Gabriel Rodić

Gabriel Rodić (often "Gabriel Rodich") (December 13, 1812 in Vrginmost – May 21, 1890) was an ethnic Serb general in the Austrian Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

He began his military career at the age of 14 when he was accepted into the cadet company at Graz. By 1847 he had achieved the rank of captain-lieutenant. The following year he was made a member of the Croatian ban Josip Jelačić's cabinet during the 1848 Revolutions. When the army of Croatia-Slavonia crossed the Drava to retake Međimurje, Rodić was appointed assistant to the ban's adjutant general. He later participated in fighting in Hungary. For his service during these years he received the title of Ritter in the Austrian court.

By 1859 Rodić was promoted to general-major. He was made brigade commander at Dubrovnik and later Kotor. He remained in Dalmatia until 1862. Afterwards he saw action against both Italian and Prussian forces. In 1869 he returned to Dalmatia as a military commander. He soon put down a rebellion in Kotor which helped him become governor of the Kingdom of Dalmatia in 1870. During his time as governor Rodić worked for the unification of Dalmatia with Croatia-Slavonia. His forces later took part in the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878.

He retired from this position and from military service in 1881. He returned to Vienna where he died in 1890.

External links

* [http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/biog/rodich.html Rodić at "Austro-Hungarian Army", by Glenn Jewison & Jörg C. Steiner]