Vukolaj Radonjić

Vukolaj Radonjić (painting by Adam Stefanović)

Vukolaj Radonjić (Serbian Cyrillic: Вуколај Радоњић, 1765 – 29 May 1832) was the last Montenegrin guvernadur.

Biography

His training was completed in the noble Academy in Šklov (Belarus) in 1778, where he gained his title and kavalijer (Knight), and received the holy order of Ana. He married Stana Vukova Petrovic (Njeguši), about 1775. His father, Jovan Radonjic, served as guvernadur between 1798–1799, and was a member of the Montenegrin National Assembly. His uncle was in the clergy, Stanko Radonjic. He was a nahija (regional judge) from 1799, and was formally elected guvernadur on 15 May 1804, by the People Assembly, two years after the death of his father. Agreement on the Declaration of union between Montenegro and Boka in Dobrota, 29.10. 1813. year, in addition to signing and Peter Bishop, the signature guvernadur Vukolaj Radonjic "in the name of the whole of Montenegro and the mountains", as well as the heads of other municipalities. Although some historians claim that Vukolaj had no impact or functions in Montenegro after the formal return of function gubernadur see to cannot be true because it is just signed as the supreme gubernadur. Also, Vukolaj commanded a group of 3,000 soldiers in the Battle at the Fortress Three (Kotor, which expelled Napoleon's soldiers.

He and his brother, Marko Radonjic, were charged with a variety of offenses, and Bishop Peter II defy Njegos had returned General Montenegrin seal (which belonged to his grandfather the first Montenegrin guvernadur Stanislav Radonjic, and then his father guvernadur Jovan Radonjic). On 16 January 1832, he was brought to court. convicted, and he and his brother Marko Radonjic were condemned to be put in chains and shut in the cave monastery Cetinje (later called Guvernadurica in them, because Vukolaj was the first political prisoner in this prison, and later they were punished the most political prisoners until the end of World War II), and that the 32 members of their family in the Austrian territory Kotor. One third of them were immediately killed in their homes, because they did not want to leave. Their property was seized and divided, a house burned to the ground and destroyed. Of them is required to sell all their property in the Littoral, or "all that far Vukolaj and Marko will be free from prison."

How to Vukolaj ill, 20 04. 1832. under escort gvardija (guard) is taken in Kotor, where the night between the 29 and 30 May 1832. in the hospital and died from the effects of bondage in prison Cetinje monastery Guvernadurica (Gubernadurica).

He was the last obstacle in the realization ideas Bishop Njeguši II to sell the monastery Stanjevic - secret, Austria, (what was the offending Vukolaj), as well as to become a member of Great Serbian masonic vines - which is Njegos II realized immediately at the first arrival in Montenegro Vuk Karadzic mountain in 1834.^[1]

He died in Kotor.

The Last Montenegrin Guvernadur

A portrait of "The Last Montenegrin Gubernadur Vukolaj Radonjic" - oil on canvas 25 cm x 30 cm, painter Adam Stefanovic - from the private collection of J. Vujic, the National Museum in Belgrade (illustrated above).^[2]

Interests

• L. K. Viala De Somier, a French colonel, commander of Herceg Novi, Kotor Governor and Head of General Staff other divisions Illyrian army in Dubrovnik, visited Montenegro 1810.godine and gubernadur Vukolaj Radonjic to Njegusi and as he says: "vernacular residence and center of temporal power in Montenegro," For the first twenty steps from the house to meet me came gubernadur accompanied two priests and the elders of the people under sixty weapons .After first common compliments, gubernadur is my left hand laid on his right shoulder, and his right hand on my left shoulder and said: "I will be very happy you are my friend, because you did not come with bad intentions. now we're sweet with that which you are encouraged to come in our country. All the stars of heaven will be put out before you forget. " Shot from guns, ringing tones, clicking people, caused enthusiasm ... With all the sense: God! Napoleon Soldat!...
• French described guvernadur, with which he met in his home on Njeguši, as a man who "comes from a very old family, which is the honor" because of the extraordinary courage deserves the love of the fatherland. "In guvernadur, imposing man of pleasant appearance, generosity is coupled with the subtlety and the impression of deep sincerity. Expressing his casually, judiciously, but not flamboyantly. Its refinement contradict the harsh simplicity of nature and other people, and the tendency of "kind words" to show "fairness and sophistication of his observations, probably a consequence of the fact that" he traveled far Northern and Eastern Europe. (P.36). Guvernadur was awarded the Russian Order of St. George. And St. Anne of the second row, whose cross "indescribable perfection, decorated with precious, very brilliant stones." (P.34). The "precious gift of a great monarch," notes Somier, "fits nicely" to guvernadur. However, he continues, "is very strange to see dressed in costumes Spain ruler of a people who wear very different clothes."

Guvernadur Vuko Radonjic Otherwise, the lives of personal income, which consist in the possession of land, large flock, and, in part, income from fishing. (P.36-37). In addition, Somier said: "We should not think that this ruler more luxurious lives in the palace, to have a watch and a great house. None of that is that it need people Posted: he manage their fairness and holding that every price. No difference between this simple "Governance and the rule of large emperors.^[3] Guvernadur is, according to the French, educated man, who lives modestly and thinner, managed wisely and reputation gains - virtue ( "fairness and holding that any price"). Such is its wider family: "Guvernadur's brothers do not have any characteristic that make them stand out from the rest of the world. There are six, are all heroes in the most important event the left to the people fear and respect".^[4]

Annotations

His given name is also spelled Vukale (Вукале Радоњић).

References