Petar Ovčarević

Petar Ovčarević (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар Овчаревић; fl. 1521–37) was a Serb hajduk in Hungarian service as a commander of the Šajkaši (Danube river flotilla) in Belgrade, who then joined the Ottomans as a Martolos commander, from where he sent secret reports to Hungarian commanders on the intentions and movements of the Ottoman army. He then moved to Hungary and received nobility status for his valuable spying.

Career

Petar Ovčarević hailed from Belgrade,[1] and was a hajduk.[2] He was in Hungarian service as a commander of the Šajkaši (Danube river flotilla).[3] He was a friend of Pavle Bakić.[4] After surviving the siege of Belgrade (1521), and vacillating for a time, he joined the Ottomans and became a confidant of Ottoman general and sanjak-bey of Belgrade, Bali Bey Jahjapašić.[5] He became a Martolos commander, commanding Serbs, based by the Belgrade rivers, inhabiting their own quarter and commanding a galley fleet.[5] His unit was entrusted with the protection of Ottoman ferries on the Sava and Danube.[4] Through Petar Bakić, Ovčarević came into contact with Hungarian commander Tomory,[4] and helped the safe transfer of Petar Bakić and his followers into Hungarian territory.[4] After Bali Bey's death, he rose further in rank and became the second-in-command and adviser of Bali Bey's younger brother and successor Mehmed Bey Jahjapašić.[5] Trusted by the Ottomans, however,[1] he greatly helped the Christian side in the war with the Ottomans by spying and sending secret reports to Hungarian commanders on the intentions and movements of the Ottoman army.[4] After completing spying missions, he moved to Hungary where he received nobility status.[1] He participated in the Battle of Mohács (1526), and then supported John Zápolya.[6] He was wounded in battle and left the military.[7]

His family, the Ovčarević, was one of the notable Serb noble families in Hungarian service in the 16th century.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ljubivoje Cerović; Ljubomir Stepanov (2000). Srbi u Rumuniji. Savez Srba u Rumuniji. p. 26.
  2. ↑ Nikola Čobeljić (2003) [1999]. Društvene nauke o srbima u Mađarskoj: zbornik radova sa okruglog stola održanog 6-8. decembra 1998. Samouprava Srba u Mađarskoj. p. 52. ISBN 978-963-210-143-9.
  3. ↑ Јованка Калић-Мијушковић (1967). Београд у средњем веку. Српска књижевна задруга. pp. 242–244.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Vasa Čubrilović (1974). Istorija Beograda: Stari, srednji i novi vek. Prosveta. pp. 263, 264, 325.
  5. 1 2 3 Radovan Samardžić (1987). Sulejman i Rokselana. Jugoslavijapublik. pp. 275, 430.
  6. ↑ Владимир Ћоровић; Драгољуб С Петровић (2006). Историја Срба. Дом и школа.
  7. ↑ Srpska pravoslavna mitropolija karlovačka: po podacima od 1905. Saborski odbor. 1910. p. 39.
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