Revolutionary Mihail Apostolov

Mihail Apostolov Raynov, known as Mihal Postolov, Popeto and Cherkez Mihail, was a non-commissioned officer in the Bulgarian army and an active member of the Supreme Macedonian-Adrianople Committee and the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation (IMARO). He was the first voivode of an IMARO detachment devoted to agitation and organisational work.

Mihail Apostolov Raynov was born on 8 January 1871 in the village of Gorna Dikanya in the Radomir district. Despite difficulties during his childhood, he completed the third class at Sofia High School, after which he chose military service and became a non-commissioned officer in the Bulgarian army's cavalry. After leaving the army, he became a constable in Sofia's mounted police.

In 1895, during an armed detachment campaign in Macedonia, Mihail Apostolov joined Lieutenant Petar Nachev's detachment. This period marked the beginning of his active revolutionary work. Together with Gotse Delchev and other leaders, he played a key role in bringing Bulgarian servicemen into IMARO's ranks.

In 1897 he entered Macedonia with his detachment, which quickly grew to thirteen men. Over the years, Mihal Postolov participated in various detachment operations, achieving a series of successes and fighting Turkish armed forces. In 1902, however, while travelling from the Kukush district to the Petrich district, his detachment was attacked by a Turkish pursuit force, and Mihail Popeto died in the battle.

During his active years, through his detachment he trained many prominent IMARO figures, including Mihail Gerdzhikov, Nikola Dechev, Petar Yurukov, Delcho Kotsev, Petar Samardzhiev, Nikola Zhekov and others.