Revolutionary Pancho Konstantinov

Panteley, also called Pancho or Pano, Konstantinov was born in Veles in 1881, when it was part of the Ottoman Empire. After completing the fifth grade at the First Sofia Boys' Secondary School, he entered the Military School, graduating in 1903. He then began service in the Thirteenth Rila Infantry Regiment as a second lieutenant.

During the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising, Konstantinov actively participated in the struggle to liberate the Macedonian Bulgarians from Ottoman rule. He led a detachment that fought at Kitka Peak and Sultan Tepe. After the voivode Stefan Dimitrov was killed on 20 May 1905, Konstantinov was chosen to replace him in the Veles region.

Konstantinov distinguished himself through strong leadership and bravery. He recruited numerous experienced and educated members to his detachment to counter the Serbian detachments, which were very active in the region after the uprising. Under his leadership, the Bulgarian revolutionaries strengthened their position in the Veles region and conducted several successful actions against Serbian propaganda and pro-Serbian activism.

In June 1905, Konstantinov fought Grigor Sokolov–Lyame in Stepantsi village. At the end of June, he joined forces with other voivodes, including Deyan Dimitrov, Georgi Atsev and Petar Radev–Pashata, conducting successful actions against Serbian detachments.

On 18 April 1906, the detachments of the voivodes Bobi Stoychev and Pancho Konstantinov were surrounded by 3,000 Turkish soldiers, but managed to break through and escape.

Finally, on 25 June 1906, Konstantinov fell into an ambush organised by Grigor Sokolov and Jovan Babunski and died in the battle, displaying exceptional bravery and leadership.