Serb who defeated a Samurai warrior image - Serbian Group on MoDDB

Aleksandar "Lekso" Saičić (Saichich) was a Serb-Montenegrin (to be politically correct, though he was born in Serbian tribe of Vasojevići, who live in the northern part of Montenegro) who took a participation in Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905). He is remembered as an expert in handling and fighting with sabre and his duel with Japanese Samurai warrior.

He was one of the most most educated officer in Royal Montenegrin Army. He was educated in Cetinje, Dubrovnik, Belgrade and he was an officer in Turkish Army (Istanbul) for three years, because he wanted to become a perfect in his expertise. A desire to advance trough his career and Montenegrin involvement in Russo-Japanese war, brought him to Russia.

Aleksandar was remembered of his duel with the Japanese Samurai. One day, admiral of Japanese fleet Togo, sent a message to a Russian admiral Rozhestvensky, where he demanded him to sent the best Russian fighter to fight his best Samurai. Russians found themselves in trouble, because rejecting a call for duel would disgrace the Royal Russian Army. So, Aleksandar Saičić decided to answer the call. Samurai Warrior bowed to him and the duel had begun. It was a fierce battle with several hard hits. In one moment Samurai swing his katana and injured Aleksandar, slicing his forehead. On the sight of blood, Samurai thought that he wounded him, so he decided to quickly finish his opponent. But, Aleksandar charged upon him, and he managed to kill him with one hit. As Samurai died, Aleksandar bowed to honor the killed opponent. Russians were cheering, while the Japanese soldiers watched with disbelief on the cheering Russians. Aleksandar got the congrats from both Russian and Japanese admirals. Russia thanked him with the lifetime payment (40 golden napoleons), he was promoted to captain and till the end of war he commanded the Dragoon Regiment of Amur. A sabre, which Lekso used to defeat the Samurai, is held in Military Museum in Moscow.