Voivode Stefan Nikolov (Besvina)

Stefan Nikolov was a Bulgarian hajduk and revolutionary who actively participated in the Kresna–Razlog Uprising and later became an IMARO commander. He was known as Stefo Voyvoda and Dalipo.

Born in 1855 in Besvina near Kastoria, he received no formal education and went to work in Anatolia at thirteen. Eight years later, he returned, married and became a shepherd. He subsequently joined Vasil Zhurkata's hajduk band.

In 1877, after helping kill the notorious oppressor Cholak Redzhep, he began leading a band of Greek fighters. In the following years, he joined struggles and uprisings across Macedonia.

In 1879, Stefo commanded the so-called Fourth Band as a captain in the Volunteer Army. During this period, he fought Ottoman troops in several regions of Macedonia.

He was arrested in Greece in 1900 and wrongfully convicted of murder, spending thirteen years in prison. The source then states that after his release in 1902 he settled in Sofia and formed a Supreme Committee band. He was killed fighting Ottoman troops that year at Uzunov Argach above Gornichevo. Ivan Botushanov took over the band and moved it to the Edessa region.