European Heroes Of The Struggle Against Turks

[morski]

Hristo Botev



In the beginning of 1876 the Bulgarian revolutionary émigrés in Romania were convinced that a general armed uprising of Bulgarians against Ottoman occupation was imminent. In April 1876 the émigré community in Bechet decided to organise an armed company to cross the Danube and take part in the expected uprising. The organisers (known within the movement as “apostles”) of the planned insurgency in the 3rd Revolutionary District centred in Vratza, who had crossed into Romania to try to solicit additional support from the Bulgarian expat community, met with Botev and convinced him that the planned guerrilla company would be best employed in their area. While busily recruiting and arming fighters they were reached by the news that the insurgency had prematurely started.

The recruiters tried to secure an experienced Bulgarian guerrilla leader (known as voevoda) as commander, but the two who were approached refused for political reasons. Thus, Botev himself, though lacking combat experience, took overall command of the company. Military expertise was provided by Nikola Voinovski (1849–1876) a Nikolaev Military Academy graduate, who had previously held the rank of lieutenant in the Russian army. Due to time restraints and the need for secrecy the company did not undergo any formal combat training as a unit and had to rely on the individual fighting skills and experience of its members. The news of the uprising brought new urgency to the preparations and on 16 May 1876 (in the then used Julian calendar) the 205-strong company was finally equipped and ready to deploy.

Botev devised an ingenious plan for crossing into the Empire without immediately alerting either the Romanian or the Ottoman authorities. The rebels disguised as gardeners embarked in groups the Austro-Hungarian passenger steamship Radetzky at several Romanian ports. When the last group was taken onboard at Bechet the rebels retrieved their concealed weapons and seized control of the ship. Botev confronted the captain Dagobert Engländer, stated his intent to reach the Ottoman side of the Danube and explained the political motivation behind his actions. Engländer was so moved by Botev's impassioned speech that he rendered full support and even later refused to cooperate with the Ottoman authorities who requested the use of his ship to pursue the rebel company.

Botev disembarked near Kozloduy and together with every member of the company ritualistically kissed the Homeland. As the rebels proceeded inland, they gradually realised, that despite previous misleadingly enthusiastic messages by the local “apostles”, the 3rd Revolutionary District had not risen. Furthermore, due to the violent suppression of the uprising proceeding elsewhere in the Bulgarian-populated territories, the entire Ottoman military machine, including regular army garrisons and irregular bashi-bazouks, was mobilised and thickly patrolling the area. Botev and his staff officers decided to press on to the comparative safety of the Vratza Mountains while trying to rouse the Bulgarian population on their way. The population intimidated by the overwhelming Ottoman military presence refused to be incited into any overt sign of rebellion.

The company almost immediately became the focus of incessant bashi-bazouk attacks. Voinovski displayed some excellent defensive tactics helped by the still high morale and discipline of the company. On 18 May the massing bashi-bazouks caught up with the company in force and Botev had to go to ground on the Milin Kamak Hill some 50 km from the Danube. Under Voinovski’s skilful command the rebels managed to hold off the numerically superior Ottoman irregulars without taking serious casualties until the arrival of two companies of regular troops. The regulars using two light artillery pieces and their superior rifles managed to inflict heavy casualties among the rebels from a safe distance, but their three attempts to follow up with frontal charges were repulsed by disciplined rebel fire. The company lost about 30 killed or wounded. According to their custom the Ottomans ceased hostilities with nightfall and the rebels split into two groups and managed to slip through the enemy lines and continue their forced march towards the mountains.

The next day passed without sighting the enemy, but at this point it was obvious that no local reinforcements could be expected. In the morning of 20 May, the sentries detected advancing bashi-bazouks and 5 companies of regular Ottoman troops. The men immediately took strong positions near mount Okoltchitza. The defence was divided into two sectors, one commanded by Voinovski and the other by Botev. Soon two battalions of enemy regulars led by Hassan Hairi Bey assaulted Voinovski, while the bashi-bazouks concentrated on Botev's position. Voinovski's men, with concentrated fire, inflicted heavy losses on the advancing enemy and countered their attempts at encirclement. In their turn Botev's men repelled several bashi-bazouk attacks and drove the enemy back with a counterattack. At dusk the fighting died down as the Ottomans again withdrew for the night. The rebels lost about 10 killed and many were wounded in the day’s fighting. It was at this point, at dusk on 20 May 1876 (in the Julian calendar, equivalent to 1 June 1876 in today's Gregorian calendar), that a single bullet most probably fired by concealed Ottoman sharpshooter hit Botev in the chest, killing him almost instantly. After the death of their leader and chief inspiration, the company suffered a serious drop in morale and began to disperse. Very few managed to evade capture or death. In all, 130 company members were killed and most of the others captured and imprisoned or executed.

Botev was survived by his wife, Veneta, daughter, Ivanka, and stepson, Dimitar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hristo_botev

[Twistedmind]

Janković Stojan



Stojan Janković Mitrović (Serbian: Стојан Јанковић Митровић; 1636–1687) was the commander of the Dalmatian Serb army (Morlach army), in the service of the Republic of Venice, from 1669 until his death in 1687. He participated in the Cretan and Great Turkish War, as the supreme commander of the Venetian Serb troops, of which he is enumerated in Serb epic poetry. He was one of the three best-known uskok/hajduk leaders of Kotar.

He was known to have defeated several Turkish contingents, and even himself slew the commanders, among which are notable: Ali-beg Durakbegović, Redžep-aga Filipović, aga Velagić, aga Pajalitović and Ibrahim-aga Kovačević. In 1666, during fighting in Obrovac, where agas Atlagić, Čengić and Baraković fell, he was captured by the Ottomans and spent 14 months in Constantinople as a slave, before escaping and returning home. For his deeds, he was awarded a title and an estate in Ravni Kotari.

[morski]

Hadzhi Dimitar



He joined the band of Stoyan Voyvoda in 1864 as a standard bearer. The band consisted of twelve people and was formed after the murder of the Greek bishop of Veliko Tarnovo. However, it disbanded before entering the city and its members separated from their leader. Hadzhi Dimitar assumed command and led the band into the Balkan Mountains near Sliven and then to Romania in August.

Another band was formed in the home of Georgi Sava Rakovski on 21 May 1865. Among its members were Hadzhi Dimitar, Stefan Karadzha, Yurdan Yurdanov, Petar Shivarov and Todor Shivarov. The band crossed the Danube near Silistra on 13 June and headed for the mountains near Kotel through the Ludogorie. It was active in the region of the Tundzha, Tvarditsa, Karlovo, Gabrovo and the well-known hajduk gathering place Aglikina Polyana. This band returned to Romania in August 1865.

A 20-member band crossed the Danube from Romania in the summer of 1866. It was led by Dyado Zhelyo, Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha. It split into three after reaching the mountains and was active until the autumn, when it regrouped to return to Romania.


The Grave of Hadzhi Dimitar beneath the Mount Kadrafill, near to village of Svezhen


Flag of Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha's band. Inscription: На оружя мили братя (In Bulgarian: Take up arms dear brothers)


The band of Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha was established in Romania in 1868, with many of the members being former participants in the unsuccessful Belgrade-based Second Bulgarian Legion. Dimitar's band crossed the Danube at Vardim in a sailing boat on 5 July and engaged in a battle with a Ottoman pursuing party of a thousand men in the vineyards of Karaisen near Pavlikeni. The band managed to give the enemy the slip and reached the territory of Gorna Lipitsa. A second battle followed there on 7 July, in which the band caused considerable damage to the Ottomans while only losing one member and getting two others wounded. The band proceeded to Vishovgrad, where it also fought on 8 July. On the next day, not far south-southeast, there followed a bloody fight in which Karadzha was wounded and captured and the band was defeated. The remaining 58 members proceeded to the Balkan Mountains under the leadership of Hadzhi Dimitar only to be crushed at Buzludzha Peak on 18 July. After being defeated in this last battle,heavily wounded leader Hadzhi Dimitar was carried on a stretcher by his survived comrades away from Ottoman army, on Mount Kadrafill,3 km from village of Svezhen.There he and his fellows were supported by the local people with water,food and herbs,till his death somewhere around the middle of August 1868,when he was buried beneath the same mount.On 6.November 1880,the bones were reburied in the yard of"St.Peter and St.Paul"Church in the village of Svezhen.The funeral service was conducted by the Bishop of Plovdiv † Gervassius of Levkia,who made Hadzhi Dimitar a martyr.After nearly two months,the bones of the hero were required and given to his mother,who brought them to his birthplace in Sliven town. His death inspired Hristo Botev's poem "Hadzhi Dimitar" in 1873.[2]

* "He,who falls while fighting to be free can never die: for him the sky and earth, the trees and beasts shall keen, to him the minstrel's song shall rise..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadzhi_...adzha.27s_band

[Twistedmind]

Hajduk Veljko



Veljko Petrović (Serbian: Вељко Петровић} ; c. 1780 – 1813), known simply as Haјduk Veljko (Хајдук Вељко), Serbian hajduk and voivode of Krayna of Negotin in Karadjordje`s Serbia (First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire). In his youth Veljko Petrovic travelled to Vidin and joined the band of the famed ex-janissary outcast and local overlord Osman Pazvantoglu. His hasty temper got the best of him there, and he killed two band members before finding himself on the run once again.

In 1803, he joined Stanoje Glavaš's army unit, so he could step up to voivod of Smederevo district (Nahija), to duke Djuša Vulićević (Ђуша Вулићевић). When voivode Djuša asked of Stanoje to supply him a brave and trusting man, Stanoje picked Veljko. From 1804, he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness often caused him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards to Karadjordje (Карађорђe). With Dusan Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he excelled in combat. In 1807 he became a buljubaša / буљубаша and is granted permission from the Council to incite rebellion in the areas of Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809, he, despite being heavily outnumbered, bravely defended Soko Banja from the Turks. His personal bravery was extraordinary and won him extraordinary praise and fame throughout Serbia and the Balkans. In 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.
He was noted in the battle of Varvarin, where he was wounded in his left arm, and because of it he was slightly crippled. Year 1811 he become Voivoda of the Timocka Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Timocka Krajina In 1813, a detachment of Turkish cavalry attacked him at village of Bukovče where Veljko destroyed them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.

Large battles took place around Negotin in the summer of 1813. The Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Walachia). In total, 16,000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, which was defended by 3,000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, built a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka. In the moats, together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko. Also, there were the prominent buljubaše and Dimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abrašelibalta among many others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of heroic defense, he ordered repair around his moat was struck by a cannon ball. He died almost immediately. The Battle of Negotin ended in massive Turkish casualties and the successful escape of the Serbian rebels. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words: "Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem". (I'll give my head, but not Krajina)

Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.

[morski]

Stefan Karadzha



Stefan Karadzha (Bulgarian: Стефан Караджа; born Stefan Todorov Dimov, Стефан Тодоров Димов; May 11, 1840 – July 31, 1868), 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.[1] This was not to happen, though, as the group was discovered by Turkish forces shortly after crossing the river.[2] 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Karadzha

[Methmatician]

Hm, Medvjed, honestly, he was fighing for personal power not against Turks.

Like most people who fought the Turks.

[Hevo]

Starina Novak



Starina Novak (Serbian: Старинa Новак, Romanian: Baba Novac, English: Old Novak) was a Serbian hajduk (brigand and revolutionary) who distinguished himself in many battles against the Ottoman Empire. He is considered a Serbian national hero and is highly respected in neighboring Romania as a national hero as well.

Novak was born to a lower-class family in 1530s in the village of Poreč (now Donji Milanovac), on an island on the Danube, Serbia (then under Ottoman rule). Novak's parents on his father side were Serbian, and his mother was Romanian a descendant of the Basarab family.

He studied at the monastery of Poreč and was fluent in Old Slavonic. He also spoke Romanian and Greek. He began his career as a Hajduk at an early age after he was imprisoned and beaten by Turks, losing all his teeth (hence the name Old Novac) that led him to leave his birthplace and take refuge in the forests to fight. He ended up in Timočka krajina where he quickly learned the use of weapons and military from a harambaš Hajduk. He soon formed his četa (band of hajduks) and started a violent fight against the Turks. His strong personality and military prowess made him a man of many followers and his guerrillas became a strong fighting force. He joined the forces of Michael the Brave in Banat with 2000 Serbian hajduks for the liberation of the Vlach lands and was made captain of the Brigands. His forces participated in the seizure of Călugăreni, liberated Târgovişte, Bucharest and Giurgiu in October 1595. His forces were part of the attack on Bulgarian Sofia which earned him great reputation after he and his 700 soldiers tricked the Turks by changing route through the Balkan mountains and successfully surprise-attacked the Turkish forces only leaving behind 8 of his soldiers and capturing vast amounts of livestock and supplies from the Ottomans. He liberated Plevna with 1,500 soldiers. In 1598, his sizable forces, composed primarily of Serbs but also some Bulgarians, met the remaining forces of Michael the Brave, amounting to a total of 16,000 armed men. They liberated Plevna, Rahovo, Vratsa, Vidin and Florentin, after which the Serbs and Bulgarians of the cities gathered with the forces and had a feast. In Ploeşti, 1599, the forces of 50,000+ under Bordj Mako gathered with the forces of Novak in a square with 5-6 rows in the center before the taking of Sibiu. In 1600 his forces were deployed in Banat and was later given the instructions of liberating all lands to the south, also part of the uprisings in Mirăslău and the near towns. He followed Mihai to Vienna in December 1600.
He was accused of treason by ally-turned-rival Giorgio Basta and was sent to the Hungarian authorities in Cluj, sentenced to burning. On 5 February 1601 the execution took place, gypsies prepared the fire that would be the end of Novak together with 2 other captains of Michael and some Saxon priests. After being burnt alive for 1,5 hours (water was tossed at the bodies for a slow death) the bodies were impaled and crows were eating from the corpses. Mihai was unaware of the execution and heard of it when passing Cluj in early August 1601, he issued a 100,000 forinata fine of all residents of Cluj, and he raised a flag on the site of the execution. Giorgio Basta then ordered the assassination of Michael, which took place near Câmpia Turzii on 9 August 1601.

He is venerated as a Serb hero in the Serb epic poetry in the tale of "Starina Novak and Knez Bogosav" and in Romanian tales.
A tower in Cluj-Napoca is named after him (Baba Novak Tower).

[Twistedmind]

Like most people who fought the Turks.

Hm, he was not fighting to make separate country, he was quite statisfied to be Ottoman subject, he just wanted to crub Sultan's power.
Anyway, I dont really want to troll Turkish members. I just posted some of people who fought for freedom.
Serbs fought Ottomans for 600 years, and from each period we have people of great bravery.

[Styggnacke]

Here's the march of the Finnish Guard that took part in the Russo-Turkish War. They're remembered in Bulgaria to some extent, in connection with the battle of Gorni Dubnik.

Finnish marches are great. Better than the boring, generic, German inspired, Swedish marches.

[MfA_]

Georgi Sava Rakovski

looks like Romanul..