Hajdučija u Moslavini u drugoj polovici 19. stoljeća na primjeru Joce Udmanića

Godine 19. stoljeća prepune su ustanaka, nesigurnosti, ratova, pojave gladi, nerodnih godina i raznih epidemija. Uzroci hajdučije kompleksan su problem, ali nije teško zaključiti da je ovakvo stanje pripomoglo njezinju javljanju. Hajdučija je bila široko rasprostranjena, od Slavonije i Moslavine pa sve do Gorskog kotara i Dalmacije. Početkom 60-ih godina četuju brojne družine, ali najpoznatija bila je ona Joce Udmanića, moslavačkog hajduka. O njemu su se pisali romani, pripovijetke, feljtoni, novinski članci pa čak i operetta. Udmanićevo hajdukovanje vjerno je pratio Pozor čiji su članci pomogli potvrditi istinitost priča i narodnih predaja, te su omogućili izradu realističnijg portreta i historijski vjernijeg prikaza Udmanića.Brigandage in croatia, especially in the 19th century has not been studied sufficiently. it did not exist only in feudal period and during the ottoman reign, but also in transition from feudalism to capitalism. The period was full of uprisings, insecurity, starvation, epidemics and bad years. All these made it possible for brigandage to develop: people would commit a crime and then, trying to avoid trials, became highwaymen. Brigandage usually started as individual protests in forms of robbery or outlawry; then in given circumstances protests got better organized and more widespread, leading to social resistance to richer and more influential groups, authority and hard living conditions. However, it is difficult to tell where robbers’ ways end and brigandage in its traditional term starts. it is equally hard to define whether highwaymen of more recent times are only robbers or social rebels. Brigandage usually developed in bordering, mountainous, wooded or marshy areas, away from cities and guarded roads, where highwaymen could easily found a shelter. The most notorious gang of the ‘60s was that led by Joco udmanić of Moslavina of whom many a novel, story and newspaper article have been written, even an operetta. His adventures were closely observed by Pozor newspaper. Although udmanić terrorized the rich, clergy and authorities, he was popular among ordinary people since he used to protect them and occasionally even helped them in financial terms. At first no one took him seriously so he easily escaped from prisons. Besides, pursuits were not properly organized nor were the search parties armed enough. But one pursuit did prove successful and udmanić was killed at the end of February 1867 in the village of potok. A letter, written by Joco himself and later published by Pozor, was found explaining why he had joined highwaymen’s life. it was presumably because of poverty and the authority’s bad conduct. This fact was much exploited by his biographers who all sympathized with his way of life. The truth lies somewhere in between, so it can be concluded that udmanić was by all means a criminal, a villain, but he also acted as Robin Hood thus becoming a popular hero and a phenomenon