ПРИЛОЗИ ИСТРАЖИВАЊУ УЧЕШЋА СРПСКЕ (РАЦКЕ) И УГАРСКЕ МИЛИЦИЈЕ У РАТОВИМА ПОЗНОГ 17. И РАНОГ 18. ВЕКА
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE STUDY OF PARTICIPATION OF SERBIAN (RASCIAN) AND HUNGARIAN MILITIA IN WARS OF THE LATE 17TH AND EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: The participation of Serbian and Hungarian irregulars in the Great Turkish War (1683–1699) has been covered in various domestic and foreign historiographical works, either as a part of more broadly conceived studies, or in more specific articles. However, this topic was, as a rule, covered from a too narrow perspective, which tended to obscure the proper evaluation of the contribution of Serbian and Hungarian militia during the wars of the late 17th and early 18th century. In this paper, we have considered the relations between regular Habsburg forces and militia, relations of its renowned commanders among themselves and towards Austrian military authorities, as well as number of men in irregular units, along with their national composition. The focus is placed on the operational capability and battlefield roles militia has fulfilled – reconnaissance, screening of friendly troops, patrolling, raiding, ambushing, seizure of provisions, capturing prisoners and “tongues”, as well as harassment of enemy formations. One of the often overlooked abilities of the Serbian militia was the capability to provide first-grade military intelligence from the depth of the Ottoman territory, due to wellbranched network of informants and compatriots in the Balkans. Also, the negative aspects of irregulars were brought to light – their unruliness, sometimes dubious loyalty and propensity for looting even on a friendly or allied territory.

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