Veljko Petrović Veljko Petrović ( ; ; c . 1780 – 1813 ) , known simply as Hajduk Veljko ( Хајдук Вељко , [ xǎjduːk v̞ɛ̌ːʎkɔ ] ) , was a one of the " voivode s " ( military commanders ) of the Serbian Revolution ary forces in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire , in charge of tbe Negotin area . He was one of the biggest heroes of the Uprising . Biography . Early life . He was born in Lenovac , near Zaječar , in the Crna Reka nahija , into the family of Petar ( hence he took " Petrović " as his surname ) and Petrinja . He had two younger brothers , Milutin and Miljko . His father was called " Sirenjar Petar " ( " Peter the Cheese Maker " ) due to his multitude of livestock which he possessed , and the amount of cheese he sold . His father was a very calm person , though Veljko was an unruly kid . In his youth he kept cattle , even becoming " čobanbaša " ( " head herder " ) among the local herders . The local Turks often visited their house , eating their food , drinking and taking cheese , butter oil , and milk . Osman Pazvantoğlu ' s " krdžalije " ( Ottoman brigands ) , who were deemed rebels by the Sultan , had fought the Imperial troops at Crna Reka , and then continued to attack local Turks loyal to the Sultan , and burned and devastated several villages in the region , including Lenovac . This prompted Veljko , only 15 years old , to leave his parents and brothers for Vidin . There he was hired as a shepherd by a Turk , and after some time he left for Požarevac , where he was hired by the Vojvoda of Požarevac to prepare food . As he had also spent some time there , at Easter time , he danced the " kolo " with his friends , forgetting to prepare the important dinner for his master . For this , his master chased to beat him , thus Veljko fled , ending up in the " hajduk " ( Serbian brigands ) bands of Stanoje Glavaš . In the winter time of 1803 , Glavaš had arranged for Veljko to stay at the house of a " jatak " ( " concealer " , civil hajduk supporter ) in Dubona , in the Smederevo nahija , where he would work as a shepherd . In the same village Veljko met Marija , a widow and relative of Glavaš , and married her , moving to her house . Not long after the wedding , the Slaughter of the Knezes took place ( January 1804 ) , in which prominent Serb leaders were executed by the Janissary military junta of the Sanjak of Smederevo ( these janissaries , under the leadership of Kučuk Alija , had murdered " sanjak - bey " Hadži Mustafa Pasha in 15 December 1801 and taken the rule of the sanjak ) . As a response to the executions , the Serbian population , without a central figure , took measures of self - defence , and spontaneously attacked the jannisaries . First Serbian Uprising . Hearing of Karađorđe ' s activities , Veljko immediately asked his wife for hajduk wear and weapons , and joined Glavaš ' bands . When Karađorđe arrived at Orašac on the Meeting of the Lord , February 2 , 1804 , and was chosen by the people , Glavaš , Katić , Čarapić , Jakovljević , Vule , and others , to be the " Supreme Leader of the Serb People " , Veljko was present in Glavaš ' " četa " ( band of fighters ) . As the Uprising developed , Glavaš lay away his weapon , and Veljko then served the Smederevo Vojvoda Dušan Vulićević ( known as " Đuša " ) fighting the Ottomans . In the fall of 1805 , Vojvoda Đuša was killed by the Turks in Smederevo . Karađorđe put Đuša ' s younger brother Vujica Vulićević in his place . Veljko became one of Vujica ' s " buljukbašica " ( a commander of a few men ) . With Dušan Vulićević he fought to free Beograd ( 1806 ) , where he excelled in combat . In 1807 he became a " buljubaša / буљубаша " and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka . In 1809 , he , despite being heavily outnumbered , bravely defended Soko Banja from the Turks . His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia and the Balkans . In 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery . He was noted in the battle of Varvarin , where he was wounded in his left arm , and because of it he was slightly crippled . Year 1811 he become " Voivoda of the Timocka Krajina " and he was sent to Negotin , in Timocka Krajina In 1813 , a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them . Turks then set forth with much stronger force , so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it . Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813 . The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška ( Walachia ) . In total , 16 , 000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin , which was defended by 3 , 000 Serbian soldiers . Veljko fortified Negotin , built a moat and towers , and waited for the Turks . The tallest tower in which Veljko resided , was named Baba Finka . In the moats , together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko . Also , there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži - Nikola , Abrašelibalta among many others . The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn ' t arrive , and ammunition was running low , so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition , and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons . One morning after twenty days of heroic defense , he ordered repair around his moat was struck by a cannon ball . He died almost immediately . The Battle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian rebels . His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin ' s church . After Veljko ' s death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina . He is still remembered for his famous words : " Glavu dajem , Krajinu ne dajem " . ( I ' ll give my head , but not Krajina ) Just before the Battle of Negotin , his friend suggested to him that he send his gold , jewels and other valuables to his family , so they wouldn ' t fall into Turkish hands . But Veljko refused , believing it wouldn ' t be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless . Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold . Legacy . As a popular hero , there existed songs about him even during his lifetime . There exists over 70 lyrical and 10 epic poems about him . Some of the most known songs or epic poems include " Raslo mi je badem drvo " ( " Расло ми је бадем дрво " ) and " Bolan mi leži Kara - Mustafa " ( " Болан ми лежи Кара - Мустафа " ) . Serbian comic author Živorad Atanacković ( 1933 - 1998 ) created an adventurous comic on the person of Veljko Petrović , with the theme of the First Serbian Uprising ( " Hajduk Veljko " , 1966 ) . Some Bulgarian historians have portrayed Veljko as a Bulgarian , as part of their national aspirations . According to Georges Castellan his mother was ethnic Bulgarian .