Rufim Njeguš

Rufim Njeguš (Serbian Cyrillic: Руфим Његуш; fl. 1594–1631) was the Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1594 and 1636. He succeeded the Metropolitan duo of Nikanor and Stevan (s. 1591–93). Rufim Njeguš and Metropolitan Visarion of Trebinje (s. 1590–1602) aided the Banat Uprising (1594). He was succeeded by Mardarije Kornečanin (s. 1637–59). Rufim is famous as being the first metropolitan who actively took part in armed confrontations with the Ottomans, leading Montenegrin army in three major battles in 1601, 1604 and 1613.

Battle of Lješkopolje (1604)

Sanjak-bey of Shkodër Ali-beg Mimibegović led an army of 12000 from Podgorica and clashed with 400 Montenegrins in Lješanska nahija. Rufim reinforced them with 500 Katunjani during the day and sent dozens of small three-members groups, in total amount of 50 warriors to spy and to attack the opponent from rear. The battle lasted through whole night, when at the dawn Montenegrins launched a sudden charge surprising the enemy. Ali-beg was wounded and retreated with 3500 casualties , while his second-in-command Šaban Ćehaja was killed.^[1][2][3]

Battle of Kosov lug (1613)

Towards the end of September newly appointed Sanjak-bey of Shkodër Arslan-bey renewed attacks on Montenegrins, splitting his forces in two, and tasking first army with penetration to Cetinje and second army with suppressing rebellious forces around Spuž. Both armies failed, as the first one was stopped in Lješanska nahija again without reaching Cetinje, and the second one was defeated when Rufim personally led a side attack of 700 Katunjani in the aid of Piperi, Bjelopavlići and Rovčani forces which were already engaging enemy around the village of Kosov lug.^[4]

See also

• List of Metropolitans of Montenegro

Annotations

• Name: His name is mostly spelled Rufim Njeguš (Руфим Његуш), while his given name can be spelled as Ruvim (Рувим), and his byname as Njegoš, as well. He is sometimes numbered Rufim II (Руфим II), to disambiguate from previous Rufim I, who was also from Njeguši and Rufim Boljević (Rufim III), the later metropolitan.

References

• Filip Ivanović (2006). Problematika autokefalije Mitropolije Crnogorsko-primorske. Unireks. p. 29. 
• Editions speciales. Naučno delo. 1971. Дошло ]е до похреаа Срба у Ба- нату, ко]и су помагали тадаппьи црногоски владика, Херувим и тре- бюьски, Висарион. До покрета и борбе против Ту рака дошло ]е 1596. године и у Цр- иэ] Гори и сус]едним племенима у Харцеговгаш, нарочито под утица- ]ем поменутог владике Висариона.