Hajduk.

This is coolbert:

"They are comparable to the English legend of Robin Hood and his merry men, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor"

From a prior blog entry of mine:

"Keep in mind that the tradition of the bandit/irregular/guerrilla within the domain of eastern Europe and the Balkans is very strong. Arkan was merely following an ancient tradition that always will be?"

Here exactly is what I am speaking about:

The hajduk!! An ancient and venerable tradition among the peoples of eastern Europe and the Balkans. Armed bands of freely roving brigands/bandits/irregulars/guerrillas, one moment a thief, the next moment a "freedom fighter"! [pronounced "hey-duke"]

"In Balkan folkloric tradition, the hajduk (hajduci or haiduci in the plural) is a romanticised hero figure who steals from, and leads his fighters into battle against, the Ottoman oppressors . . . while participating in a small guerrilla war against an unjust authority."

Within the Greek tradition, either a klepht [thief/brigand] or an armatoloi [semi-legitimate thief/brigand]!

Klepht and armatoloi both playing an important role in the Greek Revolution [War of Independence] against the Ottoman Empire! Ethnic Greeks, Orthodox Christians in rebellion against their Muslim overlords, "hajduks" experienced, ready and able for combat and prepared to do so, an established force already in conflict with their oppressors for centuries prior!!

"In reality, the hajduci of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries were as much guerrilla fighters against the Ottoman rule as they were bandits and highwaymen who preyed not only on Ottomans and their local representatives, but also on local merchants and travellers . . . most of the hajduci did follow a moral code which forbade robbing the poor, and motiveless murder."

Brigands/irregulars/guerrillas having a code of conduct - - historically romanticized - - an armed "resistance" to oppressive and foreign authority to which no other means seemed to prevail!

coolbert.