State repression against the 'jataks' of the hajduks in the first half of the 19th century

Abstract: This paper focuses on legal and illegal measures that were applied by the Serbian state against jataks and hajduks. The essence of the state's struggle against these social categories came down to cruelty and unwillingness to compromise. Due to such a setup, both categories (thugs and thieves) were largely equalized, which was unfair and excessive. After regulating the legal position of a hajduk, many legal provisions had an addendum that stipulated that they also apply to jataks. The weakness of the authorities in dealing with the bandits (hajduks) resulted in retaliation against the jataks. An additional problem of the state's cruelty was reflected in the fact that there were at least two types of jataks. Namely, in addition to real jataks who were calculated accomplices of hajduk ("the eyes and ears of hajduk") and who had their own benefit from hajduk crimes, there was also a certain number of "unwanted jataks". The archival material that was used in this paper partially testifies that the unwanted jataks were forced by the bandits to facilitate any wishes that the bandit would ask of them. If they did not agree to cooperate, such "helpers" put their lives, as well as the safety of their families and property, at risk. The role of the state was particularly important in this period. While, on the one hand, it demanded the full cooperation of the population in dealing with the bandits, on the other hand, it did not provide citizens with any protection or help in case of bandit's revenge. The state demonstrated its cruelty by not trying to separate the real from the unwanted jataks, and by not sanctioning the latter. By punishing citizens who, for the sake of saving their family and themselves, for example, served dinner to bandits, the State apparatus further humiliated them and did secondary victimization to them