Antonije Simeonović, later known as Čolak-Anta, was born on 17 January 1777, the feast day of St Anthony the Great, in Prizren,[1][2] a former capital of the Serbian Empire located in present-day Kosovo.

At the age of 18, he was forced to flee his hometown of Prizren following a violent family feud and sought refuge in Belgrade, the administrative centre of the Sanjak of Smederevo, and the second largest Ottoman towns in Europe.

[6][7] During the Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791), which coincided with a Serbian rebellion, Čolak-Anta expanded his activities to include the distribution of firearms drawing on Prizren's reputation for producing high-quality weapons.

Deciding to join the rebellion, he sent his goods to an acquaintance, a Turkish merchant trading in Niš,[1] and redirected his route to deliver the weapons to the insurgents.

[7] Čolak Anta’s journey from Prizren to Topola marked his commitment to the rebellion, delivering weapons to the insurgents during a crucial phase of the uprising.

In the ensuing Battle of Ivankovac, the Serbs secured a significant victory, prompting the Sultan to escalate the conflict by declaring a holy war.

These offensives were not merely acts of warfare but calculated measures designed to facilitate the migration of Serbian Christians into areas under insurgent control.

In September 1806, Čolak-Anta joined the rebel forces in achieving a decisive victory over a larger Ottoman army at the Battle of Deligrad, resulting in a truce.

[12] In December 1806, during the Siege of Belgrade near Ostružnica, Čolak Anta was severely wounded in the left hand while defending Serbian positions.

Taking advantage of their alliance with Russia, which was at war with the Ottoman Empire, the rebel forces reached Sjenica, Nova Varoš, Prijepolje and Bijelo Polje.

[20] These successes boosted morale and inspired widespread resistance in Herzegovina, encouraging many locals taking up arms to join the rebel forces.

[21] On Vidovdan day (28 June), Čolak Anta, Hadži-Prodan and Raka Ljevajac presented banners to the Vasojević tribe, symbolising their formal inclusion in the uprising and appointing three standard-bearers.

[20] For the first time, an entire Christian population had successfully risen against the Ottomans, and Serbia functioned as a de facto independent state.

In June, Čolak-Anta and Ljevajac led a group of fighters from Šumadija to the Morača Monastery to coordinate efforts with Herzegovinian insurgents against Ottoman forces.

[25] Montenegrins, grey falcons, Here comes fortune, sent by God, To show your heroic deeds, To seize great profit and gain, And to attain eternal glory!

To unite with your brothers, To bring honour to your homeland.In late June 1809, Bishop Petar responded to Čolak-Anta by inviting him to discuss and coordinate plans.

He urged the bishop to unite with the Herzegovinians, Montenegrins, and Highlander tribes in an assault on the city, offering to lead the first attack with his Serbian contingent.

[27] Crossing the Tara River and passing through the Drobnjaci region with their men, Čolak-Anta and Levajac reached the outskirts of Nikšić, where they established a trench at Previa.

[20] According to Luburić, Bishop Petar’s reluctance hindered efforts to secure broader cooperation against Ottoman forces, exposed the Bjelopavlići to significant losses, and allowed the Turks to prevail.

Despite Čolak-Anta’s efforts to unify the forces and lead the attack, the lack of cooperation resulted in significant losses and strained relations between the Herzegovinians, Bjelopavlići, and Montenegrins.

On 3 July 1811, Čolak-Anta Simeunović was officially appointed Duke of Kruševac (Vojvoda), a position that underscored his importance within the rebellion and his ability to manage liberated territories.

Once permission was granted for Serbian dukes to leave for Russia, Čolak-Anta and his family departed on 17 September 1814, travelling through Transylvania (Erdelj) to their final destination.

[32] The family settled in Chișinău, (then part of Imperial Russia) receiving a stipend from the Russian government, a customary provision for Serbian dukes in exile.

Later, by order of Tsar Alexander I, Čolak-Anta’s elder son, Konstantin (Kosta), was admitted to the 1st Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg to pursue a military education.

The family also included notable figures such as Ljubica Marić, a celebrated composer, and Mihailo Naumović, a lieutenant colonel in the General Staff.

[38][39] In the 2004 Serbian documentary-fiction television series In the footsteps of Karađorđe (Трагом Карађорђа) Čolak-Anta was portrayed by actor Slobodan Custić.