PUTNIK, RADOMIR (1847-1917), Serbian general, was born on Jan. 25, 1847, at Kraguyevats. After serving against Turkey in 1876 and 1877, and against Bulgaria in 1889, he was made deputy-chief of the general staff, and professor at the military academy in Belgrade. The intrigues and favouritism introduced by the kings, Milan and Alexander, caused him to be placed on the retired list, but in the autumn following the military revolution of 1903 he was appointed general and chief of the general staff. In 1906 he succeeded General Grui6 as minister of war, and again held that office in 1912, during the period when the military convention with Bulgaria was negotiated.
On the outbreak of war with Turkey Putnik was made voivode or marshal (being the first holder of that title) and commander in-chief, and was responsible for the rapid success of the Serbian arms at Kumanovo, Prilep and Monastir. It was largely owing to his vigilance and foresight that the treacherous night attack by which the Bulgarians opened the second Balkan War (June 29, 1913) failed as it did. When the World War broke out, he
was undergoing a cure at an Austrian watering place, and was at first placed under arrest, being later released by special order of the emperor Francis Joseph and conveyed to the Rumanian frontier. Despite impaired health he resumed the position of Serbian generalissimo and inflicted upon the forces of General Potiorek three successive defeats—on the Yadar (Aug. 16-20), the Drina (Sept. 8-19) and at Rudnik, which ended on Dec. 14, 1914 with an Austrian rout and the complete evacuation of Serbia. Putnik retained the supreme command during the triple invasion of Serbia in Nov. 1915, and shared the retreat of the Serbs through Albania. When, however, the exiled Government established itself at Corfu, he and most of his staff were placed on the retired list. He himself withdrew to France. He died on May 17, 1917, at Nice.