Kruševo
Encyclopedia
Kruševo also spelled Krushevo, is a town
in the Republic of Macedonia
. It is the highest town in Macedonia, situated at an altitude of over 4,000 feet (1250 m) above sea level. The town of Kruševo is the seat of Kruševo Municipality
.
. The "Sclaviniae of Macedonia" (Sclavenias penes Macedoniam) was conquered in 785 by Constantine VI (r. 776–797). The area was annexed by the First Bulgarian Empire
in the 9th century.
The region was under the rule of the short-lived Principality of Prilep
of Prince Marko
(r. 1371 - 1395), a successor state of the Serbian Empire
(1346–1371) where the father of , Župan Vukašin Mrnjavčević
(co-ruler of King Stefan Uroš V) held the region. The principality and region came under Ottoman Turkish
rule in 1395.
. In the 1860s a Bulgarian municipality and Bulgarian school were established the city. Subsequently, a Bulgarian girls school was opened and it operated simultaneously with the Greek schools in the town. A Romanian school started functioning in Kruševo in 1876. In the early 20th century, Kruševo was a small town with a mixed population of 4,950 Bulgarians
, 4,000 Vlachs (Aromanians
) and 400 Christian Albanians
, according to Bulgarian geographer Vasil Kanchov
's statistics. During the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 the rebels proclaimed a short lived Kruševo Republic
. Having suppressed the uprising the city was almost completely destroyed by the Ottoman army. One of the most important points in the Ilinden uprising was the declaration of the "Manifesto of Kruševo". It called for all the people of Macedonia
regardless of their nationality and religion to fight together against the Ottoman Empire. In the area there is a monument called Mečkin Kamen (Bear's Stone). This was the place where Pitu Guli
's band (cheta) was trying to defend the town of Kruševo from the Turkish troops coming from Bitola. The whole band and their leader (voivode) perished and Kruševo as well as many of the nearby villages were set to fire by the Ottomans.
. Kruševo is known for its 19th-century domestic architecture. The town has old and more recent houses built in the style of old Macedonian architecture.
It is home to Mečkin Kamen, a historical landmark which marks the spot of the uprising of 1903. On August 2 every year, it is the site of the traditional Macedonian Independence Day celebrations, which are attended by the President of Macedonia and other Macedonian political leaders.
Kruševo is also home to Makedonium monument, dedicated to the Ilinden Uprising and the Kruševo Republic and many museums of the Ilinden Uprising.
The towns galleries include an exhibit of 19th century icons and a memorial to Macedonian painting Nikola Martinovski
who was born in this town.
Because of its elevation, Kruševo is one of Macedonia’s winter sports destinations.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
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...
. It is the highest town in Macedonia, situated at an altitude of over 4,000 feet (1250 m) above sea level. The town of Kruševo is the seat of Kruševo Municipality
Kruševo municipality
Kruševo is a municipality in central Republic of Macedonia. Kruševo is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found. This municipality is part of the Pelagonia Statistical Region.-Geography:...
.
History
Medieval
South Slavs were organized in smaller feudal states as of the 6th century. The South Slavic areas were called Sclaviniae, and were from times independent from the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. The "Sclaviniae of Macedonia" (Sclavenias penes Macedoniam) was conquered in 785 by Constantine VI (r. 776–797). The area was annexed by the First Bulgarian Empire
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
in the 9th century.
The region was under the rule of the short-lived Principality of Prilep
Kingdom of Prilep
The Lordship of Prilep was one of the provinces of the Serbian Empire, held by Vukašin Mrnjavčević, the co-ruler of Serbia alongside child-less Uroš the Weak . Emperor Uroš and Lord Vukašin died at the Battle of Maritsa, and Prilep was obtained by Marko Mrnjavčević, the son of Lord Vukašin...
of Prince Marko
Prince Marko
Marko Mrnjavčević was de jure the Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while de facto he ruled only over a territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep...
(r. 1371 - 1395), a successor state of the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
(1346–1371) where the father of , Župan Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin Mrnjavcevic
Vukašin Mrnjavčević was a Serbian ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371. According to 17th-century Ragusan historian Mavro Orbin, his father was a minor noble named Mrnjava from Zachlumia, whose sons Vukašin and Uglješa were born in Livno in western...
(co-ruler of King Stefan Uroš V) held the region. The principality and region came under Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule in 1395.
Ottoman rule
In 19th century, Kruševo grew as a commercial center with connections not only in Macedonia. Local merchants such as the Nitsiotas brothers and five other companies were active in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In the 1860s a Bulgarian municipality and Bulgarian school were established the city. Subsequently, a Bulgarian girls school was opened and it operated simultaneously with the Greek schools in the town. A Romanian school started functioning in Kruševo in 1876. In the early 20th century, Kruševo was a small town with a mixed population of 4,950 Bulgarians
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:...
, 4,000 Vlachs (Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
) and 400 Christian Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, according to Bulgarian geographer Vasil Kanchov
Vasil Kanchov
Vasil Kanchov was a Bulgarian geographer, ethnographer and politician.- Biography :Vasil Kanchov was born in Vratsa. Upon graduating from High school in Lom, Bulgaria, he entered the University of Harkov, then in Russia. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885 he suspended his education and took part...
's statistics. During the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 the rebels proclaimed a short lived Kruševo Republic
Kruševo Republic
During the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising in 1903 the rebels from the Secret Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization in Kruševo proclaimed a short lived Kruševo Republic....
. Having suppressed the uprising the city was almost completely destroyed by the Ottoman army. One of the most important points in the Ilinden uprising was the declaration of the "Manifesto of Kruševo". It called for all the people 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...
regardless of their nationality and religion to fight together against the Ottoman Empire. In the area there is a monument called Mečkin Kamen (Bear's Stone). This was the place where Pitu Guli
Pitu Guli
Pitu Guli was an Aromanian revolutionary in Ottoman Macedonia, a local leader of what is commonly referred to as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization ....
's band (cheta) was trying to defend the town of Kruševo from the Turkish troops coming from Bitola. The whole band and their leader (voivode) perished and Kruševo as well as many of the nearby villages were set to fire by the Ottomans.
Modern
Kruševo still retains a sizable Aromanian minority; as of the most recent national census in 2002 it was populated by 6,081 Macedonians, 2,064 Albanians, 1,020 Vlachs, 137 Bosniaks, 38 Serbs and 29 others.Features
Kruševo is a mountain town. Situated at an altitude of 1350 metres (4,429.1 ft), Kruševo is the highest town in the Republic of MacedoniaRepublic 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...
. Kruševo is known for its 19th-century domestic architecture. The town has old and more recent houses built in the style of old Macedonian architecture.
It is home to Mečkin Kamen, a historical landmark which marks the spot of the uprising of 1903. On August 2 every year, it is the site of the traditional Macedonian Independence Day celebrations, which are attended by the President of Macedonia and other Macedonian political leaders.
Kruševo is also home to Makedonium monument, dedicated to the Ilinden Uprising and the Kruševo Republic and many museums of the Ilinden Uprising.
The towns galleries include an exhibit of 19th century icons and a memorial to Macedonian painting Nikola Martinovski
Nikola Martinovski
Nikola Martinoski , sometimes mentioned as Nikola Martinovski was a Macedonian painter with a rare gift for art.-The Early Days:He was born in Kuruşova in 1903, and died in 1973 in Skopje....
who was born in this town.
Because of its elevation, Kruševo is one of Macedonia’s winter sports destinations.
"Ethno-Town Project"
There is a project called "Kruševo ethno-town", supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, which was developed by a small group of enthusiasts. According to that project, Kruševo shall look like a town from the beginning of the 20th century where it was the center of the Ilinden Uprising in 1903, that lead to the creation of the first Republic on the Balkans, The Krusevo Republic. People will be dressed like Ottoman Turks and Macedonian revolutionary freedom fighters. The project aims to make Kruševo a main tourist destination in five years.Notable people
- Toše ProeskiToše ProeskiTodor Toše Proeski was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and all around Eastern Europe, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene...
, singer-songwriter - Nikola KarevNikola KarevNikola Janakiev Karev was a revolutionary in Ottoman-ruled Macedonia. He was born 23 November 1877 in Kruševo and died 27 April 1905 in the village of Rajčani, both today in the Republic of Macedonia. Karev was a local leader of what later became known as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary...
, politician, revolutionary leader - Pitu GuliPitu GuliPitu Guli was an Aromanian revolutionary in Ottoman Macedonia, a local leader of what is commonly referred to as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization ....
, revolutionary leader - Vasil IljoskiVasil IljoskiVasil Iljoski was a Macedonian writer, dramatist, professor and an important figure in the Macedonian literature, especially in Macedonian drama between the two World Wars. He was born in Kruševo in 1902. His play Begalka, or known as "Lenče Kumanovče", performed in 1928 in the Skopje theatre is...
, writer - Nikola MartinovskiNikola MartinovskiNikola Martinoski , sometimes mentioned as Nikola Martinovski was a Macedonian painter with a rare gift for art.-The Early Days:He was born in Kuruşova in 1903, and died in 1973 in Skopje....
, painter - Ilija NajdoskiIlija NajdoskiIlija Najdoski from the Republic of Macedonia who played for Red Star Belgrade and was part of their European Cup victory in 1991....
, footballer - Taki FitiTaki FitiTaki Fiti was born on 7 November 1950 in Kruševo in Republic of Macedonia. He received his MA in 1980, and his Ph.D. in 1983 at the Faculty of Economics in Skopje...
, politician, minister of finance, author - Nicolae Batzaria, writer, Ottoman Minister of Public Works and Commerce
- Alexandros SvolosAlexandros SvolosAlexandros Svolos was a prominent Greek legal expert, who also served as president of the Political Committee of National Liberation, a Resistance-based government during the Axis Occupation of Greece.- Early life :...
, academic - Mencha KarnichevaMencha KarnichevaMelpomena Dimitrova Karnicheva , popularly known as Mencha was a female revolutionary of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation...
, revolutionary