Mijat Tomić is a famous Croatian leader of hajduks who fought against Turkish rule during the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Gornji Brišnik at the beginning of the 17th century (1610?), died in Doljani near Jablanica on Ilindan, on July 20, between 1656 and 1659. His parents died early and Mijat was raised by his uncle. When he grew up, he entered into a lease with Bey Kopčić. He had a reputation as a hero with whom no one in the tobacco region could compete. He challenged an Arab to a "megdan" (fight), who threatened to Bey Kopčić and the people, and overcame and executed him. Because of his heroic deed, Bey Kopčić gives him a meadow called Jabuka and the honor of being his standard-bearer at weddings. The Turks didn't like that, especially since Mijat beat them in the game of throwing a stone from his shoulder, so they decided to kill him. Upon learning of their intention, Mijat fled to Vran mountain. He gathered a group of 30 to 40 hajduks.
Another tradition tells that Mijat killed the judge Suzica, who appropriated Jabuka livad, his grandfather's estate. He died after the betrayal of his godfather Ilija Bobovac from Doljan near Jablanica, who invited him as a guest. And he was killed either by an Arab slave or an azap (gendar) by hitting him with a pewter bead in the apple of his neck. Marijan, his sister's son, tried to take the wounded Mijat to Vran, but Mijat died under the Sovići gate, where he was buried in the field of Pošćeca.
(Željka Šaravanja)
