Ilyo Voyvoda
Encyclopedia
Iliya Markov Popgeorgiev, better known as Ilyo Voyvoda or Dedo Iljo Maleshevski, was a Bulgarian
revolutionary from the region of Macedonia
, who is considered a national hero in both Bulgaria
and the Republic of Macedonia
. He was the father-in-law of Dimitar Pop Georgiev - Berovski
.
, today in the Republic of Macedonia
, in the poor farmer family of Marko Popgeorgiev. He was a prominent Vojvod of cheta
s in Maleshevo
, Rila
and Pirin
. Later he worked as a keeper in the Rila monastery
. In 1861 he participated in the Bulgarian Legion
in Belgrade
ant took part on tre Serbo-Turkish War.
. His band joined the Western divisions of general Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko
and participated in the liberation of Sofia
, Radomir and Kyustendil
. Illyo was one of the Bulgarian representatives at the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano
which marked the restoration of Bulgaria in its ethnic borders. It was there he was awarded a medal for bravery.
(1878–1879) in which Illyo took active participation. Illyo Voivoda and his band took part in Serbo-Bulgarian War
despite the advancing age of the leader. As part of the Radomir squad they participated in the battles of Breznik
, Slivnitsa
and Vranje
among others.
. He is a near-mythical figure of the region and has been the subject of many folk songs. Some of his personal belonging are kept in the monastery “St Archangel Michael” which serves as the city museum of Berovo
.
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
revolutionary from the region of Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
, who is considered a national hero in both Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. He was the father-in-law of Dimitar Pop Georgiev - Berovski
Dimitar Pop Georgiev - Berovski
Dimitar Popgeorgiev Berovski was a Bulgarian revolutionary from Macedonia. He is considered an ethnic Macedonian by historians from the Republic of Macedonia....
.
Early life
He was born on 28 May 1805 in BerovoBerovo
Berovo is a small town near the Maleševo Mountains, from Skopje, from Strumica and from Kočani, in the Republic of Macedonia. It is the seat of Berovo Municipality.-Demographics:There are 7,002 residents in the town of Berovo.-Features:...
, today in the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, in the poor farmer family of Marko Popgeorgiev. He was a prominent Vojvod of cheta
Cheta
Cheta was an armed band, organized by the Christian population on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, aiming at anti-Turkish activity. The cheta was usually led by a leader, called voivoda. The members of the chetas were called chetnik....
s in Maleshevo
Maleshevo
The Maleshevo Mountain or Maleševo Mountain is situated in southwestern Bulgaria and eastern Republic of Macedonia. It is the third of the five mountains of the Osogovo-Belasitsa mountain group, known also as the Western Border Mountains...
, Rila
Rila
Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m...
and Pirin
Pirin
The Pirin Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren the highest peak, situated at . The range extends about 40 km northwest-southeast, and about 25 km wide. Most of the range is protected in the Pirin National Park...
. Later he worked as a keeper in the Rila monastery
Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of above sea level...
. In 1861 he participated in the Bulgarian Legion
Bulgarian Legion
The Bulgarian Legion was the name of two military bands formed by Bulgarian volunteers and revolutionary workers in the Serbian capital of Belgrade in the second part of the 19th century...
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
ant took part on tre Serbo-Turkish War.
Liberation of Bulgaria
Ilyo used every chance to make a contribution in any war against the Ottoman Empire. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 he operated with a band near LovechLovech
Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia...
. His band joined the Western divisions of general Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko
Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko
Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko , also known as Joseph or Ossip Gourko, was a Russian Field Marshal prominent during the Russo-Turkish War ....
and participated in the liberation of Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Radomir and Kyustendil
Kyustendil
Kyustendil is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of Kyustendil Province, with a population of 44 416 . Kyustendil is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, 90 km southwest of Sofia...
. Illyo was one of the Bulgarian representatives at the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano
Treaty of San Stefano
The Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed at the end of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78...
which marked the restoration of Bulgaria in its ethnic borders. It was there he was awarded a medal for bravery.
Post-Liberation activity
The joy from the liberation was short-lived though, as the Treaty of Berlin (1878) soon partitioned the newly liberated country. Bulgaria was divided into three parts: the Principality of Bulgaria, the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia and Macedonia given back to the Ottomans. The discontent among the people erupted in the Kresna-Razlog UprisingKresna-Razlog Uprising
The Kresna-Razlog Uprising was a Bulgarian uprising against the Ottoman rule, predominantly in the areas of Kresna and Razlog in the region of Pirin Macedonia in late 1878 and early 1879...
(1878–1879) in which Illyo took active participation. Illyo Voivoda and his band took part in Serbo-Bulgarian War
Serbo-Bulgarian War
The Serbo-Bulgarian War was a war between Serbia and Bulgaria that erupted on 14 November 1885 and lasted until 28 November the same year. Final peace was signed on 19 February 1886 in Bucharest...
despite the advancing age of the leader. As part of the Radomir squad they participated in the battles of Breznik
Breznik
Breznik is a town in western Bulgaria, 50 km away from Sofia. It is located in Pernik Province and is close to the towns of Bankya and Pernik. It has 4,500 inhabitants. Villages in the municipality include Dushintsi....
, Slivnitsa
Battle of Slivnitsa
Called by historians the "Battle of the captains vs the generals," referring to the young Bulgarian army, whose highest rank went up to a captain, the Battle of Slivnitsa was a decisive factor in the victory of the Bulgarian army over the Serbians on November 17–19, 1885 in the...
and Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
among others.
Legacy
He fought in battles all his life, and died from old age at the end of the 19th century in KyustendilKyustendil
Kyustendil is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of Kyustendil Province, with a population of 44 416 . Kyustendil is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, 90 km southwest of Sofia...
. He is a near-mythical figure of the region and has been the subject of many folk songs. Some of his personal belonging are kept in the monastery “St Archangel Michael” which serves as the city museum of Berovo
Berovo
Berovo is a small town near the Maleševo Mountains, from Skopje, from Strumica and from Kočani, in the Republic of Macedonia. It is the seat of Berovo Municipality.-Demographics:There are 7,002 residents in the town of Berovo.-Features:...
.
