Jovan Tekelija

Jovan Popović Tekelija (1660s—1721 or 1722) was an Austrian nobleman, an army officer serving the Habsburg Empire. An ethnic Serb, he was commander of the Serbian Militia, Tekelija participated in many battles and distinguished himself during the Battle of Zenta in 1697. For his merit, he was appointed Captain of the Serbian militia in Arad and ennobled by Emperor Joseph I in 1706.

Jovan Popović Tekelija
Jovan Tekelija, first half of the 18th century portrait of unknown author
Native name
Јован Поповић Текелија
Born166[1]
Arad, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Romania)
Died1721 or 1722
Arad
Allegiance Habsburg Monarchy
Rank
  • Oberstcaptain
  • Captain (1689 — ?)
  • Oberst (? — 1722)
UnitSerbian Militia
Commands held
  • 1697 - Captain of Senta
  • 1698 - Captain of Arad
  • 16 March 1706 - Austrian nobility status received
Battles/wars

Family
Coat of Arms of Popović Tekelija family

Tekelija was born in Arad[2] or in Csanád[3] as the first known member of the notable Serb family Popović Tekelija.[4]

Military career

Since his early ages Tekelija served in the Austrian military. After Austrian capture of Belgrade in 1689 he was promoted to the rank of Captain with special position as pathfinder of the whole Austrian army for Voivodina and its neighbouring territories.[5] Tekelija fought in the Battle of Buda (1686).[6]

Tekelija played a particularly important role in the Battle of Zenta held in 1697, a major battle that ended Ottoman dominance in Europe. Before the battle Tekelija held the position of Captain of Senta.[7] On 11 September Tekelija broke through to the War council held in Bečej and informed Prince Eugene of Savoy, whose forces were in Szenttamás and Bečej, that the Ottomans were preparing to cross the Tisa river and leave Bačka[8][9] Prince Eugene then ask Tekelija to lead the imperial army through the swamps and marsh to the rear of the Turks encampment[10] as the night was falling.[11][12] Half of the Ottoman army was on the opposite bank and the suprise was total, 30,000 Ottomans soldiers died including the Grand Vizier.[13] As reward for the important part he played during the Battle of Zenta, Tekelija was appointed as Captain of Serbian Militia in Arad in 1698.[14] In 1706 he was ennobled by Emperor Joseph I. In 1710 Colonels Tekelija and Vulin Potisac sent Captain Bogdan Popović to negotiate with Russia about cooperation between Serbs and Russia in war against the Ottoman Empire.[15]

Tekelija died in 1721[16] or in 1722. He was succeeded by Đurka Šević,[17] the father of Jovan Šević.

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See also

References
  1. Zbornik Matice srpske za istoriju. Матица. 2003. p. 202. ... Јован Текелија, рођен у другој половини 17. века, највероватније 60-их
  2. (Popović 1990, p. 170)
  3. Владан Гавриловић, "Породица Текелија", Програм међународног научног скупа "Сеоба Срба у Руско царство половином 18. века" Музеј Војводине, 7 – 8. маја 2003. Нови Сад, Србија и Црна Гора, page 386
  4. Владан Гавриловић, "Породица Текелија", Програм међународног научног скупа "Сеоба Срба у Руско царство половином 18. века" Музеј Војводине, 7 – 8. маја 2003. Нови Сад, Србија и Црна Гора, page 386
  5. Владан Гавриловић, "Породица Текелија", Програм међународног научног скупа "Сеоба Срба у Руско царство половином 18. века" Музеј Војводине, 7 – 8. маја 2003. Нови Сад, Србија и Црна Гора, page 386
  6. (SKZ 1993, p. 499): "У опсади Будима, који је освојен 2. септембра 1686, према једној белешци учествовао је и Јован Текелија из Арада, потоњи старешина Потиско-поморишке војне границе."
  7. Владан Гавриловић, "Породица Текелија", Програм међународног научног скупа "Сеоба Срба у Руско царство половином 18. века" Музеј Војводине, 7 – 8. маја 2003. Нови Сад, Србија и Црна Гора, page 386
  8. Vojska (in Serbian). Vojnoizdavački i novinski centar. 1993. p. 31.
  9. (Popović 1990, p. 170)
  10. (Gavrilović 1993, p. 26)
  11. Revue historique. Institut. 1963. p. 4.
  12. Revue historique. Institut. 1963. p. 4. Највећу ратничку заслугу стекао је Јован Текелија тиме што је војску принца Евгена Савојскога по звездама провео 1697. године Турцима за леђа и тако несумњиво помогао победи код Сенте.
  13. Samardžić & Duškov 1993, p. 50.
  14. (Cerović 2002, p. 36): "Већ следеће, 1698. године, у знак признања, Јован Текелија је поста- вљен за капетана Српске милиције у Араду, ..."
  15. Jugoslavija SSSR. Društvo za kulturnu saradnju Jugoslavije sa SSSR. 1946. p. 18.
  16. (Popović 1990, p. 171)
  17. Bogoslovski glasnik. 1902. p. 25. Оберкапетан арадски био је Јован Текелија Поповић, а после његове смрти замени га Ђурка Шевић.

Sources
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