For his merit, he was appointed Colonel[2] of the Serbian militia in Arad and ennobled by Emperor Joseph I. Jovan Popović Tekelija was born in Arad[3] or in Csanád[4] as the first known member of the notable Serb family Popović Tekelija.

[4] On 11 September Tekelija broke through to the war council held in Bečej and informed Prince Eugene of Savoy, whose forces were in Szenttamás and Bečej, that the Ottomans were preparing to cross the Tisa river and leave Bačka.

[8][3] Prince Eugene then asked Tekelija to lead the imperial army through the swamps and marsh to the rear of the Turks encampment[9] as night was falling.

[12] As a reward for the part he played during the battle, Tekelija was promoted to the rank of Captain of the Serbian Militia in Arad in 1698.

[13] Following the decree of the Viennese court promoting him, Tekelija had a castle built, around which the city developed.