August 1978 MPO magazine "Sho Stava"

5/12/2018 August 1978 MPO magazine "Sho Stava" - slidepdf.com

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/august-1978-mpo-magazine-sho-stava 1/61







. . f u ' I J R EV OL UT IU NA RY uR GA lH iA Tlu N'5

C IRCULAR LE 'rrER ~.

THE INTERNALMACEDONI A N N \ l U N C

:1lNGOF THE ILlNDEN INSURRECT ION (dated July 28, 1903)

! !,t iE CO l

BROTHERS :FINALLY, THE ;'fJCH EX?ECTED DAY FO R THE A lzn :.R .CATIO N W ITH O UR AG F.-LCNG

& ~EM Y liA S AHR IV ED . THE BLOOD OF OUR . INN0CEN TLY PM ISH ED aRO THERS } t ' R O M

TURKISH TYRANNY CR IES FOR R£TR IaU T ION . THE HONOUR O F OUR MOTHERS A tm

srS T2 itS D E}1 AN DS I l l iHABILIT AT IO N • ENOUGH O F SO MU CH TOH.i " iENTS, E .. .i U UG ri O F

50 M U C H IG NUM lNY . A THOUSAND TD -lliS , DEATH IS ?REFb .RABLE TO A SHAHEFUL

AND BEA STLY L IFE . T Ill i SDEC l F IED DAY , IN WH ICH TM P:l0?LE TH1{ ( )UGHUUT

M hC iD uN IA iU 'JD T i-iE A DdIA l"JO PLE ?ROVL ' JCE aU; : )T i{ lS i , O?EN LY I'lITH A1U '1S IN

THEIR HANDS A :}A li~ ST T rlE ENEiIff 15 AUGUST 2, 190) 0

BauTHERS, FuLW~'i Y0UR CHIEFS Oi~ THAT DAY AND RALLY MOUND THE BANN~R OF

OF L IBE .'tTY , AND BE O . d S T INAT~ IN TH E : : lTRUXLE. O NLY 11~ A STUBBuRN AND u : N : : t r 1 f t

5TRUG(iLELIES o u a SALVATIu~. ~T GOD B l..ESS O tlli JU~T CAUSE AND Ttu ; DA 'X OF

1'HE UPR I S ING . D Ol-IN w '1T H TU ltK .b.'Y . D Ol,> Ji~\ 'HTH TYH .ANNY. DEATH TO TH E . Et .-xMY.

L ON G L IV E 'l 'H E ? lW PL E. W NG LrJE L IB ER TY . :W RRAH .

'.H T rl B ltO TH .B R LY ZJ:{B RA C ~ F uR YO U,

TH E ~TA FF •

. Bb3B AH HE .L J.O H A PO .L J.A

Bpars, ....HaA~ceTHe MHOrOOlJaK8aHHSlTb Jl;eHb aa paanpasa CD 81>K08"H)I

HH )l.YWMaHHH1>)l.oit.n:eBeqe.·' . .

Kp'bBbi'a aa HiU.iJHrl HeBHHHO·3afHHaJlH· 6paTlI OT'b TYPCKaTi\

THpaHH~ 'BI-H<a BHCOI<O3 O· Iloraaea '- . . . . . . , . . a TnJlaTa. oraaeHaTa 4eCTb"a naurarhMa HH H cecrpa acxa 8'b3CTaHOBHBa~eTO CH. ..

.Crurarcaxeat, MK..KH, CTHfa TOJlK03'b noaopst ..

XHJlH)l.M nJKTIl no 6 ..o : . -)1.0 pe CM'bPTb, OTKOJllWTO CF<OTCKlt)KHBOT"'.

npe)l.1meHHHTb neas, B'b Hoiho napona H3D u:tJla MaKe)l.O·

HHH H O.n.PHRC1<Ome 11>1>6Ba)1.8 H3J11>3eRBHO·C'b OpiK»CHe B'bpJKKa

cpe~o)l.YWMaHHT~. e 2O-A IOJ I»A 1903 ronaaa. . .

c'b6e CJle.ll.aaATe, 6paTH, BawMT1> HaqaJlHHUH 8'b. Tel3H )l.eHb H ce6 teTe no)l.'b 3HaMeTO Aa. CBC)60)l.aTa. YnopCTllYBaihe· 6 " ."op aralCauo BD ynopcrao H )I.'bJIfOTpaibla 60p6a . , paTSf., S'b

HH. ' '. . " e OlaCeHHeTO

Hexa Son 6J1arOCJlOBH npaaoro HM )1.1>.110H neu .. . . .RHtTo. . :.... . . S f Ha 6'b3C1'a-

.aoJlY TYPUMH!' ,Uo;ny THpaHHT1>'· CM'b~Tb aa ny .

.aa )KH·B1>enapoaa, na )KRB1>e c~06o.llaTal· WM8HMT1>!

U'MYBa 8H (ipa'rcKH: ma61>T'b

\I

II

\

\

\



Statistical Data Un Events Uccurring Prior To And During The Ilinden Insurrection

( ta ke n f ro m Ivan Mihalloff, 1-1acedonia'slilse lI'orFreedo;n. 1903 (Indianapolis:Central Committee of the M.P.O ., 19 53 ), p.3 3-3 4.

A . P re -I LI ND EN Statistics

Accordin~ to the statistics comoiled by th~ Turkish government covering theperiod of 1893 to the middle of 1903, that is, ~rior to IMRO's IlindenI ns ur re ct i. Jn t he re w er e:

Arrested •••••••••••••.•••••.•.•••.••••• 3,764Tortured ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2.503Di ed f ro ~ t or tur e •• ••• •• •• ••• •• •• ••• •• • 22Beaten ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 90K illed (unanned civilians ) ••••••••••••• 3 5 4W ou nd ed ( un ar me d c iv il ia ns ) • •• •. •• •• •• • 9 5S en te nc ed t o d ie • •• •• •• .• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 2 8S en te nc ed f or l if e • • •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • 4 9Sentenced from 3 to 15 years ••••••••••• 4 54Exiled ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 103

durned ncuse s , ••••••••••••••••••••••• ·•• 385Burned alive •••• o •• oo ••••••••••••••••• o7

° illagedhouses •••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 25Raped women and girls o •o •• ••• ••• •• •• ••• 146

In reality the sacrifices and the numbe r of v Lct.ums has been much greater thanindicated by the ~ statistics. The vfficial report of the lMRU-- LeMemoire de 1 '~ganisation Interieure (1893-190 3) -- records that as many as132 skir~ took olace inthe ueriod from 18 98, that is, five years afterthe la~~ching of IMRO, to the middle of 190 3, prior to the insurrection.The following table shows the n~r of ,ski~nishes, the opposing number ofcombatants, and the nu.~ber killed on e3ch side:

Skir:n:ishes •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 132Ir.sur gent s (engaged) •••••••••••• 0 •••••• 4,262T ro op s ( en ga ge d) • •• •• •• o •••••••••••••• 74,235K il le d ( in su rg en ts )o • •• •• o •• •• o••••••• 513K illed (troons ) ••••••••••••••••••••••• 4 , 37 3

B. Statistics On the Ilinden Insurrection Itself

From the time of the declaration of the I1inden Insurrection, August 2, 1903,until its fall, November 2, 19 03, there occurred 239 skirmishes, 99 4 insurgentsand 5,328 'I'urk.sh soldiers killed. The total numbe r of the insurgents wasabout 27,00 0 a~ainst a Turkish army of over 2)~,O OO.

C. Statistics On The Suopression of The Ilinden Insurrection

During the suooreseion of the insurrection there ~ ~OO Bulgarian villagesdestroyed ~ "l"Urk,ishengeance, 12,0 00 houses burned, S~ wo.nen~,4,700 iRhabitants slain, and 71,00 0 left without roofo

Such was the balance sheet of the h~roic climax of the IHR,0 d uring the;.facede-,aianlinden Insurrection.



S II 0 S T l'l. V l' l.

volume No. II Auq us t; 1978 Issue No. 12

Contents

Page No.

c . The 75th Anniversary of Ilinden 1

2. Chronology of Pre-Ilinden Events 4

3. The ILINDEN INSURRECTION in theKostour District

(Larry Koroloff)

6

4. The ILINDEN INSURRECTION in theLerin District

(Angela Vassos)14

5. Ilinden Folksongs from theLerin and Kostour Regions 19

6. The ILINDEN INSURRECTION in theResen Region

(Evan Kolaroff)

20

7. The ILINDEN INSURRECTION in theSeres Region

(Evan Kolaroff)

21

8. Participation of the Non-BulgarianMacedonians in Ilinden

(Larry Koroloff)

22

9. Major Figures in the Ilinden Uprising(Margaret Boyadjieff)

25

10. The Kroushovo Republic

(Angela Vassos)

33

11. All Talk And No Action(Ilinden and the Great Powers)

(Nick Stefanoff)

36

12. THE ILINDEN INSURRECTION(Nick Stefanoff)

49



-1-

The 75 th Anniversary of Ilinden

Everyone whose roots go back to Macedonia has heard ofILINDEN. W ho among us has not been to an Ilinden picnic, outin the fresh air? Who has not eaten barb ecued lamb or dancedthe horo to an old-fashioned orchestra or competed in the racesor the shoe-kicking contest? Yes, most of us are familiarwith the term Ilinden, but unfortunately, few of us knO w exactlywhat Ilinden is, why it happened, who the organizors were, orwhere exactly it took place. Without a doub t, Ilinden is themost glorious chapter in the struggle of the people of Macedoniafor freedom. Exactly 7 5 years ago, on the feast of the ProphetElijah· (August 2, 1903), the population of Macedonia and theAdrianople PrO Vince, (Southern Thrace) rose up in revolt againstthe Sultan. An ill-equipped mass of peasants decided that itwas better to die with dignity, than to live as virtual serfs,

exploi ted by their 'I'ur-k.ih la ndlord s.

The great significance of the Ilinden Insurrection doesnot lie in its tactical successes. Yes, it is true that thefreedom fighters liberated the towns of Kroushevo, K lissouraand N eveska, and that they controlled most of 5 0 uthwesternMacedonia for three weeks or more. But the revolt was in theend mercilessly crushed by the Turks. The real importance ofthe Illnden Insurrection lies in the spirit of determinationit created in the people to continue struggling for freedom.Despite great material losses, despite murder, rape and hunger,our forefathers did not lose heart. This remarkable fact isnoted by the British journalist H. N. Brailsford in his b ookMacedonia where he writes;

The first surprise was that this pop-ulation rose at all, and rose en masse.The second surprise, to my thinking morestartling than the first, was that all thesufferings of the autumn produced no reac-tion whatever against the Committee or itsleaders. The peasantry remained loyal tothe organisation which plunged it in allthis misery . Among the ashes of comfortab levillages, or in the wards of the hospitalswhere the R elief Society had gathered thewounded women and children, there were

moments when one felt tempted to curse thewhole idea of insurrection, to think thatno provocation could justify a populationin facing such risks, to doubt whether any

* In Bulgarian nIlinden" means "the feast of the Prophet Blijah".



-2-

gain in fr-eedorr.ould warr~ t the merep !l ys iC Sl p ai n i nv ol \1 ed i n ~ J. nl li ngit.But t eSe l1ere an ou tsider s refl ection s.They seldom entered the heads of the~acedonians themselves. O ne heard no re-criGinations t no blame of the Committee,no regrets for ~, apparently wasted,effort.In t he h os pi ta l inCastoria the patlentsin the msn IS uar-d , recovering slowly fromd is ea se s i nd uc ed by hardship and ex posure,would taD; almost gaily of their futureplans ar.i of the struggle they meant tor€ne·,'lo soon as health and springtimeshould bring the oP9 0 rtunlty. In O chrlda,~here abject poverty and the tyranny ofthe Alb3.nians h2S mad.e t he B ul ga ri anv illege rs pe culiar ly spirit less, ig norant,and degre.ded, I have known even old mendeclar~ that stould the Committee give theorder to carch o~ce more in the summer theywould ~~esitatingly obey. hor was thisatti:'ude altogeth0 r difficult to ex plain.CenturieG of 0 P9 ression have schooled theB ul ga ri ar ~s t o s uf fe r. 1

Sadly I a foreign powe r has been trying to capi talize 0 1}.thespirit of Ilinden. It has been publishing books, holdingc el eb ra ti on s, s ta gmg sp~c)'"QcJ.es~in honour" of Ilinden.This is a perver ston of the ideals of Ilinden. Those thatcHed during I linden , lost their lives for the freedom of

Macedonia, not for a Communist Yugoslavia.Since 1978 marks the 75 th anniversary of Illnden, the

editorial staff of S~O STAVA has decided to devote the entireAugust issue to this great event. This special Ilinden issuedoes not claio to b0 a co~plete history of the uprising: Itis only our modest contribution to mark the anniversary ofthis great event •. \>!ehope that our readers will find itinteresting and infor:native. If we succeed in kindling insome of our readers a spark of interest in Ilinden, our goalwill have been met. We respectfully dedicate this issue toall who lost their lives for the freedom of Macedonia duringt he I li nd en I ns ur re ct io n.

In preparing our materials for the Ilinden issue ofSHO STAVA, we were greatly aided by the works of Mr. ~eterAtzeff and l'lr. Chroist A nBstasoff. Mr. Peter Atz~ff, for mal},yyears President of the Central Committee of the M.P.O ., wasr esponsi ble for com pillng th e IIM akedon ski A lmanahu, which wasthe source of nucn va Luab Le information about llinden. Mr.

1. H. N. Brailsford. Macedonia. Its R aces and Future, (Methuenand Co., London, 19 ~ p. 166.



-3-

Anastasoff, also a member of the Central Committee of the M.ll.V.fur many years, is a pioneer in providing information in Englishon the Macedonian Question. His book, The Tragic Peninsula was

much used in our research.

The Editorial Committeeof "Sho stava"

H E U J .E M E HMIII 6 0 fAT C T B O

Hanpezrs, aanpem, aa caasaKbMb 6oi1HOTO none.

3a aaiuara m.pacanaTaMb cnasno HHH na MpeMb·

30paTa sese rpse,Ille CTaHe KbpBaBb 60H.

3a 6paTa KOH MHJI'he

.lla BCTlKnH Db oriuia CTpOH.

Heu res r e HHH 60raTcTBO,

Heurejre HMH napa,Ho MCKaMe caoeona,L[oB'lmlKH npaB,lI.MHM.

30paTa Be4e rpbe ...

A KOH e CTpaXJIHBb xar-s 6a6a

.lloMa CMna Ce,lI.H.Ha xypxa ,lI.a sanpene ..lla nnaxe, na peaa.

30paTa neue rpae ...

)l.ocTa CMe JIe}f{aJIH

BbBb p06CKH neaeaa

Bpexe e ,lI.a CTaHeM'b

CBo60,lI.HH xopa HHll

30paTa Bette rpbe ...

.Free and- Independent

M A C E D O N I AA S W IT Z E R L A N D O F T H E B A L K A N S



August_!lJ 18514 - ThCJuSa11Cl8 of pe oj.Le ccc e tv 2eEer. fer U.E:

conse cr-a tion of :..,ts.yril and. tt,ettl'Yiy Cr.urcr, , J....w.cr.g :.r.e;;:; areDame G r - o u e v , l - e r - e ' I 'c a h e v , Lozancnev a r , c o t n e r s t vr.: p Lanatra tegy fur revolu ti onary ac ti 'iity in l '1a ce do r. ie :. .

1894-18517 - Leaders of I.loi.R .v.visit most cities ar~j, tOlf.IlS

of Macedonia and the hdrianople "'iLaye t. Local r evoIuticnar-ycommi ttees Ikomi teti I are formed. !;ew memce r s of tne <..rganizatiO l:swear an oath o~ a Bible. revolver and dagger, to u~fold idealsof I.M.R.O.

November 14, 1897 - Turkisn officials investigatir~ toe ~urderof a wealthy Turk in the village of Vinltsa, ~strict of nochany,discover the exlstance of the vrganization. r.any people ir. tne

Kochany , Shtip, R adovish, Kriva Palanka and l<,ale~hevoareas aretortured by the Turks trying to extract informatlon from themabout the O rganization.

September 2 1900 _ The legendary Apostol Petkov and ~is de~cn-ment wage a ' battle wi th Turkish troops in t he Gh ev gn el l Di st r~ ctof Southern Macedonia.

"d t o t y of the membersFebruary 7 , 190 1 - The Turks uncover the 1o

en 1 heyof I.M.R.O. IS Central Committee. Docto~ Hr~sto Tatarc f

Ivan Hadji-Nikolov and Pere Toshev are lmprlsoned.

I M H U member defects toJuly - Au~st 190 1 - Ivancho, an .... Ozora in the ~ostourthe Turks and OO "trays the leaders and or-gana d tawed orR egion. Thousands of villag~rs are arreste~, co~tinues its work.tortured. But the vrgan.izatlon survives an

Dame Grouev is ~xiled to Asia Minor.May 22, 19 0 2 -

Lefterov and DonchoSeptember 5, 190 2 - petachments.of

1saev'f Troskovo, ~ouaaritsa

hattIe Turkish troops near the vll ages 0

in the Gorna Joumaia Distric~.



f

t -5-

January I. 190J - The village detachment of Velgoshti, O hrida Is tr ic t b at tl es T ur ki sh t ro op s.

January 4 , 190i - Historic Soloun Cong~ convenes. R ep-resentatives 0 pr ov in ci al R ev ol ut io na ry C om mi tt ee s m ee t wi ththe Central Committee of I.M.R.O . It is decided to proclaima general uprising sometime during 190). The exact date isto be set later.

February 22, 190) - The detachments of Sl. Arsov, 1- ' . Strezovand N. Kokarev fight Turkish troops at L'uboyno, Prespa District.

March 5. 19 0 ) - The detachment of G. R adev battles with TUrkishsoldiers near Gorno Brodi, district of ~eres.

l'larch9 . 19 0 ) - The village of Zhervi, district of Voden, isburned to the ground by Turkish troops.

April 16, 19 0 3 - A group of revolutionaries blows up the ottoman3ank in Solaun.

April 17, 19 0 3 - The bands of Chernopeyev, Dechev and Mazneykovba~le with Turkish soldiers near Leska, ~istrict of KoChany.

April 2~, 19 0 ) - Skirmish between the detachment of Alekso ofPoroy and Turkish troops near the village of Igoumenets, districto f P et ri ch .

April 27 I 19 0 3 - The ship f1Guadalquivir" is sunk in Solounharbour by a group of revolutionaries.

~4 . 19 0 ) - Gotse Delchev, the great I.M.R .U. activist ~iesbattling the Turks near the village of Banitsa, district Qf Seres.

RevolutionaryDelegatesthe date of

tray 5, 19 0 3 - Historic Congress of the BitoltaDistrict is convened in the village of Smilevo.discuss and plan strategy for the Insurrection,which still remains a secret.

May 22,19 0 ) - The village of Smurdesh, district of ~ostour,.is burned to the ground by the Turks.

May 24 , 19 0 ) _ Detachment of Mazneykov battles Turkish troopsnear the village of Dodlno, district of Badovish.

May - June 1.9 0 3 _ Battles with Turkish troops are fo~t at .Mount Padalishte, Enidji-Vardar District; at Negrinovtsl.. RadOV1Sh

District; at Golak, Gorna Joumaya District; in the mo~talns aboveStroumitsa; at Gradabor, district of Soloun; at psoderl., districtof Ler1n; at Zhelevo, district of Kostour.

July==28 , 12.Q2 _ The General Staff issues a circular letterannouncing the date of the Insurrec~ion - August 2. the Feastof the Prophet Elijah - ILINDEN.



-6-

.Llio IL:-. 'D ,., iL~lF.:, C'l'10:l i~1the "o,~tour_Di;_;t ict

~hc . o ..tour Di::;ti.'ict i 3 one of 'tho ',lost scenic n~1dr-u,' cr}

ar o...S 0.- 'outJY'c.:;ter.1 ace coru a. .ic cau- ..r: of this ii1ountainou'"t"'-r-""l'1 ~'h'" TT'''' T II L1~ cr.'r, ,.-,r· t' J • 'J

-.:.. .c.4- 1.. \.. _ .... oJ.\. J ~ .,,.} Jl. ~ .l.f ..v' u..u flO Jt~LG a ('" "J .:: r1 01 :' o f

C1D...JE:' ~J:?t'·:CC.1Ghc frcecJ.Ol.l fiLhters 811U ,.'url:i::.:h ~_;oldior::;:_ r: :_"';,'0:18 2.G ill 01V0C - .icn , 'omen and ch iLur-on, :.11 ClfT')Gct"~ '1 • tIt' ~ - --OJ: 'Gr1~,-, 8};)lC 8 l~UL.[_ e - .18 '_,uccGsse:; 01. the f'::-:;e(o:.1 fi')1t0l:'Stheir f'a iLur-e e , the' 'ho1c8G..1e dectr-uc't ion ;1ich fo1lo''/'::~~ the'upr-Lc.i n lere for')ver ill-::,rained in the 1. 1L1c .L ; of the par-t·· J '1 . it f Irr"'-'Cl;>::U1GS. ·.L1::! 8~)lr1 0 J..J 1 .1 l_ : .H :'lC!VOrl'Jft them. 'i'he "r.cit':r'",late: ~r2..t1(blotlv;r, 'l'::veta .akr iova-v ctz-ev ska , who ·.'itnessoclti1GSe hi s toz-Lc ev errt s 2.8 a, teena,=,f';r, vi vid.ly r-ecourrt cd them-'GO her fc:...-;li1ymor-e than sb~ty :,rears later 1 [13 if they happenedonl~l './'2 ster-day . '.l'he sys't emati c campat r,n Oi1tI1e part of thg

.l'ur!~;:; 'Go burn the villa:_'es and destroy t~1e har-vest of those110 hac revolted force( 'chou aande from the .. ostour ,1ecion toiLQi78..te to Crmada and 'th e Jai t'3d ..:>tates. lJnfortunately, "e,the de nccridarrt s of tho;;€! v ho sacr-i r.i cco their property, their')osse.:>8ioTIs and sODetL2e:: their Li,ve s , hc.ve ne,:.-lccted o.tr 1')2.3t.Don't "e o ::c our par-errt a and (_.CLl..l1Cparent::; fe'·; :.linute'J to'

fZ_'liliarize our seLvo s '.'i tIl their noble and heroic strv..ce:le?

20r sevcr-eL io1011th8)rior to the IIL'ld811 Insv.Tr~ction,th~ )o!_)ul2.tio.1 of the ~~0'3tour District har' be en f'eve r.i shLy

• J:' "I .. ,... M 0 ...' SJ"~l' CJ.C • '0::1.... ('2'vide~" ) : i :" :n2 .. r 1 ./ . '1 ' :- . ..LOi~ 'Gi18 on.: ;:-~,2..1 cc « Lay. .Li'l~ C !. I..L iG.o ~ U

lTto ni.ne ~0~1(.:::;. : ; : . 1 812c11zone -'chc:I'':: orc oevcT2.1villa' eQ tacfL'Jc"1ts 2.l1c1 a .voyvo da ' (co::1.'llC)_n(,cl~)'a s appoirrted foreach cor s to co-oruinato th activi ties of the vLLl.a,...e dotach-~1e~1t3. 'l11c -,O;·1C:::1chcc Lt.eacncr s :)ii1broider3cl the 'battle ::.:ta:lr::ard

I al ,~'.'-~"b,,++l- ~'-ta'_"'(10::l-rr1'":lor cc.ch SO:1J }'ortu..ll.ats y, S<::V2r 0-'- (_.fi'':,J_ .... " IJ !J .... H_.C,_ ......

1 ave aurv iVG(~ 11 ey .:ers. red, '.·ith the: .aotto 01 :11ilC1c:n •

_ --;'-,~oo,10 or Dcath - Gii1'bToidZ:Y'ecln cold. l."ollo' ' I n . : : . . ,- .L . ~<;;u I.. • •th

is 2. list of the !,~ili t2.ry ZO:l.3Sin the I·:ostour 1:cL10n, '!J.

the COillIllL1dcrs for each zone.

( 1) .J1..lr'lbei1Y - Di cho ....ndonov'"(2) .J.1urdesh - i;tanas .~v,r3hal:ov I then 8tIJryo :::;teryo s:;::i

(3) ':iSLle 1 . ' : 1 - IVa:.l Popov

( 11 ) ':-1atsar "! 1,t;~~ -""OU"lOV(5) .Ju,r:'OL~icheny- 'l..rO a .!.L.Ll u

~6) ~.o!~e11J - ..i~ol2. _U1?.reyev

(7) ,iestr< :> .rt1 - !!E;:ola ~LrlE;tOY( J J : ' ; : -1i ch en: - '~t3ryo 2a:Jhov(9) hoao. aLly - "i tr o Vlw1.o

. . h ,.ho~tly Defore th el,~l'le~ in a -::~al~ z ~ -Jicho ..._~" ' . . O l cv 1~}as ....

Ilino.'S.n =!l~-Ul~rection.



-7-

In addition there was a Revolutionary Staff for the entireKostour District. It was headed by the legendary Vasil Chekalarovof Smurdesh, assisted by Pando Kl'ashev, Lazar Pope-Traikov and

M . N ikol ov.The Circular Letter issued by the General Staff of I.N.R .O .

announcing the date of Ilinden Insurrection reached the KostourDistrict quite late on the eve of Ilinden. The Kostour R evolu-tionary Staff was high up on the wooded slopes of Mount Osoyowhich rises to the east of the village of Drenoveny. Lazar Pope-Traikov quickly composed the following announcement:

The Insurrection is proclaimed today. Macedoniais in open battle with the tyrant. On the otherside of Mount Veach, the struggle began earlytoday. We invite everyone capable of bearingarms according to the established order to jointhe ranks of the fighters!Long live an Autono!llousMacedonia which is fighting

for its freedom! Long live the fightersl

The men of Drenoveny were summoned to make copies of this urgentappeal and take them to the various military zones of the KostourRegion. Several men were sent to Kostour to burn down the inns whereTurkish troops were quartered, but the ~en were unable to completetheir mission. '

August 2, the first day of the uprising was spent mobilizingthe hostour District's forces. During the night, the telegraphlines linking Kostour to the outside world were severed. Therewere plans to liberate the town of Kostour, but on August J ,it was decided to call off the plan because the freedom fighterswere hopelessly outnumbered. But August J provided the firstmilitary victory of the uprising •. About one hundred and fifty

insurgents attacked the Turkish army post in the village ofVisheny. After a three hour battle, the "komiti" forced theTurks to flee in panic to Kostour. The retreating Turks leftbehind guns, much ammunition, as well as rice, sugar and othersupplies.

. '

The village ofVisheny , wheret he fre edo mfighters won

their firstmi lit ary V icto ry .

06W.b H3rneJl.b na BIIl!Jc. :f, H~Jl.eT() CTaHa nbp80TO cpa}l{eHHt!

npes s M'J lIHUl.eHb aa I{CCTYPCI{O



- u -

O n AURUOL 4 ~ an ILL IDjJt wao mudo by Lh rovolu Liorw.rybnn mmund d by Nlkolu Andr-oyo v t o f r< .l ot he t ow n of' Kllooo1..lrl:l.B o o n u G t . l l l l U ' l d .o o n a l s i e d o f only o n o hundrou and f l f t : . y flghtc~a

th t t.nok WUB r-epu Laeu by tho 'l'urkluh garri (Jon. on tho next < . 1 . 4 /how v r , six hundr d froodom f1p;hl.;oruonvo z-geu o n Klloaoura. I

Th y ovorwhelmod fA dotuohmont of Turkish troopo whioh was alaoon 1 to way to Kl1l:19 0 Ura,and. oapturod rir teon wagonloada of8 UP l) 11 s , ' l' h 'l 'u rk io hg ar ri so n w as b ea t .e na ft .e r a 3-4 hour b attleThon, in milt t ary formation, mar-chang to tho tune of a patriotic •.song, with flags waving, tho freedom figntero made their triumphante:ntry i nto Kl1osoura. 'rhore, they were joyously welcomed by thetown's Arumanlan population. Chokalarov, Kl'aohev and Popov madespe oh 8 , explain1ng I.M.H.O . "s ideals and the people of KlloBaurawore inv1ted to join the struggle. In his memOirs, lvan popovwroto of the spirit of freedom which reigned in KliaBoura,

Klissoura was ours for more than 23 days ••••

We and also the people from the surroundingBuigarian v111ages went to market in Klis60uraas in our own town. Until August 14 (oldstyle) we were fully in oontrol. Day andnight, we t~umpeted sang and the flags whichwere unfurled could be seen from Kostour.J

O n August 5, the band of Lazar .Pope-'l'raikovurrounded thevillage of Zhervany. The people of this village, though theyspoke nothing but Bulgarian, had been forcibly converted toIslam, and were fanatioal Moslems who oppressed and maltreatedthe Bulgarian Christians of the surrounding villages. Pope-Traikovasked the Moslems to surrender their arms and remain neutralduring the insurrection. The residents af Zherveny answered

Pope-Tra1kov by opening fire, killing two of his menand

woundingfour others. R ealizing the danger that this village posed tothe struggle, Pope-Tralkov ordered it burned down.

O n August 8, the oombined bands of Chekalarov, Popov andKl1ashev - a force of some 700 men - gathered in the village ofSmurdesh. The next day, August 9 , these men were to attack thetown of Bilishoha, while the band of Lazar Pope-Tralkov was tooapture the Alban1an Moslem v1l~ge of Kapeshchltsa. The fanaticalMoslems of Billshoha and Kapeshoh1tsa had aided the Turks inthe pillage and burn1ng of Smurdesh several months before. Theoommanders po1nted to the ruins of the once oomfortable homesof Smurdesh as an example of what kind of danger these two settle-ments posed to the 1nsurreot10 n. On the way tc ,8111shcha, the

freedom f1ghters were jub1lantly receivedby

~he population ofVumbel and Vurbnik. The day was very hot, the ohildren of thesetwo villages ran to bring the 1nsurgents drinks of oold mountainwater. B1lishcha however, was not taken. About 900 TUrkishsoldiers and 300 armed. Albanian Noslems were entrenched instrategio posit1ons.above the town and in homes on the townlsoutskirts After a short battle, the Revolutionary Staff decidedthat the ~ost of taking Billshcha was too high and the insurgentsreturned to Smurdesh.



-9-

O n August 10, the freedom fighters in Smurdesh were in-formed that a force of Turkish soldiers, backed up b y artillery

had come from Kostour the previous day and burned down thevillage of Dumbeny. The Turks then installed themselves andtheir artillery in the hills above Dumbeny. But the freedomfighters, who knew the various nooks and crannies of thesemountains managed to sneak up on the Turks, and disl.odge themfrom their pO Sitions after a six hour battle. Twenty Turkswere dead and two were captured, one of whom was the Turkishbugler. The retreating Turks were pursued to the smolderingruins of Dumbeny. They were saved by the falling of the night.when in a 8tate of di s ar-ay, the Turks managed to made theiirwayback to Kostour. In retaliation for the attack on Bl1ishcha,a Turkish punitive expedition sneaked out of Bilishcha andburned down the village of Vurbnik. killing two people on August 10.

After the Battle of Dumbeny almost all of the northern andwe s ter-n parts of the Kostour District were freed. Frightenedb y the military victories of the insurgents, the Turkish garrissonsin the villages of K osinets, Zagoricheny , N estrarn, Fioulla, Gab reshand others had to abandon their posts and flee for the securityof Kostour. However, the Turkish garrison in the village ofl-aoder-y , high above Armensko, which guarded the s tra tegic BiglaPass .remained. An attempt was made on August 16 to take thestrategic pass b y a combined force of freedom fighters from theKostour and Larin R egions. But 6 0 0 -70 0 freedom fighters werehopelessly outnumbered by 20 0 0 Turkish soldiers, aided by artilleryand the Turkish cavalry. still, though the Psodery post wasnot taken, the insurgents gave the Turks a battle they wouldnot soon forget. The Turks lost over forty men trying unsuccess ...fully to dislodge the freedom fighters from their pO Sitions,while only six of the insurgents were killed.

For three glorious weeks the people of the Kostour Districtwere their own masters. They were free. The men could walkerect, without the fear of I1being put in their place" by thefanatical Turks. The women could leave their homes without thefear of being sexually assaulted. For three weeks they werefree of the corrupt tax collectors who took their hard-earnedmoney. They were free of their landowners, who took their crops,le~ving them with only enough food to subSist. They were freeof'.:corrupt officials who could barge into any house they wisedand demand roast chicken, pogacha* and rice flour halva*"~ from

**

Pogacha is a rich bread made of pure, 'sifted wheat flour,The average peasant of l'lacedoniawas too poor to afford pogacna ,

Halva is a confection made of sauteed flour, oil and sugarsyrup. Fiice does not grow in the Kostour R egion, it wasvery expensive due to this.



. _

\

•- -;-

•_ _: _

--~•

• '~.-.-1::: _ _

-

.

2~ •iT " ;-

. " "L .

'- ~- -J lD

,~.:, $~ .

"b-~. .

-f

•~# ~

.~.CI •' ;;:; ._

., _r- . .L - . . . . . -

•R :.(

'C - ~v

2

~.•

0 S

..-

e

•

K O C T Y P C K A

L f G F ND

.• ~ .. .J ~ , I -"U, V liaS"

a Ar-urnGl.11<H) (vI4h) I d la~e .

o c . - ( ' C \ ~ VdI4C{

A Mh(l{lIa" Vill4~t

• t. 't 1_ ' \ •



-.:::::-...:_£ =-,-:

l!.': .::::..~;:,.~;: :::-L.~

.--.,;:.-.;',,- --~ . - ~":.._ ::- :_":.!5 ? :" :-;_ :: ;:

:::: . . : . . . : : . ; : , ,$. :";---.:D l ~ :. ~ :~~ ~ ~_ s

.:;::£:..:- ~~:- ,_... ~ ...

: : s . . : . _

.~

c;:$.3 s ; : : . : ._ " 3::'5:-:;

'e e .. ..~e~ .........: . ; . .~ . - :e : -s *

~~::;$ ~

~ - e : : . - : : ' : . c ·O=:S-~=-r . .

: = a s , flo..~::..sl::.r..~~ ~ c ., ; -e : : : ~f7 aq- ,S~=.;" ' : !e :-e-;:,-~;

""""",,,.::._.; r·., .._~- . . . . . . ~ ......._.- ,-....~: . e gi.r.r.' ~$"~....- e

1l1e vroee~ bis' cpof ::ost-oU!'" blessitbe :ur .1sh cenaons;ien de astabed

Eul,gari an village s •

Fr

Races§. N .

Maoedon1§. ItsandMure 1iia r a i l s f o r o .



-lZ-

C-UHJ1,ECTHJNn th~ Koel-our Hc~on were fOUght liar tb' vl1

~ r ; ]Kcmoroladl and Tourl at thr; and, of oc tooor. ' P.r,

Tn, three worda "dctl.th". "d'_otruct1.on" WHI "Owtim1. ""u th results of the Ilinrien Inourrcct1.cm. in th'3 Ko toW' ViIf 8eem3 rather lncongruouG to inclucic trte ~ord "optirnlulll. 'W t' C t.\.the first two. But otrangely enough the pe opLs remained. o.vt1. hThousands had died, the Turko deBtroyed their bOUiec a.ru:1. t trIal t,

property, but the TUrko could not destroy the I.kop16 I n~1.rltThis remarkable fact 13 a t t.en t.ed to by tr.e engliSh journa118t,'and member of the Britteh Helief Committee H. I. Hrailoford 5A poignant example of tn i. a optimism 11 . > prov ic1ed by Ivan POI;~Vone of the I.M.B.U. leadere in the KOGtour Uietrlct. ~hen nef

asked the people of Koa i.ne ts if' their homes had been de troyelithey were quick to answer "Koma ti, cia ae fJ~or1.ae L o t , o; viG eta I

ate zhivi 1 zd.rav1 ,~p~ ke , ae o8looodrl~ po-dc or-t kuehchlk~- - , (Toftell with the village; may you e~yalive and healthyt ~Jhen we liberate ourselves we'll build

b ett er h ou se s) .6 The spirit of Ilinden never left the peopleof the Kostour R egion, and in the following decades, which wereno 1 e6 8 o pp re ss iv e than Turkish rule. this spirit was a 60urC~

of comfort and pride.

•r

. u i st r ic t of ~ostour.ill e of zagoricheny,

I11nden flag from the v ag



-1 -

Footnotes

L~ilt.Lch , Borb ata v K ostoursko 1hrldsk.o (do 19 04 godlna)

po spom ni na Ivan Popov et a1., p. 2 3 .Illnden 19 03 -195 3 , p. 60 •

L. Miletich, Borbata v Kostoursko i O hrldsko (do 190 4 godina)po spomen! na Ivan Popov et al., p. 36.

4. H. N. Brailsford, Macedonia. Its Races and Their Future, p. 18 6.

1.

.2.

5 . H. N. Brailsford, Macedonia. Its Raaes and Their Future, p. 166.

b. L. Miletich, Barbata v Kostoursko i O hrldsko (do 190 4 godina)po spomeni na Ivan Popov et al., p. 3 8 .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Brailsford, H. N. Macedonia. Its R aces and Their Future.London: He thuen and. Co., 1906.

2. Georgiev, G. and Shopov, Y. Ilindenskoto Vustaniye.Sofia: 1969 .

3 . Dimitroff, Luben edt Ilinden 1903-1953. Indianapolis:published by the Macedonian Tribune, 1953.

4 . Kasev, D. and Danailov edt Ilindensko - Preabrazhenskovustaniye 1903-1968. Sof1a: 1968.

5. Makedonski Almanah. Indianapolis: pub11shed by theCentral Committee of the M.P.O ., 194 0.

6. M1letich, L. Borbata v Kostoursko i O hridsko (do 190 4 godina)po spomeni na Ivan Popov et a1., Sofia: pUblished bythe Macedonian Scientif1c Institute, 1926. . .

)bI i " l lo : " r . ,v . ) ;~~~i4 '~~~; i l

I va n ~ ~ polt

Hllali~n~noll"

N i col a I \n dr ~e fl

H . : ;Kona flHApe~lI1>



-H-

The ILINDEN INSURRECTION in the Lorin District

The Lerin Plain in southwestern r.1acedoniahas long beenone of the most fertile. Through it passes the famous"Via Ignatia" which for centuries was the main route linkingthe Adriatic coast with IstanbUl. To the north and southwestincluding the mountains of Bouf anu Nered is the Staro~redregion. On the other side of the plain, just east of Lerinrises Mount Nidje, hence providing the name fa this area. Itwas in the highlands of these two regions - Staro Nered andNidje, that the major battles between the Turkish army and therevolutionary bands ct 1.M.R.O. took place. The plain wasunsuited to battle as it provided little or no protection tothe usually outnunbered freedom fighters. Even so, in eachvillage many people unhesitatingly volunteered to take up armsfor the freedom of Hacedonia by joining the bands that roamed

throughout the region.

Just a fEW days before the uprising, the circular Etterarrived announcing the date it was to take place. By thistime 500 freedom fighters had been mobilized. Over one hundredof them were from the village of Ekshi- Sou. Keeping this inmind it is not surprising that when the insurrectionmd breakout, on the evening of August 2, 1903, it was in this villagethat the first assault took place. A detachment of 200 peopleheaded by Georgi Popc-Christov set off ~n explosion in theEkshi-Sou railway station, destroying telegraph and other equip-ment belonging to the Turks. Mihail Chekov of Ekshi-SoU,WlOtook part, lived to write about it in his memoirs:

In the evening 0n the 30th of july (AugUst 2,Old ~yle) r at the given signal 200 freedomfighters appeared in the village square anddeclared the uprising against Turkey. Wechecked those who came and we saw that therewere older people among them who would beunable to bear arms. Among these people wasthe pr iest, Father Ivan l-1arkouzov;sente~cedto 15 years imprisonment for his revolut~onaryactivities. ~.qe took their rifles and sentthem home. The bands were headed by a localvoyvoda, Tego Hadjiev of Bitol'a. Sarafovsent us Georgi Chakurov from Bansko to ~erveas the expert in explosives. First we ~nformedthe station-master and the staff of our attack,so that they could leave the premise~, asthey Were our supporters. I was ass~gnedto oversee Georgi Chakurov who was chargedwith destroying the small bridge by the ..station and the railway switches, T~e ra~d .. tOYon the station was assigned to Georg~ pope-Chr~s

and Tego Hadjiev.



-15-

a tbac.ked the station from the I

e. d and was aucce s st'uL. The stationV ·I D r-d.ed

bysome

Turkish soldiers whoop n~d f re o Four of those soldiers wereki cd nd a f w were wounded. On our side'rego Hadj "v and my cousin Chekov were wounded.Teo was tak n into Ekshi-Sou where hiswounds w re bandaged. When Ilia Chekov sawth t ha s wound wa fatal he took his own life.At dawn \'./ r treated into the forest byEkshi-'ou, but the soldiers did not follow inpu.rsuit.1

R volutionary activities soon spread throughout the region.CommunicCitlon lines linking the major town.s were cut off, thebridg by the Turkish village of Kenale was destroyed and

sk rmiah sw r taking place in many villages in the country-side , Just above the village of Tursye at "Plocha" , 20 0fr-cdorn fight rs battled a Turkish force which was twice aslarge in number, forcing them to retreat.

V ry early in the month a small detachment led by GeorgiPope-Christov, Christo Nastev, Ferman and Nawn were contendingwith ),0 0 0 soldiers near Bouf and Hakovo. The combat lastedten hours and ended wi th a re trea t by the Turks and the burn-ing of both v rLl.ages . Just before this Bi toaha suffered the...,arneate and lost 25 villagers at the hands .of the soldiers.

Most of the district was n.OW under the control of thefr dom fighters. O nly a small Turkish garrison remained onigla M untain above the village of Armensko at a place called

"Ezert ata". This garrison was a major obstacle in the wayof the J .. I''i.R. O. as it kept the road from Larin to Kostour incheck. It wa.s decided from both the Kostou.r and Larin regionsthat this garrison had to be taken. On August 15 the detac h-m nts soon mov d onto the highlands above the Turkishgarrison. The actual attack occured on the following dayand Dight have been successful had it not been for thebetrayal of a group of wealthy citizens from the village ofP soder. Due to this treachery reinforcements soon arrivedso that 60 0 ill-equiped freedom fighters soon foUnd themselvesat war with a Turkish army of 2,0 0 0 men, complete with artillaryand a cavalry. Those sites above the village, such as

"Georgova Glava", "Ez e r-t.aaa v , "Kopanka ta " and "VlashkitePlochi II wi 11 a Iway- be a reminder of the heroic sixteen hourbattle in wru.ch only six insurgents were killed despite thegr at force of the Turkish army. The latter then retreatedto Lerin. On their way, they sacked the village of Armensko,brutally butchering and shooting 120 men, women and children.Georgi Pope-Christov was a witness to this atrOCity. In his



-1-

ir h wri es:

On he next day I entered he village withband wh re w collected the cor~ses.

my , 'G thHalf of the ~~~u:at10n 15 recoman1ac eother half exarchist. The Greek b1shopof Lerin told the Patriarchist priest,Father Lazar, that th~,villag7rs were notto support the Komita]1, but 1nstead wereto remain peaceful, and that when the armyentered the village they .'-':ld,.r)trunaway but do just the opposite - to g~, menwomen and cr.~~_2. and meet the Turk1sharmy, so that they could be treated,withmercy. That is eAactly what; they di.d,When the army descended the Hount Bi91a Pass,the villagers - men, wome n, and children

went out to meet them. hs soon as thepriest opened his mou~h they cut off hishead and began to butcher the populationand set fires; th~ villagers dispersed andlocked th::.:n.selvesn ~hEir homes. Theypursued them and bur~ed the village. Ifsomeone tried to :i.ec:.veis house he wasimmediately shot; at '-.ethreshold of hisdoor. Others '.;he): ','eafraid to leavetheir homes or to r.ideVlere burned alive.There were half-bur~ed o~ completelycharred bodie3. Mar.ywomen were able tosave themsel\Te3 by offering them moneyand fleeing. There weze also childrenmurdered. This was what Zhe Bashibouzouk

and the Turkish army did.

This barbarism \-16S not neN' 2.:::; m ny ot.her villages suffered thesame plight. Only three days earlier, the villagers of Neocazireceived similar treatment. H.'r:. Erailsford related their'fate in his book, Mace~onia. Its Races and Their Future:

There was Heocazi, a poor Bulgarian hamletin the plain not far from Florina, Fromit only a few of the younger men had joinedthe bands. When the TUrks swooped down uponit they were not content with burning it.They summoned the men together under thepretext of marching them as prisoners toFlorina. On the 'road half-way they halted

and massacred them at leisure and in coldblood, to the number of over sixty, forthe crime of being fathers of insurgentsons. It is said that some were torturedbefore they died, and others were made tostand in files that the soldiers mightexperiment with their rifle3 to see how manya single bullet would kill.





1. D. ~,occV,

vusca ..ni'fe---~--~.

1. oanc i10v

120J- t2'" c.

2. -. 0cor.;i cv and " ' 1 .

1959. .~").173.

T1i n cl .: :m , . .koto \'U~_; t ( ' ' - n i"'2.= - . .._.&L-_ 30fia

, . . ,.J.

J i ; . ! . "~c . ro_; l , ' : I . f . 'o rc~ , ,:J..C2cO~1ia. Its 1-:8..C9:':: <.1n0.'J_"lhJir Fu tur o ,1 1 . 1;. ~ c.v ~ ,:_.. , . t': --.----?"t-----------(10I1C~.0i.1: ~.!chlJ.:Ji1 0.1'1(1 Co.. 196,,) I I). 100.

J . ~ •

5 . ibi~.~. ~62.

1. ~1..a i.Laf'o r-d , .~l. .".1011(.1.0:"1: r.e thuen

r:'". ·eor.:~iev•

.~ofi2. :

-, 1

.J110lJOV.. : . and

19 69 .. ! . •

, .. , D i · . ~ . l l. '+ - .l ~O ~ D I ,I,,).e ;1 ~ (" " .1 1 '·_ ·'1 d .e·'1 ~9 0~ '9 c~ '-,' l'. - .. - I..V ~ .. .• .i-I dd' .!..~1l,1.~1l12.:;)O 1.c:

~.)V_blihG(~. bvr the ~ac edon.i an ~ri b1..Ul2, 1953.

[I., . iv08GV, D. and Dana iLov co, I1ii1f ..msl:.:o - P r ~_o b r a z h en5 1 ~oVuct,,;,ai;ye 1903-1960. ;-;'ofi2.: 1960.

5. ~akcdonok i . : . 1m8 .11211 . .U . 1 c1 i2 . i . 1 8 .L Jo1 i : : ; :C:::ntra1 Comraitt ac of the ....2.0 .•

»ub.Li.ch e d by th e1 91 .1 0 •



- 9-

1. f()l:.~, ,1" .r:"~Olll-Lhc vill;).;._,8 of !!orcc.1, ))ir_;tTict of LcrL1.

8enVIA 8i: JlIl15\ "rt,P80 H VIWAH Jj V1S l) >('-1 )

W o Till 'f>E~f1UJE 80 H E P f A t " b A P I O/l,V1J.l.J1.!

Bo ~ \ E P F A l"b A A 0 A \1 1 LU 'b _) P A K V \ > 1 A A n 'V 1 F LlJ ~ I

PA I< V \ f\ AA n 1 1 fW"p ) H A ( 13Ai b A A Pi 0 A Y 1W'h

3YPJlIII i'liAnAI-lH !t\3f\..1Jl ~A Ty\ nPABAIT).

MoMY[ \1 \ H£61;('TA AV\BAH'b AA IVl (TO?\T~

HtJJV\ TV! 3~f) E ' Ulf ) HEPEA ' b E r o n k r- t o

HEPf,4UYl HE l1bPnATfb I'(PYVlH'b E D LEv'lQTO!

T\IIJt Till AA ADA KY PWY M 'h ($0 Cr'bf>, IJ.IJ...[TQ)

KYPWYMf b 8'0 CbP ,o ,LLET (» . . J .Kv IB ' 6 AA I-lf ("'ANI1W~~

-~011- -0"'1" ';-':L'Oi1 the _~ostour I:c(;ioi1._ .& ) - . , -

AH f< -O nfPOgllfL{f ~ M O P Ib T Y ~ I·<Y 1H D

\X3J1ts 'b HA flf,Hg>k fPO

V 1 " 3 Jl b 5 Ib HAn E H Ii= * E PO) M 0 P1T'f - p I< \-1) . J j 0

A 11 [sVlrO,VlWIb l<OMI!1TVI

( _ B Vli-t Y u r r Jl A B V 1 t v ' ) 0 P n, TY P J < VI H 0 )

' t < ' A n VI Tb 130 p}j\ Ll., l/l TY P t < lIf H aKAnVllb ISo plRl-lVl) MoPIb

I Y H \ 1 1\ 1 1 1 '1 H A p ' " M O T Y P I< 1./1H 0r Y H VI T t H I~ P A )VI0 f'II o p~t : ,

rlYWkV1 no ..\ ' 1 . fYH\I\T.b-vF'~lAHO( f1 b V l 1 - - 1 A 1 < 'bJI \< D (_ 5 V I T1 ; - M t'- p 'b I ,

l-I )I I 1 M V \ A 0 \! 0 J)t H A

C~i1Tb OAf) I-"\DPr'b ,'fP)<VlHO

H" 8 )11L\O nJlAl-1l11HA

HA RlI1YD nJ)AI-H1HA J MOPf1, T'tPI<II1HO

SHAMe rL)A PA38V\E_)

5HAM£; A" PA38V1f, M apth T 'fiO )<1 -1H O

3 A MAkf A6hvl - > t !



,J Ily 'l'hHl. lli!n L, l.hu r"{,10nl;l 'h I,ll ,'"i()Vf !,O /\('fl(JV,

£Ill \1 [111 rh t,j "Y'OIII I.tl(' V LlIII,('I! () I' ,;0 I In. ','fjilj'( vrrvo r, l)u('(fI('n

,111(1 Vl' l.ll, Il/Itl ,II I V ( (11 COI"Ic(·nl.r'lt ~'HI 1 (t the ' V I 1 ;1 / () () I' I;OI.f'10,

't, 1.11 I t . Hit ,I uo v til 111.ri lw 1.( (I I' r(Jll1'{,(l IHI(1 1 (l11pf () l.r (J ttl(; ch o L II L l1 l1 L h ( ('(H~l(t {l t.(nnll ( It.Y·lll l,h!1 n n r l ){lllln !!(:(!: umon. l . h om,

Ill. l.h ,. p ln l., II v i I I " , '1 ('(' II I;olll() 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 'oillplillnurl t.o I Y'!I()V

1 .11 I , I ' l~r l ; nh 1 / 1 . 1 111 ( 1 111( ' r ' ) 1(1 , 11 l,' i((!1'1 h i " :ln1 (filiI II ,11 '1 (( cir'I(Jflnll( (Itil t; ~h vl1l'1/,H'PIIY hin t.hl'(' {(~lct 'oint! II' hr: '/f1(JI.r:,J Lhrrn

Ii I. ,\1 ' IO V hI''' Lh(' ' t 'u rk I1 1 1 1 1 1 ,ld o" , o r I'Y'OQI h l. \;0 hi fO 1 , 1"1(1

(f U ,,~i (I I(J him 'I l u l, h [I II.o t, ) Il! I• J \ r t Inv Iu! I t (I 1 .h() 1fIn(Io , /1 '1 ( , r:

t.() II 1.11 c111 . 1 . 1 (It' I 1)0 (x()(;'-IL( (I. 'I'l l(; 'l'u rl; ' ( , r 'ww(1

I r·t!QY' f II t 'r~l. I1n(1 lJ ( .u t « f t . . ' 1 1 fj 11l~\ L i t o J ' , r 'ut. ( = : . 1 ( l lA I ) , tty

I' bh ,jf!IIIT' .L i01

v

Il'ii h i . Gill 1 . 1 11 tl I'l~rffll)h l . r : (1)1: , 1 ' I , u h ( J ( 1 l'I"'~Jr' tor.

,ulllit" , 1 1 1 ( 1 I, coi \ I, 1111 , ( ' wildt, I.hr) rJ,f'CiJ I'

' 11f) n{,hl: 1 1 n,' I IJ llu L :' 1 :IJ1U ) I .Irony of ' )0

I'j,cy ,nlln[l.,i,tI 1 . )'1(JlrJ V '( '1'1'{I'I<I) t)fJ,(;i~. ': "VO

1 n r\rC}t'"I1111 1.11 11 . ' 1 ' , 1 v c ! 111 I{'R (,;1;h 1.6, h o 1',rU I

C (J l i('(J '1 1 Iy, ~iJ( 'l'lll"'~,t::h t.r: O rH I

".' ~h l~ '/I .. ',Y unr: ['j Il(d t 'f IJO't:tLh h o LI ", OITl L rH 11(J .\ .( 1 '1~) UY' n l:

t he In \jUI" II()\/ 'vat', th o

/ \ t . lJ1( J f\ I IJO <l, (' (,h I; n(:n , "')') 1 ,1 '1r. u: hrl. I L > , 1 ' 1 t D , I '

" l..h W i ll oh l.h en t. 1

li "'f L 1 .l . \1uy

flh t'r

un u I-

u: t'

n

. ov ,(~ \.0

'I'h(11111 1 \ L I r l

. ill i, 1 1 " , lIJn .

[.11,0 v: i 1 ;\/', .~1;0 .our l,l

,'m j rJlW



- 1-

_ O n t.h QtJ l f o S t er n

1 shed with Turki 'h1 1 t,a

Th

_ )n S ~'tem e1' 1.... ina ain lash d w it.h TIlsWell s injuri t

tll

r

- On 'ept m e1' 1b, t h o h

G u-cne to fo1..1O -}a Turkishth villag s of IIp t~asualties.

- O n September 24, th ch ta of Dimi tar La

a Turkish patrol near- Yanako , Laze dino casualties while the Turks 10 t many T I l n.

1l1II

- O n September 28, the cheta of Na t v antw battles in the Gorna Jumaisko are withmany casual ties. Th same day th ch t ofZografov fought a battle: ~':instth 'I'urks ,hours.

- O n August 30, in the Pirin mountain,,....oyanov, P. Durgenov and D. Zografovthe help of other ch<>ti totaling 50 m n ,army. The fighting went into th night.the Turks in this battle.

th chnumberingcla h withThe ens

with1 1

d

- O n September 17, the cheta of A. T shovaliy taattacked a Turkish garrison with tl hel f s v r

- O n September 1, the che' a of ~en. T o n . ..ev and l..iuten It. Ya nk ov n um b er in g 40 men were stati n d i th ~i inThey fought a large battle a ainst the ~rurka r th

of Pirin.

h t,~,.

The insurrection in the S res r g. on had b en a v ry .,ir:l]_)6rtnnt O~1C. 'l'he Lnsur-r'etion is s hu f'ou, 'ht nrruin ...t no lee.than 20,000 '.curlei sh troop::::. 'j_'hi~.;cLe arly f " J 0 ITS he odds thfreec1.o:n fiGhter;;; bad u~~D,i:rlsthon f but Lao tho 0 ~ 0.(.' an;_;allantry v. L th vr h ich they fou,:ht Ln ntt il11 tine to 1 fc;:o.t their

O~)pr8S8or8 .



•'1-:.;.w-

. The Arumem.ans of Macodonia tlere .not just content withgiving their moral support to the Ilinden Insurrection. ManyArumanians from Krotishovo, fr':JID t.H~ Bit~8 ana. xes tour Regionsjoined the revolutio~ary bends .~ their ~ight for freedom. ~otonly were t1ey fine fiG!:.ti::1gm e r , , bl·C several of I.M.R.O.ISmost ll1ustrio1.1.G comanc'..e-:>;;;1wer-e Aru;-:aniu-,'ls. The legendaryVoyvoda (Co8~ander)Mitre VIano particularly distinguished

himself in the Kostour ~:~gion duril"'$ the Ilinden Inourrection.After the upr-Ls i.ng I f ! .13 cr.::.phec" M·i.";r<3r-ef'ueed to abandonMaceUonla and the str:~gg:;'e f'.c~i.n$)t t:hG Tur~;;s. He died in battlew 1 th th~ Turks in the ,"lint·eX'0: 3.907near the village ofZhouprn~shcha. 5 'I'he ceLebz-aod P: 1';0 GcuLf tJas commander-ofthe reVolutio~ary band.s in the Kr-one .':)voR<?gion. His motherwas an Arur1anlWl, while his father vraa e.n Albal1.ian.6



It.WI 'l

··21-

of Ald. ntn i ,

the)

< rid

Bu

no ,I t; VI Y j I;hI II Jh1. nq,J I 1 1 1 I , n I uu f ' r) on J Y n III d nin-]

n

h



. \

III Ihl I,ll iI II'1 '1 I I l i l t l III ," (I ", I I lId II t II I ,! tU Il

I"

,o J

) ,. / A 'I (I,. ~/\( , I J ~I"

( t ,It ,t · II ,t!/

/' III II ,I'

{I

1 1 1 1 1 I III,

/ lJ I ( II t ( I 1 . 1 I i t I

" rI f(

1\11.1 Ii.\ 1 1 "I I ' I.' Illd lOt 1 1 1 1 ' r l I I I I I,I II, II.

II I I' I II 'II 1 1 1 ' 11~ " " !I , wil l '

,d I 1 1 1 1 1 1 '1 I"II , IIII f ,I I , I 1.,,111 r l II

II I "w ill , II 11H III III Ill' I I I 1 ' I I · II II I

!If I.M 11 . 0 , I t I. fI'III (lod II III

1 1 1 1 1 ti t

I ,,I, I III

d I, Y h.

' 1 1 1 1 , 1 , 1 1 , " II I

Iljl

1 , 1 " 1

1 1 , 1

In IPI' f I

lid,! 10,

,Hlt I 'TIll

1 f J I I I1

M,' 'I1tHI'

/1 , V II {

11 1 ( I ' " If II

iIJ/Ii). W h i t

'fill lill' /111

J 1 I I t 1111

II II ."

~

I

i I . I hi r

11 Ihi111)1, 1 '1 j I

/IJ II j' /il II, '/.

,, "Ih

I,t I j I!'I I

f'

2.(I/If " f ' I " I'.

.1. "

,••

I I 111)4', .~ ,. r r l f " Xh l

"Y i I '(H

11 [ 11-" '1/,, • • j .-f' 1)1

•/ 1 1 ' 1 1 < ' j .,II If I !d'. III' Ifl , . ), . I. ', •

II'. I• f,

H. Jl. MI.' I "1/ ,1. j ,J , # J ,: I

1 1 I. :, I I; f. I f I II',

I.

II



D am ia n G ro ue .. .. ,1867-1906

Damian Grouevwae born inSmilevodistrict of Eitol'a, in 18 67. He was •one of the founders of I.M.R .u. and amember of the first Central Committeein 1894. A man possessing outstandingoratorical Skills, Grouev spoke con-stantly and to anyone of his ideal ofa free and independent Macedonia.

While in Shtip during the years1894-95, Grouev met Gotse Delchev. Adeep and trusting friendship developedbetween the two great patriots. Alwaysthe agitator and activist, Grouev spentmost of his time in Shtip organizingrevolutionary committees, estab lishingoontacts, and ceaselessly preaching hispolitical ideals.

O n August 6, 1900, Grouev was arrestedand thrown in the jail inBitol'a, wherehe remained un ti 1 1902. Even behind bars,

Grouov remained in constant contact with members of the revolution-ary organization. He was kept informed of everything that wasgoing on with I.M.R .O . From Bitol'a, he was sent into exile bythe Turks, to Podrum kale in Asia Minor. There he came into con-tact with Dr. Hristo Tatarchev, Pere Toshev and Hristo Matov.In 1903, just before Easter, the Turks granted amnesty and DamianGrouev was freed.

He went directly to Soloun, where he learned of the deciSion "to stage the Ilinden Uprising. He was elected as a member of the

R evolutionary Command. In this capacity, he was able to witnessthe effects of the war on his own birthplace of Smilevo. Afterthe uprising, Grouev did not leave Maoedonia, but remained amonghis own people, offering hope, support and wisdom to the O rgan-ization and the Macedonian Cause. On December 2,3 , 1906, inMal~8hev8 ko, Grouav was uncovered by a Turkish raiding partyand, along with two loyal friends, was shot and killed. He was39 years old.

G A A P

P R r f r E r Ao 6 1 ~ 1 1 t3£

A),""

& 1 - 1 1 - \

IC l.IJ

- J Ie

I

Ovj(



velcnev beoame ~ ltvlng legend.'llhe '!'urka ttt,1od in vam to ca toh and.aubdue thin fiery activ1st (2,00 0 liraware offered for his capture). on ~ la .y 2,

'190), in'Baniiaa, district of scr-e a , where he Wf.iO apend1ngtwodays, the house in which he wae staying waa surroundeQ, and hewas killed by a bullet in the cheat. He was 31 years old.

Gotoe Delchav1872-1903

. . .

Uo illf DO1aho v wuu b{Jt":r~ ill i\.oukuu h( I oe :t"ll M.u· doniu) or) J'.lnu.u.r,y 2j. lU'/2.In high nonoo I in :JOIOUlt, U loill V " ....

v lilod hit> okL l l 1).0 I 1 u<io.(' l . . i . ! .Idfighter. Afto}" high uchco r , h (nttH"fJf

ttl mill tary aOuU(,my in :J flu., Lui,fOI).nd hlmao if to drl.lwn to thtJ Nu.ooo.cm u.tL

Cauae t oontinue hi0 (tudluu. In 1~~4he b 01 W(J U I.,.oo.chfu' In ;jhLlIJ, wh r-om i uI:.truiun cr-ouov , Tho tlilO fl' una begunto draft th IJlanu by whioh u whol ..nation of poople would. r1u for' fro(jdol'lI.

Af1 w 11 as ttHjwk11ng. uoLonev orgu.n1z d

oomnutt eo, urgou. pcop Ie 1.0 b r: comeflghtor'a, and tr13.l/o11od. of'Len to :Jofia,in order to otabliub contact withother revolutlonariea.

"

1-'01'0 Tooh v, [;I. f'ound.e r' of I.M.B.U.was born in Vrilep in lti65. ~etw en

18f32 and HH : ! 5 , l'oahev at t.enaedhigh"$ohool ill Soloun. !Juring the ~erb1an ...:1jtdgarian war, 'l'ol3hev onlta ted as avolunteer til the Bulgarian army_ Hemet Damian Orouev when 'bo th Wf;,re in~rllep in lf3 92. Between t~94ar~ 1~9b,he ta.ughtat the Eulgarian, .men'6 highschool 1 l l Bltol 1a. I n Solaun b t w e n1898 and 1901, TOBhev, along w1thGrouev, led th revolutionary movementin Macedonia.

Toahev played a pi vetal role 111

the Illndan upris1ng as a leador oftho MaX -lova band, After thec11aaatrol +8war, he became a :rloualy.ill in ~copye.He r turned to of1a in 19 12. He, how~cv r. did not liv t o oe hi .natlv~v111g. B he wa k.illed on the 1'0ad.btw on X'ail ko and Dr novo , ij. waf)it? Y az-a old



-27-

Boris Sarafov was born in thevillage of Libyakovo on July 12, 18 72.

He finished high school in ~oloun beforeenrolling in the military school inSofia, from which he emerged a youngofficer in 1893. S ar af ov s ubs eq ue nt lybecame aware of the Macedonian Movementin which he immediately became actively'involved. .

Sarafov, a great activist andstrategist, drew up countless revolution-ary plans. In order to acquire knowledgein foreign military policy and strategy,he travelled to Russia. Such was hisgenuine coman ttment to the f>lacedoniansituation - his personal oommittmentto devise suoh strategy as would gainfor the Maoedonian people their freedoma nd i nd ep en de nc e.

B ori s Sara fov1872-1907 When news of the impending uprising

reaohed Sarofov in 1903, he decided toreturn to r-lacedoniaso that he could take an active part. Hewas elected as a member of the main R evolutionary Command alongwith Damian Grouev and Anastas Lazarov.During the aotual up-rising, Sarafov himself led the fighting. After the disastrousend to the war, Sarafov was killed by a group of anti-revolution-aries on Decemb er 10, 190 7. He was 35 years old. .

Hristo ouzounov was born onOctober 12, 1878 in O hrid. After. h ighschool, ouzounov taught school for fouryears in his native O hrid. He wasarrested in connection with the executionof the Serbian spy, D. Gurdan. Freedin 1899 he immediately started travellingthrough' the villages of O h~id, teachingpeople to fight for their ~ndependence.His home became the centre for the workersof th~ Qrgani~~t~on in Qhrlg an4 §ura~QYndlng v1l~~@~, In 1901, t he p @o pl eof O hrid again chose Ouzounov a~ ~teacher. However, due to a dec1s~on

gf the Greek bishop during 'I'urkishrule,O UZQU.P.QVwas instead thrown into aprls.on in Bitol'a. He was released oneyear later.

Hpisto Ouzounov O aring the uprising, ouzounov was1878-1907 in oommand of all of the troops in the

area of Ohrid and DrimkQlekO. H e w a u 2 5 years old.



-28-

ov and his troops travelled toon April 24 , 19 0 3 he~~Z~~y planned to rid that ~i~lage

the village of Tser, who was performing great atroo~t~es~of its Turkish rulers however met massive opposition byuzounov and his g~oU~fter running out of ~unition. decided

T Ur ki sh t ro op s~ an 'ther than surrender al~ve to the en~my.t~ o om mi t s ui c~ de ~a h'S mother Ouzounov wrote: uOur ~dealIn a final letter °th~ is why idie in satisfaction •••• "will be realized - aHe was 29 years old.

Dr. H risto Tatarchev1 8 8 6 - 1 9 . 5 2

policy and spread his

Dr Tatarchev was born inResenin 18 8 6· and completed his studies in

Plovdiv'and stara Zagora. His parentsthen sent him to medical school inSWitzerland. Two years later, he-travelled to Berlin, where he finishedmedical school with honours.

Possessing deep nationalistic andrevolutionary ideals, he returned toSoloun, fYiacedonia,to establish hismedical practice. There he met DamianGrouev, who had already founded hisstill-inactive organization. Dr.

Tatarchev became a member of theorganization in 1893. He became thefirst president of I.M.R.O., withDamian Grouev as secretary.

Tatarchev proceeded to travelthrough small villages, exposing peopleto the organization. During the up-rising, be:, al:ong:.wi th :Matov ,- formulated

beliefs through wri tings, etc.

After World War II, he moved to Turin, ltaly~ but he keptin constant contact with members of the organization in ~acedoniHe worked diligently for the Macedonian Tribune. He returned toRasen in 1944, only to find N a.cedonia under Serb o-Communist ruleAlthough th~ new government tried to detain him he managed toreturn to Italy on January 5 , 19 52, Dr. Hristo Tatarchev. Hisfuneral was arranged by Macedonian rreedom fighters.

. -~ .



-29-

The B ulgari an settl ers of Mace doniawere not alone in their active par-ticipa tion in the Mac edonia n R ev oluti on-

ary O rganization. Pito Gouli, anAroumanian, was a good example of howthe Aroumanians of Macedonia also foughtfor their freedom. He became a freedomfighter at 17 years of age. In 18 8 5 ,he became a member of the Kalmikovband of fighters, but after its dis-solution, he was apprehended and exiledto Asia Minor.

Freed, he committed himself evenmore strongly to the Cause. Uuringthe Ilinden Insurrection, Gouli tookhis post at Kroushevo, which was takenby the revolutionaries. The excitementand jubilation which ensued was short-lived, however, as 15 ,0 00 Turkish

Pito Gouli soldiers, along with artillery, des-cended on the small town. Gouli, al-

though he fought until the last moment, died in this battle.

P an do K ly as he v1882-1907

Pando Klyashev was born in ~murdeshin 18 8 2, and he attended school in Solounand Bitol'a. while at high school inSoloun, he became an active member of arevolutionary band founded b y Turpenl"larkov. Immediately after finishing .school, he threw himself wholeheartedlyinto the revolutionary cause. He workedwith the Kostour band, in the area he .knew so well.

He became a fiery agitator and, atthe time of the uprising, was in thefronto. lines of fighting. Along withChekalarov, he took part in the battleof Klissoura. There, JO O Turkish troopswere forced to abandon the town. Healso took part in the battles atK apeshti tsa and Bi lisht a.

After the war, he went back amonghis p eople . On August 13, 19 0 7, his band was ambushed in amountain above the village of Drenoveny. Following the fighting,Klyashev, along with fourteen of his friends, was dead. He was25 years old.



Traikov, born in Dumbeny, was oneof the leaders of the Kostour arm ofthe war. During the summer months t .when not at school, Traikov visited

the villages in the Kostour regionsp rea din g r ev olu tio nar y id eal s an d'policy. He was iwprisoned in the Karchjail, and was released early in 19 0 3 . a

During the Ilinden uprising, hewas the leader of his Kostour troopsas well as being involved inmany ,battles. On returning to Kostourwhere the villages,were ravaged ~ddeserted, TraikoV met a man named

LaZar pope-Traikov Kote, from Roul'a. Kote, a staunchanti-revolutionary (the demon of the

or gan iza tio n) d ece ive d p op e-T rai kov and su bse que ntl y ki llo d",~him. O n hearing of Traikov ~s murder, Karavangelis requested

" '·,.and,receivedrom Ko te , Tra~kov's head. Lazar Pope-Traikov" di ed :, a- tt he a ge o f 2 7.

He was then called back to Bitol'ato teach, where he became the first~ember of the ruling arm of the Organ~lzation. He soon tired of this, how-

the region of Bi I ever, and he became a revolutionary inResen, Prilep an~o~eai As such, ~e travelled to the Kroushevo,troops of the O r anim r-Hisar reg~ons, in order to ready the

Sougarev fought ~ithz~~ion for r~bellion. During the uprising,returned to work amon ~htroops ln Bitol'a. After the war, hehope. g e people, lending support and spreading

G eo rg i S ou ga re v1876-1905

Born in Bitol'a in 1876, Sougarevwent to school there, and, in 18 9 6,became a teacher there. Teaching inBitol'a, however, did not satisfy thisyoung and ambitious man, who had ,a greatdesire to work among people. In suc-ceSSion, Sougarev taught in the villagesof Strezho, Debelatsi, £lhovets, and 'R ac he, w her e, in addition to teaching

children to read and write, he spoketo people about freedom, of the fightagainst tyranny, and about rebellion.~n 19 01, he became actively involved~n the O rganization's first group off re ed om f ig ht er s.

After 19 0 4 SPOsing forces: 'th~ugarev made ready to fight against two op-after having fought ;urkS and the Greeks. On March 5, 19 0 5,Sougarev was killed i~ainst ~he Turks for three, days, Georgi

. the V~llage of Paralovo at the age of 29.



H risto Matov1872-1922

-31-

Hristo Matov was born March 10~lo72in Strouga, Macedonia. Although manyenvisioned 1atov as a professor, he

instead spent his life futhering theideals of the Macedonian ~uestion.While principal of a school in~copye,Matov became aware of the existenceof I.M.H .. He organized the firstrevolutionary committee in Scopye.

Due to health problems, i1atov wasnot able to take active part in thefighting during the ~linden Insurrection.H is contrib ution,. however, was equallyinvaluable. He became the formulatorof policy and ideals. Through hiswriting and his speeches, 1atov was

able to express the thoughts and theoriesbehind the Macedonlan movement tomembers of the intelligentsia.

Matov was imprisoned three times,the third time in exile in Asia Minor. In 1905-1906 he wrotehis famous work, R evolutionary Actions. Through this work,he.analyzed revolutionary groups who, through war, fought togain their independence. He published numerous essays, pamphletsand articles, all of which dealt with the question of Hacedonia,e.g.; liThePrinciples of I.N.R . 0 . • j "on the administration of

. I. M. R. O. ", l I, .j ha te were, and what we ar-e:' etc.

His contribution, although non-violent, served as an in-

valuable purpose in that it greatly helped spread the doctrineof the Macedonian revolutionaries. Natov died on February 10,1922 in Sofia.

!

t

iIIII

I

IL

Va si l C he ka la ro v

B orn i n Sr nur de sh, C he kal ar ovbecame one of the first Kostour revolution-aries. During the Uprising, he providedthe able leadership of the troops inthe Kostour region. He proved to be ab ri ll ia nt s tr at eg is t.

During the war between the alliesin the Balkans, Chekalarov joined the

ranks of the Greek army as a spy. Hewas eventually discovered and killed.His head was cut off and paraded throughthe streets of Lerin amid cries of:"Chekalarov is no more". The head wasthen given to the Bulgarian church of" St . P an te le im on ll where it was buriedin the Bulgarian graveyard.



M ar ko L er in sk i

- J 2 -

The energy and ambition ofMarko Lerinski led him, one day, totravel alone to Sofia and ask his hero,Gotse Delchev, for a job. The answerto this request sent Lerinski to Lerin.Lerinski did not possiss any specifictalents, and his organizational leader_ship qualities had not yet surfaced.Nevertheless, he put together a fight-ing band which was to become the proto-type of an organized company. Lerinskihad as did Delchev, a strong beliefin himself and in his people. Hepossessed great physical strength, buthe was not a tyrant; he did not preach,philosophize, or talk down to his people.R ather, he spoke as an equal among them.

Not surprisingly, Lerinski became aliving legend, a source of hope to allwho knew him.

Karev was born in 1 8 7 7 in K ro ush evo,where he also went to school. Due tohis parents' poverty, they sent him offto work at an early age. As a resultof this experience. Karev was left with

a paralyzed arm. He became acquaintedwith the freedom fighters, and was chosenas a leader in the village of Gorno-Divyatsi, as well as of some of then ei gh bo ur in g v il la ge s.

As a result of the execution oftwo Turkish spies in his village (whowere sentenced by the O rganization) ,Karev .was imprisoned. He was triedand released one month later.

As leader of the Kroushovo band,

he took an active part in the b attleat Kroushovo. After the war, he fledNicola Karev to Sofia. His constant desire, how-

ever, was to return to Macedonia, inorder to fight f?r the freedom and independence of which hedre~ed. O n Aprll, 23, 1905, back in Macedonia with his bandof f1ghters, Karev was ambushed in a small town where they hadstopped to rest. There Karev died.



-33-

The Kroushovo Republic

The picturesque town of Kroushovo is located in westcentral Macedonia just north of Bito1'a and west of Prilep.This town of merchants and craftsmen was brought to theforefront when the I1inden Insurrection erupted in 1903.

In the days prior to the uprising, the townspeople werebusy making plans with freedom fighters fDr its liberatdon.It was decided that seven detachments would be organized, echhaving an assignment to carry out. Bulgarians, k"urnaniansand Albanians not only from Kroushovo but from the surroundingvillages joined together to fight against their Turkishoppressors in an attempt to free the town. At the appointedhour on the feast of the prophet St. I1ijah the insurgentsnumbering close to 800 took their positions around the town.TWO detachments went into the town to destroy the telegraph

station. At midnight the signal shot was fired and the battlebegan. The bells from the three churches in the town rangcontinuously as the citizens took to the streets to lEjoicewithout fear of being shot, so great was their joy to know thatKroushovo might soon be free. Fighting continued until dawnwhen only the barracks were still in Turkish hands. Itcontinued well into the-,afternoon when Pito Gouly and hisdetachment arrived to he~p. Together they burned down themilitary barracks. The insurgents were successfully able toward off an army of 300 Turkish soldiers headed for the~wn,leaving them its undisputed masters. On that day theembroidered flag reading "Freedom or Death" flew proudlyover Kroushovo while its population rejoiced at their newfound liberty. The town waS proclaimed a republic and acivil administration-was chosen with Vangel Dinou, anArurnanian, as president. Other members·of the temporaryexecutive committee were Georgi Chache,-Teohar Neshkov,Christo p. Kyourkchiev, Dimitar Sekoulov and Dr. Nikola Bal'yo.

During this time the Turkish population remained unharmed.The citizens of Kroushovo hoped to win their support. Theyalso at'tempted to conv i.nce.the inhabitants of the localTurkish villages PI~snita, Norovo and Aldantsi to join in theircause. To accomplish this they sent a letter to each, explaining "that they too would welcome them in an autbnomous Macedonia.The letter, written in the local dialect demonstrates thesincerity of their endeavor. Below is only a excerpt of it:

Dear neighbours! As Turks, Albanians and Moslems

we know that you think that this is your kingdomand that you are not slaves. You:will soonrealize and understand that it is not so and thatyou are sinning. We will fight for you as well as··bu-rselves. Freedom or Death is imprinted on ourforeheads and on our bloodstained flag. There is noturning back. May our struggle be blessed! LOn? livethe fighters for freedom and justice, and long l~veall honourable sons of Macedonia!



-34-

the Turkish village of,Aldantsi.eagerness to offer thelr support.reply was soon received fr?m

In it the people express thelrd b the tenor of your letter that

ve understan , r men that you have not leftyou are n°thte~l orde; to attack the peacefulYour hear s an d

. (l'ke ours) and that you are opposePopulatlon l' h' h

'1 doers and to the Government W lConly to eVl -

th But those whom you seek are not toprotects em. h

f d ng us They have fled to t e towns.be oun amo . . ' fAS for ourselves, we promise .t? remaln qUlet. Iyour intention is to kill the lnnocent you haveonly to come here. Hay God help those whose questis justice, tVe have sent,on your letters to the

neighbour~ng villages, WhlCh are also of our way ofthinking.

On 'the:9th day of August ~emo::--ialse~:rice~ \vere held ~n allthree 'churches for those who dled ln the Ilghtlng. Followlng.the service flowers were strewn over the graves by the populatlo

On August 12th a Turkish army of thousands moved. in tobegin their assault on Kroushovo. On the slopes above thetown the freedom fighters took their positionsi "Georgi aoumov'detachment was posted on the steep cliffs above the ·Bitol

1

a-Prilep road. Ivan Naoumov's (Alyabaka) men were on the

slope IIBousheva Cheshema" by "Deni Kamen" and ItShestar" justabove the road leading t_ Kichevo. Georgi Stoyanov guardedthe "Sliva" pass. Atanas Karev, stationed at I1Koev Trun"stood guard over the road to the village Kochisha. Andrei'Christov had dug himself in Ly the Sveti Spas Aonastery,while Pito Gouly was at "Mechkin Kamenlle The village voivodaMirche a~d his men occupied the road to the Pomack villageNorovo".o The ensuing combat wi.ped out the entire group_Many of the freeQom -fighters t ok their own lives so asnot to be taken prisoners. Kroushovo was then pillaged ancburne~ bY,.,thevictorious Turkq_ and innumerahle sufferingswere Lnf L'Lct.edon the population.

By the end, of the day Kroushovo had paid dearly for itsten days of frae dorrr; . One hundred people vere killed 150women and girls were violated and 350 houses and sto~es wereburned down. The,Kroushovo Republic \'as no more. Yet the heroiand t~agedy of t~lS day were not forgotten. They promptedGeorgl Tornalevskl to write in Kroushovskata Republika:



-35-

Kroushovo! Birthplace of craftsmen whocan work wonders with a hammer and chisel.White stoned little town in the embrace ofBabouna Mountain. How great is your woundand your grief!

You paid dearly for your glory. Many of yoursons fell at Sliva and Mechkin Kamen. Theirheads were collected by mothers in mourning.Your banner fell but your glory remains.

Kroushovo; your name shall live for ever!4

Footnotes

I. G. Georgiev and Shopov, Y. ed., I1indenskoto Vustaniye,Sofia: 1969, p. 150.

2. H.N. Brailsford, Macedonia. Its Races and Their Future,(London: Methuen and Co., 1906) I po 153.

3. Georgiev, Po 152.

4. Georgi Toma1evski, Kroushovskata Repoub1ika (So~ia:Bu1garski Pisate1, 1968) I p. 300-301.

CB050 lLA CMfb PTbli.)t:ATH



----,..:..~~ _ ~__ ! 'i ': '" - s : - : : - _ : - : -:.:25

-;"r c.""" =.--3::

~- . . . - - - - - - - - -:::..--::= _ ..

':!--c.:----- -.::.--~

-..- - - ..:, - ~=.'- ...

- . . . . - - .:::_ . . . . --------=----

-----~----- _---- '~------.=. -.!:" -on--

------ - ~ = =; ; : . . : : : - = : . . : : ,::-=- = - --._.----~- - -

r-----.__ ---::: l__ t : : : : : : . ---4 - _ ; ; ; = . . . . . .-_~ l

_-.:.::: - ~ - _

- .... z:._ . .. -

-------.~

--,:::----_ .. . . , . . . . . -- _ - = -.=.~ -C. __ .. : _:__:_: =~=::.._::- _

~= ~~~~ .: ~ , ~ : : ~ = -= - & E . = - - : : = - - ~-- ---.~- ... - -,. - -:::-_

-.::....~= - .:...:-=-~ --.----- _ : : - ._ .. _ -- - - _ -.. ----=--- :::~

. .,.:-.=.._- -

.-= . . : : . . - - - ~ - -

-,..-..:::._--~-.



-37-

.1e 3.11S'tierSo both f the se uesti is 2.r2 1"tc:ei; ; ;h 3 . t he ' \ "t ,r ed oi ng em their a tions e ecy ;_;wc c ru cial f:J.c rs.

O:::e o f t he f 'a cc or -s t ha t p r- om pt .e dI . .,. ..:he revolt in August 1903 wa s the c ooi tzierrt f ~s se rrthe new Inspector-wner3 .1 of "!acedonia, ~ "u ting tn

t io na ry m ov em en t once and for all. Thus, thr 1 h u t th::;onthsof 1902 and the first half of 19 3, the Tu rkishrroceeded to carry OUt extremely drastic and rovagainst the Bulgariar inhabitants in an ~ff rt t Stp

r-ebe lli ous fee l ings. In fac t, it looked like the Turkto make a second Arc.enia of r - acedonia:

The schools, the churches, and the commerof the Bulgarians as I'/ellas their poli tic 1organization were in peril .... Unless they

were prepared to succumb, they had n choicebut to save themselves. They decided toproclaim a general ri Sing .... I t wa s , underall Circumstances, a war of self-defence.4

Clearly, then, I.M.R .O . had to begin the revolt when it di b f() l'~the Turks succeeded in destroying its preparatory work of th I:Hten y ears.

There wa s a second reas on why 1.1,'1.R . O . decided to cerumen ethe rel:f2llion in spite of the odds against success. I.l'1.R .O .leaders be Lie ved that a revolt supported by the over-whe.L mrnamajority of the Christian inhab itants of Hacedonia would openthe eyes of Europe to the injustices of the O ttoman Empire and

would arouse the Great Powers to act on behalf of the ~lact:ldi11

Cause. As the pamphlet, JViacedonia's R ise For Freedom, put it,

...• European diplomacy would, wldoubtedly,undertake to do something effective for thallevia tion of condi tions in [\'lacedonia. Fordid not the Vurkhovist revolt bring aboutthe village watchman ret'or-min [vlacedonia?It was believed that a much broader uprisingmight even bring autonomy .S

Unfortunately, the leaders of I.M.R .O . were incorrect in theirassumptions. The intervention of the Great Powers in supportof the Macedonian Cause did not come. O ne of the purposo of

this article is to explain why.

Logically, it was absolutely essenti;-l that the rightooUShO 'of the Naoedon i.an Cause be established before one could e xpcc t t.hr

intervention of the Great Powers. Indeed, the Internal M codonltL.R evolutionary O rganization did everything it could in this regardwith respect to Ilinden. For example, I.fVl.R .O . leader w·re afralelthat the Vurkhovist raids of November 1902 would mislead many intobelieving that the Ilinden Uprising was merely another inv' eion



( h s to satisfy Bulgaria's expansionist desires"from Bulgaria per.a~ Macedonian revolt against oppression andrather than ~ genul~ne reason why the Congress of Smilevo decided

tyranny . 'I'hs ~a~l' o n in the Vila yet of l'lonastir. This Vilay ett? stage t0 e.ret~e ~ul arian frontier and therefore it woulddld not ad~oln to the ~orld that Bulgaria had no connection what-b ecome O b V10 US. O Jsoever with the hostilitles of August 19 .

I.M.R .O . also attempted to illustrate the rig~teousness ofthe Ilinden uprisin~ in.a mor-e concrete ma.m:;er - W l th "'::1tendocuments, documents WhlCh showed the wO rktO lthedhum~ne l~~a~sof the insurrection. O ne of these docume~ s rna e c ear aI linden was not a race war be t ween .l 3 ulgarlans,nd Tu~kS, :r:c_:t_r elig ious w ar b etwee n Christians an ..1 Mohamrne:.ans,. but il. n a c e s s c r ywar between the forces of good and e vi L. To quote i.ni s d oc wn en t,

W e are taking up arlJ1Sagainst ty rann y andbarbarism; \tIe are acting in the name ofliberty and humanity ; our work is aboveall prejudices of nationalit y or race.W e ought therefore to treat as brothersall who suffer in the sombre Empire of theSultan. Today all the; Christian populationsare wretched, nor must we e xcept even theTurki sh pe asen ts . \ tJe regard the 'I'ur-kshgovernment as our sole enemy , and all whodeclare themselves against us whether asopen foes or as spies, and all too whoattack old men, women and defencelesschildren instead of attacking us. It isagainst them that we direct our blows andfrom them we shall e xact vengeance.6

I.M. R .O . 's desire to ob tain favourab le world opinion a boutIlinden was further illustrated when its representatives a broadfelt compelled to deny slanQers of the Turkish government ab outalleged a troci ties c omrm tted by the re bels. The insurgents, intheir desire to ob tain foreign intervention, could not affordany bad pub licity. Thus, once again, the no bility and righteous-ness of the Macedonian Cause was ex plained to foreign ears;

Immediately after the outbreak of the uprisingthe Turkish goverrunent b egan to spread abroadfalse reports a bout atrocities, committed b ythe reb els in the Vila yet of Bitoly a againstthe peaceful IVloslempopulation in that region.

O b viously , this was done with the intentionto juS~ify as if provoked those outrages ofthe b ashi bazouks, which the world will witnessafter the pacification of the re bellious 'Slaves., For this reason, the delegates of theR evolutlonary O rganization considered itnccessary to inform the misled public opinionth~t the General Congress of the organization,WhlCh took,place on January 5 th this y earnear Salonlca ... adopted resolutions in



- )9-

• '"!Dl'd 11" W) L11 wh Lch th proclamation of!.lll' llpt'l f"l1r;, addr- ss (1 1..0the aLr-cady

CigJltilW popu lu tt n of' IVJa.codonla. andi\dlian ipLo :.w .y!;: • . •• "Our caUGO st .a ndsabov~ . 11 n ti n I nd tllbal diffor~nceo.IPol'tJiL ,. r s n , we cull our brothers allwho uffer in 1. .he darl Kingdom of the ::luIan.Lik0 uo, th Bulgarians, suffor also thoWallachiffils, Lho Gr ~ks , iven the Turki snpcasan t.s and if today Lh O r-coks and theTurk 8.1" not fighting in our ranks, weassian this Lo thoir ignorance only and wecall n-ithl.!r treat Lhem nor conSider Lhemour on'mius. o~r numy is only the Turkishgov rnm ent ....

Note the roas n gi von for tho false reports of the 'l'ur'kd sh

authoriti s and also no1..ei.N.R.O. 's feelings towards the Greekand Turkish p ia san ts of lVlacedonia. Clearly, the above passagewas designed to show, tho righteousness of the insurgents andth devilishness of the 'furkish government.

I.lVI.R .O .did not merely attempt to show the righteousnessof the Ilinden Uprising in spoken and wri tten words; it alsodid so in its actions. Thus, the insurgents made it a pointto display civilized and humane behaviour throughout the inssurrection. This behaviour was confirmed by the Austro-Hungarianconsul in Bitolya - a neutral and objectiv~ observer of therebellion:

Many false rumours arc spr ading allover

the world about the uprising in the Vilayetof Bitolya. My love of truth and not mypartiality towards the Christians or towardsany other nationality (I have often provedmy particular syrnpathies for the nos Lcms )compel me to state, contrary to the viewwhich the press maintains with such obvioussigns of satisfaction - that the behaviourof the rebels was human and loyal, whilethe behaviour of the Turks was barbarian,cruel and Asiatic. That the rebels did notuse gloves in their doalings with theirenemies - that is quite natural for everyrevolution. The same refers to the de-

stroying of communication s, railways, andtelegraph in order to or-event the enemy toconcentrate many troops and the system ofcommunications to function normally. Toweaken the enemy materially, the rebelsburnt farm houses, th so called "bulwarks",of the Turkish oppressors. That is, theynevor did harm to the Turks indiscriminatelynor to villages and houses of tho innocent



-lj·o-

nor to such who did not take part in actionsagainst them.

The Turks, on the contrary, are very weakand unab Le to fight with the rebels in themo~mtains, but they are sometimes quitefierce because of their failures. Thenthe y rush into the villages and afterplundering the houses, they kill most ofthe population, rape women and girls andburn down their houses.~

. Another foreign observer made a s.imilar observation when hestated that "O n the whole it is remarkab le that so littleb arbarity was practised on the Christian side ".9 Thus inthought, word and deed, the insurgents did everything possibleto convince hhe world that they were the Igood guys I. How

successful were the insurgents in this respect?

. It seems that I.M.R .O . was successful in ob taining thesympathy of world opinion during the Ilinden Uprising. Public.meetings were held throughout Britain and the United ~tateswhere strong protests were maae against the misrule of the SulUm,Moreover, newspapers and magazines in Europe and America publishe'many articles defending the Cause of the rebellious Bulgarians ofMacedonia.

In'order to clearly grasp the extent of sympath y for thereb els, consider the kinds of things that were going on in theUnited States. In Septemb er 19 0 3 , a double comrm t.t.eeof leadingAmerican citizens from Philadelphia and N ew York issued the

following appeal on b ehalf of the l'jacedonianCause:

What Paul saw in the spirit, the visionof the man of ~1acedonia, who called to himfor help for his country, we have beforeus in the flesh. The suffering and des-titution, resulting from insurrection inr·lacedonia, a re extreme. Forty thousandMacedonians have managed to cross theborder into Bulgaria. Several tirllesthat.num ber remain in Macedonia, homeless, thelrherds and crops destroyed, perishing ofcold and starvation. Ever yone is familiarto sQne extent with the conditions which

have prevailed in that wihapp y coun~ry •.•• ,the active agitation of the rvIacedonlanrevolutionists, the rising in re bellion ofa portion of the Macedonian people, theattempt of the Turkish authorities tosuppress the revolution with the utmostseverity by overwhelming force .... He cannothelp being concerned with the relief offellow human b eings and fellow Christians,



t

of ~l1l1?c(mt "10mon D .I chil r on , -ho D.repcr~LhJn~ by the hunrr~~G ~na ' ill norl~

f)y ~h(~,thoufJun(r:, (,Iof, cruelly, unlGur;C:H'~:JtHI.n:uro 0 and (j' 'ictiaa i.dIt.:cic4como to th~ rcccuo.10

c::1n'/hilw, in, Octobo~ 190). the '!: ';;l1.-i.atcrico,l CO:nfIJI'Once of,-,iahopr; hcl".IU1 o.ChlhCt:>.l 'lith (]clrJ._utc8 f':COl1 thr:: Uniter ~tn.tez,c~" a d a , : " : ' L 1 ( 1 . t h e o r . t ; I ' 1 chou J,')a';lJ<:Jr) tlv_ f'o L l , o {in' r ' e c o L u t i . o n

::.;ho'lin it:; concer-n for the sad pli( ht of ace dczn an S;u'i'.tio.:16:

.c301vod, that this ?ouncil der>it'urJ to puto n Y.''ClCOI'd an G;tt>l'OSIJ10ll of i r : : J hor:cor. D . f v l

inc~.iL·1D.tion at tho :1110103'-110 atroci ticotha t h...vo be en and ~ro, 8till bo i.n-; :;?cr-_pctuatedupon our £0110':1 Chr~ rtiana in the Provinceof .ace donia , " (: ofior them our profound

uYi.lpathy in tho fiory trialG throw-h -v h ichthey arc paGoin~;. and "W nray Cod i' :£il;mercy to 8011(. thClf1dc.La vcr-ance , 'c vrou.l dfurther e~rprcuo the hope th",.t the morali:lflu'Jtlcc of the r .over.uncnt of this O'3at

rr).ru~Jli c .Ilny Dr. ] thro·.n into the aoa.Le inf'avou of uuch reform'] aG may rive to theaccdoru an ncop l,e the pr'o tiec t.i on of la'1\J.:',aiflzt inju(Jtlce and o"pT(:r:c: 0 1 •.. ,11

One CC:b1C ito hu.idr-c ds of cLnilar resolutions adopter' by thG.•0crlcan ,ublie. L180, ~uny petitions ~cro s~nt to the fodcr.1. ovornmcnt I'ur" a:' it ,to UBC . to . 00(1.office to put a stop tothe unboar-ab.Le 'co;';- 'j.tio.1~J in ,:::tCOd011ifl." OJ1C of +no ce Dati tions

CC lW :_ frat,) the otD.t') of Co ncc tl cut; il '[i'ojJruar,j1' 1904. It ' /: l:-J,Jj.' noel IJ./ thr: I,10:.It 1 ) ~0T.1L1C.t1t cit.Lzonc of thr; :;t~tc, L1cluclii1:,":it', {,ovcrnor, ~ ' . ' - ' l c 1 P/a8 addr'c aae d to tho V. J. (':OIi;'J"CG6. It read;..Ii I'o Ll.o.ve I

Je. the undcrEi~ncd citizens of the ~tatcOD Con cc~iout, desire ~o c~?reoG our horronll(;_ if1(li, iatLon 0"" t110 611oc]1:1n(; atrocitiesthat have been D.l1cJ cti.L], are bel 11 . porp stua torlU j_ ) 1 1 our fel10'" Chri otinnG in . .acc Iorri.a, 'bytb~:forcor; of D , 1)'OVC1~i)/,lent "i th \/hi ch 01..1country ho Ldrs ( t i , .) o.na tic ~olo.tio a, FInd' auld,fl-lrthc£1Ilorc, ,IO:.,t r-orrp octf'u.lLy urv o UpOi1 ~hoC;0 i 1 . , . . ~Of , : " : of. tlc,;') U ni teo ...ita.tcr;. throuGh ~ o o '

1 . of cxocut ivo , th:J.t it uno ito ,',oorl o f'Li.cc o,i" co-op·...!x·atio ,,' tl1 the otlor r;hrirJtill.,'J l:".tionr.; ,:, i: Lanrl , c"l nrico , 8.na o.ly, to' nr(lthe '-'l,)OCI'.r :ru r: Inc.' of' tho 'l' :'c:[(t{' o~' f)0 Lin,1 '37,;.' h: ch L!~IL':J.J1 t",co to ho cc Cl 1'1 r;tJ.c.:1:...h1.1.I.d C ~ 10 :).J c) n '0 Dct'OJ. f OJl1 la"lc:::;"'ncl~c~. d 'r0.()'tioLlal outr-a ,8 ;,12

'1'1]( ;,tJOV1_ "cFu

iC i.!lPOX't, .ot ,



of G.C3('O:1i['-.

t~li ~ ~.rti cL:v.

of ,.uuuvt l S ' O J

01 cour J, th" .l'ul~];:i::;:l ovc rri.aerrt cho ne to i'-{)or~~1erh~'p~ if it had .iot, the Ili·lC.~ .n 1:1 llrr~ctionou L c' io t h av o tak :;;~1 )lac.: c.t ~.ll.

It <19?C:.T-:i t;l2.t t~12 ootitions to the .~,.<~i.~ic[1 . ove rn.oon t

. ;-1_V3":;0,~3 e f'f ect :.-incc 2. lltulJ.::r of ~)rolain~~lt ::..tutc J. B -:;~'f 1-(~~( -)2.tl iz~d itl1 thl.; Irisur cnts , ':'r3sident i:leOCtOro ~oo;:;':Jvc.ltand h Ls ::>ccro-Cc.17of JtatG:, .John r:a:,' 1 er-e ~re2. tly in s:r.,l~)athyith the a c e do niari Li.cer-a tion ;:,tru_: ..Lc , G.nd accoz-ui n . to th::.ir

o,n D.3SurSJ1C2 that -el1o Uni tec~ States ....OV2::Ci1.711ei1th .cl informed

~!l~.lc..l1dttia t she could courrt 0:1 .11112rica' s noral suppor-t in any

C.tt8..Jpt on the par t of l r ca t 3ri tiin fOT bl~i,l-.:inc acou t th~fulfilliJ2nt of ."rticl 23 0: t:le ~eTlii1 'L'reat~r. 'hich :_··u2.r&nteedto .ac edon.i r 2. 10c2.1 au tonoriy ,1.)

::;le 3~r;:~)2.t~1~11 .2ri tain, .?T2.l1CC1 ::u3sia, c . . . . 'l c . • . ustria-~:'J.n::..ar'Jto' : : .: -c: t:13 ~~c.eedO:li2..1 Lnsur ;e:1c:; '·2.S 2~SO s.·lL;2 appar-cn t . ith

l.'_'?)3Ct 'CO .:l.-02.t ~ri tc:..i'l, fOl~ axatro.l,e , it is L-:ter-::stil1' J.; i18.t inj~ntc_;j2::' 190::: c. :'Or::1cr Je:,~0iE..1J. c.::.b~:;saC!_ol~ to ~~l~i2.L:. ,:1.0 _....1

L'3sidec -:;h21-'':;, ~:'(Cl:1il' -ij3..tO'lic1 ~10t;:(~ Ln o·~:' of l1is lastl;;~'l;el~::; to 'i;'1S _.::l:r£.c1.s ::C· ''3:?a?2T, ':_-l~_.ovi:13::~- ~lZ.S:ll::", t:l&.t"z t J?~>'-~1t "-"011c C)'-)"';O'; ill ··~it-i··' i:-' v ax-r "Ur·'l ~.- -?rVOllT~ __ : ~:"~~ -~-~~- __:I Iff,-~":- :~:3 ~,.~.iJ- -::~ ~ : t " " \ i ~ : - . : ~ . . . .. : -n~·~i : ; . ' : + ~~p~V "''"1-"\

0..:. '! J! 1 . . .. _ .. .. .1 l _ . . r - . - . : . . . _C_J...I' __0__ 0. _r J _. .1. _ U:'._L_ L.4w t-Il...... ....;J ~.._.- j 0) _.:~_

:0":;::- 'Co ·):.'.t for ' 2 - : ' c : . c :. ·)1B..::'l. 'h.i ch . '::: '5 (23i Ll3C~ to z~l ::vir.t::-t~e i:1.tol-"!r:::.':Jlz cO~'1Citicns of ..2.c~c.0~1ic.:.! :':;~_~1~2.l~i8..i.:'3.~-..d.hf;i.-S-for2 JLlt w-: 2.1c:. to t:t2 1.~2b211io:1, '':hi:: -ylc.:1--2.':, crC::.tec. ' J - . , r

~r2':: t-2:.'i t2.iZl' s :orei';71 :"li:1i s ter-, Lo r d ~&:;'180_0'1.2) 2.ZlC.~.it eon-

tai:l~C: ~:13 :0110' i:1.=: :_JTO:_JOal s :

1. __cor":i.L_~ ':;0 our O?:::.iO~l, :10 s ch erae-.'ill _'iY2 32.ti sfact0I:: resur ts , if its::'_)~Jlic2.tio~1 .is ~lCic:::r~. i . , . . -Gi1e ::W1.C~.~ ofc . O'12.::l;7'1or'~" . ov"n'o'~ ·~c ~)O:l""! 01"" to- .. , • - """-I ... ~ 7 '" ..... , ,4,.. ....: ...._ - . .. ~ ~ - ~ .... _ ... . . L . . - - ;

~!1:: llli~'::lSh -,over!'"-.-::ent o~ll~r anc. 1:1-

C~e-)eL1o.2::t C:: lOl.'ei '.:'1 cov.ur oL. e 3hc:..ll-)"-2"1."'-OU+ "''''0 ~1t::.~·-· r: i~7"''''.J ~ v \J lr c; _J..~_aU_y_va

::) :':1~ 2.~:?oi:-:t3...! . : : . of :- :::;~-l.Ti5ti::rl ::._ovsl.--::...r,in ~1:) "~y CO~li.12C·G~'t "it;::-J. 'G~lZ =:-n~1

= - ::::1i~~-.oul2. _:.or '''it:1 the -=0 6:::'S . '~lich

.::;i~.:1~C',t:l<: :=':rect"J of -=e~~li.aJ or

'c) ":::-.2 CC;ltLiU2.:1Ce ox;: .0:-:2..--,';'2(-':::";':'OV::;:"~O:C·it~l -the L..~SiS~G1C:::; of ~i..l.rO)2&':1 CO~~~-saLor..~- ,,":!',,11 o~ · :-r~e:>(-+o '~v-

t1:~,,2 _i 2 . . : : ; · ~ - a;;oim~0::: :;.-:....'cj;& t - '0· ~O'_cz s

conccrrie« (-~-";s; - "'-"r' ~ . ,~--.-~ ~ .- .•.• ~<> .~ - ).- _.__v _"........__. . J Lt_.J .. t. .o .- __ \,.L.- .....__ ... .•

"::12 ::'_)?Oi-T';::e:.t of snoll'::1 _uro')':':"'- o:-f~ce::':::.:._cl 'cE'1clsT-o:::fic-;rs -to Tz-or'::_;C::1.lz:; t~2 2:1cI':'T-

. cr-i o ,

3. -:;11LU1.Qscipli?l2Q so Ld.i e.r-s to as :.-e:-:oveG~ro:4l- 2.cedom::. and re~ulc:.r tl'OO:_JS 0::11:," toJ.3 ~ci>t th ~r::: . ~





-4~-

' " ' .11" .1n'Ctri<J.-~~ _nC2i~~T':'ivi.e+e .'Cl~t: s i.aiLa r - to tl.l0&2 of~u :_ ' ~5_ . : ; , . !t ~C !e_ c .• \ stri2,-={n:l::_-ar~r f:;1 t that th e =li:!r~=:las ,.sc:;s ~r=' ..Lncc tll .....C:ll~isti -:1 ";)0- l..~lQtio·1 01

. < :. .& ii~:lti'l for i'~8 Li.bc r-a -~io::1. fi~O::l Jl),·,)l~CGsiol1. ~s-·'u.~-ru...-i~l con su I f:'~O:'l ~i tolyc. -)1.~.;; j.t," ~

'.".':li8 iG not ' G I 1 . . : c'.:;e(~of iilc1i viduc.L <lei tc:::i:oT::>~_lC: C:ci:lii1<~o> ~'3 -12...1:" .12 :::.:_X·_!)_;ITas scr-t , but

-t.1C o ';;bu:cst of di8CO.ltC'.1'~ 0-'" 'C . - :1010 nat i.o.i•

.J.~1il- is _'10-'" c20112 out of G3sil~e for ['.l-"-Si1t- ....r-eon -'-'1~ ~ . )~ : ;_ : tof so:--:::: '-aei::~)loy.::c. ~).:o~)le 'Out it~s :.: .::dl :lor h21-) on tile )4't O:l a ncav i.Ly--..---s"~ -~)t"...,t-l·Ol +·'u··--..l~-1-- -"'or i-'- r- ,__ J.L. -::.:-. ...... !. __ ..., _ _~.......L. J . .... ~ _ _ ;,_ = - ~ l:_J _ _ L _ l".._,

li ~3=-"4-~-- ::.:.!r~ ~J:"'O':"_)Cl--i t:r. 1v

01c.4.'=-~·"l.!:Li?l_ cnu =-$::l::c:.i~_te1:T 2..:fts:r Ll i.nderi , the . ac e con.i an':::'::'::5:; ? : : : . . . : . ' _ -t:·3 :':",:1-=)ct:r,,-o~ -)l,_;)lic o")i:.1ioH in ra o s t of the ~" ooean....O~"·1..L.:c:.G5:"1G.i:1 :'-:1[; ~~.1it3d3tt~ ..c2: J~1fJr-tll~1C.t21~t, 110· aver-,--·:_i' : . ; : , : . _ - _ - . = _ . - : : . " - h : , - '-as ;:ot S:'10U~:1 to :;?:._~o-·o]:a1:h2 i:1t2-rVcmtioil of -w'1e' :_ :; "2: ':" '; ; ~ :: ' ~ i-S :":'''1( t.t1:= :'~3':'.30:1 - ; 1 " ca.i be ;:\.1__Ll(~c:. UU i:1 O:1e ,-ord -:::':-~_--: __~.O"I.-~~_;"_'~-9.-l-. . 1 . - . " " ·;"o-~~.; ....... ·f-?~;"':,.,.r ~ov'--i"'-:"Il.'r-l CI~'_r:..+~~ ('0 ·....ot_ - __ -_ __ -- ~ .... "__J.._"~--~f ,_ v_t;..::.& u..,c.v'-"C) _ ;.J_

::-~'. _~"'-::':::.:.:_::1 - '- 1 & - If ': -. '. e 'Jl ~ 1U . , ,} : :: :l i'- - zu i Z .T l ~ ..1 1 ( r aor 'z.L i sti. c id-=2.1s.

: i12_: : ;_~ :::..c:~i ':r:, r: .=.: :. ::.1:::0 ;:.o-::ivatc.c't bv -~h2 ")rob::::.cili t-~·01 ' c.ch i.ev.i nc<'0'-" "O'~" 0'(' conczcts -')'''\-1''-;~i'''5 D-" ~tllcoi"~ -0'~1 ',,'>'1""'}" '-'''\fOT'-L,I--'~t::;l''. - - '- - \0 1...... __ . L. . .. .. -.1_ _ .. '- __ V . _ C;.J__ ! .....l t.!J.._ II '-"...~ _ i.to L-1 . ....~ ...... J

~~i :_.=.- t_!L2 =_:::'1dan cr i"1is, .iorio of' th~ Cr·32..t Po :22..~S :f::1-1; tl12.-1-"'1~--!'-"'_::'-~ ...._ coul r'l -,,- .~".~ -.' ~ •." .l .., -- ., J~~ __ ~- .' ... -h~' ~-. .....~- _ ....... ..-::;_.-:l Iwr.:l _~\... ! . v"; '---_ ''--.;..LC.....4....s: t,, 11 G,.; lJ .) l..,~.!.. Vc;.!1C~~ 01 :J__ c-Ll

~ = -~"l1':; _2c~c1o:-:_~2...1 ':C-.lS"3, =:-: f:_ct;, t:1~O-)~)oci te . -8..5 t::::-·uc i:1 t118

-uch ':;_'-.~etioc c :ii~e to u'")sct t: c~::.a:~c6_, ou I UT:,:::t



tho ol1[:';-,l_1(;c\l.n'or Ld in L,cl1cro.l \lhicl1 wouLd mean a i;reat deo.L

0:( (~iFJCO_'lt8.<1tI t.hin their 0';-;'1orap ir-e s , (:::'ri tain and Fr-ai ce

;1~', con ;j_l~:)l'<.1.~Jlc)oGscssionu in the Islamic '-orlc~ at this time.) •

..1:,0 ~::)i1;;icl0r 'th e ca so r: of flustri8.-Hun~~a.ry arid ililperia.l~,!ssiQ. ._ltI10u:;h both courrtr-i.as ':lere inteI'cstecJ. in e1~t(m(1_L,o:th-;il soh cr-c., of L1fluGl1cC into the? .uG.ll;:rU18,Dei thor -,)o";or':ul-c,::;,__1_-i:;oJ~,::; t;10 och cr' Llcreasc in Lnf'Lucnco amon.: th2,:;o.l~mi1,1:::tti(u~11iti':)8. '0l1fortunatcly, an increase in influence for oneof tho )0- ':::1'8''1ould mean D, loss of influence for the other.I t : : : : - , , _ : ; for this j_~22_80nhat in 1 ']97 <.1..1-I.ustro-~iusGian aLrco~!l~mt, 2.8 r onch cd . tier o both po-ver-s a:;l~oecl to raai.nta.i n the status quo

i :_1 the _:;:. : . .L~'- 'n::. , . Ii l other '!Oro_G, 02,cl1 pov.e r n:::,reed not to ta!'Jper5.:,1_G~,-lt8.l1:'cff8.i:c~: "here the '1_'ur:d811 ~l71~l)ire,'18.8concerned. Thi sc.-~r2;)!;1el1t ,'::':S still L1 effect duri.n , the Llindcn Uprisil1".::.'l'11e1'8:el~e other r8a:-,0118 0.:3 11811 that cxnl al.ncd 'the inertia ofnutria- ' - ( 1 .L1C ;2 . ry ~'j1c1;;wJsia. ;\ustrin-rlunc;ary, ,au pre-occupied

at tllis:~,:_:JG by an interi1al cr-i sis - pan-Slav :JropaE;2i1dc, that: _ : : ; 2 r J8C1_ to i:i1'Jtill a r-eoc.H iou s attitude ":ithin her SOLlSlav

sub] ect:-:_;.' aanwhi.Lo , . - : I , l l _jsia '"as bu sy "stru,::';;,;linC to avoidr-cvoLut ion" 20 '-i thin >_;l~ 0\:~1',;orc103rs.

'.2h:_;_)11it3(~-_;'co,te:3of _,_,'lcricCl '-a;:; no bo tter- than ,::::11;31ano_,

=.'j~r'.!1ce,:;1.:88in, Oi" _,u8t:cin-nun.:_:ctry ','ith rCFT,)Gct to J:linden •.'he Unitcd ,itu.to:_, '.-:::-~sncvo r ::tfro.itj_ 'co .::;ivc i-i:;s moral cuppo r t:Lor j1.1:;,tC:::'U,C:08 (taL;: is chean) , but ',-118n -i:;heneedGC supportLrvo Lvor: 2. .norc concrete cornmi. 'tmervt , the ),mc:;_~ica~1~Ci)ubj_icaL : T_ys reti'c;cl:i:;(~cl. _L'hemai n r-ea sori fOl~ -Chis sca te of- af'f'a.i r s

.u_; the fact -i:;h8:Che Urrit od ,'-;tate!:: -it!.S utilI basica.l.Ly .LsoLat.ion-i;o;t - t112.t 1;:" sh e did not raa.l.Ly want to ,;et involved in tllC0,ff[.\il~'J of ~uj_~o-:)e. III fact, t;1e raa i.n fouuClc:i:;ioi1 of !:"i,1el~ico,'sforei':;11 )olic::/ =--a8 stiL'l thG :,Oi1rOe Do ctr-Lne - 2. do ctr-Lne -ch2.to:"col1'i:;io.lly said that thc United ::;;ta-i:;cs couLd not tolerate any

.c::urO~)2Cj_1nvo Lvemerrt in the ~\lilCric8.8 r.•1c1 in turn th8.t thelini-cJd ')-i:;o:i:;o,=>'ould no t concer-n itself in ma tter e r-e.Lat od onlyto '::;uropo.

~hcr~ is still one major pODGr to be discussed - Xniser--ilh2Ll'.s Germai1Y. Germany had i_10desire 'ihatsoever to v-ealcenthe r'appo r t it ha d est8.o1if3hed 1,'!ith the O't toman ~!lPire. And

the r-eason for this dispo sd ti.on r-e stod in the dt'enl'J of ex't endingL-:-OTTil0l1 Lnf'Lucnc s fron ":;;uropean Turkey to the Orient. AGainto r)lwte f:COiil'.l'hc.LYa,c;ic ~el1insula.

:;::;er1i11and Conrrtan t.Inoo.Le v: r-e in a.LLi anceto cornbat all efforts -c:1irected to':mrcl the

3trai ts and th~ Dar-dancL'Le s Oil the partof l{u['sic:.. Ger:-,l8.ny;.>r tended to be mucho.frr'.j_cl -chat l\l~o3ia vou.l d domi nat.e the :Jal1;:anre~;iOi1S arid 1)erh2::)8 sci ze Cons tarrt i.noo Le ,'I'hio , of COUi~8C, -',oule ')ut em end to c.

cheri sh ort plan of GCD,lcU1Y 2. :co.i Leo ad from~ei~li;, to _":8.,dad 2l1( the -':'ersian Gulf.. '-'hich",:onlc' corrcz-oI : : . 1 VQS-Cti~ade '-,:i th t;10 Ori snt ,, eruany had 2.1r'eac1y ~rrill1C-C(1_,0];' J:'8.thel'obtn.i.nc d, ~. concouai on from Tud;:e~r fOl~ tho



-4·6-

. "~,.t ,.' , '''11.'~ .s. • -- 1 0f tl1l S ro 8.Q c .. D e l J. .Q...... .' ,,;

con"t.l.UCt-lO.- .,i ~-~ (

r.) l)I~ l~e• .~~ 'r. Y .rhcn tho ~.or'Ld ar ,.. J_ • 0.·'.u~1cl,,,l. a . _ . I' yo'''' ,.····'."...'..,'l'r.'- rlha fOrCl[ J.l iJO lC' .l.~. ~_'_ ..i<,w. v ,

all L •••• J. • .: I - -""\ ( ..... C:1 I ~ " = " { . l·',~,,_. ulo.rl,r s ice 'Ghe l..Jol1;·,re,:..sO.L ~ r a n ,

",-.1 "\I1C "., b "'-'~"'''1''' '''',nl·onctsh Lo- 1~r~"'c':~"lrl'7~CI "an c.Cvl.C!: .... .LJ . . v1 \ ,::> -'ClS C 1~ c ....... -- ",,,-. v ~

,..~:'-h rr~rl~8Y, '.L'he 'J:urco)?hiliSi.,l of CGr!l1Q.i1:'i1 .,.. .... l' '-'e'''''''' c"- ·tIl'" ,J..I S further r.l2:J.llIes·vec oy 1;11, .L<.c v ,-,L

S"?l'" ',·.-,e tho onl.v .:uro~)eo,n Po. 'OJ:' that flatl~r

I 1 \.,; c.1.1.::J v " 1 " " 1 "

refu"oc1 to tal\:o l)art r n any or -che ...urop oan~/ ..".~~.r,a:tiOilf': ...ho80 dole pur'po 80 i t ':.'2.8 to

~~;~poi' 'J_'urlwy to alleviate the ~Jiscrablc. , n , Cl1r~1'-"'Gl'r-', ""u'oJ'"c"-- ?1cO;'1c12lons or ne r , J cU.t , _ J . c.. V:-,j.-

• -'- • '::1(" e!..}':-~"'l'l·:-l·1 for Gerraany, to ma.i.n ta.i n tho excellent:L ' l lufJ, 11 .> .. L.::> ~ . ... v

r"'lo.tiol1S it ellj oy od ·..i t11 1~l.lrl\:8y in order to fulfill the dosire

f~:r D . Jerli:1 to D2.cr l .acL railroad.':;vcm verbalized sympathy for

the Christi2.il a u b je cts of the ',2ur1i:i5 1 1 .\~YJlpire ni.:;ht p r - omp t the3ul tal to c;:;ncol its conce s sion for the construction of such

a r-ai.Lr'oacl, 'lherefore, c . , vi tal interest of (~ermn.:.1YvrouI d be

tl11~eataJ.1C d ,

Of COlE.'f'J8, be caune the Great 'Po'.Jcn:: rierrt ione d above did

~ot intervenc in the Ilinden ~trugcle. the Ottoman authoritisG

3ucc23sfully su:9~)l.~2830(::.the insuri"'ectiol1. Du~cinc' 'this 8u~'JpreGsiol1,

2ur:.:i 3 1 1 vGl1._:;e2:J.1CG·.'ipecl. out 200 .;3ul':':_;2.rianvilla:~c c_ " bur'ne d12,000, r2jJec;. 3000 '.jODen, Idlleu L ! . , 700 Lnhc.b it.an ts and li"!ac.1c

'71.000 ~)eo..3llilt;::; 110::.101e38. 3ut rao r e than i'url;:ish vcn-ccncebotl " , .. ... n 81 . " 1" . '1 .00 112r80, -GllC ,:laJ 01"1 I.>y ox 1rlS-G1an Cl).')Je ccs , ~,u an ' , ~1 ,~_ ' 1shman

'.'110 hac: come to help t~le devastated p80~)10 of :.ace don.i a 0 ouer-ved,

r'''11'C~ "-lle c"",r'--""(1~"-l'O'''\ !'1'1C' t'" """"e .• •• .L.Ll '. I.> '..... ' - - : , . 1 . c-' . C - ' . v_ i, <.<.1', 111;:. ;::>"lll rln.:::;,

tl18 siclmo as , and the fear of fa!:line. 'th er c

'.ici:.,;h2cl upon this defeated people the Gcnse

that 2.11 i tf:i sacrifice had been in vain.;_;:~lC .~''-1l~1~;:>ad t:L'iU[1TJ:10d; :'.i:u1"ope '.'8.:3 still

he8(~1,');-:>s 8.:.1d1..l11Co:i.1C2n.lod::8.cC:(~O:;_1.iClJaS

still Ci1818.vecl.i and +c , '.'ho '.'.rero c101i:i1(~out b1 ~Y1'-ets !'11 C' o·v.r f'Louz: 0-:1'10-1'" +'le--1 ··'ert:>< . . . - : . . t . ~!r.. C U (......!}_ • 1. ..L c. :.Lt_ 1 <: » vI lJ 1 " ' - '

only 1;:ee-;;>i:i1,3h2l11 alive to endur-e freshoppr-o aai onc and further ,3118.1'-18.22



-L/·7-

ii'ootnotcs

"ctocl1c'_tvo" I a 8\.l1.:_,arian 'l~;'.'Gpaper pub.Li ahe d in Sa.Lon l ca ,July L', 1909~ Cited in '.0 Voynov and L. Ponayotov, eds s ,

Docu:,-,lCl'ltsnnd _~8.t8ri::lls Oil 'rho History of The Dul{:,arian ~e$pie1Sofia: uulc;ariai.1 Acaclemy of ,3ciences, 1969), p. 376."Gtecl1estvo" ':as the or gan of the union of The 13ui::;arian~o;l::.;ti 'tutionu.l Clubs in TurlC8~r

2~ II. i , :,3ro.ilsford, i..,aced011ici~ Its Races And ?l1eii:' Future(London: - .e thucn [mel Co. I 1'906) I p . 113.

5- -.1 .1:O ~ • 1 • i •,. .-, .,., 1 190.... (I 'i~1 01i~

•. rvan ...118.)_

0.1.1, _,ac,~c.0l1.la._8xi

se .i.'or l~ree(Ol.1, ) •. no ,.·".a~) . v,CSl1tr2c1 Co-.~,-.litee of 'th o .~,2.CGllOnian~")atriotic Or.:;ani::",o.tiOl1,

1953). », 27.

7 .. 21..1l18ti11 of th-J novspaper-, "Aut0110r.1Y", an orc;a.'1 of l.~:.~-;',O.pub l ished abroad, .3ofio., Jul~r 29. 190.3. C~ted ill DOcu;-,10ntsand -o.terials On 'i'lle Hi story of the Dulr;crian Peo-oIe I P' .310~

3. D . ~oe:;rafsl~y, Enf'o rraa't i.on of the Austrian RG rosentntivGsin ,..2..c::;doni8., 1903-0+, ,3copyEJ, 1955, paces J -09. Ci cd 11

:;)ocu;ne:ltu _0Q_~~erials Gil '1h8 History of th8 Bule;arianPeonlo, p. 31\.),

9. 11. !:. '~rai1Gford, .2.ocdonio.: Its I\aces Arid Their Future,pi 153,

10. Christ .ma.s tu soff', "rh2 11inc1on Iricur-r-ec t.ion (lad Corrtempor-ar'yj\:.ll1ericc:n JeactiOil", i;allmnia ::U,r;azL18, Vol. ~, j·'o. 4, Oct.1960, p , 19- 20 ,

11.. _ , • : "1

p, ~o,: . ! 2 1 .Q ; . ,

Ibic~.., l ' ) • : : 0 .

11)it1. , ~) . 20',12.

13.

1/·!-0 ,:C','SO)c:oor "Pr av.itc.Lstven ii ~Te:_,ti1il;:", ,it, PGtcrsbur(_~, ;:iopt. 16,1903-~ -Citoc~ Ln Do'Cu::nents O,nd~!aterio.lrJ Oi1 ]he lfif3tor;L of theJul.::::;<xcilli1People. p , 320.

15. Cill.~~st :ma8tnspff, r . . r - h e 'i'l.~,-,:ic Po:ilL1syla (:]t. Louis: 51aclt:rlell

;.lielo.nc1y c»., 1933), J ? 116-17.

16" I bi(1.., 1 ) 0 107 •



-1-1·8-

17. .Ji pLorant i, C Cor-r-ospondarico , l{c:forrniJ 1:;.1~.~c::.cedol1ia!1902-0J.:Jt. ~otcrs1)uri._;~ 1906, n - 66-67. Cited. in DocUDent3 8.11e1'

,.o.:terialG On 'J.'hc History of tho :Cul-·;arian People, p. 302.

1C. D. '"o::;i~2.fsl~y, Information of -~l}_~_~\ustl:i8.!1 l1epr83enta ti Yesin .accdon ia, 1903-oLJ., 3coPYG, 1955, p . C6-39. Cited inl)ocu_;18nts o..nd ":~'.tel.'ials On 'I'h2 Histor;r__gf the .3ulr;arianPeonLo , o . 315.

19. Christ Annstasoff, The ~r8 gic Peninsula, p. 9 0 .

20 • }~..:. 21'~:.i18forc!, = .acedoru a . Its Races and Their Future,

p . 332.

22. II. .I, :Jro.ilsford, r.ace dond a , its Rc.ce o and 'I'heir Futuro.

? 165.



THE ILINDEN INSURRECTI N

A Tragic Endeavour

On ugust 2, ]903, our ancestors in the Balkans took uparms for the freed m and independence of Macedonia. Their fightwas directed against the Turkish tyrants of the Ottoman Empirewh for five centuries occupied our homeland and oppressed ourpe pIe. The insurrection was initiated by the Central Committeeof the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (I.M.R.O.)which five days before the uprising, on July 28, J903, issueda circular letter announcing the day on whicn the people mustrise. The following extract from that letter clearly illustratesthe heroic and sacred objective of the great insurrection:

Brothers! Finally, the much ex~ctedday for the altercation with our age-long enemy has arrived. The blood of ourinnocently perished brothers fromfueTurkish tyranny cries for retribution.The honour of our mothers and sistersdemands rehabilitation. Enough of somuch torments, enough of so much ignominy.A thousands times, death is prefe~le toa shameful and beastly life. The specifiedday, in which the people throughoutMacedonia and the Adrianople Provincemust rise, openly with arms in their handsagainst the enemy is nugust 2, ]903.

Brothers, follow your chiefs on thatday and rally around the banner of libertyand be obstinate in the struggle. Onlyin a stubborn lengthy struggle lies oursalvation. Let God blt.ss our just causeand the day of the uprising. Down withTurkey! Down with tyranny! Death to theenemy! Long livelthe people! Long liveliberty! Hurrah!

August 2 was the festival day of the Proph t Elijah.,hence the name of the uprising: Ilindensko Vostanie (TheIlinden Insurrection). ThG struggle lasted for four long monthsand since 1903 our people have reg rded Ilind n as the symbol ofour determination to liberate the inhabitants of M cedoni. Andrightly so! As Christ Anastasoff, the gre t scholar)and ~perton Macedonian affairs, has r cently writt n,

"Although the odds w re against the insurg nts,the Ilinden epic struggl~ was cr~dited witha number of ephem ral victories. Th Turkishauthorities and even the Europe~n r presentatives



-50-

in Macedonia W0ro t~kon by surpr~sG.No on~ believed that tho Mac~don1an~asants crushed and bruta11zcd, were

pC ;! ' " l't

really capable of a ser1ous,ml 1 arydemonstration on a scale wh1ch wouldentitle it t';2the name of n "Grci1t Revoltof Freedom".

Sevoral important questions arise however. l-vhydidII'nden fail? Why did the efforts of 27,000 active participantsin1the cause of freeoom and independence cno in ~ return tofue

t-a t s quo antebellum? How did the force of tyranny :nanage tos ... u " f thdefeat the force of freedom? Wh~ dur1ng the suppreSS1?n 0, einsurrection did Turkish vengeance destroy 300 Mace~on1an v1llages,Durn 1,200 Macedonian houses, outrage 5;000 Hacedon1an worne~,kill 4,700 Macedgnian inhabitants, and leave 71,000 Macedon1anpeople homeless?

There are several answers to the above questions--answers that must be brought to light, answers that are often ig-nored or at least unconsciously by-passed in the speeches we hearannually at our Ilinden picnics.

One of the reasons for the defeat of the Macedonia!!insurgents in the Ilinden uprising was the notable absence ofsufficient arms. As Ivan Ivlihailoffnentioned in the pamphlet,Macedonia's Rise for Freedom 1903--The Groat Insurrection, "evensome of the districts con~idered best-armed did not possess theneeded number of rifles". 'I'hi.ssituation occurred in spite ofthe fact that I.M.R.O. had done a great deal of work in theprocurement of arms prior to the uprising. J\ further weaknessthat made victory highly improbably for the Macedonifln insurgents

was the lack of military and technical training in the art ofwarfare. The great bulk of Macedonian combattants were not pro-fessional soldiers but peasants trained only in the art of raisingsheep or the growing of fruits and vegetables.

A third factor that hindered the success of the Ilindenrebelli?n was the military superiority of the Turks. The number,?fTurkl.sh soldiers was by far greater than the number of Hacedonian1nsurgents. In fact, the total number of Macedonian combattantswas about 27,00? against a Turkish army of over 250,000. Theaver~ge proportl.on between thE insurgents and Turkish troops wasone 1nsurgent to fifteen Turks, or taken by districts the ratioswere as follows~

In the district of Kitchevo 1:25In the district••• 0<060" ....

of Ochrida 1:22In the districtoO· ••••• OOOC ••

of Monastir' 1:15.6In the district. . " ' 0 • • • • • • < ; > • • • •

of Lerin 1~13.8In the district•• 00 ........... "

of Kostour 1:7.3............ " ..5

To a certain d~gree th 'troops on 1-iacedonian ,"', ' E presence of so many Turkl.shthe result of the V ~01~ l.nthe late summer and fall of 1903 was

ur OVl.sts or revolutionaries whose 'Pal was the



-51-

union of M~cedonia with Bulgaria who desired to liberate Macedoniafrom the yoke of Turkish tyranny. In the fall of 1902, thevurhovists promoted a number of limited revolts in the easterndistricts of Macedonia (th Gorna-Djumaya and Razlog districts) •These revolts ended in failure but they had one very serious con-sequence. They prompted the Turkish authorities to send moretroops to the .;;:asternarts of Macedonia to quell the revolts andprepare for the possibility of new outbreaks. This consequencehindered the success of the Ilinden uprising which centred in theMonastir district; by their actions, the Vurhovists unconsciouslymade the Turks aware of possible further revolutionary action. AsIvan Mihailoff has written,

By these actions the attention of theTurkish authority had been drawn and thenecessary counter-measures taken. In-stead of q~ietly working in the arming of

the population, the above incidents hadprovoked the disarmament of the villageswith an accelerated terror. The militaryauthorities had been alerted in the ex-pectation of new outbreaks.

Besides this, the Virhovist action had,somewhat, pulled apart the forces of I.M.R.O.itself. If the Gorna Djumaya district hadrevolted simultaneously with the MonastirVilayet, there would have been 15,000 lessTurkish troops against the Ilinden insurgentsand 2,580 more of the latter against theSUltan's forces. It would have been possible

for the I.M.R.O. to broaden its diversionaryactions in the mountainous districts ofeastern Macedonia.

Another military advantage for the Turks was the verycapable leadership of Nasir Pasha, commandant of the Turkishtroo~s in Mac~donia during the latter days of the Ilinden'insur-rect10n. As 1S clearly noted in The Tragic Peninsula,

In the early part of the Insurrection,that is; until the latter part of August,the Turkish forces were under the commandof the weak Omar Buchdi Pasha. AboutAugust 25, the latter was replaced by the

more resolute and merciless Hasir Pasha.The latter took command and began to applya systematic campaign, by burning the villagesof the revolting Bulgari~ns, so that he mightdrive the insurgents into corners. Hecertainly assembled enough men to enable himto carry out his scheme .~. From August 25onward, the revolutionists were acting purelyon the defensive. They maintained their



well until the mid 1groun fairly usually ev ding th Turksof S pterober• ~... r occasionally forcedwith succ &5, bu~ we C t After

r 1engagemen. r

into a gene 'hting ~oj s very de.,ult ry,September the flg d the Insurrection wasand on November se~ n, ndofficially decl reO at an .

) ~ m- I have limited the possibilityA fourth factor tlla\...G.] the fact that the only active

, gents W;'Sof success for the lns~r ,'ing were the Bulgarians ofpartici~ants_ in the Illnd;n ~~~~Sn~tionalitY in Macedonia wasMacedonla. l\lthough thel~at~:J exist~d including Turks, Greeks,Bulgarian, other nationa 1 a cs ,co Alb"'nl'ns Jews and

VI h Gypsles, c.. f '

Gercomans, Serbomans r ac is. .be-rof these other nationalities't +-h-t 2 num -others. It 15 rue '-a ~ d the Ilinden uprising r but a

assisted or at least tOlefat~ osed it and fought for the

~~i~!~:ca~i ~~~~t~~~~~\j~ou~~ that helI?ed,the sultan~ the Turks,

, k;,' Gercomans or Greclanlzed Bulgarlans wereAlbanlans, G~ee 8 ' ~nahaps "f ail the nationalities of Hacedoniathe most act.a.ve . er ~ .l. ~ ld 1 bhad fought with the insurgents r victory wou u lav~ een moreibL -t 1aa st, the uprising \vould have lastea a few months

POSSl e. E\ ... -

longer.

Finally, the most important and yet most,tragic causefor the defeat of the insurgents was the over-confldence they hadin the power of Europe's public opin~or:' In a ~ense; the leadersof the Ilinden insurrection were poli,t.LcaI reaL'ist.s: they knewthat the Bulgarians of Hacedonia could not defeat the OttomanEmpire alone. However i they we nt;ahead w i.t.hthe Hacedonian insur-rection because they firmly believed that Europe's public opinionwould provoke the governments of t~e Great Powers to Lrrt.everie":

on behalf of the Macedonian cause. After all, the greatEuropean powers had interfered in the internal affairs of theOttoman Empire before. After the limited Vurhovist revolt of1902, they intervened and forced the Sultan to appoint Christiansas village watchmen. Until then, only Hohammedans wereappointed, even in Christian villages. If the great powers couldintervene on behalf of the Christian subjects for such arelatively minor, localized revolt, surely a much broader up-rising might convince them of the necessity for Macedonianautonomy. Of course, the leaders of the Ilinden insurrectionmisjudged the great powers of Europe. The great powerspref7 rred,to stay on the side-lines and watch. A s theAmer~can Journal, Harper's Weekly, put it in its issue ofOctober 3, 1903:

It does not follow that the ChristianPowers of Europe ought to remain impassive~pectators of the conversion of Macedonia~nto shambles at the hands of the revenqefulTurk. ~~tever other motive may have prompted~~e up:~s~ng of the Bulgarians in Macedonia,

ere ~s no doubt that one ground for it wasavowable adequ t d'a e, an rlghteous. We refer



-53-

to the failure 0:( sultan Mdul-Hamidto Lntroducc the ::-efo::-nso wh ich hepledged himself ~y thR Treaty of Berlin

a quar+er of a ccrt.uryage. Wh:Jse faultis it that n~t even J pretence of ful-filliJ"_gthe prornises nas been made? It isthe fault or the ~am2 Christian powers,cosianators of tt2 Berlin T=aaty, whichr8fr~ined rrorn eXSicti:_J"t;~e ru::":::iil::;"entnthe cz.se 0 :: 'I'u::-k::_sh\rJTleJ"_:1_3.;nd which whenArT!'IenianLristi2::1s~-,:;ruck b l.ow on theirown behalf r look on unmoved while tht::insurrection was put down by appallingmassacres. Doe::>anybcuy doubt that iff>1r.G~_adstcne had been Pri~l1e~1inister ofGreat B~ita~n Englan~'s duty, as one ofthe guarantors O~ ~~2 Berlin Treaty~ would have

been perfcr~ed?D02~

anyvne doubt thatrewould have fcrced Ule SUltan t~okeep his wordboth in Arrr.eniE..rid~Yj_aced()nia?

The leaders of the Macedonia~ insurrection even mis-judged the actions of their natuT~l al:y, the state of Bulgaria.It was hoped and eve!1 ex:pecte.jth,,,:t:t least Bulgaria souLd inter-vene on behalf of the 3~~lgSi=ianLr.habit.ants or Macedonia. Afterall, had not the free People or B'llg;::.ri&rad.iti.onaLLy sympathizedwith and stood on the side cr their sl_;--jeg",--:'edrethren? Had not anumber of officials Lr, Bulg::L.:-i.a-:'.i'O.Qer-o ficiaL promises to in-surgent leaders that Bu2.gari:!WOC1 : : ' C _ declare war on Turkey? Theanswer for both questions i~ yes. Th~nf vhy did Bulgaria remainpassive during the great in:-3t:.:!.-rect.ion?he answer is obvious:

Bulgaria hac not ~een roiLi,t.ar i.Ly preparedand had not f~gureQ that the politicalsituation was prope r t.o .irrvoLva herselfin war. Bulgaria coul~ net have forgottenGreece's expe rience in 1897 ,...hen she de-clared war in support of tne cretan up-rising, but was defeated by the Turks andthen abandoned by European diplomacy. Asnoted by contenporar:'es, the indifferenceof official Bulgaria has been much greater.She had nc,t even made an effort to protest,as it was usual against the Turkish horrorsinflicted upon

l~'"!estruggling BuLqe.r.ans

of Macedonia.l.

. Before concluding this pap~r, one extremely importantpo~nt must be stressed. The fact that the Ilinden insurrectionfailed must not undermine its ~acred goal. It is absolutelynecessary that we continue to honour- and _1::'espectts heroes andmartyrs. They fought and died for hunan freedom and liberty -a dream ~at we must continue to holj to ~he grave. Maybe in today'sworl~ th~s dream is too idealistic, LU~ ithout idealism man isnoth~ng.



7a.

J .O .

11.

FOOTNOTES

hri t nnastasoff, "Seventy Ye~rs,SiBnco1kMa~edonia's ReVOltFor Freedom ln a anla Magazine, volno. 11 , october, 1973, pages 4-5. - . V

2. ~., page 5-6.

Ivan Mihailoff, Macedonia's Rise Fnr Freedom - 1903, ~e GInsurrection (Indianapolis; Central Commi~ea~of M. P.O., 1953), page 34. tee

3.

4. Ibid., page 21

Chrl'st Anastasoff, The Tragic Peninsula (St. Louis, Black

19"'8) wel l JWielandy Co., ~ i page 95..

6. Ivan Mihai1off, Macedonia's Rise for Freedom, page 23-24.

Christ Anastasoff; The Tragic Peninsula, page 95-96.7.

8 .

It should be noted that the Arumanians (Vlakhs) ofMacedonia participated wholeheartedly in the Ilinden RevoLt.

Ibid., page 90.

9. Ivan Mihailoff; Macedonia's Rise for Freedom, page 27.

"The True Inwardness of the Situa tien in Macedonia" fnHarper's Weekly, October 3, 1903.

Ivan Mihailoff, Macedonia's Rise for Freedom, page 28.

REPRINTED from August 1977 issueof SHO STAVA



Documents

August 1978 MPO magazine "Sho Stava"