Smilevo
Encyclopedia
Smilevo is a village in the Republic of Macedonia
, municipality of Demir Hisar
.
It is famous for the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising
which started in the village in the morning of August 2, 1903 (see Battle of Smilevo
). The decision for the uprising was taken during the Smilevo congress of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) from May 2 to May 7 1903.
The village is the native place of Dame Gruev
, one of the founders and most prominent leaders of IMRO. Smilevo also has a statue of Dame Gruev on one of its mountain sides. Below this mountainous terrain is the village. The village has one of the largest schools in the Demir Hisar
municipality.
on the foothills of Bigla mountain on 880 m above sea level on an area of 16.4 square kilometres, 1,400 ha of which are forests, 113 ha are pastures and 104 ha are cultivated area.
It is 10 km from the Demir Hisar
— Bitola
road.
in Macedonia
was taken by the most prominent members of IMRO.
It was attacked by IMRO's revolutionaries on August 2, 1903, which was marked as the beginning of the Ilinden uprising.
and abroad. In addition to this, many villagers are involved in producing charcoal, agriculture, forestry and other businesses in the surrounding cities and abroad.
in the country dedicated to St. Peter and Paul . It has been recently renovated.
On the hill above the village, there is a memorial park dedicated to Dame Gruev
.
A museum dedicated to the Smilevo congress and the National Liberation Struggle was opened on the 100th anniversary of the Ilinden uprising in 2003.
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...
, municipality of Demir Hisar
Demir Hisar municipality
Demir Hisar is a municipality in southwestern Republic of Macedonia. Demir Hisar, which means "iron fortress" in Turkish, is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found...
.
It is famous for the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising
Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising
The Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising or simply the Ilinden Uprising of August 1903 |Macedonia]] affected most of the central and southwestern parts of the Monastir Vilayet receiving the support mainly of the local Bulgarian peasants and to some extent of the Aromanian population of the region...
which started in the village in the morning of August 2, 1903 (see Battle of Smilevo
Battle of Smilevo
The Battle of Smilevo occurred on 5 August 1903, during the Ilinden Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, in the village of Smilevo, in what is today the south-west of the Republic of Macedonia.Smilevo has a mountainous terrain and a number of forests...
). The decision for the uprising was taken during the Smilevo congress of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) from May 2 to May 7 1903.
The village is the native place of Dame Gruev
Dame Gruev
Damyan Yovanov Gruev or Damjan Jovanov Gruev, often known by his short name Dame Gruev, was an insurgent leader in Ottoman Macedonia and Thrace...
, one of the founders and most prominent leaders of IMRO. Smilevo also has a statue of Dame Gruev on one of its mountain sides. Below this mountainous terrain is the village. The village has one of the largest schools in the Demir Hisar
municipality.
Geography
The village is situated in the southernmost part of Demir Hisar municipalityDemir Hisar municipality
Demir Hisar is a municipality in southwestern Republic of Macedonia. Demir Hisar, which means "iron fortress" in Turkish, is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found...
on the foothills of Bigla mountain on 880 m above sea level on an area of 16.4 square kilometres, 1,400 ha of which are forests, 113 ha are pastures and 104 ha are cultivated area.
It is 10 km from the Demir Hisar
Demir Hisar
Demir Hisar , or in Slavic translation known as Železnec , is an area spreading on the South West part of Macedonia to the North West of the Pelagonian plain, around the river flow of the Black River with her inflows...
— Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
road.
History
The village was the venue of the IMRO's Smilevo Congress of 1903, at which the decision for uprising against the Ottoman ruleOttoman 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...
in 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...
was taken by the most prominent members of IMRO.
It was attacked by IMRO's revolutionaries on August 2, 1903, which was marked as the beginning of the Ilinden uprising.
Economy
Smilevo people are traditionally masons who have worked on constructing houses and other objects in other villages and cities in the Republic of Macedonia, former YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and abroad. In addition to this, many villagers are involved in producing charcoal, agriculture, forestry and other businesses in the surrounding cities and abroad.
Demographics
The population of the village is Macedonian. In 1961, the number of inhabitants was 1,158, while in 1994, the number decreased to 384 due to migration of the people to the cities.Sights
Near the village is one of the most beautiful monasteriesMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the country dedicated to St. Peter and Paul . It has been recently renovated.
On the hill above the village, there is a memorial park dedicated to Dame Gruev
Dame Gruev
Damyan Yovanov Gruev or Damjan Jovanov Gruev, often known by his short name Dame Gruev, was an insurgent leader in Ottoman Macedonia and Thrace...
.
A museum dedicated to the Smilevo congress and the National Liberation Struggle was opened on the 100th anniversary of the Ilinden uprising in 2003.
Famous inhabitants
- Dame GruevDame GruevDamyan Yovanov Gruev or Damjan Jovanov Gruev, often known by his short name Dame Gruev, was an insurgent leader in Ottoman Macedonia and Thrace...
, founder of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation