Georgi Obretenov
Encyclopedia
Georgi Tihov Obretenov was a Bulgaria
n revolutionary, best known for his participation in the April Uprising
of 1876.
, was born after 1849. He studied in the class school in Rousse
, and afterwards helped his father with his business in the village of Isakcha in Northern Dobruja
. In the spring of 1870 Georgi was admitted to the junker
school in Odessa
.
In order to take part in setting the ground for the Stara Zagora uprising of 1875, he returned to Rousse, and joined the preparations of a detachment's in Veliko Tarnovo
. After the uprising's failure, he moved to Romania
.
The revolutionary committee in Giurgiu
estimated Georgi Obretenov's training and sent him to the region of Sliven
as a military instructor and as an assistant apostle to Ilarion Dragostinov
. Along with the weapons, Obretenov brought to Sliven some revolutionary proclamations, by-laws, a flag, and the inspiring poetry of Hristo Botev
and Stefan Stambolov
.
Dragostinov and Obretenov chose different routes to Sliven. Dragostinov travelled through Svishtov
and Arbanasi, in order to bid farewell to his parents and relatives. Obretenov's route was through Rousse. After passing the Balkan mountains
, he stayed in Tvarditsa
at priest Stefan's, and hid the dangerous luggage in the altar of the local church. Then, he set off to the village of Korten to visit Georgi Kolev, the leader of the local revolutionary committee, with whose help he hid the items he carried in a wheat cart, and they both arrived in Sliven.
The coming of the two gave new impulse to the preparations in Sliven, though they didn't manage to reach consensus with local activists in terms of tactics. The locals' plan was to adopt a course of preparation of detachments, who were to operate in the Balkan mountains, without exciting a revolt in town. This viewpoint dominated, and put an imprint the overall preparatory work, and later on on the range and power of the uprising throughout the Sliven region
.
The military instructor, Georgi Obretenov, brought to Sliven modern guns, having issued directions about arms before departing from Giurgiu. He wrote that every rebel had to possess a revolver with 200 bullets, a gun with 250 bullets, and a knife. Furthermore, each of them was to provide two cartridge-boxes for the bullets. Undoubtedly, Obrevenov strived for imposing those requirements on everyone in the Second Revolutionary Region. Concerning military action, he gave oral instructions without leaving anything on paper. There is information that the leaders of the Sliven revolutionary committee took care to supply modern guns from Romania. They grew funds from the rebels' voluntary donations.
Obretenov brought to Sliven a flag sewn by his sisters Petrana and Anastasia. Therefore, Sliven revolutionaries considered it unnecessary to prepare their own flag.
The leaders of the rebel group, gathered on "Kush Bunar"—Ilarion Dragostinov, Stoil Voyvoda, Georgi Obretenov, and Georgi Drazhev—decided to execute the adopted plan for touring the Balkan villages in the vicinity of Kotel and exciting a revolt, despite the small number of rebels.
Attempting to go back for food through Neykovo
, the detachment were confronted by bashi-bazouk
s, regular army
, and cherkez cavalry. On their way back, they fought, and Obretenov was fatally wounded in the battle. On 10 May 1876, realizing that, he committed suicide.
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...
n revolutionary, best known for his participation in the 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.
Biography
Georgi Obretenov, the youngest son of Tonka ObretenovaTonka 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...
, was born after 1849. He studied in the class school 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...
, and afterwards helped his father with his business in the village of Isakcha in Northern Dobruja
Northern Dobruja
Northern Dobruja is the part of Dobruja within the borders of Romania. It lies between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, bordered in south by Bulgarian Southern Dobruja.-Geography:...
. In the spring of 1870 Georgi was admitted to the junker
Junker (Russia)
Junker has several meanings in the Imperial Russia. The word is from the German language, where it means "young lord".*Junker was a military rank for junior officers of dvoryan descent since 1902....
school in 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,...
.
In order to take part in setting the ground for the Stara Zagora uprising of 1875, he returned to Rousse, and joined the preparations of a detachment's in Veliko 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...
. After the uprising's failure, he moved to 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...
.
The revolutionary committee 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...
estimated Georgi Obretenov's training and sent him to the region of Sliven
Sliven
Sliven is the eighth-largest city in Bulgaria and the administrative and industrial centre of Sliven Province and municipality. It is a relatively large town with 89,848 inhabitants, as of February 2011....
as a military instructor and as an assistant apostle to Ilarion Dragostinov
Ilarion Dragostinov
Ilarion Ivanov Dragostinov , nicknamed Arbanascheto was a Bulgarian revolutionary and an important figure in the organization and direction of the anti-Ottoman April Uprising of 1876....
. Along with the weapons, Obretenov brought to Sliven some revolutionary proclamations, by-laws, a flag, and the inspiring poetry of Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev , born Hristo Botyov Petkov , was a Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. Botev is widely considered by Bulgarians to be a symbolic historical figure and national hero.-Early years:...
and 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...
.
Dragostinov and Obretenov chose different routes to Sliven. Dragostinov travelled through Svishtov
Svishtov
Svishtov is a town in northern Bulgaria, located in Veliko Tarnovo Province on the right bank of the Danube river opposite the Romanian town of Zimnicea. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Svishtov Municipality...
and Arbanasi, in order to bid farewell to his parents and relatives. Obretenov's route was through Rousse. After passing the Balkan mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
, he stayed in Tvarditsa
Tvarditsa
Tvarditsa is a town in Sliven Province, Southeastern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Tvarditsa Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 5,669 inhabitants....
at priest Stefan's, and hid the dangerous luggage in the altar of the local church. Then, he set off to the village of Korten to visit Georgi Kolev, the leader of the local revolutionary committee, with whose help he hid the items he carried in a wheat cart, and they both arrived in Sliven.
The coming of the two gave new impulse to the preparations in Sliven, though they didn't manage to reach consensus with local activists in terms of tactics. The locals' plan was to adopt a course of preparation of detachments, who were to operate in the Balkan mountains, without exciting a revolt in town. This viewpoint dominated, and put an imprint the overall preparatory work, and later on on the range and power of the uprising throughout the Sliven region
Sliven Province
Sliven Province is a province in southeastern Bulgaria, named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Sliven. It embraces a territory of 3,544.1 km² that is divided into 4 municipalities, with a total population, as of December 2009, of 204,887...
.
The military instructor, Georgi Obretenov, brought to Sliven modern guns, having issued directions about arms before departing from Giurgiu. He wrote that every rebel had to possess a revolver with 200 bullets, a gun with 250 bullets, and a knife. Furthermore, each of them was to provide two cartridge-boxes for the bullets. Undoubtedly, Obrevenov strived for imposing those requirements on everyone in the Second Revolutionary Region. Concerning military action, he gave oral instructions without leaving anything on paper. There is information that the leaders of the Sliven revolutionary committee took care to supply modern guns from Romania. They grew funds from the rebels' voluntary donations.
Obretenov brought to Sliven a flag sewn by his sisters Petrana and Anastasia. Therefore, Sliven revolutionaries considered it unnecessary to prepare their own flag.
The leaders of the rebel group, gathered on "Kush Bunar"—Ilarion Dragostinov, Stoil Voyvoda, Georgi Obretenov, and Georgi Drazhev—decided to execute the adopted plan for touring the Balkan villages in the vicinity of Kotel and exciting a revolt, despite the small number of rebels.
Attempting to go back for food through Neykovo
Neykovo
Neykovo is a village in Kavarna Municipality, Dobrich Province, northeastern Bulgaria....
, the detachment were confronted by bashi-bazouk
Bashi-bazouk
A bashi-bazouk or bashibazouk was an irregular soldier of the Ottoman army...
s, regular army
Military of the Ottoman Empire
The history of military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years between 1300 and 1453 , the classical period covers the years between 1451 and 1606 , the reformation period covers the years between 1606 and 1826 ,...
, and cherkez cavalry. On their way back, they fought, and Obretenov was fatally wounded in the battle. On 10 May 1876, realizing that, he committed suicide.