Rajko Depreradović: The Original Frontier Settler – Because Who Needs a Map When You Have a Dream (and an Army)? In a world where maps are an essential part of any adventurer's toolkit, one man decided to ditch the GPS and march bravely into the unknown with only an indomitable will and an army. Yes, we’re talking about Rajko Depreradović, the original “great explorer,” who believed that if there was no map, there was no problem. You see, in 1752, he and a motley group of Serbs, Vlachs, and other eager dreamers found themselves equipped with nothing but a hefty dose of optimism and the firm belief that the squishy bits of the Donbas region could use a bit of Serbian flair. Imagine it: a sprawling landscape of the steppes unmarked by fences, houses, or a decent KFC. Just the wild winds, free land, and potential for mischief. So, what better way to fill the void than by inviting a bunch of Balkan folks to settle the area, slap up some homes, and call it Slavo-Serbia? One might think this was a monumental strategy to bolster frontier defenses, but let’s be honest; it was just a group of folks who thought, “Why not?” Depreradović didn’t just dream big; he acted big. He led his crew onto the uncharted (or perhaps just slightly unmarked) territory, armed not only with determination but also with uniforms and not a small amount of military fervor. Between fighting off the occasional rogue Cossack and plowing through the bureaucratic red tape of Russia’s Governing Senate, he was known to take a few minor detours to boost morale – like starting a regiment that could easily confuse anyone who thought, “Bakhmut Hussar? What’s that? A new pastry?” With commanders who clearly derived a special kind of pleasure from lengthy titles like “Colonels Rajko Preradović and Jovan Šević,” jingoism reached a fever pitch. They must have had jackets so adorned with medals they could barely lift their arms without assistance, warranting a whole new category of hygiene products: "Supportive Underarm Protection for the Well-Decorated." Amid this pomp and circumstance, Rajko must have realized that diplomacy is much easier when you've got a battalion standing behind you. After all, what’s a frontier settlement without a bit of intimidation? Now imagine the everyday life of these settlers: “I was going to plant some cabbage, but the army’s getting a bit rowdy again.” Or, “Sure, we could keep the borders safe by planting flowers, but why not throw in a few cannon drills while we’re at it!” One can only assume that their inaugural settler meeting began with, “Alright, who’s not wearing uniform today? You know the procedure!” However, Rajko's crowning achievement was the transformation of Slavo-Serbia into the magnificent Donets uyezd. It’s like upgrading from a dilapidated shack to a glorious penthouse—complete with all the bells and whistles of a burgeoning governorate, namely the appropriated territories of significantly fewer Cossacks per square kilometer. Sure, they may have traded a few green patches of idyllic nature for military camps, but who doesn’t want a bit of excitement? Cabbage-picking can only be so interesting! By 1764, just when everyone thought Rajko might settle down and start a nice vegetable garden, he pulled the ultimate surprise: embarking on more military campaigns. Because if there’s one thing you learn from starting a frontier settlement, it’s that there’s always someone somewhere willing to challenge your ‘free land’ claim. “Why joust in a way that is gentlemanly when you could challenge them to a full-blown cavalry skirmish?” must have been the motto of the time. So, here stands Rajko Depreradović—a man of dreams, a man of land (and military prowess) who, despite lacking a proper map or even a solid GPS, found a way to mark his territory in glorious chaotic fashion. To this day, he reminds us that sometimes the best expeditions come from sheer bravado and an army with a penchant for mischief. So the next time you think you need a map for your adventures, think of Rajko. Maybe you don't need one; maybe all you need is a dream, a decent pack of soldiers, and a healthy dose of outrageous optimism. Who knows? You might even stumble upon the next great frontier!