Today we mark 200 years since the Second Serbian Uprising against Ottomans took place.
The conquered Orthodox Christian populations under Ottoman rule were disarmed and dispossessed of all property, and were soon pressed into a condition of serfdom under Turkish masters. They were called “giours” and in the mass the “rayah,” “the herd.” Whoever renounced his faith and became a Turk – Mohammedan was thereby instantly naturalized into Islam, receiving the status and all the life-chances of a born Osmanili [Turk]. That was the sole means in his power of escaping from the subjected masses or of opening a door of opportunity.
The Serbians in general refused to accept that door of escape from durance vile and remained true to their Orthodox Christian and national faith, even though the long night of practical extinction, hoping for a dawn though long deferred.
Many of the Serbian nobles and numbers of the common people fled to Serb lands under Venice or those under Hungary [i.e. to Krajina].
But certain ones among the nobles and others became Turks – Moslems, thereby preserving their lands and castles, and authority was given to them under the Turks as Pashas, Beys, Agas, and Spahis. They became ranged, in the eyes of the general populations, on the side of the conquerors, and were looked upon by the people as Turks.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the inhabitants had not only been subject to Turkish attack, but had been obliged as well to stand, ever beating back Hungarian invasions, the greater part of the nobles went over in body to Mohammedanism.
Large numbers of Serbs, loyal to their faith and home traditions, escaped to the mountain fastnesses from which they were able to harass the Turks of the plains and so maintain a relative independence.
The Serbians of the Rayah lived under great oppression and humiliation, their only means of protection being through the Serbian Patriarch so long as one existed.
In case of acts of injustice or violence suffered at the hands of individual Turks, there was no possible redress. –
The Orthodox Christian Serbs were forbidden the use of horses or camels, only mules and asses being allowed them.
They were forbidden to ride even a mule or an ass in the presence of a Turk (or in the presence of an converted, former Serbs).
It was not permitted that their houses should have a better appearance than Turkish houses.
For their faith they had much to suffer. The Serbian Orthodox clergy, few in number, were kept in miserable conditions, and churches which had been destroyed were not allowed to be rebuilt, the building of new churches being strictly forbidden.
The sound of church bells was forbidden as was also the reading aloud of the Holy Scriptures or the pronunciation of the name of Jesus Christ.
It was not lawful to make the sign of the cross, to show a cross, or to eat pork in sight of a Turk.
The Rayah were not allowed openly to bury their dead; Christian burials took place at night or in secret; mourning for the dead was strictly prohibited either by costume or by symbol or in any other way.
Church services were often held in some secluded spot in forest or glen, sometimes under a chosen tree marked with a cross; or ordinary houses were built as if for a family, with a central hearth, and sometimes with surrounding st
In Ottoman Empire Christians were but slaves at nonexistent mercy of their Muslim lords. Many, many books worldwide write about different horrors the Christians endured.
One of the most humiliating forms of oppression was that Muslims gave themselves “right of the first night”. In practice it meant that Turkish (or local Muslim Slav) lord would spend the first night with the new Christian bride. The groom had to take shoes off and silently circle the house while the Turk makes love to his wife.
Still, by far the worst horror the Christians had to endure was the TurkishJanissary system. Western scholars frequently downplay the importance of this “Tax in Blood” as Christian subjects nicknamed it.
More on Orthodox Christians Serbs under Ottoman rule:
The conquered Orthodox Christian populations under Ottoman rule were disarmed and dispossessed of all property, and were soon pressed into a condition of serfdom under Turkish masters. They were called “giours” and in the mass the “rayah,” “the herd.” Whoever renounced his faith and became a Turk – Mohammedan was thereby instantly naturalized into Islam, receiving the status and all the life-chances of a born Osmanili [Turk]. That was the sole means in his power of escaping from the subjected masses or of opening a door of opportunity.
The Serbians in general refused to accept that door of escape from durance vile and remained true to their Orthodox Christian and national faith, even though the long night of practical extinction, hoping for a dawn though long deferred.
Many of the Serbian nobles and numbers of the common people fled to Serb lands under Venice or those under Hungary [i.e. to Krajina].
But certain ones among the nobles and others became Turks – Moslems, thereby preserving their lands and castles, and authority was given to them under the Turks as Pashas, Beys, Agas, and Spahis. They became ranged, in the eyes of the general populations, on the side of the conquerors, and were looked upon by the people as Turks.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the inhabitants had not only been subject to Turkish attack, but had been obliged as well to stand, ever beating back Hungarian invasions, the greater part of the nobles went over in body to Mohammedanism.
Large numbers of Serbs, loyal to their faith and home traditions, escaped to the mountain fastnesses from which they were able to harass the Turks of the plains and so maintain a relative independence.
The Serbians of the Rayah lived under great oppression and humiliation, their only means of protection being through the Serbian Patriarch so long as one existed.
In case of acts of injustice or violence suffered at the hands of individual Turks, there was no possible redress. –
The Orthodox Christian Serbs were forbidden the use of horses or camels, only mules and asses being allowed them.
They were forbidden to ride even a mule or an ass in the presence of a Turk (or in the presence of an converted, former Serbs).
It was not permitted that their houses should have a better appearance than Turkish houses.
For their faith they had much to suffer. The Serbian Orthodox clergy, few in number, were kept in miserable conditions, and churches which had been destroyed were not allowed to be rebuilt, the building of new churches being strictly forbidden.
The sound of church bells was forbidden as was also the reading aloud of the Holy Scriptures or the pronunciation of the name of Jesus Christ.
It was not lawful to make the sign of the cross, to show a cross, or to eat pork in sight of a Turk.
The Rayah were not allowed openly to bury their dead; Christian burials took place at night or in secret; mourning for the dead was strictly prohibited either by costume or by symbol or in any other way.
Church services were often held in some secluded spot in forest or glen, sometimes under a chosen tree marked with a cross; or ordinary houses were built as if for a family, with a central hearth, and sometimes with surrounding st
In Ottoman Empire Christians were but slaves at nonexistent mercy of their Muslim lords. Many, many books worldwide write about different horrors the Christians endured.
One of the most humiliating forms of oppression was that Muslims gave themselves “right of the first night”. In practice it meant that Turkish (or local Muslim Slav) lord would spend the first night with the new Christian bride. The groom had to take shoes off and silently circle the house while the Turk makes love to his wife.
Still, by far the worst horror the Christians had to endure was the TurkishJanissary system. Western scholars frequently downplay the importance of this “Tax in Blood” as Christian subjects nicknamed it.
More on Orthodox Christians Serbs under Ottoman rule:
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