Mehmed Bey KulenoviÃÂ, known as Kulin-kapetan (1776âÂÂd. 13 August 1806) was an Ottoman Bosnian kaptan ("captain", fortress military commander) of Stara Ostrovica. He was active during the First Serbian Uprising (1804âÂÂ13), in which the Serbs of the Sanjak of Smederevo revolted against the Ottoman Empire and made incursions into Bosnia. He held the honorific bey title.
His name was Mehmed, but he was known as Kulin-kapetan. He belonged to the Kulenoviàfamily of Kulen-Vakuf, specifically a branch engaged in tax farming (haraç), thus were called haraÃÂlije ("haraç-takers"). The Kulenoviàwere among the "captain families" that were part of the elite of Ottoman Bosnian society. He is mentioned as a captain of the Ostrovica Castle in 1792, serving until his death in August 1806. He succeeded Ostrovica captain Hadà ¾i Ibrahim-beg of the Kulenoviàfamily (s. 1783âÂÂ92). The Stara Ostrovica captaincy was established in the 1699âÂÂ1718 period.
The Ottoman sultan ordered the Viziers of Bosnia in 1805 to muster armies to attack Serbia, and they crossed the Drina and attacked Valjevo and à  abac in late January 1806. The Serb rebels managed to stop the incursion in MaÃÂva by Mehmed-kapetan VidajiÃÂ, defeated Hasan-paà ¡a SrebreniÃÂki in February and rebel leader KaraÃÂorÃÂe's troops burnt down several towns and villages in the Podrinje area by March 1806. Serb commanders Stojan ÃÂupiàand Janko Katiàdestroyed Mehmed-kapetan Vidajiàat Zvornik, but the Ottoman Bosnian troops quickly reassembled and stopped Serb expansion on the Bosnian side of the Drina.
Ottoman troops were decisively defeated at the Battle of Mià ¡ar in August 1806 by Serb troops led by priest Luka LazareviÃÂ. Kulin-kapetan commanded the left wing of the Ottoman troops in the battle. KaraÃÂorÃÂe had ordered Lazareviàto hide in the woods with cavalry, and on the sound of his cannon, charge into the rear of the Ottoman troops. In the midst of battle, Lazareviàchallenged Kulin-kapetan to a duel, who was tricked and shot in a pre-set ambush by LazareviÃÂ's associates. Among the Ottoman fallen in the battle, several were notable Bosnian nobility, including Kulin-kapetan and Mehmed-kapetan Vidajiàand his two sons. Kreà ¡evljakoviàdates Kulin-kapetan's death to 13 August 1806. Also, Ali-paà ¡a Vidajiàwas captured along with four other pashas, all of which were quickly exchanged. Among the loot Jovan TomiàBelov collected at Mià ¡ar were several pistols of Kulin-kapetan.
The body of Kulin-kapetan was transferred to Bosnia and buried in the courtyard of the mosque in Janja, where his türbe is still located. He was succeeded as Ostrovica captain by Ahmed-beg KulenoviÃÂ.
Kulin-kapetan is mentioned in Serbian epic poetry; Filip Vià ¡njiàmentioned him in the songs Knez Ivan Kneà ¾eviàand Boj na Mià ¡aru, placing him as a central figure and the commander-in-chief of the Bosnian eyalet army.