Voivode Strahil

Strahil Voyvoda was born in the mid-seventeenth century in the village of Yenikyoy or the village of Ovchartsi, although there are other opinions about his birthplace. Places such as Batak, Malo Konare and Lovech also claim him as a native. The Turkish historian Silihdar Mehmed Pasha wrote about Strahil Voyvoda.

The voivode had a band of 200 men, including experienced hajduks, and operated widely throughout Bulgaria. He engaged in hajduk activity, attacking wealthy Turks on the roads and robbing caravans. This threatened the Ottoman authorities, who issued orders to form a Muslim militia to capture him. The order called for the immediate punishment of captured hajduks.

Strahil Voyvoda learned of this, however, and took measures to protect himself. His pursuers tried to catch up with him in the mountains but failed and eventually abandoned the pursuit. He joined the uprising organised by Karposh in the western Bulgarian lands.

Strahil Voyvoda acquired great standing with the Austrian authorities, who regarded him as a representative of the rebellious Bulgarians with the rank of general in the Austrian army. He participated alongside Austrians and hajduks in an attack on Kyustendil, where they assaulted the town quarter and fought the Muslims.

After learning of the planned Ottoman advance towards Niš, Strahil Voyvoda left the fortress and escaped. His family, however, was captured and sold into slavery. His fate after the fall of Niš is unknown, although one tradition says he was captured and killed in Constantinople.