Haramije

Haramije (tur. haramî: bandit, outlaw < arap. ḥarāmiyy: outlaw, punk), were lightly armed Croatian infantry. They were founded in 1539 to serve as a countermeasure against Ottoman incursions inside Croatian territory.[1]

Context

Throughout the 16th century Croatia and Slavonia suffered from frequent Ottoman martolos raids. These Ottoman troops recruited from Balkan Vlachs[2] (and others) usually made incursions deep inside Croatian-Slavonian territory, in order to kidnap people living there, take them back across Ottoman side of the border and then sell them on the Ottoman slave markets.[2]

Formation

Croatian-Slavonian Parliament, which assembled on 8 May 1539 in Dubrava issued the legislative to recruit 300 strong haramija force, also inspired by Ottoman martolos, and assemble them during the summer and autumn of this year.[3] They would be recruited by Croatian ban (viceroy), who would then deploy them on appropriate locations throughout the country.[3] In order to pay for these new troops, the new taxes were also imposed.[3] Haramijas would then be deployed in Croatian-Slavonian forts throughout the country in order to pursue and intercept any Ottoman martolos, which they would encounter.[4]

After foundation of Ban's Frontier, haramije became integrated in its defense system. They were commanded by dukes or Harambašas. Non-paid members of people's army, who guarded Slavonian borders facing the Ottoman Empire were also dubbed as Haramijas. The unit was disbanded in 18th century, when Frontier Regiments were formed.[1]

Notable haramijas

References
  1. Tomasović, NIves (2017). "Posljednja večera u Hvaru - raskošna spomenica". Prilozi povijesti otoka Hvara. 13 (1): 83–95.
  2. Čebotarev, Andrej (2003). "Martolozi kao trgovci robljem od 15. do 18. stoljeća". Hereditas rerum Croaticarum ad honorem Mirko Valentić (in Croatian): 75–84.
  3. Klaić, Vjekoslav (1988). Povijest Hrvata: knjiga peta. Zagreb: Matica hrvatska. pp. 173–174.
  4. Mažuran, Ive (1998). Hrvati i Osmansko Carstvo. Zagreb: Golden marketing. p. 96.
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