Bosnian Muslim revolutionary general, Hussein-Kapetan Gradascevic

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On August 17, 1834 AD, Bosnian Muslim revolutionary general, Hussein-Kapetan Gradascevic, died in Istanbul under mysterious circumstances at the relatively young age of 32, after fighting against the policies of the Ottoman Empire and for Bosnian autonomy. Born in the town of Gradacac, he grew up surrounded by a political climate of turmoil in the western reaches of the Ottoman Empire. Hussein developed a reputation for wise rule and tolerance and soon became one of the most popular figures in Bosnia.
When Sultan Mahmoud II attempted to forcefully mass-recruit the Bosnian populace into his new army in the year 1830, the Bosniaks led by Hussein-Kapetan felt compelled to launch a massive uprising that lasted for three years. His forces dealt a heavy defeat to the imperial army during the Third Battle of Kosovo and at Novi Pazar. The uprising was subdued when Ali-Pasha Rizvan-Begovic defected to Mahmoud II, in return for rule over the Vilayet of Herzegovina. Hussein-Kapetan was forced to flee to Austria from where he negotiated for his return and was ultimately allowed back but barred from ever entering Bosnia.
He moved to Ottoman-ruled Belgrade and then to Istanbul, where he died mysteriously. He was an able military commander and administrator, and was well versed in Turkish and Arabic. He was taught by two dervishes of the Bektashi order of Iranian origin attached to the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and built the sprawling Husseiniyya Mosque in his hometown Gradacac.