The Ilinden Uprising

[Diabolical]

Hi, I'm looking for info on the Ilinden Uprising, specifically the liberation of Krusevo. How long did it take to liberate the town, who was involved, what weapons were used, strategy, the fighting size of both sides. etc

So far I've only found very general info. Gimme anything you got, video, text, in English, Macedonian, wateva!

Also, where can I find biographies on the members of VMRO? I've found one on Goce Delchev... what about the other members?

The reason for this is that I'm writing a historical short story, on Macedonia in the 1900s ( A major project for school). So does anyone know what daily life was like in the 1900s (so around 1890 until the Uprising) Eg. A child growing up in Macedonia, would he go to school (I read that VMRO recruited in schools?), until what age, what was life in the gradovi like as oppossed to the sela, what about job prospects etc.

I really do realize that this is asking a lot, but if anyone can point me to a book, or can help me out in any way possible, that would be great I'll post my progress here and when I'm done (should be towards the end of the year) I'll post it here

Thanks again

[Soldier of Macedon]

Welcome mate. Here is something we started a little while back:

http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum/showthread.php?t=419

It is an interesting topic and I am sure others here can assist with information where it concerns the Macedonian revolutionaries of the 19th and 20th centuries.

[Pelister]

Hi, I'm looking for info on the Ilinden Uprising, specifically the liberation of Krusevo. How long did it take to liberate the town, who was involved, what weapons were used, strategy, the fighting size of both sides. etc

So far I've only found very general info. Gimme anything you got, video, text, in English, Macedonian, wateva!

Also, where can I find biographies on the members of VMRO? I've found one on Goce Delchev... what about the other members?

The reason for this is that I'm writing a historical short story, on Macedonia in the 1900s ( A major project for school). So does anyone know what daily life was like in the 1900s (so around 1890 until the Uprising) Eg. A child growing up in Macedonia, would he go to school (I read that VMRO recruited in schools?), until what age, what was life in the gradovi like as oppossed to the sela, what about job prospects etc.

I really do realize that this is asking a lot, but if anyone can point me to a book, or can help me out in any way possible, that would be great I'll post my progress here and when I'm done (should be towards the end of the year) I'll post it here

Thanks again

Wow, interesting times in Macedonia.

It was a real wild west. Full of Arami, Muslims, Turks, Jannisseries, Aga's and the like.

For instance, after the fall of Krushevo, the Aga of Prilep (an Albanian in the Turkish army), had permission to lead about 3,000 Jannisseries (Albanians) to sack it for its wealth, and riches because they knew there was riches there. That was their 'pay'. They went from house to house, looting and stealing anything they could find.

[Diabolical]

Welcome mate. Here is something we started a little while back:

http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum/showthread.php?t=419

It is an interesting topic and I am sure others here can assist with information where it concerns the Macedonian revolutionaries of the 19th and 20th centuries.

thanks!

Wow, interesting times in Macedonia.

It was a real wild west. Full of Arami, Muslims, Turks, Jannisseries, Aga's and the like.

For instance, after the fall of Krushevo, the Aga of Prilep (an Albanian in the Turkish army), had permission to lead about 3,000 Jannisseries (Albanians) to sack it for its wealth, and riches because they knew there was riches there. That was their 'pay'. They went from house to house, looting and stealing anything they could find.

That's interesting. I thought that there were also Albanian fighters in the uprising, fighting on the side of the Macedonians? Also what kind of riches was there in Krushevo? Also what are the Arami? Thanks!

Thank you everyone Keep it coming ehehe

[Soldier of Macedon]

Arami are theives.

Which Albanians fought on the Macedonian side?

[Magedon]

The Skipetar (nowadays Albanian) always fought either for himself or for the highest bidder (in those times the Turk) - Mercenarie is actually the only profession the Albanians were ever known for - or at least remembered as such. What is trade and merchendize to the Greek - mercenarie is to the Skipetar. They never ever fought along with Macedonians (except for the exceptions wich confirmed the rule) - they always somehow ended on the other side, or against the Macedonians.

[Diabolical]

In my research, I have picked up a useful book called IMRO and the Macedonian Question by Michael A. Radin.

It seems, I have misunderstood... It was the Vlachs that were enthusiastic and fought along the Macedonians (sorry, I have only recently seriously started looking into Macedonian history from Ottoman period hehe )

a paragraph on p103 says

Albanians within Macedonia also played a significant role in the storming of Krushevo, and were active in establishing the new administration. A number of rebels from Albania acted as arms couriers for the Organization in the Demirhisar district.

It doesn't say more than that about the Albanians... Arms couriers, from the looks of it, seems like another word for "weapons dealer" more or less... that may be the "significant role" the book speaks of (or maybe this also included mercenaries that Magedon was speaking of) ... about the "new administration" I have no idea what that means..

[Soldier of Macedon]

Apart from selling us some guns for a buck, the Albanians had little to do with the Macedonian struggle for liberation.

[Sarafot]

Macedonian names for so called ''Albanians''!
-LJUNGA
-ŠOK
-ŠIPTAR
-ARNAUT
-GILIPTAR

[Pelister]

Arami are theives.

Which Albanians fought on the Macedonian side?

None.

In this specific fight, it was a call for anyone to join only in principle, but they were all Macedonians with one or two exceptions.

[Risto the Great]

In my research, I have picked up a useful book called IMRO and the Macedonian Question by Michael A. Radin.

It seems, I have misunderstood... It was the Vlachs that were enthusiastic and fought along the Macedonians (sorry, I have only recently seriously started looking into Macedonian history from Ottoman period hehe )

a paragraph on p103 says

It doesn't say more than that about the Albanians... Arms couriers, from the looks of it, seems like another word for "weapons dealer" more or less... that may be the "significant role" the book speaks of (or maybe this also included mercenaries that Magedon was speaking of) ... about the "new administration" I have no idea what that means..

Michael is an intelligent guy.
I know him well.
But I wonder if he would write the same things if he had another go at it now.

[Diabolical]

What do you mean Risto?

[Risto the Great]

I mean that with the abundance of extra information available now as opposed to when he wrote the book, he may be able to shed more light on some of the issues he explored. I will ask him the next time I see him.

[Pelister]

Michael Radin, was all we had at one time, but he bought into the "we are 5th century Slavs" thing, and looking back over his stuff it now looks pretty basic.

[TrueMacedonian]

Contemporary Witnesses: Macedonian revolutionaries and Ilinden Uprising 1903

YouTube - Contemporary Witnesses: Macedonian revolutionaries and Ilinden Uprising 1903 (1/3)
YouTube - Contemporary Witnesses: Macedonian revolutionaries and Ilinden Uprising 1903 (2/3)
YouTube - Contemporary Witnesses: Macedonian revolutionaries and Ilinden Uprising 1903 (3/3)