Bosnian uprising (1831–1832)

The Bosnian uprising of 1831–1832, also known as the Herzegovina Uprising, was a revolt led by Husein Gradaščević against the Ottoman Empire, primarily motivated by dissatisfaction with the territorial concessions made to the Principality of Serbia in the Treaty of Edirne (1829) and the perceived weakening of the Ottoman central government. Gradaščević, the Kapudan of Bosnia, rallied Bosnian nobles, landowners, and some elements of the wider population, aiming to achieve autonomy for Bosnia within the Ottoman Empire, and to halt further loss of Bosnian territory.

The uprising began in late 1830 and gained momentum throughout 1831. Gradaščević established a Bosnian assembly in Tuzla and openly defied the authority of the Sultan. He secured initial military victories, including a significant win at the Battle of Kosovo in July 1831, which allowed him to march on and seize control of much of Bosnia. He attempted to negotiate with the Sultan for Bosnian autonomy.

However, the uprising was plagued by internal divisions and a lack of widespread support. Some Bosnian lords remained loyal to the Sultan, and ethnic and religious tensions within Bosnia hampered the rebels' efforts to present a unified front. Sultan Mahmud II skillfully exploited these divisions. He offered concessions to some Bosnian nobles to undermine Gradaščević's authority and sent an army led by Grand Vizier Reşid Mehmed Pasha against the rebels.

The turning point of the uprising was the Battle of Majevica in 1832, where the Ottoman forces inflicted a decisive defeat on Gradaščević's army. Following this defeat, Gradaščević's power rapidly declined. Internal dissent grew, and many of his former supporters abandoned his cause. He was eventually forced to flee Bosnia to the Austrian Empire and later to the Ottoman Empire. He died in Istanbul in 1834.

The Bosnian uprising of 1831–1832 ultimately failed to achieve its goals. While it demonstrated the strength of local resistance to Ottoman central control, it also highlighted the internal weaknesses within Bosnia and the Sultan's ability to exploit them. The uprising resulted in increased Ottoman control over Bosnia and the eventual abolition of the Kapudanates system, further centralizing power in Istanbul. Although the uprising failed, Husein Gradaščević became a symbol of Bosnian resistance and a national hero.