Revolutionary Vasil Rahnev

Vasil Rahnev was born in Gradets in the Sliven region. He joined Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha's detachment. After the Battle of Buzludzha Peak, he returned to his hometown but was caught by the Turks and sent to prison in Edirne. He was released after a year or two but later died in Gradets.

According to legend, after returning from service in the detachment, Rahnev was specifically sought by the Ottoman gendarmes. One day, warned that they were coming, he hid in a village house. A group of women were carding wool in the room, forming a large pile in its centre. Rahnev concealed himself beneath the pile and remained motionless for several hours while the Turks carefully searched every house nearby. Vasil managed to remain unnoticed until the gendarmes withdrew. Afterwards, however, one of them remembered the unusually large pile in the house and returned to search again. This time they discovered and detained Vasil Rahnev.