Tane Nikolov
Encyclopedia
Tane Nikolov
was a Bulgarian
revolutionary and member of the revolutionary movement in Macedonia
, Thrace
and Pomoravlje
. He was among the leading members of the Secret Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization, Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organisation
and the leader of the Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation
. Nikolov was also participant in the wars for National unification of Bulgaria.
in the family of Nikola Zhekov and Rada Stoeva who both come from the village of Gorski izvor near Dimitrovgrad
. His nephew was to become yet another famous Bulgarian revolutionary - Nikola Koev (Mamin Kolyo). Tane finished first grade in Haskovo in the already liberated Bulgaria
. He was still young when he lost first his wife and soon after his daughter to an illness. In the end of June 1902 he quit the army and joined the revolutionary movement in Eastern Thrace. There he met Boris Sarafov
and the two of them became life-long friends.
. Afterwards, in July 1904, he headed the bombing of a Turkish train and the unsuccessful assault of a train station. His division entered constant battles with the authorities during one of which in December 1904, Tane was wounded. Despite that just weeks later they entered another battle.
In Macedonia
In 1906 Tane moved from Thrace to Florina
in the region of Macedonia (what is now Greek Macedonia). A year later he became voivode of the regions of Prilep
and Veles
. During the whole year he battled Turkish and Serbian forces. In July 1907 Tane headed the united divisions of the organization in what turned to be the biggest battle against the authorities after the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising. Fifty-four revolutionaries lost their life in the battle of "Nozhot" (the Knife) which was later sung in songs by the people and celebrated even during the Serbian regime.
In 1907 after Boris Sarafov
and Ivan Garvanov
were killed by the inner opposition in IMARO, Tana Nikolov found new friends in the faces of Hristo Matov
, Vasil Chekalarov
and Nikola Kostov. In March 1908 he attended the IMARO congress near the town of Kyustendil
as a delegate from the region of Bitola
. As a consequent he is appointed inspector of all revolutionary divisions in Western Macedonia.
was a Bulgarian
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 and member of the revolutionary movement 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...
, Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and Pomoravlje
Pomoravlje
Pomoravlje may refer to:* Pomoravlje , a geographical area around the Morava river, Serbia* Pomoravlje District, a district in Serbia...
. He was among the leading members of the Secret Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization, Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organisation
Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organisation
The Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organization , IWORO, was a Bulgarian revolutionary organization active in the Western Outlands between 1921 and 1941 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes , and then its successor, the Kingdom of...
and the leader of the Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation
Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation
The Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation , ITRO, was a Bulgarian revolutionary organisation active in Western Thrace and southern Bulgaria between 1920 and 1934.The reason for the establishment of ITRO was the deplorable situation of the Thracian Bulgarians in...
. Nikolov was also participant in the wars for National unification of Bulgaria.
Early life
Tane Nikolov was born in HaskovoHaskovo
Haskovo , is a city, an administrative centre of the homonymous Haskovo Province in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. As of February 2011, it has a population of 74,843 inhabitants....
in the family of Nikola Zhekov and Rada Stoeva who both come from the village of Gorski izvor near Dimitrovgrad
Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
Dimitrovgrad is a town in Haskovo Province, South-central Bulgaria, located close to the province capital - Haskovo. It is a newly founded settlement, built in the end of the 1940s. and named after the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov. The town is the administrative centre of the homonymous...
. His nephew was to become yet another famous Bulgarian revolutionary - Nikola Koev (Mamin Kolyo). Tane finished first grade in Haskovo in the already liberated Bulgaria
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
. He was still young when he lost first his wife and soon after his daughter to an illness. In the end of June 1902 he quit the army and joined the revolutionary movement in Eastern Thrace. There he met Boris Sarafov
Boris Sarafov
Boris Petrov Sarafov was a revolutionary from the region of Macedonia, one of the leaders of Supreme Macedonian-Adrianople Committee and Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization...
and the two of them became life-long friends.
In Thrace
From 1903 Tane Nikolov lead his own division with which he took part in the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprisingIlinden-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...
. Afterwards, in July 1904, he headed the bombing of a Turkish train and the unsuccessful assault of a train station. His division entered constant battles with the authorities during one of which in December 1904, Tane was wounded. Despite that just weeks later they entered another battle.
In MacedoniaMacedonia (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...
In 1906 Tane moved from Thrace to FlorinaFlorina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
in the region of Macedonia (what is now Greek Macedonia). A year later he became voivode of the regions of Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
and Veles
Veles (city)
Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
. During the whole year he battled Turkish and Serbian forces. In July 1907 Tane headed the united divisions of the organization in what turned to be the biggest battle against the authorities after the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising. Fifty-four revolutionaries lost their life in the battle of "Nozhot" (the Knife) which was later sung in songs by the people and celebrated even during the Serbian regime.
In 1907 after Boris Sarafov
Boris Sarafov
Boris Petrov Sarafov was a revolutionary from the region of Macedonia, one of the leaders of Supreme Macedonian-Adrianople Committee and Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization...
and Ivan Garvanov
Ivan Garvanov
Ivan Garvanov was a Bulgarian revolutionary and leader of the revolutionary movement in Macedonia and Eastern Thrace. He was among the leaders of the Bulgarian Secret Revolutionary Brotherhood and later of the Bulgarian Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committees...
were killed by the inner opposition in IMARO, Tana Nikolov found new friends in the faces of Hristo Matov
Hristo Matov
Hristo Apostolov Matov , born 10 March 1872 in Struga, Ottoman Empire , died 10 February 1922 in Sofia, Bulgaria was a prominent Bulgarian Macedonian revolutionary, philologist, folklorist and publicist, principal of the Bulgarian Men's High School of Thessaloniki , and one of...
, Vasil Chekalarov
Vasil Chekalarov
Vasil Hristov Chekalarov or Vasil Tcakalarov was a Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation in Aegean Macedonia. H. N...
and Nikola Kostov. In March 1908 he attended the IMARO congress near the town of 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...
as a delegate from the region of 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...
. As a consequent he is appointed inspector of all revolutionary divisions in Western Macedonia.