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{{Short description|Historical tribe of Montenegro}}
{{Tribes of MNE&H}}
The '''Rovčani''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Ровчани}}, {{IPA|sh|rǒ̞ʋt͡ʃani|pron}}) are a historical [[Tribes of Montenegro|tribe of Montenegro]] and one of the seven highlander tribes of the [[Brda (Montenegro)|Brda]] region, alongside the [[Bjelopavlići]], [[Piperi (tribe)|Piperi]], [[Kuči]], [[Bratonožići]], [[Moračani]] and [[Vasojevići]]. The historical region that they inhabit is called '''Rovca''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Ровца}}, {{IPA|sh|rǒ̞ʋt͡za|pron}}).
==Etymology==
The Rovčani owe their name to the region that they inhabit, called Rovca, which is derived from [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] ''rov'', meaning “dent” or “trench”.<ref>{{cite book|title=Serb World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UDZpAAAAMAAJ|year=1982|publisher=Neven Publishing Corporation|page=26}}</ref>
==Geography==
Rovca borders the historical regions and tribes of the Moračani to the east, the [[Drobnjaci]] to the north, the [[Nikšići]] to the west, the Bjelopavlići to the southwest, the Piperi to the south, and the Bratonožići to the southeast. Rovca consists of the following villages: Višnje, Velje Duboko, Liješnje, Cerovica, Međuriječje, Mrtvo Duboko, Sreteška Gora, Gornja Rovca, Vlahovići and Trmanje.
==History==
The region of Rovca is first mentioned in the 1477 ''[[defter]]'' (tax registry) of the [[Sanjak of Herzegovina]], which had been established in 1470.
[[Mariano Bolizza]], a Venetian patrician, recorded in 1614 that “Riouzi” (Rovci) was inhabited by [[Serbs|Orthodox Christian Serbs]] and had a total of 50 houses. The 120 [[Man-at-arms|men-at-arms]] were commanded by Ivan Rodonjin.{{sfn|Elsie|2003|p=154}} In 1689, an uprising broke out in Piperi, Rovca, Bjelopavlići, Bratonožići, Kuči and Vasojevići. This uprising broke out at the same time of a similar one in [[Prizren]], [[Peć]], [[Priština]] and [[Skopje]], which expanded further in [[Kratovo, North Macedonia|Kratovo]] and [[Kriva Palanka]] in October ([[Karposh's Rebellion]]).<ref name="armije1968">{{cite book|author=Belgrade (Serbia). Vojni muzej Jugoslovenske narodne armije|title=Fourteen centuries of struggle for freedom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2m8MAQAAMAAJ|year=1968|publisher=The Military Museum|page=xxviii}}</ref>
In 1768, the Rovčani helped the Bjelopavlići, who were attacked by the Ottomans.{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=28}} In 1774, [[Mehmet Bushatli]], the ''pasha'' of Scutari, broke into Kuči and "destroyed" it; the Rovčani housed and protected some of the refugee families.{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=28}} On the request of Russian Empress Catherine, the Montenegrins and Herzegovinians took arms against the Ottomans in 1788. The call was gladly accepted by the Rovčani and Moračani who equipped gunpowder and weapons for the upcoming events.<ref name="Vujačić1952">{{cite book|author=Marko A. Vujačić|title=Znameniti crnogorski junaci: po istoriskim podacima, tradiciji i narodnoj pjesmi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qm0xAQAAIAAJ|year=1952|publisher=Narodna Knjiga|page=226|quote=На позив руске царице Катарине, Црногор- ци и Херцеговци устали су на оружје против Турака године 1788« Овај позив радо су прихватили Ровчани и Морачани и опремили су барут и оружје за насту- пајуће догађаје.}}</ref> However, the Ottomans heard of the intentions, and preemptively struck Morača, the centre of preparation.<ref>{{cite book|title=Glasnik Srpskog istorijsko-kulturnog društva "Njegoš".|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TtnlAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Njegoš|page=32}}</ref> In 1794, the Kuči and Rovčani were devastated by the Ottomans.{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=28}} In 1796, the Montenegrin army under Metropolitan [[Petar I Petrović-Njegoš]] and with the assistance of the Piperi, defeated the Ottoman army at the [[Battle of Krusi]].{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=28}} The Montenegrin victory resulted in territorial expansion, with the tribes of Bjelopavlići and Piperi being joined into the Montenegrin state.<ref name="Čulinović1954">{{cite book|author=Ferdo Čulinović|title=Državnopravna historija jugoslavenskih zemalja XIX i XX vijeka: knj. Srbija, Crna Gora, Makedonija, Jugoslavija, 1918-1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BzI5AQAAIAAJ|year=1954|publisher=Školska knjiga}}</ref> The Rovčani, as other highlander tribes, subsequently turned more and more towards [[Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro|Montenegro]].{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=29}} Metropolitan Petar I sent letters in 1799 to the Moračani and Rovčani, advising them to live peacefully and in solidarity.{{sfn|Barjaktarović|1984|p=29}}
During the [[First Serbian Uprising]] (1804–13), the Drobnjaci, Moračani, Rovčani, Uskoci and Pivljani rose against the Ottomans and burnt down villages in [[Herzegovina]].<ref name="Korać1971">{{cite book|author=Vojislav Korać|title=Trebinje: Istorijski pregled|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l28cAAAAMAAJ|year=1971|publisher=Zavičajni muzej|page=304}}</ref> In 1820, after the defeat of the Ottoman army at the [[Morača]] river, the Rovčani were incorporated into Montenegro, together with the Moračani.{{sfn|Morrison|2009|p=21}}
Rovčani was one of the tribes that supported the [[Montenegrin Greens]], a faction that opposed what they saw was an annexation of [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]] to [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] and instead urged for a federation.{{sfn|Banac|1988|p=285 "The Great National Assembly was held at Podgorica, away from Cetinje and the areas of greatest pro-Petrović sentiment in Old Montenegro. But in the ''nahije'' of Katuni (especially in the tribes of Cetinje, Čevo, Bjelice, and Cuce), elsewhere in Old Montenegro, and even in the Brda (Moračani, Rovci, Piperi) and Montenegrin Hercegovina (Nikšići, Rudinjani), the decision was understood as Serbia's annexion of Montenegro. But where the Green half of Montenegro nursed revenge against a burning shame, the Whites in the Brda (notably Bjelopavlići) and beyond (Vasojevići), and in Hercegovina (Drobnjaci, a part of Nikšići, and Grahovljani) celebrated effective Pan-Serbianism."}} The Greens still declared themselves to be ethnic Serbs.<ref>{{Citation |last=Banac |first=Ivo |authorlink= Ivo Banac |title=Protiv straha : članci, izjave i javni nastupi, 1987-1992 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJBpAAAAMAAJ&q=%22+Posebno+je+zanimljivo+da+su+se+i+%C2%BBzelena%C5%A1i%C2%AB%2C+kao+beskompromisna+opozicija%2C+nacionalno+smatrali+Srbima%22 |accessdate= 12 December 2011|year=1992|publisher= Slon |location= Zagreb |language= Croatian |oclc=29027519 |page=14 |quote=Posebno je zanimljivo da su se i »zelenaši«,...., nacionalno smatrali Srbima" [it is especially interesting that Greens also ... declared themselves as Serbs]}}</ref> During the [[Christmas Uprising]] (January 7, 1919) two members of Bulatović family were flayed alive in Rovca by the [[Montenegrin Whites]] (the other political faction).{{sfn|Banac|1988|p=286}}
==Politics==
The Rovčani tribe had historically viewed themselves as Serbs,{{sfn|Morrison|2009|p=175}} and in light of Montenegrin independence (2006), Rovca clan chief Nikola Minić said that "If Milo Djukanovic tried to divide Montenegro... we wouldn't live in his country... but remain united in a brotherhood with Serbia."<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/correspondent/transcripts/861500.txt {{Bare URL plain text|date=March 2022}}</ref>
==Anthropology==
According to local folklore, recalled by a Bulatović, the Rovca tribe ultimately descend from ''ban'' (duke) Ilijan, from [[Grbalj]] in the [[Bay of Kotor]]. This Ilijan allegedly married Jevrosima, the daughter of [[Vukan Nemanjić of Serbia|Grand Prince Vukan]] (r. 1202–04) and sister of [[Stefan Vukanović Nemanjić]], who built the [[Morača monastery]].<ref name=Knjizevnost>{{cite book|title=Književnost|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tY3lAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Prosveta|pages=594–597}}</ref> Ilijan had a son, Nikša, who was in conflict with ''ban'' Ugren of the [[Nikšić]] ''[[župa]]'' (county).<ref name="Milojković1985">{{cite book|author=Mirko Milojković|title=Legende iz naših krajeva|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZ5LAAAAMAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Srpska književna zadruga|page=174}}</ref> Nikša's son Gojak murdered Ugren, after which he was hid in the Morača monastery by his great-uncle (or uncle) Stefan, and then in the Lukavica mountain, where he is believed to have died.<ref name=Knjizevnost/> Gojak had fours sons: Bulat (whose descendants are known as Bulatovići), Šćepan (whose descendants are known as Šćepanovići), Vlaho (whose descendants are known as Vlahovići) and Srezoje (whose descendants are known as Srezojevići).
The other part of Rovčani are descendants of ''knez'' (duke) Bogdan Lješnjanin, who fled from [[Čevo]] due to a [[krvna osveta|blood feud]], and firstly settled in the village of Liješnje in the Lješ ''[[nahiyah]]'' (subdistrict), and then after another blood feud there he settled in what would become Rovca, in the village of Brezno (which today is known as Liješnje). This happened in the first half of the 15th century, before the Ottoman conquest.
All of the Rovca tribe celebrate the [[Slava (patron saint day)|Slava]], [[St. Luke]].
===Brotherhoods===
*Rovca
**Bulatovići
**Šćepanovići
**Vlahovići
**Srezojevići
*Bogdanovići
==Notable people==
*[[Hajduk Veljko|Hajduk Veljko Petrović]], hero of the [[First Serbian Uprising]]; by ancestry
*[[Pavle Bulatović]], former Yugoslav Minister of Interior; by ancestry
*[[Predrag Bulatović]], Montenegrin politician; by ancestry
*[[Miodrag Bulatović]], Serbian and Montenegrin novelist and playwright; by ancestry
*[[Katarina Bulatović]], Montenegrin handball player; by ancestry
*[[Anđela Bulatović]], Montenegrin handball player; by ancestry
*[[Ivana Bulatović]], Montenegrin alpine skier; by ancestry
*[[Nikola Bulatović]], retired Serbian and Montenegrin basketball player; by ancestry
*[[Veljko Vlahović]], Montenegrin communist politician
*[[Miodrag Vlahović]], Montenegrin politician and communist; by ancestry
*[[Miodrag Vlahović (foreign minister)]], former Montenegrin ambassador to the U.S.; by ancestry
*[[Veselin Vlahović]], Montenegrin war criminal; by ancestry
*[[Matija Bećković]], famous Serbian writer and poet; by ancestry
*[[Vlado Šćepanović]], retired Montenegrin basketball player; born in Kolašin, by ancestry
*[[Nebojša Bogavac]], retired Montenegrin basketball player; by ancestry
*[[Dragan Bogavac]], Montenegrin football player; by ancestry{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}
*[[Avdo Međedović]], Montenegrin Muslim ''[[gusle|guslar]]'' and [[Oral poetry|oral poet]]; by ancestry
*[[Mato Pižurica]], Serbian linguist and professor
*[[Vojislav Šešelj]], [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian Serb]] nationalist politician, writer and lawyer; by ancestry{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book |last=Banac |first=Ivo |author-link=Ivo Banac |title=The National Question in Yugoslavia: Origins, History, Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KfqbujXqQBkC |date=1988 |orig-year=1st pub. 1984 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca and London |isbn=978-0-8014-9493-2}}
*{{cite book |last=Barjaktarović |first=Mirko |title=Rovca (etnološka monografija) |publisher=Crnogorska akademija nauka i umjetnosti |location=Titograd |year=1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKcMAAAAIAAJ}}
*{{cite book |title=Early Albania. A Reader of Historical Texts |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |year=2003 |editor-last=Elsie |editor-first=Robert |editor-link=Robert Elsie |location=Wiesbaden |chapter=Mariano Bolizza: Report and description of the Sanjak of Shkodra 1614 |url=http://www.albanianhistory.net/1614_Bolizza/index.html}}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Kenneth |title=Montenegro: A Modern History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xKMtAQAAIAAJ |date=2009 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |isbn=978-1-4416-2897-8 |location=London}}
*{{cite book |author1=Vojislav M. Bulatović|author2=Momir P. Bulatović|author3=Petar J. Marković |author4=Jovan V. Babović |author5=Branko M. Bulatović |author6=Marko V. Bulatović|title=Rovca: bratstvo Bulatovići : životni put roda mog|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bHJZAAAACAAJ|year=2004|publisher=M. V. Bulatović|isbn=978-86-905639-0-6}}
{{Geographical regions of Montenegro}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rovcani}}
[[Category:Tribes of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Regions of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Rovčani| ]]