Branislav Milosavljević

Branislav Milosavljević (Požarevac August 2, 1879 — Belgrade, April 17, 1944) was a colonel of the Army of the Kingdom of Serbia, the first mayor of Durres after it was liberated by Kingdom of Serbia and author of numerous patriotic poems, including famous war song Kreće se lađa francuska (The French Boat is Plying).

During World War I his patriotism inspired him to write stirring war songs, one which, Kreće se lađa francuska (The French Ship is Plying), was printed by the order of King Peter I of Serbia and distributed in thousands. It was immediately transcribed into music.

In 1940 Milosavljević retired to his property at Belgrade, where, by the vast library of books, he for the rest of his life devoted himself to literature. Milosavljević's dramatic talent was characteristically Serbian, his poems were well constructed and effective, arousing the emotions. But his wit was too local and ephemeral to appeal to any but his own generation, and if he is remembered at all today it is by his famous war song, Kreće se lađa francuska (The French Ship is Plying). He died at Belgrade on the 17th of April 1944.