The Riđani was a tribe in Old Herzegovina that existed since the late medieval period, first mentioned in 1335, until the mid-18th century. The Krivošije, Grahovo and Rudine brotherhoods claim descent from the Riđani.
Pre-Ottoman history
The first mention of Riđani was in a 1335 document. The territory where they lived was between the Zeta river in the Onogoštžupa and Ledenice near Risan and Klobuk. In the first half of the 15th century, the Riđani tribe populated the territory between the mountains of Konavle, Dračevica and Vrsinje. At that time, this territory belonged to the Duchy of Saint Sava. Their knez was Radivoj Sladojević. According to some legends, they populated the territory of Krivošije and Cerovo Ždrijelo near Grahovo. The earliest Ragusan sources about this tribe are early 15th-century records in which they are mentioned as Vlachi Rigiani. In 1429, the Ragusan senate invited them to take their livestock to Konavle mountains during the summer, for a certain fee. Riđani had their own knez in 1435. In a 1438 document, Đukan Milojević was mentioned as knez of Riđani. Riđani frequently invaded the region of Konavle and robbed it, so Ragusans complained to Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. A 1441 document tells of their attacks and robbing of Ragusan merchant convoys. One 1451 document indicate that Riđani populated the region between Risan, Kotor and Vrsinje. According to traditional belief, Riđani had been trying to migrate from their mountainous homeland to fertile lands of Grahovo, facing resistance of its native people. Eventually, Riđani became one of three strong tribes in the region of Onogošt, besides Drobnjaci and Lužani. All three of them were governed by one ban. Ugren was among the most notable bans.
Ottoman era
After the Ottomans captured the region populated by Riđani it became known as the nahija of Riđani, with its seat in Grahovo. An Ottoman governor administered the nahija, while the tribe was governed by its vojvoda or by their knez. In 1466 the subaşi of Riđani was Širmerd. In 1469 Riđani were one of the "Vlach" tribes that participated in the kidnapping of a young male and female population of Konavle and Herzegovina. They sold them to Ottoman subaşi, vojvodas, martoloses and Muslims in Trebinje who sold them as slaves. Riđani were registered in the first Ottoman defter of the Sanjak of Herzegovina, as part of the Novi kadiluk. One of the knezes of Riđani in the Ottoman period was Sinan, who was also chieftain of Banjani, and son-in-law of Ali Paša Hercegović. In 1597, envoys of Serbian PatriarchJovan Kantul and vojvoda Grdan, chieftain of Nikšići and Riđani tribes, reported to Pope Clement VIII about the possibilities to raise an anti-Ottoman rebellion. In 1649 the tribes of Nikšići, Riđani and Drobnjaci rebelled against the Ottomans and captured Risan, handing it over to the Republic of Venice. In mid-17th century their chieftain was Radul of Riđani. Riđani distinguished themselves in the struggle against the Ottomans, particularly during the late 17th-century Morean War. Riđani slowly fled west to Herzegovina, especially after the Ottomans established Nikšić as their stronghold, while remnants of Riđani with newly immigrated Uskoks formed three tribal societies: Krivošije, Grahovo and Nikšićke Rudine.
Montenegro and legacy
In 1749 the Montenegrin tribal assembly, which was the supreme governing body of Montenegro, decided to accept Riđani as their own. After this event, the tribe ceased to exist, while its name is preserved in toponyms and folk tradition. Some modern-day Serbo-Croatian families descends from the Riđani tribe. During the 19th century, some families of the Kuči tribe believed that they descend from Riđani. The fact that Riđani and Kuči had the same slava was used as an argument for such position. This belief is refuted by some authors who believed that this belief was result of the attempt to tie Riđani tribe to Kuči. Riđani are mentioned in numerous songs of Serbian epic poetry.
Anthropology
In historical sources Riđani were referred to as "Vlachs"; Serbian scholars emphasize that they were referred to as Vlachs not because they were of Vlach origin, but due to their occupation, as herdsmen. Some Serbian scholars refer to the Riđani as an "old Serbian tribe". Maja Parović Pešikan hypothesized that Riđani were originally from Rhizon. The oldest brotherhood of Riđani were the noble Riđanići. The larger brotherhoods of Riđani include the Krivošije.
