American Serb History 101

This battle the Serbs lost physically, but because of the great heroism and extreme sacrifice for Serbian Heritage and Serbian Orthodox Faith, it is still one of Serbian History’s “greatest moments.”  It was when the brave Serbian Christian warriors went into battle against overwhelming odds, choosing “eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven” over life in the early kingdom.

We celebrate that day—with honor, pride and dignity-each year on June 28, Vidovdan.

 Click on the label above to hear the Jorgovan Tamburitza sing "Niko Nema Sto Srbin Imade." This priceless old record is from the collection of Steve Kozobarich of Cleveland.

Sto Je Sveta Na Sve Cetiri Strane
As many people as there are in all four sections of the world

Niko Nema sto Srbin Imade
No one has what the Serb has

Srbin Ima Marka Kraljevica
Serbs have Marko Kraljevic
    

Srbin Ima Milos Obilica
Serbs have Milos Obilic





    Milos Obilic was a great Serbian hero, who at Kosovo Polje went into the Turk’s own camp and killed the Turkish Czar Murat.  He was an inspiration to Serbian warriors.  Some of our mot beautiful songs are written about Milos Obilic and his heroic deeds.  He is often cited as an example of fidelity and dedication based on his devotion to his ruler, the Serbian Czar Lazar.  Our greatest Serbian poet, Petar II Petrovic-Njegos, Bishop of Crna Gora, placed Milos Obilic above all Kosovo warriors because of his heroic feats.  Milos Obilic perished on the Kosovo Polje Battlefield.

    Milan Toplica was a very close friend of Milos Obilic and chose to become a brother to him (pobratim).  He fought side-by-side with Milos Obilic in all battles.  Many of our beautiful Serbian songs tell of this close and respected relationship and the brave battles they fought together.  Milan Toplica also died in the Battle of Kosovo Polje.

 
Jug Bogdan was the father of the nine Jugovic brothers and of Czarina Milica, wife of the famous Czar Lazar.  Jug Bogdan died on Kosovo Polje, where he led his sons in the famous battle for the honorable Cross and Freedom ("Za Krst Casni i Slobodu Zlatnu").

Slavni Czar Lazar was a Serbian ruler who led the Serbian army in the Battle of Kosovo where he, too, lost his life.  The Turks captured him alive and beheaded him.  The Serbian Orthodox Church proclaimed Czar Lazar a martyred saint and Serbians commemorate him at every Vidovdan celebration, along with all the other Serbian martyrs who died defending their faith and heritage.
 
On the eve of the Battle of Kosovo, Czar Lazar had to decide between the Heavenly Kingdom and an earthly one.  In the true spirit of Christianity, rather than compromise principles, Czar Lazar led his people into battle at Kosovo, knowing it may end in defeat and he would thereby surrender his early kindgom for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
His earthly remains are amazingly preserved intact and even today are kept in the Saborna Crkva (Church) in Belgrade where they gather the faithful from all areas of Serbia.
 
Just as they did through centuries earlier from the various monasteries in which they were kept, they gather and inspire the Serbian people in the hope and belief that better days will come.  A special service is held, dedicated to this holy Serbian rule, Czar Lazar, who was the leading character in the epoch of Kosovo Polje.  The Serbian people owe him a great debt of gratitude for a glorious history.

Czar Dushan was a Serbian ruler, son of King Stevan Decanski.  Under his reign, the Serbian nation reached the peak of its power.  In the year 1346, Dushan was proclaimed Czar in southern Serbia after the Serbian Archbishopric See was elevated to a Patriarchate.
 
He waged war successfully with his neighboring countries, but died suddenly in the year 1355 on his way to liberate Carigra from the Turks.  His effort brought respect even from the pope, from whom he had received the title of the "Captain of Christianity."  Czar Dushan was buried in the Archangel Monastery at Prizren from where his remains were eventually transferred to the Patriarchate in Belgrade and later placed in the Church of St. Mark, where they are located.
 
Czar Dushan left an historical monument in Serbian culture from the Middle Ages.  It is known as Dushan's Law  and regulates distinction in classes, specified punishment for violations, etc.  It is full of the spirit of tolerance and religion, greater than many other similar monuments in Europe.  It was after his death that the unfavorable days for the Serbian people began.

 Karadjordjevic was another famous Serbian dynasty headed by Karadjordje.  The head of the dynasty, Djordje Petrovic (Karadjordje), was a Serbian villager from Topola near Belgrade.  He organized the first Serbian uprising against the Turks in 1804 and caused the Turks much trouble for almost ten years.  Even Napoleon was amazed at this great feats against the Turks.

The upsrising was continued under the leadership of Prince Milos Obrenovich in 1815.  Karadjordje was acclaimed in many Serbian songs as a great hero.  His grandson was King Peter I, the Great Liberator, and his great grandson was King Alexander I, the Unifier, who was assassianted in Marseilles in 1934.
 
King Peter I and King Alexander I erected a beautiful memorial shrine in Topola.

  King Peter I
 
The latest ruler of this dynasty, King Peter II, passed away in 1970, leaving as heir to the throne Crown Prince Alexander.


Official Web Site of the Royal Family

 

 Tzar Lazar And Tzarica Milica

  This translation is thanks to Marta Trklja, Toronto, Canada, October 27, 2008

Our Tzar Lazar sat down to his dinner.
And beside him Tzarica Milica,
She spoke to him, Tzarica Milica:
"O, Tzar Lazar, golden crown of the Serbs!
You will ride forth at dawn to Kosovo,                                           
Taking with you servants and voyvodes,
But at your court you are leaving no one.
"O, Tzar Lazar! You are leaving no man,
Who can bring you all urgent messages,
To Kosovo and bring news back to me.
You take from me all nine of my brothers,

My nine brothers, my Jugović brothers.
O, please leave me at least just one brother
For a sister must swear by a brother."
Then to her speaks Serbia's Tzar Lazar:
"O, my lady, Tzarica Milica!
Which one of them would you have me leave you?
Whom shall I leave in the bright court with you?"
"Leave my brother my Boško Jugović."       
Then, again said Serbia's Prince Lazar:
"O, my lady, Tzarica Milica!
When tomorrow the white morning arrives,
The day arrives and the white sun rises,       
On the city the door will open wide.
You will walk out in front of the town door.
There will go forth all our drawn-up army
All the horsemen under the war lances.
In front will ride our Boško Jugović.
He will carry the Crusader's banner.
Give the blessing to Boško Jugović,             
To some other let him give the banner,
So he can stay with you at the white court."
When the dawn came early in the morning,
And the portal of the town opened wide,

She went forth then, Tzarica Milica.             
She placed herself at the door of the town.
And here came forth all the drawn up army,
All the horsemen under their war lances.
In front of them rode Boško Jugovć,
Golden banner with crosses veils knight
O God, brother! Down to his sorrel horse.
On the banner was a golden apple.
From the apple sprang the golden crosses.
From the crosses swung the golden tassels,  
Gently touching Boško on the shoulders.
And Tzarica Milica comes closer,
And then seizes his sorrel horse's reins;
She throws her arms around her brother's neck.
Then she whispers softly to her brother:       
"O, my brother, my Boško Jugović!
Our Tzar Lazar has given you to me.
You must not go to Kosovo's war-field.
Our Tzar Lazar gave to you his blessing,
To whom you choose you can give the banner,        
So you can stay with me at Kruševac,
So I can swear at least by one brother."
And then exclaims her Boško Jugović:
"Go, my sister, to your own white tower!
For I would not return there back with you,
Nor surrender the Crusader's banner,
Though Tzar, himself, would give me Kruševac.
For all my men my act would ridicule,
See the coward, our Boško Jugović.
He was afraid to go to Kosovo,                                
To shed his blood for honored cross and faith,
Afraid to die for his ancestral faith."
Then he galloped on his horse through the gate.
Old Jug-Bogdan, her father, rode past her,
And behind him seven Jugovićes.                            
She stopped them all, all her seven brothers,
But none of them would even look at her.
Shortly after, but as if time stood still,
The ninth brother Vojin came riding up.
He was leading Lazar's reserve horses,                     
Caparisoned all over with pure gold.

She grabbed the reins of Vojin's dun war-horse.
She threw her arms around her brother's neck,
And then she started speaking to Vojin:
"O, my brother, my Vojin Jugović!                           
Our Tzar Lazar has given you to me.
Our Tzar Lazar gave to you his blessing.
To give horses to whom ever you choose,
To stay with me here in Kruševac.
I should have my brother to protect me."                 
Then Jugović Vojin tells her now:
"Go, my sister, to your own white tower!
I, a brave knight, would not return with you,
Nor surrender the Tzar's battle horses,
Though I knew now that I would lose my life.        
I ride, sister, to Kosovo's flat field,
To shed my blood for holy cross and faith;
And for our faith to die with my brothers."
Then he rides off on his horse through the gate.
When she saw this, Tzarica Milica,               
She then fell down on to the stone cold ground,
As she fell she fainted so in pain.
Then Tzar Lazar, the glorious rode by.
When he saw her, his lady Milica,
Bitter teardrops ran down Tzar Lazar's cheeks.        
He turned himself around from left to right,
And called out to his servant Goluban:
"O, Goluban! O, my faithful servant!
You dismount now from your swan-like charger.
Take my lady away in your white arms,                   
Carry her up to her slender tower.
Do as I say, our God will forgive you.
Do not go forth to fight at Kosovo.
Instead, stay here at your lady's white court."
When the servant Goluban heard all this,                 
He shed sad tears streaming down his white face.
He dismounted from his swan-like charger,
In his white arms he took away his Queen.
And brought her to her slender tower.
But he could not resist his heart's desire,                  
To ride his horse toward Kosovo's battle,
So he collected his swan-like charger,

And mounting it, galloped to Kosovo.
The next day when bright dawn had just broken,
Two black ravens emerg'd, wings flaying.                
From Kosovo that broad field of battle,
They land upon a lone white-walled tower,
The white tower of glorious Lazar.
One of them caws, the other starts to talk:
"Is this truly honored Lazar's tower?            
Is there no one here in the tower now?"
In the tower no one overheard this,
But one who heard was Milica, the Queen.
So she walked out in front of the white tower,
She then questioned this pair of black ravens:          
"God be with you, O, you two black ravens!
Did you not come from Kosovo's broad field?
Did you not see those two mighty armies?
Did the armies begin to fight each other?                 
Which of the two has gained the victory?"  
The two ravens now gave her their answer:
"By our God's truth, Tzarica Milica!
We came at dawn from Kosovo's wide broad field.
And there we saw the two mighty armies.   
Which yesterday did fiercely fight each other.        
At that wide field both the rulers have fallen.
And of the Turks a few are still living,
But of the Serbs even those who survived,
All are wounded, and all covered with blood."
While the ravens were speaking in this way,            
Then Milutin, the servant, came to them.
And he carried his right hand in his left,
Seventeen wounds marked his valiant body.
His knightly horse all over drenched in blood.         
And then the Queen, Milica, said to him:                 
"What has happened poor servant Milutin?
Did you betray the Tzar at Kosovo?"
But Milutin, the servant, answered her:
"My Queen, help me get off my knightly horse,      
O, wash my face with the cold well water,              
And down my throat pour some of blood-red wine,
For my deep wounds are overwhelming me."
Then Milica helped him off his brave horse,

She washed his face with the cold well-water.        
And down his throat, she poured some blood-red wine.     
When the servant came to himself a bit,
Then Milica began to speak and asked him:
"What did happen at Kosovo's broad field?
Where did our Tzar, the glorious Lazar, fall?
And where was it that old Jug-Bogdan perished?               
Where did his sons, nine Jugovićes, fall?
Where did the brave knight, the Voivode Miloš, fall?
Where too did that knight Vuk Branković, fall?
Where did fall our Banović Strahinja?"        
"They all remained at Kosovo's wide field.                          
There where our Tzar, the honored Lazar, fell,
Many lances were split there in battle,
Broken lances of both the Turks and Serbs, 
But more of them were Serbian then Turkish.                    
While defending, O, Queen! Our honored lord,
Lord and master, our honored Tzar Lazar.
And Jug-Bogdan, my Queen!

He perished first,
At the outset in the combat charge.             

For none of them would betray each other,
As long as there was even one alive.
Yet, left still alive was Boško Jugović,
Still his banner with cross flew at Kosovo.  
And he still drove before him many Turks,              
Just like a hawk when he haunts the pigeons.
There, where they all were drenched knee-deep in blood,
Strahinić Ban, the brave one, there he fell.
And also fell, our Miloš, O, my Queen!                               
By Sitnica, beside the ice-cold stream;                                 
There many Turks, they also perished there.
Our Miloš slew Murad, the Turkish Tzar,
And twelve thousand of the Turkish soldiers.
God have mercy for the one who bore him! 
He left behind his glory to the Serbs,                       
To be sung of and told us forever,
As long as men and Kosovo exist.
But must you ask about the accursed Vuk?
May she be damned, she who gave him birth!         
Damned be his tribe and his family seed,                             

For he betrayed his Tzar at Kosovo.
And he led away his twelve thousand soldiers,
All of them, O, my Queen! Heavily armed.

Translated By

Marta Pravica Trklja
 All rights reserved
Thank you, Marta!

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 Here's an old, old record of

SMRT Majke Jugovica

by Jefrem Uscumlic

from the collection of Steve Kozobarich of Cleveland.

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