Voivode Karadzha

Karadzha Voivode was a well-known Bulgarian revolutionary and leader of a nine-man hajduk detachment in the Central Rhodopes. He was born in the village of Davidkovo in the second half of the 18th century and made his living as a shepherd. His detachment roamed the area around Mount Persenik, using the cave at Karadzhov Kamak as a refuge.

Karadzha Voivode learnt the hajduk’s trade from Belyu Voivode and had a woollen-cloth tailor from the village of Yavorovo, Praskovski Dinche, as a supporter who sheltered him. Sart Mustafa from Kuklen caused him to become a hajduk by abducting his beloved Stoyna for his harem. When he tried to free her, the Turks shot him, prompting him to set the brigand’s house on fire and take revenge against the Turks.

According to tradition, in the village of Goren Yurt, Karadzha Voivode defended the beautiful Bulgarian woman Todora against the Turkish dignitary Osman Pasha. During the fighting, however, Todora was shot, whereupon the pasha ordered the village to be burnt. The surviving villagers established a new settlement called Oreshets, and a monument named Momin Kamak was erected at the girl’s resting place.

Karadzha Voivode distinguished himself through successes including the battle at Semerdzhik Dere near the village of Dobralak, the punishment of Sart Mustafa from Kuklen and the capture of the daalii brigand leader Yasaoglu in the Rupchos region. Commemorative sites in the villages of Yavrovo, Mostovo and Manastir are named after him.