knez
Quick Summary
A knez was a Christian "prince" or "headman" in the Ottoman administration of Serbian lands. This role involved acting as a negotiator for taxation, a justice of the peace, and a spokesperson for the Christian population. In times of unrest, a knez could even be responsible for raising local forces to support the Ottoman authorities. The institution of the knez became a significant focus for Christian resistance in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Notable knezes like MiloÅ” ObrenoviÄ led rebellions that eventually led to greater local autonomy for Serbia. The term knez itself is of Slavic origin, akin to "prince" or "duke".123
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SerbiaConquest by the Ottoman TurksLed by the Serb knez, or prince, Lazar HrebeljanoviÄ (he did not claim DuÅ”anās imperial title), a combined army of Serbs, Albanians, and Hungarians met Muradās forces in battle. On St. Vitusās Day (Vidovdan), June 28 (June 15, Old Style), 1389, at Kosovo Polje, the Serbs and their alliesā¦
Read MoreLed by the Serb knez, or prince, Lazar HrebeljanoviÄ (he did not claim DuÅ”anās imperial title), a combined army of Serbs, Albanians, and Hungarians met Muradās forces in battle. On St. Vitusās Day (Vidovdan), June 28 (June 15, Old Style), 1389, at Kosovo Polje, the Serbs and their alliesā¦
Read More- SerbiaLife in the Ottoman period
ā¦would later rule through local knezes, who were Christian āprincesā or āheadmen.ā A knez might act as a negotiator for taxation with the authorities, as a kind of justice of the peace, as an intermediary in the organization of labour obligations, or as a spokesman for the Christian population inā¦
Read Moreā¦would later rule through local knezes, who were Christian āprincesā or āheadmen.ā A knez might act as a negotiator for taxation with the authorities, as a kind of justice of the peace, as an intermediary in the organization of labour obligations, or as a spokesman for the Christian population inā¦
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