He had a brother Stevan Dobrnjac who with Marko Todorović launched a short-lived revolt against Miloš Obrenović in 1821.

[3] In 1804, the year of the First Serbian Uprising, he was a Buljubaša, the commander of a četa (company), under Milenko Stojković.

[5] On his initiative Serbs came to the idea to fortify themself in the battle which proved crucial for Serbian victory.

[6][7] Afterwards, the Governing Council-Soviet (Правитељствујушчи совјет) awarded him the rank of Bimbaša (a commander of 1000 men) and Vojvoda.

[citation needed] After the Battle of Deligrad in 1806 against Ibrahim Bushati, pasha of Scutari, he became one of the most important men in Serbia.