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Veles (city)
Encyclopedia
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
.
and before the Balkan Wars
, it was a township (kaza) with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp
sandjak, Ottoman empire
for 600 years. From 1877 to 1912 the sandjak was part of the Kosovo vilayet. It was named Köprülü after its founder Mehmed Köprülü, a Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. The city is named after a Slavic
god Veles
. After World War II
, the city was known as Titov Veles after Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito
, but the 'Titov' was removed in 1996. Cars registered in Veles were identified by the code TV (Titov Veles), which was changed as late as 2000 to VE.
n city called Bylazora
, and contained a substantial population of Thracians
and possibly Illyrians
. For short period it was a Bulgarian city in the First Bulgarian Empire and the Second Bulgarian Empire, later it was part of the Serbian Empire
in the early 14th century and the town governor was Jovan Oliver
during the time of Emperor Dusan, it was part of Konstantin Dragas realm in 1355-1395. Before the Balkan Wars
, it was a township (kaza) with the name Köprülü
in Uskub
sandjak, vilayet, Ottoman empire
.
Veles is a city of poetry, culture, history and tradition, as well as a town with plentiful and precious cultural heritage and centuries old churches.
Veles is a municipality of 55,000 people.
with:
Other forms of partnership: Pula
(Document of friendship and cultural cooperation in 2002)
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...
on the Vardar
Vardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality
Veles municipality
Veles is a municipality in central Republic of Macedonia. Veles is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found. Veles Municipality is part of the Vardar Statistical Region.-Geography:...
.
Name
The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient GreekAncient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and before the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, it was a township (kaza) with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
sandjak, Ottoman empire
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...
for 600 years. From 1877 to 1912 the sandjak was part of the Kosovo vilayet. It was named Köprülü after its founder Mehmed Köprülü, a Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. The city is named after a Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
god Veles
Veles (god)
Veles also known as Volos is a major Slavic supernatural force of earth, waters and the underworld, associated with dragons, cattle, magic, musicians, wealth and trickery...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the city was known as Titov Veles after Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
, but the 'Titov' was removed in 1996. Cars registered in Veles were identified by the code TV (Titov Veles), which was changed as late as 2000 to VE.
History
The area of present-day Veles has been inhabited for over a millennium. In antiquity, it was a PaioniaPaionia
In ancient geography, Paeonia or Paionia was the land of the Paeonians . The exact original boundaries of Paeonia, like the early history of its inhabitants, are very obscure, but it is believed that they lay in the region of Thrace...
n city called Bylazora
Bylazora
Bylazora or Vilazora is a Paeonian city that was located on the Axius River at Veles in the Republic of Macedonia. Polybius tells us that "King Philip V captured Bylazora, the largest town of Paeonia, and very favourably situated for commanding the pass from Dardania to Macedonia: so that by this...
, and contained a substantial population of Thracians
Thracians
The ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
and possibly Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
. For short period it was a Bulgarian city in the First Bulgarian Empire and the Second Bulgarian Empire, later it was part 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...
in the early 14th century and the town governor was Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver Grčinić, known as Despot Jovan Oliver was a magnate of the Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty , holding the titles of sebastokrator and despotes, and the great voivode-military rank, showing his prominence and status as one of the most important nobles of Dušan...
during the time of Emperor Dusan, it was part of Konstantin Dragas realm in 1355-1395. Before the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, it was a township (kaza) with the name Köprülü
Koprulu
Koprulu refers to:* Köprülü family an Ottoman noble family of Albanian origin* Köprülü era , the period in which the Ottoman Empire's politics were set by the Grand Viziers, mainly the Köprülü family...
in Uskub
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
sandjak, vilayet, Ottoman empire
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...
.
Features
Through Macedonia Veles is known as industrial center and recently, as a leader in the implementing of IT in the local administration in Macedonia.Veles is a city of poetry, culture, history and tradition, as well as a town with plentiful and precious cultural heritage and centuries old churches.
Veles is a municipality of 55,000 people.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Veles (city) is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
- Slobozia
SloboziaSlobozia is the capital city of Ialomiţa County, Romania, with a population of 52,710 in 2002.-Geography:Slobozia lies roughly in the middle of the county, on the banks of Ialomita River, at ca. east of Bucharest and west of Constanţa, important port at the Black Sea...
UziceUžiceUžice is a city and municipality in western Serbia, located at the banks of the Đetinja river. It is the administrative center of the Zlatibor District...
SomborSomborSombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...
Other forms of partnership: Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
(Document of friendship and cultural cooperation in 2002)
People from Veles
- Köprülü Fazıl AhmedKöprülü Fazil AhmedKöprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha Was a member of the renowned Köprülü family originated from Albania, that had given three grand viziers to the Ottoman Empire. He served as a Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from...
, Ottoman grand vizier - Metodi AleksievMetodi AleksievMetodi Aleksiev Yanushev was a Bulgarian revolutionary, a worker of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization and the Bulgarian Communist Party.-Biography:...
, revolutionary - Panko BrashnarovPanko BrashnarovPanko Brashnarov was a revolutionary and member of the left wing of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization . As with many other IMARO members of the time, historians from the Republic of Macedonia consider him an ethnic Macedonian, whereas historians in Bulgaria consider him...
, revolutionary - Ilija DimovskiIlija DimovskiIlija Dimovski is a Member of the Macedonian parliament representing the city Veles since 2006. Ilija Dimovski is the Spokesman of the ruling party in Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE...
, member of Macedonian Parliament - Gheorghe GhicaGheorghe GhicaGeorge Ghica March 3, 1600 – November 2, 1664), founder of the Ghica family, was Prince of Moldavia in 1658-1659 and Prince of Wallachia in 1659–1660....
, Prince of Moldavia - Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov-DzhinotYordan Hadzhikonstantinov-DzhinotYordan Hadzhikonstantinov, called Dzhinot , was a Bulgarian teacher, publicist and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival during 19-th century...
, teacher and publicist - Igor KrajchevIgor KrajchevIgor Krajchev is a Macedonian writer, working in the genre of epic fantasy. He holds a BA degree in Macedonian literature and South Slavic literature, and now he is studying as postgraduate student at the Faculty of Philology at Ss...
, writer - Panče KumbevPance KumbevPanče Ḱumbev or Pance Kumbev is a Macedonian footballer who currently plays in FK Rabotnički.-International:He was part of the Macedonia national football team.- Achievements :*FK Pobeda Prilep...
, footballer - Ivan NaumovIvan NaumovIvan Naumov, nicknamed Alyabaka or Alyabako, was a Bulgarian revolutionary and freedom fighter, a member of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization .-Biography:...
, revolutionary - Kole NedelkovskiKole NedelkovskiKole Nedelkovski was a Bulgarian communist and Macedonian revolutionary and poet. He was born in Vojnica, near Veles, Ottoman Empire in 1912 and died in 1941 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Hunted from the Serbian police he emigrated to Bulgaria in 1933...
, revolutionary - Kazım ÖzalpKazim ÖzalpKâzım Fikri Özalp was a Turkish military officer and politician, who was one of the leading figures in the Turkish War of Independence.-Biography:...
, Turkish military office - Jordan PopjordanovJordan PopjordanovJordan "Orce" Popjordanov was revolutionary anarchist in Ottoman Macedonia. He is considered Bulgarian in Bulgaria and Macedonian in Republic of Macedonia...
, revolutionary - Kočo RacinKoco RacinKosta Apostolov Solev primarily known as Kočo Racin was a Macedonian revolutionary and poet who is considered a founder of modern Macedonian literature. His poem collection White Dawns is one of the most important masterpieces in the Macedonian modern literature...
, writer - Svetozar RistovskiSvetozar RistovskiSvetozar Ristovski is a Macedonian film director who now resides in Canada. Largely inspired by filmmakers such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, Robert Bresson and Michelangelo Antonioni, Ristovski developed a passion for filmmaking while living in...
, film director - Mile Pop Yordanov, revolutionary
- Dragan ZdravkovskiDragan ZdravkovskiDragan Zdravkovski is a midfielder currently playing for Metalurg in the Macedonian First League.-External links:...
, footballer - Rayko Zhinzifov, poet
- Vasil GlavinovVasil GlavinovVasil Kostov Glavinov was a Bulgarian socialist from Ottoman Macedonia, a member of the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party. He is considered a Macedonian in the Republic of Macedonia.Glavinov worked in his native Veles before moving to Sofia in 1887...
, revolutionary