Vasojevići

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The Vasojević tribe (Serbian: Васојевићи) is the biggest Serb (Highland) clan of Montenegro, occupying the area between Vjetarnih near Bijelo Polje and Mateševo to Plav.

Since 1880, the Vasojevići tribe has been divided into upper Vasojevići and lower Vasojevići. The hometown of tribe, according to legend, is Lijeva Rijeka (Left River). The founder of the tribe, Vaso, moved there after the Battle of Kosovo. The tribe soon multiplied started moving under the mountain Kom and then down the river Lim. This emigration continued into Šumadija and then to all other parts of Montenegro.

1 History
2 Descendants of the Vasojevići Tribe
- 2.1 Descendants
- 2.2 The Story of the Descendants
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

The earliest known mention of the Vasojevići tribe is in the Middle Ages of Montenegrin history, after the fall of Nemanjić Empire. According to legend passed down through generations, Vasoje was the founder of the Vasojevići tribe. He was Vaso's grandfather and a relative of Nemanjić dynasty. He is considered to be a descendant of Vukan Nemanjić (the oldest son of Stefan Nemanja and the founder of the Old Serbian State.) Vaso had four brothers: Pipo, Ozro, Kraso, and Oto. They were ancestors of the Montenegrin tribes Piperi and Ozrinići, and the Albanian tribes Krasniqi, Trieshi, & Hoti.

The English Council for Sandžak, Novi Pazar, and Bosnia, Nikola Vasojević, has written a book about the Vasojevići (State of Holmia). He says that historical evidence shows that the Vasojevići are descendants of kings from an old Slavic dynasty that ruled over Dalmatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and North Albania until 1160.

[edit] Descendants of the Vasojevići Tribe

[edit] Descendants

Rajevići
- Sakovići
Novakovići
- Salevići
Mijomanovići
- Sajčići
Vešovići
Radulovići
Jolići
Vulevići
Marsenići
Miloševići
Mujovići
Đekovići
Odovići
Velidgiknići
Pejovići
Čukići
Ćulafići
Đukići
Bojovići
Katići
Joksimovići
Neradovići
Golubovići
Vukićevići
Boričići
Stojanovići
Labani
Mališići
Lakićevići
Jovovići
Dabetići
Lekići
Đekići
Novičići
Vukovići
Mirčići
Kovačevići
Kastratovići
Kruščići
Vojvodići
Mićovići
Akovići
Šekularci
Zečevići
Novovići
Kikovići
Stijovići

[edit] The Story of the Descendants

Vaso had three sons, Rajo, Novak, and Mijo. The descendants of Rajo are referred to as Rajevići; the descendants of Novak are referred to as Novakovići; and the descendants of Mijo are referred to as Mijomanovići.

Rajo had two sons. His first was Đuro, whose descendants are referred to as Lopačani, and include the families:

Vešovići
Radulovici
Jolići
Vulevići
Marsenići
Miloševići
Đekovići
Odovići
Velidgiknići
Pejovići
Čukići
Đukići
Bojovići
Katići
Neradovići
Golubovići
Vukićevići
Boričići
Stojanovići
Labani
Karadžići

Raso's second son was Raslav (or Raiča). Raslav had two sons: Dabeta, whose descendants are referred to as Dabetići; and Uglješa, whose descendants are referred to as Kovačevići. (This follows from the legend that a blacksmith called Damir came to Ugleša to hide from the Turks. One day he disappeared, leaving behind his tools. Uglješa had watched how Damir worked, so learned how to forge, and as a result was nicknamed "Kovač" ("blacksmith").)

The Kovačevići are divided into many families: the Kastratovići, who get their surname from the great-grandchild of Uglješa Kovač, Lako Kastrat. His descendants live in Konjuši, Polimlje, Sekular, Polica, Donja Ržnica, Zagorje, Budimlje, and Berane amongst other places. This family group (bratstvo) includes:

Vojvodići, who get their surname from the Duke Vojvoda Lakić Kastratović and live in Konjuši
Mićovići, who live in Peovci and Barama Kraljskim
Akovići, who live in Lugaš.

The Dabetići get their surname from Dabo (Dabeta), who had five sons. Some of them have kept the old surname Dabetići and now live in Lijeva Rijeka. The Dabetići are divided into Lekići, Đekići, Novičići, Vokovići, and Mirčići.