Kicevo
Encyclopedia
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia
, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra
, between the cities of Ohrid
and Gostivar
. The capital Skopje
is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality
.
who constitute for 16,140 people (53.55%), followed by the Albanians
with 9,202 people (30.53%), and the Turks
with about 2,430 (8,06%).
and other South Slavic languages
is Kičevo (Кичево). Kičevo is first mentioned as Ouskanas (Ούσκανας) during the reign of Perseus of Macedon
, during the Third Macedonian War
(171-168 BC).
The next written record of the town did not come until 1018, under the name of Kičavis, noted in one of the documents of the Byzantine emperor Basil II
. Under the rule of Prince Marko
it was known as Katin Grad, because Marko's sister was named Katina.
It is presumed that the present name of the town originates from the name of this settlement populated by the Slavic Brsjaci
tribe.
in 1018, and also mentioned by the Ohrid archbishop Theophilact
in the 11th century.
When the region was conquered by the Ottoman Empire
, Kičevo was turned into the military and administrative center of the region. Notable monument of that period is a clock tower built in the foothills of the nearby hill called Kichevsko Kale.
The activities of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) in the region of Kičevo were initiated by the priest Josif from the monastery of Bogorodica Prečista near the city, supported by many teachers from the neighbouring villages. Priest Josif and Pere Toshev formed the first armed detachment in Kičevo in 1878, led by Duko Tasev. On August 2, 1903, the citizens of Kičevo joined the struggle for Macedonian independence, led by Arso Vojvoda and Yordan Piperkata
.
In 1919 Kičevo and the whole region were incorporated in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
During World War II
, Kičevo was occupied by forces from Fascist Italy
. On September 9, 1943 Albanian
and Macedonian
partisan units disarmed the Italian garrison and took control of the city.
(Monastery of Immaculate Mother of God) is a significant monastery near Kičevo. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the feast day of this monastery is "Mala Bogorodica", (Birthday of the Virgin Mary on the 21st of September). The monastery, dedicated to the Annunciation
and lodgings for devout monks, represents a medieval monastery that was known under the name Krninski monastery in the past.
Another important monument is the monastery of St. George located in the vicinity of Kičevo.
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...
, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra
Mount Bistra
Bistra is one of the most interesting mountains in the Republic of Macedonia . The mountain has many peaks higher than 2,000 meters and the highest one is Medenica Peak, 2,163 meters above sea level.Limestone erosion on the mountain created limestone fields...
, between the cities of Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
and Gostivar
Gostivar
Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
. The capital Skopje
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...
is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality
Kicevo municipality
Kičevo is a municipality in western Republic of Macedonia. Kičevo is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found. Kičevo Municipality is located in the Southwestern Statistical Region.-Geography:...
.
Population
The municipality of Kičevo has 30,138 inhabitants. The largest ethnic group is the MacedoniansMacedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
who constitute for 16,140 people (53.55%), followed by the Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
with 9,202 people (30.53%), and the Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
with about 2,430 (8,06%).
Name
The name of the city in MacedonianMacedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
and other South Slavic languages
South Slavic languages
The South Slavic languages comprise one of three branches of the Slavic languages. There are approximately 30 million speakers, mainly in the Balkans. These are separated geographically from speakers of the other two Slavic branches by a belt of German, Hungarian and Romanian speakers...
is Kičevo (Кичево). Kičevo is first mentioned as Ouskanas (Ούσκανας) during the reign of Perseus of Macedon
Perseus of Macedon
Perseus was the last king of the Antigonid dynasty, who ruled the successor state in Macedon created upon the death of Alexander the Great...
, during the Third Macedonian War
Third Macedonian War
The Third Macedonian War was a war fought between Rome and King Perseus of Macedon. In 179 BC King Philip V of Macedon died and his talented and ambitious son, Perseus, took his throne. Perseus married Laodike, daughter of King Seleucus IV Keraunos of Asia, and increased the size of his army...
(171-168 BC).
The next written record of the town did not come until 1018, under the name of Kičavis, noted in one of the documents of the Byzantine emperor Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
. Under the rule of Prince Marko
Prince Marko
Marko Mrnjavčević was de jure the Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while de facto he ruled only over a territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep...
it was known as Katin Grad, because Marko's sister was named Katina.
It is presumed that the present name of the town originates from the name of this settlement populated by the Slavic Brsjaci
Brsjaci
The Berziti were a South Slavic tribe that settled in Byzantine Macedonia in the 6th century AD with the Slavic invasion of the Balkans. Their name has been modernized as Brsjaci which also is the region of Macedonia encompassing Bitola, Ohrid, Prespa and Veles which is thought to have been their...
tribe.
History
Kičevo was noted in one of the documents of the Byzantine emperor Basil IIBasil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
in 1018, and also mentioned by the Ohrid archbishop Theophilact
Theophylact of Bulgaria
Theophylact of Ohrid was a Greek archbishop of Ohrid and commentator on the Bible.-Life:...
in the 11th century.
When the region was conquered by the 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...
, Kičevo was turned into the military and administrative center of the region. Notable monument of that period is a clock tower built in the foothills of the nearby hill called Kichevsko Kale.
The activities of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) in the region of Kičevo were initiated by the priest Josif from the monastery of Bogorodica Prečista near the city, supported by many teachers from the neighbouring villages. Priest Josif and Pere Toshev formed the first armed detachment in Kičevo in 1878, led by Duko Tasev. On August 2, 1903, the citizens of Kičevo joined the struggle for Macedonian independence, led by Arso Vojvoda and Yordan Piperkata
Yordan Piperkata
Yordan Piperkov ; , widely known as Yordan Piperkata was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary from the early 20-th century, member of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization . In Republic of Macedonia he is considered Macedonian.He was born in Kozitsa, Vardar Macedonia,...
.
In 1919 Kičevo and the whole region were incorporated in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
During 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...
, Kičevo was occupied by forces from Fascist Italy
History of Italy as a monarchy and in the World Wars
This articles covers the history of Italy as a monarchy and in the World Wars.-Italian unification :Modern Italy became a nation-state during the Risorgimento on March 17, 1861 when most of the states of the Italian Peninsula and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies were united under king Victor...
. On September 9, 1943 Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
and Macedonian
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
partisan units disarmed the Italian garrison and took control of the city.
Monuments
Monastery of St. Bogorodica PrečistaSaint Bogorodica Precista Monastery
The Monastery of St. Bogorodica Prečista is an Macedonian Orthodox monastery situated near the city of Kicevo, Republic of Macedonia...
(Monastery of Immaculate Mother of God) is a significant monastery near Kičevo. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the feast day of this monastery is "Mala Bogorodica", (Birthday of the Virgin Mary on the 21st of September). The monastery, dedicated to the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
and lodgings for devout monks, represents a medieval monastery that was known under the name Krninski monastery in the past.
Another important monument is the monastery of St. George located in the vicinity of Kičevo.