Georgi Izmirliev
Encyclopedia
Georgi Dimitrov Izmirliev , nicknamed Makedoncheto ("The Little Macedonian"), was a Bulgarian
revolutionary and public figure. A participant in the anti-Ottoman
April Uprising
of 1876, he was an assistant to Stefan Stambolov
and a military commander of the Tarnovo
revolutionary district.
Izmirliev was born in the city of Gorna Dzhumaya in the northeast of Ottoman-ruled Macedonia
(today Blagoevgrad
, Bulgaria
). His father, Dimitar Izmirliev, was a small-time merchant. His mother, Tonka Izmirlieva, descended from a hajduk
family from Berovo
. Georgi Izmirliev studied in Serres
(Syar) until he moved to Istanbul
(Tsarigrad), where he stayed from 1868 to 1873. In the imperial capital, Izmirliev studied at the Galatasaray High School and received a scholarship from the Bulgarian foundation Prosveshtenie ("Enlightenment"). After his graduation, Izmirliev remained in Istanbul as a teacher and public figure; he participated in Prosveshtenie activities, spread newspapers and gave talks. In the autumn of 1873, he enrolled in the Odessa
military college in the Russian Empire
as a cadet
.
In late 1875, Izmirliev arrived in Giurgiu
, Romania
, where he joined the Giurgiu Revolutionary Committee as assistant apostle and military commander of a district. Izmirliev crossed the Danube
into the Bulgarian lands on 13 January 1876 and met with Tonka Obretenova
in Rousse
before arriving in Gorna Oryahovitsa
, which had been designated the centre of the revolutionary district. For the three months until the uprising, Izmirliev founded a number of new committees and recruited and trained many locals. He also looked for strategically important areas which his detachments could use to battle the Ottomans effectively.
The April Uprising was proclaimed in Koprivshtitsa
on 20 April 1876. Due to treason, Izmirliev and a group of other revolutionaries were captured after a gunfight in Gorna Oryahovitsa six days later, on 26 April. Sentenced to death by hanging
by a special Ottoman court, Izmirliev was executed on 26 May 1876 in Gorna Oryahovitsa. Reportedly, his last words were "It is gratifying to die for the freedom of the Fatherland!".
Izmirliev's work has been commemorated by monuments in Gorna Oryahovitsa (built 1893–1910) and Blagoevgrad, schools in Gorna Oryahovitsa and Sofia
, and a museum house in Blagoevgrad.
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 public figure. A participant in the anti-Ottoman
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...
April Uprising
April Uprising
The April Uprising was an insurrection organised by the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire from April to May 1876, which indirectly resulted in the re-establishment of Bulgaria as an autonomous nation in 1878...
of 1876, he was an assistant to Stefan Stambolov
Stefan Stambolov
Stefan Nikolov Stambolov was a Bulgarian politician, who served as Prime Minister and regent. He is considered one of the most important and popular "Founders of Modern Bulgaria", and is sometimes referred to as "the Bulgarian Bismarck".- Early years :Stambolov was born in Veliko Tarnovo...
and a military commander of the Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
revolutionary district.
Izmirliev was born in the city of Gorna Dzhumaya in the northeast of Ottoman-ruled 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...
(today Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
, 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...
). His father, Dimitar Izmirliev, was a small-time merchant. His mother, Tonka Izmirlieva, descended from a hajduk
Hajduk
Hajduk is a term most commonly referring to outlaws, highwaymen or freedom fighters in the Balkans, Central- and Eastern Europe....
family from 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:...
. Georgi Izmirliev studied in Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
(Syar) until he moved to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(Tsarigrad), where he stayed from 1868 to 1873. In the imperial capital, Izmirliev studied at the Galatasaray High School and received a scholarship from the Bulgarian foundation Prosveshtenie ("Enlightenment"). After his graduation, Izmirliev remained in Istanbul as a teacher and public figure; he participated in Prosveshtenie activities, spread newspapers and gave talks. In the autumn of 1873, he enrolled in the Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
military college in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
.
In late 1875, Izmirliev arrived in Giurgiu
Giurgiu
Giurgiu is the capital city of Giurgiu County, Romania, in the Greater Wallachia. It is situated amid mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the opposite bank. Three small islands face the city, and a larger one shelters its port, Smarda...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where he joined the Giurgiu Revolutionary Committee as assistant apostle and military commander of a district. Izmirliev crossed the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
into the Bulgarian lands on 13 January 1876 and met with Tonka Obretenova
Tonka Obretenova
Tonka Obretenova , known as baba Tonka , was a female Bulgarian revolutionary, born in 1812, probably in Rousse.Her parents, Toncho Postavchiyata and Minka Toncheva , were from the village of Cherven. She married Tiho Obretenov — a famous tailor and tradesman in Rousse...
in Rousse
Rousse
Ruse is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria. Ruse is situated in the northeastern part of the country, on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgiu, from the capital Sofia and from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast...
before arriving in Gorna Oryahovitsa
Gorna Oryahovitsa
Gorna Oryahovitsa is a town in northern Bulgaria, situated in Veliko Tarnovo Province, not far from the city of Veliko Tarnovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Gorna Oryahovitsa Municipality...
, which had been designated the centre of the revolutionary district. For the three months until the uprising, Izmirliev founded a number of new committees and recruited and trained many locals. He also looked for strategically important areas which his detachments could use to battle the Ottomans effectively.
The April Uprising was proclaimed in Koprivshtitsa
Koprivshtitsa
Koprivshtitsa is a historic town in Sofia Province, central Bulgaria, lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora mountains. It was one of the centres of the April Uprising in 1876 and is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music festivals, making it a very...
on 20 April 1876. Due to treason, Izmirliev and a group of other revolutionaries were captured after a gunfight in Gorna Oryahovitsa six days later, on 26 April. Sentenced to death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
by a special Ottoman court, Izmirliev was executed on 26 May 1876 in Gorna Oryahovitsa. Reportedly, his last words were "It is gratifying to die for the freedom of the Fatherland!".
Izmirliev's work has been commemorated by monuments in Gorna Oryahovitsa (built 1893–1910) and Blagoevgrad, schools in Gorna Oryahovitsa and 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...
, and a museum house in Blagoevgrad.