19th of August Ilindensko Preobrajenski Revolt -
Bulgarian land liberation war Uprising on feast of
Transfiguration
On 19-th of August 1903 happened the Indensko Preobrajensko
Vyzstanie - (Ilinden Transfiguration liberation revolt). This
revolt is important moment for Bulgarian restoration modern
history. At this time South Eastern part of Bulgaria was still
under Ottoman Turkish Empire rule and there was huge internal
tension between local population striving to liberate and unite
with rest of bulgarian lands.
The revolt was planned to raise some publicity in western world and
show that the lands of Strandzha mountain are belonging to the
newly established Russian liberated restored Bulgaria.
Ilindensko Preobrazhenski Uprising was preceded by another
revolt which happened in nowdays Macedonian lands near the city of
Ohrid. The revolt is named under Ilindensko Preobrajensko Vyzstanie
name because actually, the 2 revolts were perceived as one common
effort to liberate and unite ex-Bulgarian empire territories with
mainly Bulgarian and Serbian population to the newly re-establed
Bulgarian land.
Ilinden is important day for Bulgarian
culture in english it means (Saint Elijah's day) as the people of
the early 20th century had strong faith the 2 revolts received a
common name after the two Church feasts Ilinden (st. Elijah's day)
and Preobrazhenie (The day of Christ transfiguration). The revolt
was organized and planned by the even to this day existing
Bulgarian organizatoin
VMRO -
Vytreshno Makedonska
Revolicionna Organizatia - (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization).
VMRO asks on a few times the then Bulgarian army to join
them in the uprising efforts, but the then Bulgarian king refuses
foreseeing that this could cause another war between the newly
re-established 5 centuries unexistent Bulgaria with the still large
and powerful Ottoman empire.
Though uprising was quickly brutally extinguished by Turkish as
planned the revolt was able to raise a huge dispute about the so
called "Bulgarian problem" and in 1913 part of Strandzha mountain
was united with Bulgarian country. The Bulgarian population of the
parts of
Strandja mountain which remained in territory of
Turish empire was forcefully chased to central Bulgaria.
The total number of "guerillas" who participated in two revolts was
26 000. This 26 000 bravehearts faced enormous 350 000 people
Turkish army! Of course the outcomes of this uniqeual powers were
clear. Still some members of the uprising held hopes thta maybe
Russia or some of the western countries would help them with
provisions and people "reinforcements". 994 "guerillas" died in the
uprising.
The turkish army demolished 201 peaceful people villages (12 440
houses!) and killed brutally 4 694 (peaceful inhabitants in this
number kids and woman) by slaughtering and burning them alive. 30
000 of people from the ravaged villages escaped from their
homelands and become refugees in Bulgaria. As one can guess whole
Civillized Europe was in shock that in 20th century such a blood
bath could happen in Europe ....