06.06.2015.

200th anniversary of the Battle of Ljubic marked

With laying of wreaths, commemoration and state and military honours, today, at the Monument to Tanasko Rajic on Ljubic hill near Cacak, two centuries since the battle that had taken place there in 1815 between Serbian rebels and the Ottomans were marked.

On this occasion, wreaths were laid by representative of the Serbian President, representative of the National Assembly, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Aleksandar Vulin, representative of the Republika Srpska and the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces headed by Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, while representatives of the diplomatic corps, local self-government, associations for fostering traditions of Serbian liberation wars and many residents of the area also paid their respects.

Reminding of the historical circumstances and the importance of the Battle of Ljubic, the most important battle in the Second Serbian Uprising, General Dikovic stressed that Tanasko Rajic, Karadjordje’s standard-bearer and Milos’s captain, had lived, fought and died for freedom of his people.

- The view from this sacred place where trenches and canons once were is beautiful; the view of Cacak, of all our cities, of Serbia, the world, and all trenches we have emerged from creating freedom, and to which we will go back if the need be, in order to stay worthy of our glorious ancestors – General Dikovic stressed.

According to him, today, as possibly never before, our virtues must surpass our flaws, and we must bravely march on towards prosperity of Serbia and the merit of all its citizens.
- Eternal glory and our gratitude to the brave Serbian heroes. Long live Serbia – Chief of General Staff stated at the end of his address.

Serbian victory in Ljubic in the beginning of the Second Serbian Uprising greatly boosted the morale of the people in the uprising against the Ottomans and it marked the final part of military endeavours for liberation of Serbia from centuries of slavery under the Ottomans. This, with Karadjordje’s previous endeavours from the previous rebellion, paved the path to the acquisition and recognition of full independence a bit over half a century later.

Tanasko Rajic was one of the most distinguished warriors in the First and Second Uprising. He was born in Stragari near Rudnik, and was killed in the Battle of Ljubic on 6th June 1815.