„Austro-Hungary is a powerful force, like a lion that is just as big and powerful, but when a fly falls into its eye, it has great trouble” were the words of Milan Radojičić, as he stood before Emperor Franz Joseph I during a return visit to Vienna in the autumn of 1875. The Emperor knew this very well, because the people of Krivošije rebelled against the introduction of conscription six years ago. This meant that the strongest would go far from home to serve in the army and in the future war for the empire. The brotherhoods only agreed to fight on their own territory. They revolted at the beginning of 1869.
The imperial army, unaccustomed to mountain warfare and without knowledge of the terrain and cartography, suffered defeat and great loss.