History of Military Border: 1804-1814

Rothenberg's The Military Border in Croatia, 1740-1881

Period: 1804-1814
Chapter 6: The Military Border in the Period of the Serb Revolt and the French Occupation: 1804-1814

Key Family History Connections / Information of Interest:

• In 1804, Serbs in the Belgrade area revolt against local, Turkish ruler.  They ask for support from Austria.  Austria stays neutral (because of international relation concerns and to avoid fears that their own citizens would revolt.
• France is given control of the parts of the Croatian Military Border (including the Udbina area) starting in late 1809.  French rule lasts 4 years.  

[NOTE: The Udbina area is located in Lika which was located in the Karlstadt generalcy.  Any references to these larger units provides insights into life in the Udbina area.]

Quotes from Chapter:

"In February, 1804, Serbian patriots led by Djordje Petrović, better known as Karadjordje, rose against the misrule and the intolerable excesses of the Turkish janissaries then controlling the Belgrade pashalik.  Taking the enemy by surprise, the insurgents were initially victorious and by April had forced the Turks to hole up in a few strong fortresses... Karadjordje approached Austria and in return for support offered to place himself and the country under Hapsburg rule...

But in 1804 Austria faced the probability of another war with France and therefore Vienna decided to reverse her long standing policy of supporting Balkan Christians against Turkish rule and refused to aid the Serb revolt."   (Pages 102-103)

"From the very beginning, the Serb revolt was supported with arms and supplies from the Serb civilian community in southern Hungary and Slavonia and to a lesser degree from Croatia.  The Grenzer, of course, were particularly eager to help and the decision to deny aid caused much resentment, especially in the heavily Orthodox Karlstadt, Banal, and Slavonian regiments."   (Page 103)

"Austria's indecisive policy was in part due to her desire to remain on a good terms with both Russia and the Porte, but it also derived in large part from mounting fears about the spear of South Slav national feeling and its effect on the loyalty of the Grenzer.  Between 1806 and 1809 it appeared as if the Serb revolt might become a Balkan revolution."   (Page 107)

"The ultimate fate of the Croatian Military Border was decided by the battle of Wagram (July 5-6, 1809).  After this defeat the Austrian government sued for peace, and in the Treaty of Schoenbrunn, signed October 14, it ceded Croatia on the right bank of the Sava, including the six Karlstadt and Banal regiments to Napoleon.  These territories, together we parts of Carniola, Carinthia, Istria, and Dalmatia were constituted as the Illyrian Provinces with the capital at Ljubljana (Laibach)." (Page 109)

"French rule of the Croatian Military Border lasted four years.  During this time roads were built, hospitals established, and harbors improved, but even so the French administration brought few radical innovations." (Page 111)

"After [Napolean's] abdication all Croatian units made their way home and by May, 1814, the last stragglers had returned.  Thus the French interlude on the military border came to an end."

Links to the posts for the various time periods (each covered in a chapter of the book):
1500-1740
1740-1756
1756-1780
1780-1790
1790-1809
1804-1814
1815-1847
1848-1859
1859-1871
1871-1881