Stefan Karadzha
Encyclopedia
Stefan Karadzha was a Bulgarian
national hero, a revolutionary from the national liberation movement
and a prominent leader of rebellion against the Ottoman Empire
.
He was born in the village of Ichme (now Stefan Karadzhovo), near Yambol
in Rumelia
, and was reputedly a descendant of Momchil Voyvoda. Karadzha studied in Tulcea
, Dobruja
, but quit school due to lack of funding. During a wedding celebration, he defeated the famous Turkish
wrestler Gaazi Plisa . Going in hiding for some time, as Ottoman authorities were searching for him, he then emigrated to Principality of Romania
and later joined the First Bulgarian Legion in Belgrade
, Principality of Serbia.
Karadzha crossed the Danube
from Wallachia
a couple of times, carrying out revolutionary tasks. In 1867, he joined the Second Bulgarian Legion, which he quit the following year before returning to Romania, where he had a meeting with Hadzhi Dimitar
. On June 6, both of them were leaders of a detachment of 129 people, and crossed the Danube at Vardim
, near Svishtov
. Their cheta was supposed to get to Stara planina and establish there a revolutionary government which would then command a general uprising of all Bulgarians. This was not to happen, though, as the group was discovered by Turkish forces shortly after crossing the river. Stefan Karadzha was badly wounded during the fight at Kanladere near Vishovgrad, and was captured by the army and police sent by the chairman of the State Council
, Midhat Pasha. Afterwards, on July 12, he was convoyed to Tarnovo, and later to Rousse
.
Karadzha was standing half-dead before the emergency Turkish court, assembled by Midhat Pasha, the so-called criminal council, and sentenced to death by hanging
. After being executed, he was buried by Tonka Obretenova
, who preserved his skull.
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:...
national hero, a revolutionary from the national liberation movement
National awakening of Bulgaria
Bulgarian nationalism emerged in the early 19th century under the influence of western ideas such as liberalism and nationalism, which trickled into the country after the French revolution, mostly via Greece, although there were stirrings in the 18th century. Russia, as fellow Orthodox Slavs, could...
and a prominent leader of rebellion against 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...
.
He was born in the village of Ichme (now Stefan Karadzhovo), near Yambol
Yambol
Yambol is a city in southeastern Bulgaria, an administrative centre of Yambol Province. It lies on both banks of the Tundzha river in the historical region of Thrace. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 72,843 inhabitants. It is occasionally spelt 'Jambol'.The administrative centres...
in Rumelia
Rumelia
Rumelia was an historical region comprising the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe...
, and was reputedly a descendant of Momchil Voyvoda. Karadzha studied in Tulcea
Tulcea
Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :...
, Dobruja
Dobruja
Dobruja is a historical region shared by Bulgaria and Romania, located between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta, Romanian coast and the northernmost part of the Bulgarian coast...
, but quit school due to lack of funding. During a wedding celebration, he defeated the famous Turkish
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...
wrestler Gaazi Plisa . Going in hiding for some time, as Ottoman authorities were searching for him, he then emigrated to Principality of Romania
Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania...
and later joined the First Bulgarian Legion in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Principality of Serbia.
Karadzha 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....
from Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
a couple of times, carrying out revolutionary tasks. In 1867, he joined the Second Bulgarian Legion, which he quit the following year before returning to Romania, where he had a meeting with Hadzhi Dimitar
Hadzhi Dimitar
Dimitar Nikolov Asenov , better known as Hadzhi Dimitar , was one of the most prominent Bulgarian voivods and revolutionaries working for the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.-Early life:...
. On June 6, both of them were leaders of a detachment of 129 people, and crossed the Danube at Vardim
Vardim
Vardim is a village in Svishtov Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Province, north central Bulgaria, located on the right bank of the Danube river. The village of Vardim is located in the central part of the Danubian plain about 10 km east of Svishtov towards Ruse...
, near 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...
. Their cheta was supposed to get to Stara planina and establish there a revolutionary government which would then command a general uprising of all Bulgarians. This was not to happen, though, as the group was discovered by Turkish forces shortly after crossing the river. Stefan Karadzha was badly wounded during the fight at Kanladere near Vishovgrad, and was captured by the army and police sent by the chairman of the State Council
Divan
A divan was a high governmental body in a number of Islamic states, or its chief official .-Etymology:...
, Midhat Pasha. Afterwards, on July 12, he was convoyed to Tarnovo, and later to 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...
.
Karadzha was standing half-dead before the emergency Turkish court, assembled by Midhat Pasha, the so-called criminal council, and 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...
. After being executed, he was buried by 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...
, who preserved his skull.