Boris Sarafov - Macedonian Revolutionary

[Soldier of Macedon]

He was against goce delcev and wanted to shoot jordan piperkata, patriot? More like traiter pro bugarin. Never listen to what people say, look at their actions. All the vojivodi were against him its got to tell you something.

I wouldn't label him a Bugaroman, he was more an opportunist than anything else. All of the voivodi weren't against him, although he was disliked in many circles of the Internal Organisation. The dispute with Jordan Piperkata was of a personal nature.

[VMRO]

Just found a rare picture of Boris Sarafov. It was a time during the Balkan wars where he fought on the side of Bulgaria against the Turks.



Gen. Sarafoff & Chief of Staff Col. Bournof, Tchataldja

Photograph shows Boris Sarafov together with the Bulgarian General Mihail Savov (1857-1928) at Çatalca, Turkey during the Balkan Wars.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Supposedly, Sarafov ordered copies of Misirkov's За Македонски Работи to be destroyed. Anyone know anything of this?

[VMRO]

Supposedly, Sarafov ordered copies of Misirkov's За Македонски Работи to be destroyed. Anyone know anything of this?

Haven't heard this but pro Bulgarian sources have mentioned this without any concrete sources.

Where did you hear this?

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Haven't heard this but pro Bulgarian sources have mentioned this without any concrete sources.

Where did you hear this?

Friedman, V, The Effects of the 1913 Treaty of Bucharest on the Languages Spoken in Macedonia, On Macedonian Matters: from the Partition and Annexation of Macedonia in 1913 to the Present. A Collection of Essays on Language, Culture and History, p. 136


"It was the Pirin Macedonian Boris Sarafov who ordered the destruction of of Misirkov's 1903 classic of Macedonian language and identity Za makedonckite raboti."

[vicsinad]

Just found a rare picture of Boris Sarafov. It was a time during the Balkan wars where he fought on the side of Bulgaria against the Turks.



Gen. Sarafoff & Chief of Staff Col. Bournof, Tchataldja

Photograph shows Boris Sarafov together with the Bulgarian General Mihail Savov (1857-1928) at Çatalca, Turkey during the Balkan Wars.

Can this be right? Boris Sarafov died in 1907 and did not participate in the Balkan Wars. He was also a colonel and not a general.

[vicsinad]

Friedman, V, The Effects of the 1913 Treaty of Bucharest on the Languages Spoken in Macedonia, On Macedonian Matters: from the Partition and Annexation of Macedonia in 1913 to the Present. A Collection of Essays on Language, Culture and History, p. 136


"It was the Pirin Macedonian Boris Sarafov who ordered the destruction of of Misirkov's 1903 classic of Macedonian language and identity Za makedonckite raboti."

It's possible that he did order its destruction. But the reasons might not be because he was against the Macedonian identity -- Sarafov wrote and spoke much about a separate Macedonian identity. Rather, Misirkov was very critical of the timing of VMRO's 1903 uprising, saying that it was a waste of men, resources and political capital. Misirkov took special aim at those (like Sarafov) who were gung-ho about rising up in 1903.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

It's possible that he did order its destruction. But the reasons might not be because he was against the Macedonian identity -- Sarafov wrote and spoke much about a separate Macedonian identity. Rather, Misirkov was very critical of the timing of VMRO's 1903 uprising, saying that it was a waste of men, resources and political capital. Misirkov took special aim at those (like Sarafov) who were gung-ho about rising up in 1903.

Agreed, I don't believe it says anything about Sarafov's view of our identity at all. The author uses this is an example to highlight Pro-Bulgarian views amongst some Macedonians of the era but Sarafov is notorious for his opportunism and bandit-like behaviour, not his political philosophy.

[VMRO]

It's possible that he did order its destruction. But the reasons might not be because he was against the Macedonian identity -- Sarafov wrote and spoke much about a separate Macedonian identity. Rather, Misirkov was very critical of the timing of VMRO's 1903 uprising, saying that it was a waste of men, resources and political capital. Misirkov took special aim at those (like Sarafov) who were gung-ho about rising up in 1903.

Correct, Misirkov was critical of VMRO and their ill prepared uprising that did more harm than good for the Macedonian people and Sarafov was at that time was one of the leaders of VMRO would've taken offence.

Another reason could've been he was too close with the Bulgarian government and was instructed by the then Government to destroy them as Sarafov like many others were oppotunists.

[VMRO]

Can this be right? Boris Sarafov died in 1907 and did not participate in the Balkan Wars. He was also a colonel and not a general.

I didn't notice that, great spot Vic.

The photo description had Balkan wars but it might be a picture of him during his time as a Bulgarian army officer.

Whether it is him or not, the resemblance is uncanny and same name too.

Photo source here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/ggbain.12547/

[Liberator of Makedonija]

[Liberator of Makedonija]

[Liberator of Makedonija]

An article in the 'Kalgoorlie Miner' (Australia) on Boris Sarafov from October 31st 1903.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

According to Stoyan Christowe's Heroes and Assassins, Sarafov met with the US consul in Petrograd and offered to raise a Macedonian legion to fight in Cuba against the Spaniards (Spanish-American War) in return for American arms support to VMRO.