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the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

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delegation representing a pro-Russian faction. 7 Bagration invited <strong>the</strong>m to his<br />

headquarters, and wrote Alexander, “I do not want to exclude any method that can<br />

encourage <strong>the</strong> Serbian nation and restore commitment and fearlessness to this people, so<br />

that we can join our forces to save <strong>the</strong> situation.” 8<br />

Bagration met <strong>the</strong> Serbian delegation on 19 September. 9 After discussing <strong>the</strong><br />

current situation in Serbia, he ordered Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin and Isaev to contact major Serbian<br />

leaders 10 and unite <strong>the</strong> Serbs against <strong>the</strong> Turks. He wrote Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin, “Despite <strong>the</strong><br />

difficulties [in Serbia], we cannot abandon <strong>the</strong> Serbs under any pretext and, no matter<br />

how dangerous is <strong>the</strong> situation, we must demonstrate our firmness, courage and<br />

enterprise to settle <strong>the</strong>ir affairs…. Your Excellency made efforts for <strong>the</strong> well being <strong>of</strong> this<br />

nation for a long time and it would be a pity to forsake <strong>the</strong>m without benefiting from <strong>the</strong><br />

result <strong>of</strong> your work.” 11 Although he lacked funds for his troops, Bagration still allocated<br />

money to obtain weapons and ammunition for Serbs and gave <strong>the</strong>m “several [hundred]<br />

muskets, two guns with complete caissons and a supply <strong>of</strong> lead and gunpowder.” He<br />

wrote, “Depending on <strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> this operation, I would increase <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong><br />

muskets and ammunition.” 12 Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, he was very concerned with <strong>the</strong> Turkish<br />

activity on <strong>the</strong> border with Little Wallachia, where <strong>the</strong> Turks attacked <strong>the</strong> Russian<br />

positions on <strong>the</strong> Island Olmar and captured town <strong>of</strong> Chernetsy. Bagration reinforced<br />

7 Petar Dobrnjac and Metropolitan Leontije accompanied Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin. There were several<br />

reasons for hostility between <strong>the</strong> Serbian factions and Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin. The Serbs were displeased by<br />

what <strong>the</strong>y perceived a Russian’s indifference to <strong>the</strong>ir plight. In addition, <strong>the</strong> Russian<br />

representative, Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin, was originally a Phanariote Greek, whom <strong>the</strong> Serbs disliked for<br />

cooperating with <strong>the</strong> Turks.<br />

8 Bagration to Alexander, 18 September 1809, Voennii sbornik, 11 (1864): 260.<br />

9 Bagration to Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin, 19 September 1809, Ibid., 274.<br />

10<br />

Bagration mentioned Metropolitan Leontije, Archimandrite Filipovich, Commandant<br />

Milenko Stojkovich.<br />

11 Bagration to Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin, 19 September 1809, Voennii sbornik, 11 (1864): 274-75.<br />

12 Bagration to Rod<strong>of</strong>inikin, 19 September 1809, Ibid., 276.<br />

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