The Habsburg-organized Serbian Free Corps, among whom Koča Anđelković was a prominent captain (hence the historiographical name of the movement), initially captured and held various central parts of Ottoman Serbia during 1788 and 1789.

A Serbian Free Corps of 5,000 soldiers had been established in Banat, composed of refugees that had fled earlier conflicts in the Ottoman Empire.

Austrian forces occupied Serbia, and many Serbs fought in the Habsburg free corps, gaining organization and military skills.

Habsburg armies started to withdraw across the Danube and Sava rivers, joined by thousands of Serbian families who feared Ottoman persecution.

Finally, Belgrade Fortress was evacuated by last Habsburg forces on 23-24 October 1791, thus marking the restoration of Ottoman rule in Serbia.

[7] The displaced janissaries, excluded from the Ottoman Army following reorganization, sought refuge in Serbia (Sanjak of Smederevo) where they tried to revoke the rights granted to the Serbs.

An annual manifestation, the "Days for Koča's Frontier" (Дани Кочине крајине), takes place in Jagodina and Kladovo in honour of the rebellion.