman occupation and dissolution of the Serbian Empire
, the formation of tribes filled the gap with tribes forming local self-governing units.
In 1853 Danilo II Petrović Njegoš was elected the first secular ruler of modern Montenegro and the Highlands, becoming Knjaz (Prince) Danilo I. Subsequently, the role of the central state was gradually increased and plemena lost their political independence as well as influence. The territorial subdivision of Montenegro was based on territorial clan regions. During the 1960s, the Communist Yugoslav state reorganized the whole Yugoslavia
territorially and Montenegro's opštine
crossed former tribal borders. However, some old tribal borders still persist, for example, Plužine still reflects the tribal borders of Piva minus the village of Mala Crna Gora (Žabljak opština).
Every clan had its assembly, with the heads of families having equal rights in speech and suffrage. In war, the bratstvenici are obliged to stand together. They greatly vary in size, ranging from 50 to 800 warriors (1893).
Through time the bratstvo would split in smaller subdivisions and acquire separate names. Contemporary surnames usually come from these smaller units.
The clan members tend to guard their family history and many are able to recite the line of ancestors to the originator of the bratstvo. Reference information about origins and history of particular surnames (fractions of bratstva) may be found online as well as in printed form
Today representatives of different bratstva are dispersed not only throughout Montenegro but also globally. While bratstvo membership has remained comparatively important, membership to a pleme is becoming less and less important.
), when Serbs took refuge in the mountains and continued the feudal organization. Many of the mythological founders of the tribes were Serb royalty or nobility during the Serbian Empire
or Serbian Despotate
, for example Vojvoda Bogut
(ancestor of the Njeguši
/House of Petrović-Njegoš
), Vasoje Nemanjić (founder of Vasojevići
) and Gojko Mrnjavčević
(founder of Kuči
).
) in 1918. Before the collective unification of Montenegro under the House of Petrović-Njegoš, the Gathering of the Elders was the sole governing body in Montenegro.
In 1904 Prince Nikola Petrović
reordered Montenegro into "captaincies", each organized on a tribal level. Every nahija (compare with Nahiya) had its own Elder (from the corresponding tribe). The tribal assemblies were attended regularly by all grown men from the corresponding clan. The "General Montenegrin Assembly" was the highest political body and a mediator between the Montenegrin people and the Ottoman authorities. It was composed of chiefs of all tribes in Montenegro.
(1865–1927) has enlisted 21 plemena on the territory of the Old Montenegro, 7 plemena in the Highlands , 16 in Eastern Herzegovina and 2 on the Montenegrin coast. The list below contains also many groups which should be classified as bratstva. Note that the territory of contemporary Montenegro consists of several historic regions (Old Montenegro, Highlands and the Coast) as well as territories that were added to Montenegro comparatively recently (e.g., parts of what used to be Austrian Herzegovina). Old Montenegro in turn used to be divided into four districts (nahija). None of these regions and districts are reflected in official territorial division of contemporary Montenegro.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
) that now richly attest social anthropology
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
and family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
(geneaology). The descendants of the clans are divided by regional and lately, national affiliation. It has traditionally been viewed as an ethnic Serb tradition.
The founders of the different clans have origin from the migrations following the fall of the Serbian Empire (e.g. Battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
), when Serbs took refuge in the mountains and continued the feudal organization. The clans served as a type of government during the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
's occupation of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
Terminology
English translations of terms 'Pleme' and 'Bratstvo' is very inconsistent, varying from source to source, therefore references to clanClan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s and tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s should be treated as only approximate.
Tribe (pleme)
Tribe (плeme, pleme plural: плeмeна, plemena) is a traditional territorial and political unit in MontenegroMontenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. The tribes are necessarily not kin as they only serve as a geopolitical unit.
The Plemena enjoyed especially large autonomy in the period from the second part of 15th century till the middle of 19th century. The first mention of a tribe was in the 13th century in Herzegovina. In fact most of the tribes in were formed in the period between the 13th and 15th centuries. Following the Ottoman occupation and dissolution of the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
, the formation of tribes filled the gap with tribes forming local self-governing units.
In 1853 Danilo II Petrović Njegoš was elected the first secular ruler of modern Montenegro and the Highlands, becoming Knjaz (Prince) Danilo I. Subsequently, the role of the central state was gradually increased and plemena lost their political independence as well as influence. The territorial subdivision of Montenegro was based on territorial clan regions. During the 1960s, the Communist Yugoslav state reorganized the whole Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
territorially and Montenegro's opštine
Opština
Opština, Obshtina, Občina or Općina, Cyrillic општина or община, may refer to;-Notes and references:Notes:References:...
crossed former tribal borders. However, some old tribal borders still persist, for example, Plužine still reflects the tribal borders of Piva minus the village of Mala Crna Gora (Žabljak opština).
Clan (bratstvo)
Brotherhood (братство, bratstvo, plural: Братства, Вratstva) or Clan is a patrilineal kin group in Montenegro and Eastern Herzegovina. The Brotherhood traces its descendance from a particular male (in some cases also female) ancestor. Names of bratstva are derived from either names or profession of the ancestor. Bratstvo is an exogamous group, as it is supposed to share the same blood. In most cases marriage inside a bratstvo is forbidden regardless of the biological distance between the would-be spouses. However, this is not the case with some larger bratstva who sometimes allow endogamous marriages if the between spouses is large enough.Every clan had its assembly, with the heads of families having equal rights in speech and suffrage. In war, the bratstvenici are obliged to stand together. They greatly vary in size, ranging from 50 to 800 warriors (1893).
Through time the bratstvo would split in smaller subdivisions and acquire separate names. Contemporary surnames usually come from these smaller units.
The clan members tend to guard their family history and many are able to recite the line of ancestors to the originator of the bratstvo. Reference information about origins and history of particular surnames (fractions of bratstva) may be found online as well as in printed form
Relationship between the two terms
Although it is sometimes suggested that plemena consist of bratstva, relationship between pleme and bratstvo is loose. At times of autonomy of plemena, bratstva usually lived concentrated in the same place for long time and therefore formed a part of the pleme. Different bratstva living on the territory of one pleme were often not related to each other. A new bratstvo could be established (and often was) if a stranger sought a refuge (usually because of conflict with Ottoman authorities or because of a blood feud) on the territory of a pleme. Local military force of a pleme consisted of units composed on the basis of local bratstvos. Bratstvo is a kin group, but pleme - territorial one.Today representatives of different bratstva are dispersed not only throughout Montenegro but also globally. While bratstvo membership has remained comparatively important, membership to a pleme is becoming less and less important.
Founding
The founders of the different clans have origin from the migrations following the fall of the Serbian Empire (Battle of KosovoBattle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
), when Serbs took refuge in the mountains and continued the feudal organization. Many of the mythological founders of the tribes were Serb royalty or nobility during the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
or Serbian Despotate
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
, for example Vojvoda Bogut
Vojvoda Bogut
Vojvoda Bogut was a 14th-century Serbian military commander of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan "The Mighty" of the Serbian Empire ....
(ancestor of the Njeguši
Njeguši
Njeguši is a village in southern Montenegro, within Cetinje municipality. It is located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within Lovćen national park....
/House of Petrović-Njegoš
House of Petrovic-Njegoš
The House of Petrović-Njegoš was the Royal House of Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. Montenegro had enjoyed de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire from 1711 but only received formal international recognition as an independent principality in 1878.Montenegro was ruled from inception by...
), Vasoje Nemanjić (founder of Vasojevići
Vasojevici
The Vasojevići tribe 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 is one of seven "highland clans"...
) and Gojko Mrnjavčević
Gojko Mrnjavčević
Gojko Mrnjavčević was a 14th-century noble that held the title of logothete in the Serbian Empire. He is mentioned in Serb epic poetry as Vojvoda Gojko, commanding the Serbian army in the Battle of Maritsa against the Ottoman Empire alongside his two brothers...
(founder of Kuči
KUCI
KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...
).
20th century
The Montenegrin clans were an important institution in Montenegro throughout its modern history and state creation. Every tribe had its Chief, and they collectively composed a "Gathering" (Збор, Zbor). The elders remained influential political figures up to the incorporation of Montenegro into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Later - Kingdom of YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
) in 1918. Before the collective unification of Montenegro under the House of Petrović-Njegoš, the Gathering of the Elders was the sole governing body in Montenegro.
In 1904 Prince Nikola Petrović
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
reordered Montenegro into "captaincies", each organized on a tribal level. Every nahija (compare with Nahiya) had its own Elder (from the corresponding tribe). The tribal assemblies were attended regularly by all grown men from the corresponding clan. The "General Montenegrin Assembly" was the highest political body and a mediator between the Montenegrin people and the Ottoman authorities. It was composed of chiefs of all tribes in Montenegro.
A list of tribes and clans
Jovan CvijićJovan Cvijic
Jovan Cvijić was a Serbian geographer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences, and rector of the University of Belgrade. A world-renowned scientist, Cvijić is considered the founder of geography in Serbia.-Early life and family:Jovan Cvijić was born on October 11 Jovan Cvijić...
(1865–1927) has enlisted 21 plemena on the territory of the Old Montenegro, 7 plemena in the Highlands , 16 in Eastern Herzegovina and 2 on the Montenegrin coast. The list below contains also many groups which should be classified as bratstva. Note that the territory of contemporary Montenegro consists of several historic regions (Old Montenegro, Highlands and the Coast) as well as territories that were added to Montenegro comparatively recently (e.g., parts of what used to be Austrian Herzegovina). Old Montenegro in turn used to be divided into four districts (nahija). None of these regions and districts are reflected in official territorial division of contemporary Montenegro.
Tribes of Old Montenegro
- Riječka nahija
- CeklinCeklinCeklin is one of the old clans of Montenegro, belonging to the Riječka Nahija . The origins of this tribe are from the base of Ceklinštak Mountain. This feuding tribe expanded in the late 17th century until finally it hit Skadar Lake and Rijeka Crnojevića by the 18th century...
- Ljubotinj
- Dobrsko Selo
- Kosjeri
- Građani
- Ceklin
- Katunska nahija (Katun province)
- NjegušiNjegušiNjeguši is a village in southern Montenegro, within Cetinje municipality. It is located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within Lovćen national park....
- Ćeklići
- Njeguši
-
-
- VelestovoVelestovoVelestovo is a village situated on the slopes of Galičica Mountain in Ohrid Municipality, Macedonia. Located roughly 4 kilometres from the town of Ohrid, there are only 45 residents of Velestovo, most of whom are retired.-Churches:...
- Velestovo
- Komani
-
-
-
- Donji Kraj
- Zagarač
- PješivciPješivciPješivci are a Montenegrin tribe from Montenegro consisting of numerous fraternities of mutual origin.Pjesivci are firstly mentioned in 1455 in the contract between Stefan Crnojevic and the people from Gornja Zeta with the Venetians...
-
- Lješanska nahija
- Drazevina
- Gradac
- Buronje
- Crmnička nahija (Crmnica)
- PodgorPodgórPodgór is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kramsk, within Konin County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland.-References:...
- Sotonići
- Dupilo
- Brčeli
- Gluhi Do
- Limljani
- BoljevićiBoljevićiBoljevići is a village in the municipality of Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
- Podgor
Tribes and clans of the Coastland
- SutorinaSutorinaThe village of Sutorina and surrounding territory, including a short stretch of the Adriatic coast was named after the little vale of the river Sutorina west of Herceg Novi...
- Kruševice
- Krtole
- LušticaLušticaLuštica is a peninsula on the south Adriatic Sea, located at the entrance of the Bay of Kotor also known as the Boka Kotorska or the Boka. It effectively separates Tivat Bay from the Adriatic....
- Grbalj
- PaštrovićiPaštroviciThe Paštrovići is a coastal clan in Montenegro.- History :The people and land of Paštrovići is mentioned for the first time in 1355, when Serbian emperor Dušan Silni sent his nobleman Nikolica Paštrović in diplomatic mission in Dubrovnik...
- Maine
- Pobori
- Bra(j)ići
- Mrko(je)vićiMrkojeviciMrkovići is a clan and region in Montenegro. They are located right in between Bar and Ulcinj, bordering Montenegrin Krajina to the east. Some of its members consider themselves Serbs, Muslims or Bosniaks, while most consider themselves exclusively Montenegrin.The region of Mrkovići is located in...
- KrivošijeKrivošijeKrivošije is a clan and a high plateau on the eastern branches of Mount Orjen in Montenegro, near Kotor. A significant geological/geomorphological feature of the Krivošije region are the glacial deposits distributed across the whole of the plateau...
Tribes and clans of East Herzegovina
- GrahovoGrahovoGrahovo is a tribe in western Montenegro. It contains the village of Grahovac, which was the sight of the Battle of Grahovac.-History:In the early 17th century, during the Sanjak of Scutari, Grahovo was commanded by Mile Perin....
- Rudine
- Bijele Nikšićke Rudine
- Oputne Rudine
- Bilećke Rudine
- BanjaniBanjaniBanjani is an Old Herzegovinian and Montenegrin clan of Aromanian origin, located in Montenegro, of which territory comprises 380 km², west of Nikšić. The territory is the centrum between Nikšić and Bileća, from the top of Njegoš to the Trebišnjica, and to the Bileća lake...
- Lukovo
- Nikšićka Župa
- Gornje Polje
- DrobnjaciDrobnjaciDrobnjaci is an Old Herzegovinian clan and region in northern Montenegro . Its unofficial centre is in Boan/Šavnik. The Drobnjaci families are predominantly Serb Orthodox, with a majority declaring as Serbs, the rest as Montenegrins...
- Uskoci
- Jezera
- Korito Drobnjačko
- Šaranci
- Lukovo
- PivljaniPivaPiva may refer to:* Piva , a river in Montenegro* Piva, Montenegro, a region in Montenegro and the clan* Piva language, a member of the Piva-Banoni languages* Piva , an Italian folk instrument* Piva , a Renaissance dance...
or Piva- Planina
- Župa
- GackoGackoGacko is a town and municipality in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republika Srpska entity. It is situated in the Foča Region.-Geography:The town is in a short distance from Montenegro...
- Gornje Gacko (Golija i Duga)
- Donje Gacko
- Zupci
Dispersed ancestral clans and tribes
As corporate groups below mentioned used to exist in history and some people still trace their descent from them.- MaleševciMaleševciMaleševci is a medieval Serb clan located originally in Old Herzegovina, today's western Montenegro. Of Aromanian descent the tribe originated from Vojvoda Maleš who fought in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 and lived in the area of today's Eastern Herzegovina between Trebinje and Bileca...
- Panjkovići
- Prijedojevići
- Trebješani (Nikšići)
- LjubibraticiLjubibraticiThe Ljubibratić were a powerful Serbian noble family in the Travunia region during the 14th and 15th centuries under the Serbian Despotate. The Ljubibratićs were known to be warriors and also Orthodox priests. They are kin to the Ohmućević noble family .*Jero Bratoljubić , Ragusan military commander...
- Miloradovići-Hrabreni
- Ugrenovići
- Bobani
- Pilatovci
- Mrđenovići
- Veljovići
Sources
- Serb clans of Montenegro
- Podjela u podlovćenskoj Crnoj Gori (Montenegrin), from the website of the Montenegrin Ethnic Association of Australia