Hajduk Georgi Peev Smedenov

Georgi Peev Smedenov, popularly known as Georgi Trankin, was a Bulgarian hajduk and voivode, known for his struggle to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. He was born around 1828 in Sliven.

After a conflict with Turkish wrestlers, Georgi became a hajduk and later took command of a hajduk detachment in the Sliven Balkan Mountains. His detachment included other well-known revolutionaries, such as Panayot Hitov, Zhelyu Chernev and Hadzhi Dimitar.

In 1849, Georgi joined Dimitar Kalachliyata’s detachment and participated in all its engagements until 1856. He then fought on the Russian side in the Crimean War. After the war ended, he returned to Bulgaria and continued his struggle.

In 1858, Georgi again assembled a company and began operating in various regions of Bulgaria, clearing them of the Turkish presence. Under his leadership, many well-known revolutionaries experienced their first combat.

At the end of August, the hajduks ambushed a large Turkish pursuit force at Kalna Usoya between Bebrovo and Sliven. The engagement ended in victory for the hajduks.

Georgi Trankin was killed in 1860 in a clash with a Turkish pursuit force. After his death, Panayot Hitov became the detachment’s voivode.

Georgi Trankin’s exploits are described in detail in the historical novel „Бурята“ by Tsoncho Rodev.