Zeka Buljubaša

Early life

Gligorijević was born in ca. 1785, in Sjenica. His family hailed from Nevesinje. He was brought up working for Serb and Turkish merchants, from where he learnt to ride horses, use weapons, and the Turkish language. He went to school in a monastery. His parents called him zeka due to his green eyes.

Zeka came to the Sanjak of Smederevo due to the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising. Prior to the uprising, he lived in Višegrad. A story goes that he left his home village after falling out with his close friend, a Turk from Nevesinje, after telling him about murdering a Turk man who was about to rape a Serb widow, his neighbour; the friend told Zeka that his Islamic faith could not look over this, and suggested a gun duel; Zeka shot him in the shoulder and immediately left his home for Višegrad. He was not yet 20 years old at that time.

Career

At first, Zeka served in the band (četa) of vojvoda Stojan Čupić in Mačva, then served as border protection by the Drina (towards the Bosnia Eyalet). He was usually posted in Parašnica near Crna Bara.

Zeka formed a četa of 50–200 men, called the Goli Sinovi ("Naked Sons", a term for homeless and familyless people), or Golaći. Although implying poverty, the soldiers were later richly dressed and armed. Zeka and his band also participated in great battles, such as Lješnica and Loznica, but especially successfully watched Turkish movements and intercepted troops. After receiving the rank of buljubaša, he became known by the people as "Zeka Buljubaša".

He commanded a band (četa) of vagabonds, who were sometimes dressed in broadcloth, though armed with the most beautiful weapons. In 1813 his band fought on the Drina river. When the band's ammunition ran out, they rushed the Ottomans with knives and were all killed, near Zasavica.

Legacy

Dušan Baranin wrote two novels on his life, Zeko Buljubaša (1954) and Golaći (1966). A football club in Ravnje bears his name.